# Why are people selling their SUVs? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 28, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583 "2008-06-28T18:00:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/201 "2008-06-30T16:15:36Z")
[QUOTE=Dinsdale] (For whatever reason, whenever I think of where you live **enipla** I think of an older SUV TV ad, where the guy happily hopped in his SUV and tore off on a perilous journey over cliffs and through streams and such, heading down to his mailbox!) [/QUOTE] Mail box? Whats that? We don’t get no stinkin mail delivery. 😃 And yeah, working in a county that has 4 premier ski resorts, not coming to work because of snow is sort of a no-no. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/202 "2008-06-30T16:52:27Z")
[QUOTE=yellowval] Thank you. I sometimes think “city folks” don’t really have a clue what it’s like to live in a rural area during the winter. [/QUOTE] Living in and near cities, I have ceased being surprised at folks who think weather extremes ought to play no role in their decision to go to the grocery store, the movies, the mall, on social visits, etc. And when they do venture out in inclement weather, they’d damned better drive the limit! Further, for those who live in more urban areas, there are often many decisions you can make to reduce the amount of driving you need to do for your commute and other things. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/203 "2008-06-30T16:54:15Z")
My husband plays the tuba. Actually, he plays six or seven tubas, depending on whether or not you count the sousaphone I just tripped over. He plays in two to five bands, depending on whether he’s filling in for sick or vacationing friends. The only time he gets paid is during Oktoberfest, when people are willing to pay tuba players. The rest of the time, he plays in community bands and ensembles, at nursing homes and at schools, for no pay, at his own expense for the gas, just because he likes to. He usually takes at least two horns, because he often doesn’t know, especially this time of year, if he’s going to be playing inside or outside, in a gazebo or under trees. Sometimes he brings an extra horn to loan to somebody. He always has a music stand and a backpack full of sheet music. We don’t have any kids or go camping or off-roading. He just has tubas in his car, sometimes every weeknight. He has a 2001 SUV that we bought for the express purpose of hauling all this shit around. It’s on its last “legs” and we are looking to replace it. Naturally, we’re looking for something with better fuel economy. What the hell is there? A regular passenger car won’t accommodate this stuff. Someone mentioned “station wagons” – cite? Who makes station wagons anymore? We didn’t buy an SUV because we _neeeeed_ one. We bought one because we didn’t see any alternatives. I’m asking for alternatives. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/204 "2008-06-30T17:03:47Z")
[QUOTE=Sigmagirl] We didn’t buy an SUV because we _neeeeed_ one. We bought one because we didn’t see any alternatives. I’m asking for alternatives. Anyone? [/QUOTE] Switch to French horn? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/205 "2008-06-30T17:07:17Z")
[QUOTE=Sigmagirl] Someone mentioned “station wagons” – cite? Who makes station wagons anymore? We didn’t buy an SUV because we _neeeeed_ one. We bought one because we didn’t see any alternatives. I’m asking for alternatives. Anyone? [/QUOTE] Subaru, Volvo, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, GM, Mazda, Chrysler, Ford, VW… If you count the “crossover” and mini-minivan body styles, just about everyone. [This](http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=434551) is a good starting point. ETA: How big is the SUV (ie what model) and how much of the cargo volume does he actually use? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/206 "2008-06-30T17:18:14Z")
[QUOTE=Sigmagirl] Someone mentioned “station wagons” – cite? Who makes station wagons anymore? [/QUOTE] [They’re still around](http://www.mpgomatic.com/2007_station_wagons.html). You’ve probably seen at least one of [these](http://www.dodge.com/en/2008/magnum/), only gets 15 MPG city though. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/207 "2008-06-30T17:20:50Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] [They’re still around](http://www.mpgomatic.com/2007_station_wagons.html). You’ve probably seen at least one of [these](http://www.dodge.com/en/2008/magnum/), only gets 15 MPG city though. [/QUOTE] That’s the R/T version though - the standard 2.7L V6 gets 21-28. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/208 "2008-06-30T17:23:41Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] the standard 2.7L V6 gets 21-28. [/QUOTE] [Highway.](http://autos.yahoo.com/dodge_magnum_base/) ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/209 "2008-06-30T17:25:33Z")
