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Death of the body-on-frame SUV?

118 messages,  Last post on Apr 17, 2012 at 4:51 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Tahoe, Honda Pilot, Isuzu Trooper, Ford Expedition, Dodge Durango, Ford Freestyle, Volvo XC90, SUV

Messages Page 2 of 12

#8 of 118 Re: Its about use of the vehicle [bobw3] by catam

Mar 07, 2007 (7:43 pm)

Replying to: bobw3 (Mar 07, 2007 12:11 pm)
To be sure, there are some out there who buy these large SUV's "just for show".
A couple of points to condsider though. As another poster pointed out most people can't really afford an extra vehicle for limited use. I have done the math, you literally can't buy, insure, drive, and maintain a 3rd vehicle and save money vs. the cost in gas on driving the Suburban around daily. (the simple math, I spend about $100 in gas per month on my Suburban, a small car that averaged 30 mpg would cut my fuel bill in half to $50. Good Luck finding a car for $50/ month)
 
I haven't towed my boat anywhere since October, as boating on frozen lakes tends to be a little tough. But come summer, I take the boat out 2-3 times per month for weekend outings.
 
I would happily drive a more fuel efficient vehicle if the basic laws of physics didn't dictate that I need a vehicle with the size and power of a Suburban to do the job I need it to do.

#9 of 118 Re: Its about use of the vehicle [catam] by suv4betsy

Mar 07, 2007 (8:57 pm)

Replying to: catam (Mar 07, 2007 7:43 pm)
You're on the mark catam.. We use the space in the back of our aging Passport all the time, how else are you going to haul 300 rolls of TP from Costco? Seriously it is the trip to Costco, or weekend ventures to the ocean, kids haul all the toys in the back. We also need 4WD for the occasional snow storm to get to/from work. I didn't find many alternatives to 4WD with trunk capacity other than form of SUV. It is the most practical/utilitarian vehicle for us. I can't ever think of owning a typical sedan again.
 
I don't know if anyone has looked at the 2008's coming down the line but they are getting larger again, bigger engines, and the new 2008 EPA estimating rules are going to drop mileage even more. There's a lot of heavy marketing baraging us every day on TV to have the biggest most powerful vehicle on the planet. I'd even say the market is still in favor of more and more truck sales as much or greater than SUV market.

#10 of 118 Hybrib replaced Minivan by boxtrooper

Mar 08, 2007 (8:53 am)

Replying to: catam (Mar 07, 2007 7:43 pm)
A friend has replaced her minivan with a nearly new hybrid Civic or something like that. The family's other car is a Tahoe. She says the switch is nice for lower cost of fuel, but she has to plan more carefully to swap for the Tahoe in anticipation of picking up her kids friends along with her own kids or for anything that requires more room. Her kids have to plan for only the things they need in the seat with them, other stuff has to be placed in the trunk.
..
Her change to a hybrid was cost effective because of unforeseen circumstances that landed the hybrid in her possession, she had to decide to keep the minivan or the hybrid not both.

#11 of 118 Re: Death of the body-on-frame SUV? [sddoc07] by volvomax

Mar 08, 2007 (10:00 am)

Replying to: sddoc07 (Mar 06, 2007 3:21 am)
I don't think the body on frame SUV will go away entirely, but its numbers will decrease.
One other thing to consider is that the body on frame vehicle is cheaper to build than a unibody SUV.
So, the motor companies bottom line is enhanced by these trucks.
Also, as others have mentioned, they deal with heavier loads and stresses better than unibody vehicles do.
However,they are inherently less safe than unibody vehicles.

#12 of 118 Re: Hybrib replaced Minivan [boxtrooper] by odie6l

Mar 11, 2007 (7:43 pm)

Replying to: boxtrooper (Mar 08, 2007 8:53 am)
yeah, but Toyota is getting ready to unveil it's Hybrid Minivan. that alone will flood the market with people who "gotta have it" and don't need it.
 
