An argument Only used by frightened LOSERS.
At least some knew where I was going :o with the first thread.
This thread inspired by some replies to this thread:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=220570
As an SUV owner, I think it’s funny when people say SUV owners are compensating for their small dicks.
As a Freudian… uh…
never mind… not gonna go there…
What the hell are you talking about?
Ah, another idiot who can’t tell the difference between his car and his ego. Great. We needed more of those.
Well, it’s especially true for people like you, no? 
(I guess I’ll go there, Trino, even though I’m not a Freudian)
That’s right, terrified by your huge… uh?
What are they frightened by, again?
…ground clearance. Or prices we pay at the pump. I’ll let you pick.
Why people hate SUVs, the definitive 100% shut the fuck up about it already truth handed down from on high by Binanydrone:
Disclaimer for the clueless: The following will not apply to folks that have an actual need for SUVs.
This is the deal. No matter what you say, in the vast majority of the cases there simply is no need for the SUV. Period. No, I am not trying to impose on your God given right to have one, nor am I talking about the limited cases where this vehicle is needed. I am just saying that in the vast majority instances where someone buys an SUV, they are engaging in nothing more that conspicuous consumption and status seeking.
This pisses people off. Deal with it. Yes, there is an element of class envy here (although I like to think that if I had money to waste that I would choose to do so in a different, less obnoxious way but you really can’t tell until you are there). People that drive these things in an urban setting are a lot like the folks that used to carry around the huge mobile phones in the 80s, back before everyone had a cell phone. They are making a point to display their wealth.
They are high impact. They take up more room than other cars, sear your optic nerve with unnaturally bright lights at night and in general are a pain in the ass to everyone except the person that is driving it. Again, this is not to say that anyone wants to deprive you of your God giver right to have one of these fucking things, but they are a pain in the ass. Sorry.
Ya Binary, there’s no NEED for a computer. There’s no NEED for a cell phone. There’s no NEED for a majority of things in our lives, yet we have them anyhow.
That’s a stupid argument.
Their lights aren’t any brighter than your typical passenger vehicle unless they’re lifted-which 98% of SUVs most definitely are not. The lights are trained at a safe level from the factory. I’d say that more Luxury passenger vehicles have disgustingly bright lights that hurt my eyes while driving in my truck than do most SUVs.
Sam
My experience with SUVs (and trucks) at night has been that the headlights are at just the right height to catch my side-view mirrors and pretty much blind me. Trucks don’t bother me too much because they keep a sane distance or pass me; SUV drivers seem to enjoy their 10 minutes attempting to crawl up my Civic’s tailpipe, when it’s the only other vehicle on the road and the passing lane is clear for miles.
Sorry if you don’t like what you hear, but it is the truth. I will also point out that the users of the other things that you cite as not necessary are often the subject of ire by the public at large, although not on the level of the SUV.
That being said, why don’t you offer an alternative explanation? The fact is that there is a large anti-SUV camp. I have offered sound reasons for this, if you disagree then why not give us your take on the matter?
It’s probably pointless for me to bring it all up, because considering that we live on the exact opposite side of the country, the chances that you or I will ever even see each others’ vehicles is slim at best.
One of the great things about being able to purchase and drive whatever I like is that I can do so without giving one minute, infinitesimal, mosquito-shit about what someone in Seattle thinks. And frankly, I sleep better knowing that my wife drives a gas-guzzling, monster of a vehicle, because when you and your rice burner are shoulder-rolling and skipping across 8 lanes into on-coming traffic because you were weaving through cars 90-plus miles per hour with no turn signals, with one hand on your cell phone and one limp wrist draped over the steering wheel at 12 o’ clock right about the time one of your front, low-profile, tires decides to shred itself, well, I prefer as much metal between my wife and your little carnival ride as possible.
I’m assuming the discussion on SUVs is referring to the full-size rigs. The “cute-yutes” such as CR-Vs and RAVs are certainly not status symbols. They’re good solid transportation with the additional attribute of traction in northern climes. While a Subaru would fill the same bill, those of us with bad backs would rather not have to hoist ourselves up out of them.