I guess I need to rethink what I mean by “station wagon.” Some of those I’m looking at here are those I suppose I might have been considering SUVs. > [@](#): > > How big is the SUV (ie what model) and how much of the cargo volume does he actually use? Hyundai Santa Fe, and almost all of it when he’s on his way to a rehearsal or gig. His passenger seat is usually full of books or paperwork; when I want to go to one of his concerts with him, we have to clear it all out. Tuba in the cargo hold, tuba in the back seat, music stand(s) and bags of music wherever they fit. Sometimes dogs, depending on concert venue. > [@](#): > > Switch to French horn? Hey, buddy, wanna buy an ophicleide? ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/210 "2008-06-30T17:29:06Z")
[More station wagons](http://www.caranddriver.com/tags/body_styles/station_wagon+display-all.html). The Ford Focus also comes in a wagon but only up to 2008. They’ve discontinued the wagon and hatchback in '09. I almost started a pit thread when I found out, I have the hatchback and love it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/211 "2008-06-30T17:32:54Z")
[QUOTE=Sigmagirl] I guess I need to rethink what I mean by “station wagon.” Some of those I’m looking at here are those I suppose I might have been considering SUVs. [/QUOTE] I guess a lot of Americans think of “station wagons” exclusively as 18-foot land yachts with desperately ugly wood-look vinyl appliques down the sides. In Britain (where the word is “estate”, rather than “wagon”) it just means “car with four passenger doors and one nearly-vertical rear hatch that’s a bit bigger than a four (five, if you’re in Europe) door hatchback.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/212 "2008-06-30T17:39:31Z")
Can you afford a hybrid SUV? [Seems they get better milage than the wagons I linked earlier.](http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bestworstEPAtrucks.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/213 "2008-06-30T17:42:01Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] Can you afford a hybrid SUV? [Seems they get better milage than the wagons I linked earlier.](http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bestworstEPAtrucks.htm) [/QUOTE] Better still, a diesel wagon… VW Jetta Wagon gets 29/41 mpg. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/214 "2008-06-30T17:44:23Z")
Dunno. I’ll print out the web sites linked to and we’ll look at them. Thanks and sorry for hijacking. You may return to your previous sarcastic comments about SUV owners, including me, if you like. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/215 "2008-06-30T17:44:48Z")
[QUOTE=brazil84] Sure, and any time somebody inconveniences me just so they can project a macho image, it merits a complaint. [/QUOTE] Just wondering if you plan to bring up a “macho image” in every single post. It’s such a great argument. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/216 "2008-06-30T17:48:51Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Better still, a diesel wagon… VW Jetta Wagon gets 29/41 mpg. [/QUOTE] Diesel is also about 70¢ more so it sort of balances out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/217 "2008-06-30T17:56:44Z")
Does America not have…here they are called “bakkies”… I think, maybe, you’d call them compact pick-ups? Half-ton to 1 ton jobbies like the Ford Bantam or Toyota Hilux, with 1.3 -2.0 l engines, TWD, that sort of thing? Does “Ford Courier” ring a bell? That’s what I’d use if I had lots of stuff to carry regularly. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/218 "2008-06-30T17:58:30Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] [They’re still around](http://www.mpgomatic.com/2007_station_wagons.html). You’ve probably seen at least one of [these](http://www.dodge.com/en/2008/magnum/), only gets 15 MPG city though. [/QUOTE] They aint station wagons anymore…they are Sport Utility wagons. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/219 "2008-06-30T17:59:12Z")
[QUOTE=Sigmagirl] We didn’t buy an SUV because we _neeeeed_ one. We bought one because we didn’t see any alternatives. I’m asking for alternatives. Anyone? [/QUOTE] How about you get a normal car for everyday use and an old Ford Transit for the instruments? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583/220 "2008-06-30T18:06:56Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] Does America not have…here they are called “bakkies”… I think, maybe, you’d call them compact pick-ups? Half-ton to 1 ton jobbies like the Ford Bantam or Toyota Hilux, with 1.3 -2.0 l engines, TWD, that sort of thing? Does “Ford Courier” ring a bell? That’s what I’d use if I had lots of stuff to carry regularly. [/QUOTE] Not really. The smallest engine you’d usually find in a US market pickup is a 2.5ish liter V6. > [@](#): > > How about you get a normal car for everyday use and an old Ford Transit for the instruments? Transit’s a Euro-only model. Never sold here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-selling-their-suvs/454583.md?page=12)