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Death of the body-on-frame SUV?

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

You are in the Dodge Durango Forum.

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

Messages Page 11 of 12

#99 of 118 Re: Vehicle Safety [dieselone] by jim314

Jun 22, 2009 (2:13 am)

Replying to: dieselone (Jun 18, 2009 1:00 pm)
Bob,
 
Very interesting info about the results of your T-bone crash. . . It's very surprising that your airbag did not deploy. Even more amazing that the woman in the Grand Am walked away--truly miraculous outcome for her and you.
 
Jim

#100 of 118 Re: Vehicle Safety [tidester] by bobw3

Jun 22, 2009 (9:09 am)

Replying to: tidester (Jun 18, 2009 11:08 am)
Sorry HOST, but with the forum with the title, "Death of the body-on-frame SUV?" I would think there would be some leway in the discussion, especially since I don't see hardly anyone here talking about the death of body-on-frame SUVs too much, just people talking about why they want to keep theirs.
 
And I don't see how I can "force" people to think one way or another just by posting here...I don't think my words here have that much power
 
But posting an opposing view in this forum is like going to an NRA forum and posting the obvious truth that if there were no guns available, then there would be no deaths from guns...but no politics right

#101 of 118 Re: Vehicle Safety [bobw3] by dieselone

Jun 22, 2009 (11:10 am)

Replying to: bobw3 (Jun 22, 2009 9:09 am)
With upcoming CAFE regs I can see BOF SUVs going away except for maybe a Suburban and/or Expedition EL. I imagine Ford and GM probably will keep current designs around a while. While I'd hate to see the Expe and Suburban go away, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I'd just get a pickup to tow my toys.

#102 of 118 Re: Vehicle Safety [motorhead15] by explorerx4

Jun 30, 2009 (5:39 pm)

Replying to: motorhead15 (Jun 19, 2009 8:48 am)
um, stay away from the head on into the wall.
my bof after meeting a wrong way driver

#103 of 118 Re: Vehicle Safety [bobw3] by hoss416

Jul 23, 2009 (4:52 am)

Replying to: bobw3 (Jun 22, 2009 9:09 am)
Bob,
 
This might upset you but I have a 3/4 Ton Diesel P/U and a SUV. I just sold my VW to pick up the SUV too! Why would I want to do this, for a couple of reasons. While we are a pain for you to see around the added height gives us the ability to see further down the road to avoid danger, if you are at a proper following distance you too should be able to react in a timely manner. On week ends I like to spend time with my family and friends, when we go out it is nice to fill the eight seats in my SUV and take one vehicle over two, thus reducing the amount of vehicles on the road. Finally I enjoy being able to pick up my furniture, mattresses, and other bulky items myself and avoid the delivery trucks, which are much more difficult to see around and get far worse mileage than either my P/U or my SUV.

#104 of 118 SUV challenge to auto makers! by roadwriter1

Jul 26, 2009 (11:30 am)

I challenge the auto makers to develop a 50-mpg or plug-in electric with fast-charge battery counterpart to our work-horse SUVs! I have a 1990 4WD, 6-cyl, automatic, Isuzu Trooper that I have used twice to move across California and back, evacuate twice to escape wildfires, enjoy desert jeep trails for hikes not accessible to 2WD, low-slung cars, haul picnic, beach, tail-gate party, gardening and home repair supplies, cat and dog in carriers, and of course passengers. This has been the best car ever, because it's comfortable enough for road trips and provides good visibility, off-pavement and load-carrying capacities. I save gas now by living close to work and consolidating errands but would like to do more traveling again. I'm considering cash for clunkers and wish there were a fuel-efficient or electric alternative. Instead of demonizing SUV owners, challenge the auto makers to design an environmentally friendly replacement; and I don't mean SUV cross-overs or hybrid station wagons weighed down with a 3rd-row seat.

#105 of 118 Re: Vehicle Safety [hoss416] by bobw3

Jul 27, 2009 (10:00 am)

Replying to: hoss416 (Jul 23, 2009 4:52 am)
What model SUV did you buy?

#106 of 118 Utility by jimq2

Sep 12, 2009 (2:50 pm)

I have to occasionally haul full sheets of Plywood. I occasionally pull travel trailers and utility trailers. And I regularly have 6 or more people sitting in my 2008 Expedition. When we have a group going out to dinner, we take 1 car instead of 3. I am also getting a little over 15 MPG around town, and 20-21 on the highway.
 
I have a tax client with a diesel Excursion. Combining their families, they have 6 kids. Seems like a no brainer to me. She is the neighborhood sports drive, so I seldom see it without at least a half dozen people in it.
 
Another client was bragging about trading in his 2 year old Suburban on a new Honda Civic and how he was saving $75 per month on gas. It was his wife that mentioned that their car payment is $150 higher each month because the trade-in amount was lower than their balance due. And they regularly have to rent a pickup for $100+ to take the boat to the lake for the weekend, and take the car because the truck doesn't seat enough people.

#107 of 118 Frame versus Unibody by motorhead15

Jan 27, 2010 (7:41 am)

Well it happened. I was involved in a minor accident. Yes it was the first accident I have been involved in that was my fault in over 30 years of driving. I was turning left at an intersection in my 2008 Expedition (full box frame vehicle) and collided with a 2008 Honda CRV (unibody). I was doing less than 10 miles per hour. The other vehicle had slowed down and was probably doing less than 20 mph. Both of us turned to avoid the accident. Airbags did not deploy in either vehicle and no one was hurt. The Expedition is approximately 2,500 pounds heavier than the Honda. Naturally the Expedition came out better. The radiator, engine and transmission on the Honda was turned completely off axis and was shoved into the Honda's firewall. The Honda went through the Expedition's cosmetic pieces like the fender and bumper cover but once it hit the Expedition's frame, the Honda didn't go any further. The Honda would not move and had to be winched onto a flat bed wrecker and hauled off. I drove the Expedition for a week until I had time to get it into the body shop. I'm not sure if the Honda was totaled or not but I would not be surprised if it was as it had some major damage not only to the body/unibody but also to the entire drive-train of the Honda. The main thing here is that nobody was injured. Had the same collision happened at higher speeds, it wouldn't have been pretty for the Honda. Again, thank God nobody was hurt.

#108 of 118 Re: Frame versus Unibody [motorhead15] by bobw3

Feb 24, 2010 (12:27 pm)

Replying to: motorhead15 (Jan 27, 2010 7:41 am)
It's good that vehicles are getting smaller and safer in general so when accidents do occur the outcome will be better for all involved.

Messages Page 11 of 12

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