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Are you happy you didn't sell your SUV?

122 messages,  Last post on Apr 15, 2009 at 5:57 AM

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What is this discussion about? Fuel Efficiency (MPG)


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#49 of 122
Re: Every SUV lover needs to read this story [explorerx4] by andre1969
Jan 15, 2009 (6:02 am)
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Replying to: explorerx4 (Jan 14, 2009 7:45 pm)

On a similar note, my '85 Silverado was rear-ended three times in the course of about 4 months. The first time, I was whacked pretty hard by a 2000 Infiniti I30 or I35 or whatever they called their version of the Maxima. I wouldn't be surprised if it did an easy $4-5K worth of damage to her car. It was a hard enough hit that I momentarily lost control of the truck, shooting forward, and fighting to keep from bouncing over the line into oncoming traffic. And I had a headache for a day or two afterwards, from hitting my head on the rear window.
 
Anyway, here's a pic of my truck, taken a day or two later, before I got it fixed...

 
My repair bill? A whopping $350. I don't think the bumper itself got damaged, but the brackets holding it got bent. They replaced the bumper, brackets, and I think even the license plate lights. And the best part is, I no longer have that danged Crimesolvers sticker that my stepdad put on the truck!
 
If I had been in the Intrepid, I wouldn't be too surprised if it got totaled from a hit like that.
 
The next two hits were much more minor. In one of them, a Hyundai Elantra wedged itself under my bumper when the driver tried to cut around behind me too close when I was stopped at a traffic light. I didn't even feel the hit, but happened to look back and see it wedged under there. It was just enough to bend the bumper, so I got it fixed (on their dime). The third time was a parking lot hit and run I'm presuming. Just one day I happened to walk around behind the truck and saw the bumper was bent again. So this time I just left it alone.
 
Oh, and I have hopped curbs in that truck, too. Even though it has rally wheels with chrome rings, it's still no big deal.
#50 of 122
Re: Every SUV lover needs to read this story [explorerx4] by larsb
Jan 15, 2009 (6:23 am)
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Replying to: explorerx4 (Jan 14, 2009 7:45 pm)

My oldest is 4+ years from a license.
 
He will be getting a small electric vehicle ( like a ZAP ) or else riding the bus.
 
We live in Phoenix, so Mass Transit can get him just about everywhere he wants to be if I decide he doesn't need a car before graduation.
#51 of 122
Re: Every SUV lover needs to read this story [larsb] by gagrice
Jan 15, 2009 (6:38 am)
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Replying to: larsb (Jan 15, 2009 6:23 am)

if I decide he doesn't need a car before graduation.
 
The longer you can dissuade him from getting a car the better for both of you. That is the word of experience. Most people get their kids a car out of peer pressure. I can tell you that it is expensive. Probably not as expensive as sending them to Harvard. But costly none the less. The bike and bus is a good way to go if you live in a city. Most buses around here have a bike rack.
#52 of 122
Re: Every SUV lover needs to read this story [gagrice] by larsb
Jan 15, 2009 (6:50 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jan 15, 2009 6:38 am)

Oh, believe me, I'm all over that like White On Rice.........
 
I decided at birth that my kids were not getting cars AT LEAST until they are 17, preferably only as a graduation gift.
 
I'm lucky in that I live in Phoenix and there are a lot of good "teen-oriented" driving schools here. I'm going to send them to the best one, maybe the best TWO schools, and have them driving with me as passenger a LONG TIME before even considering getting them a car of their own.
 
And nothing but a two-seater also.....having a carload of kids is a huge danger risk factor. It DARN sure ain't gonna be no dang SUV.
 
There's a guy working here in my office who lost his 17-yr-old daughter to a car crash a couple of years ago. I'm going to try to avoid that with everything I can throw at the risk.
#53 of 122
Re: Every SUV lover needs to read this story [gagrice] by andre1969
Jan 15, 2009 (6:54 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jan 15, 2009 6:38 am)

Just out of curiosity, how much is car insurance these days for a typical teen? When I got my license, my Mom gave me her old 1980 Malibu (used that as an excuse to get a new 1986 Monte Carlo) but my stepdad wouldn't let me on their policy, so I had to get the thing insured by myself. For that first year, which ran 1/87-1/88, my first bill was $1,361. Seemed horrible at the time, especially for a high school junior making $3.75 per hour part time, but I managed it somehow.
 
In my case, I think having a car worked out well. I worked 6 days per week, and before I had a car, my grandmother would usually pick me up from school on her way home from work and drop me off at work, and then my Mom would have to come pick me up at 7:30. And someone would have to drive me to work on Saturdays.
 
Out where I live, public transportation is practically non-existent. Although if I had to (and I have) I could have walked from the house to work in about a half-hour.
#54 of 122
Re: Every SUV lover needs to read this story [larsb] by grbeck
Jan 15, 2009 (7:07 am)
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Replying to: larsb (Jan 15, 2009 6:50 am)

Most two-seaters were hardly designed for "sedate" driving...although I'm sure your children will appreciate a sports car as their first set of wheels.
 
If you want a safe vehicle for teenagers, I'd suggest something reasonably large but boring, and not designed for performance...think older Camry or Taurus.
#55 of 122
Re: Every SUV lover needs to read this story [grbeck] by guss
Jan 15, 2009 (8:19 am)
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Replying to: grbeck (Jan 15, 2009 7:07 am)

I ran a little landscape business while I was in High School and thru College. I used a little 4cyl. single cap 2wd Toyota pick-up to run the equipment around.
 
It was fairly low to the ground and handled pretty well. It really only seated 2 and was as slow as molasses.
#56 of 122
Re: Every SUV lover needs to read this story [larsb] by oldfarmer50
Jan 15, 2009 (8:46 am)
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Replying to: larsb (Jan 15, 2009 6:23 am)

"...Mass Transit can get him just about everywhere..."
 
LOL. Just wait until you tell him that. I'd love to be a fly on the wall at your house when he starts to whine that no girl will date him because he rides "the loser cruiser" (bus).
 
Then again, maybe your son will see the wisdom you have acquired throughout your life and agree with you 100%. Yea, right!
#57 of 122
Re: Every SUV lover needs to read this story [oldfarmer50] by larsb
Jan 15, 2009 (8:53 am)
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Replying to: oldfarmer50 (Jan 15, 2009 8:46 am)

Sorry, but even the pretty girls take the "loser cruiser" in Phoenix. Near his school about 30 high schoolers get on and off the bus every day.
#58 of 122
Re: Every SUV lover needs to read this story [larsb] by gagrice
Jan 15, 2009 (9:00 am)
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Replying to: larsb (Jan 15, 2009 8:53 am)

Get him an old PU and a lawnmower. So he can earn enough to buy gas and insurance. I agree on the SUV. Too many teens around here drive Yukons and Tahoes all blinged out. That or some little POC rice rocket dragging on the ground.

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