Odie
Odie's Carspace

#13 of 118 Re: Hybrib replaced Minivan [odie6l] by boxtrooper

Mar 12, 2007 (7:22 pm)

Replying to: odie6l (Mar 11, 2007 7:43 pm)
Odie, I like that name!
Toyota has made an investment in Isuzu for diesel engine technology. I think an Isuzu diesel/hybrid minivan with an inline diesel designed to be easy to work on from the accessible side that gets 40+ MPG would suit a lot of people. Diesel has produces less "carbon footprint" than gasoline and gasoline less than ethanol fuels.
..
I would go for the diesel even if not a hybrid, because simple is very good for reliability. The hybrid would give stop and go drivers excellent response and the diesel would be awesome over the open road.

#14 of 118 Re: Its about use of the vehicle [stevedebi] by bobw3

Mar 13, 2007 (8:59 am)

Replying to: stevedebi (Mar 07, 2007 5:48 pm)
For those folks who use the towing capability a few times a month in the summer, then it does make sense to own something that can handle your towing needs. But I think it's unlikely that many of the soccor moms/dads driving Expeditions, etc in subarbia or on their morning commute do much if any towing.
 
I think most folks (and I don't think folks on these forums are "most folks") buy the big SUVs strictly for image and style. No problem...it's their money. But since the huge body on frame SUVs are bought mostly for image/style, just as style's change, so will the number of folks buying this sort of vehicle if they really have no need...and the reduced numbers indicate this. But you'll always have a core group of folks (those posting here) that will always have a true need.

#15 of 118 Re: Its about use of the vehicle [bobw3] by boxtrooper

Mar 13, 2007 (7:06 pm)

Replying to: bobw3 (Mar 13, 2007 8:59 am)
My sister says she and her husband drive big SUVs for two reasons:
..
1.) they have been in accidents where they were stopped and some other driver missed a turn or in some other way smashed their minivan and car at different incidents. The SUV on frame especially the largest of them, survive better when being crashed into, so they drive big SUVs for safety.
..
2.) The second reason is that she is self employed and can get a huge discount / rebate from the federal government for buying a vehicle in excess of 6000 lb. GVW. So the big SUV costs her much less than a car or even a hybrid to drive. The federal discount is meant for plumbers and the like, but all that is needed to qualify is the 6000 lb.

#16 of 118 Re: Its about use of the vehicle [boxtrooper] by tidester

Mar 13, 2007 (9:45 pm)

Replying to: boxtrooper (Mar 13, 2007 7:06 pm)
but all that is needed to qualify is the 6000 lb.
 
No, that's not all. You must also use the vehicle for business - plumbing or otherwise.
 
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

#17 of 118 Re: Its about use of the vehicle [boxtrooper] by bobw3

Mar 14, 2007 (5:53 am)

Replying to: boxtrooper (Mar 13, 2007 7:06 pm)
SUV on frame especially the largest of them, survive better when being crashed into,
 
If you're sitting in an big SUV or a small sedan and you're car is hit in the side by a big SUV, the small sedan being lighter may move upon impact and absorb some of the shock, where the heavy SUV will just sit there and take the impact.
 
Then you have to look at the door design to see which one absorbs the impact better. I don't know if you want a lot of heavy steel pushed into the passenger cabin.
 
Bottom line is that weight is only one factor and not necessarily an advantage in every type of crash situation.
 
What was the outcome of your sister's two previous accidents? Any serious injuries? I would think that folks in accidents tend to overcompensate, sort of like someone who has a friend who died in a plane wreck, so now they'll will never fly. Or they'll never let their kids play football because they heard about a kid dying from a freak football injury. Or they'll never eat food X because they heard on the radio that food X causes cancer in rats.
 
If we take safety to the extreme, everyone would be living in their basements eating organic rice every day and never leaving their house. To me, everyone driving giant SUV just to "be safe" is just as extreme.

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