I would agree that some of these behemoths are nothing short of ridiculous. There is nothing dumber than an urban Hummer. Hmmm…there’s a song in there, methinks.
It’s really pretty silly. Anti-SUV folks judge people without knowing a thing about them. To ME, it seems that that they feel that since THEY don’t need an SUV, no one else does either.
My Wife and I drive SUV’s for a reason. They are the most practical vehicles for us. If there weren’t SUV’s, we would drive 4x4 trucks.
Same for my brother, and the 8 or 10 other people I know that drive SUV’s.
Sure, some of the people that drive them may not need them. It’s none of my business though.
Hi. I don’t like SUVs. Why? Because their bumper is at the level of my head when I drive a passenger car. It doesn’t seem right that because I can’t afford one, too, I get to have my head bashed in a “mismatch” accident.
I’ll give you my take on the matter,
I Drive a bigass gas guzzling nature stomping terrain destroying fear instilling bullbar protected hunk of metal that cost me a shitload of money! My last car was also one of these, if it wasn’t, I would be dead due to an accident.
I am one of those people that use it for work though (clueless am i), and recreation. There is also the safety factor in that there are a lot of stray goats, sheep, cows, horses and dopey bloody kangaroos around here along with shitwads that can’t drive to save themselves. Hitting one of these critters at 80km/h can cause alot of damage to midsize sedans and COMPLETELY destroy a small car, say a civic. I’ll take my chances in a 4WD with airbags and a big fuck off bullbar!
I have seen a mid sized sedan and it’s occupants after they hit a cow. The little bovine beef bomb destroyed the front end of the car and then the rest of the carcass continued on through the windsreen and into the front seats causing injury to both occupants. If your in the middle of fucking nowhere, this is a not a good thing. If they were in a 4WD/SUV their car may have been totalled but not their faces.
I also do agree that some people should not be behind the wheel of such a large vehicle in an urban environment, basically due to their incompetance at driving. They maybe more comfortable driving a smaller vehicle thus disturbing their fellow road users less. It’s their decision though, it’s their money, it’s a risk they want to take. Shouldn’t people be ranting about fuckheads that can’t drive, not the car they’re actually driving?
If someone has family and they want to use an SUV/ 4wd to ferry around the tribe, good luck to them, they are practical and have been engineered in a way so that they’re not much different to a sedan, performance wise such as stopping quickly (apart from being slower off the mark, and more visible to other traffic). You can also use it to go camping without having to have two cars, move furniture without needing to hire a truck, Fuck…you could even use it to carpool more efficiently cause some of them seat 8 people…if you wanted to.
Because the driver is seated higher in in these vehicles they can see further ahead than the driver of a lower vehicle, and are more aware of what’s happening ahead in slow traffic situations. That’s a bonus isn’t it?
I own three cars plus my girlfriend has her own. I drive a Toyota landcruiser to work everyday, I have a 1960 MGA 1600 and a Ford Falcon utility with a worked 351. My girlfriend drives a Holden astra. Is that conspicous consumption and status seeking? FUCKING OATH it is but i can afford, and enjoy it and it doesn’t hurt anybody in the process…so blow me! I also own a boat and two houses, is that status seeking and conspicous consumption? No! it’s called investing and enjoying my returns, it’s why we go to work you fools.
It’s a nice argument but the fact is that if your whinging about how big someone else’s car is, your probably jealous in some way or another. Get over the car envy shit, I don’t give a shit about your car unless your being a fuckhead in it and endangering my life in the process. Get off your God damned high horse (shetland pony) you car hater/envy types and leave other people to make their own decisions.
Unless you drive a K-mart go-cart, this just isn’t true.
Its an exaggeration. Like most of the anti-SUV complaints I see.
I could do with a few less SUVs on the road but that is one good rant. Welcome to the BBQ Pit.
Bubba
Bingo! Like I tried to explain to my upstairs neighbor–if I was driving an SUV as a status symbol, I would make some effort to wash the mud off the sides every once in a while. 
As you mentioned, I chose my vehicle based on what is most practical for me. I happen to need a vehicle with high ground clearance, 4-wheel drive, and a large amount of cargo space. My Jeep fits those requirements perfectly. There’s no reason for me to drive anything else.