[elwesso]

I am a little bored today, and i got to thinking today, do you think manufacturers are getting a little out of control with all the SUVs. I mean if porsche has one, then whats next, BENTLEY? Yeah right. Personally, i think they have gone a little too far, since most of them are collectively the same.

 

[DeVillish]

yeah iam kinda sick of all the SUVs all over. they are getting bigger, uglier and are always, ALWAYS in my way. Its hard to name a company that doesnt make a Stupid Ugly Vehical. Oh and i love when they show them going off road on TV, like any of the soccer moms will EVER go off-roading.

 

[elwesso]

Well im glad im not the only one. I mean some of them dont even deserve to be called SUVs. On my way to fort wayne over christmas, i saw about 5 aztechs in the median. And there really wasnt that much snow. They should be considered raised station wagons.

 

[Dead Sled]

there is only one SUV on my book thats the International Scout all the rest are just wanabees

 

[elwesso]

Or the origional jeep........

But i guess that wasnt technically a "SUV"

 

[Allante North *]

I would guess that I'm the exception and not the rule. I have two SUV's. Both are Toyota 4Runners, and both have 5-speeds. I use them for work and do take them off road, however the "95" is now semi-retired and used by my wife as work transportation. Having driven pick-em-up trucks for many years, I found the SUV to be more comfortable and having more space for equipment and people if any come along.

I wouldn't have a 4X4 vehicle without manual transmission because they are less prone to getting stuck. Believe me when I tell you the only reason I bought these SUV's was because they have leather interior and 5-speeds. Leather is more durable than cloth and easier to clean. I had to look long and hard to find these and wouldn't have one with automatic transmission. I think automatics are for wimps, and wish my Caddy had manual transmission. Maybe I'll get crazy later and try to pick up another older Allante and install a 5 or 6 speed in it.

It is true that most SUV's sold will never go off road, but they do have the potential to handle better in bad weather conditions to keep the soccer mommies and their rug rats safe. I agree with the statements above about the ammount of SUV's on the road, but while there is a demand for them they will continue to make them and theres not much that can be done except to tolorate them.

I guess I will have to keep the ones I have because manual transmissions are no longer available. I have been looking at getting a new GMC or Chevy 4X4 extended cab, but may have to settle for a Dodge to get the manual transmission. The General for some reason does not put manual transmissions in his top of the line trucks, and I'm not ready for a Dually just yet.

In response to the Aztec's made by Pontaic. That is the ugliest damn vehicle I have ever seen. They are two wheel drive, and ugly as a bowling shoe. A funny story about an Aztec was that one stopped to assist in an accident, and when fire rescue got there, they thought it was involved in the wreck and started to use the jaws of life to extract the occupants because they thought it was hit in the rear. They then saw the accident was off the highway and went into the woods to assist those that were involved in the accident.

 

[elwesso]

Thats a good story. Personally, i think that a car of similar weight would handle just as good in rough weather, unless there was like 10in of snow. Maybe what i was more going for, was have the manufacturers gone too far. I think a SUV in porsche's lineup almost takes away from their dignity. I remember when they made the AWD porsches (and maybe they still do, i dont really follow them too much). Also, BMW and Mercedes SUVs are abominable (sp?). They are a complete waste, they are so light that they cant go through anything. My aunt has a pathfinder and has 4wd, but cant stop because it is so light. On the other hand, my tahoe hardly ever engages the ABS, even on ice.

I certainly wasnt implying that aztechs were good at all, but the manufacturer was selling them as an SUV, and they can get out of snow about as well as a van.

As far as manual trannys, i think that the automatics are getting better every year. I think they will eventually make the manual obsolete, because they will be just as good. Especially if the tiptronic shifting becomes more popular.

 

[Dead Sled]

I guess theres good SUVs like the Jeep and Cherokee and a few others but then theres the over sized rice burners - the front wheel drivers and the absoutly uselees if any 4x4 at all kind like the aztec and some others

 

[HotRodSaint]

It ain't a Bentley but this weeks Autoweek has a picture of a Maserati SUV. So a Bentley couldn't be too far behind. They must be thinking there are buyers for 150,000 dollar SUV's too.

If I needed the utility, I'd buy a station wagon. I don't have the need or desire to go offroad, too much fun to be had onroad. Audi and Volvo make some very attractive wagons that also offer the performance I desire. I think I'd choose the Audi for the AWD though.

 

[Mad'lac]

You mean like that new Honda... the Pilot I think its called or that other one they got with the suicide doors even the Toyota Matrix. Both worthless as SUV. They should just call them stationwagons.

 

[elwesso]

I agree. If it doesnt have 4wd or even AWD it cant even be thought of to be considered a SUV. I think the tahoes and yukons are one of the best SUVs outside of the hummers. The expeditions and excursion are just too big to take offroad. Like sometimes my dad goes hunting, and drives through woods and there is no way that you could get through with a huge SUV.

 

[Dead Sled]

How about this one? It started life out as a cool SUV

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...7&category=5360

Oh well some rapper will probally buy it

 

[Allante North *]

Is that a VW with a Hummer shoved up its butt? I guess your right about some Rapper or Drug Dealer picking it up to tool around in. Good thing the exhaust is above the hood in case he drives it into the pool.

 

[Dead Sled]

Is that a VW with a Hummer shoved up its butt? I guess your right about some Rapper or Drug Dealer picking it up to tool around in. Good thing the exhaust is above the hood in case he drives it into the pool.

thats an intake snorkel so it can "drive under water" It could be worse like 24" rims

 

[elwesso]

VW with a hummer up its butt, that seems appropriate. But words can not describe the horrendessness of that vehicular object. If i worked for the BMV, i would not let them register it because it looks so bad.

 

[Dead Sled]

VW with a hummer up its butt, that seems appropriate. But words can not describe the horrendessness of that vehicular object. If i worked for the DMV, i would not let them register it because it looks so bad.

lol, regestering anything custom is a pain. I argued for 20 minutes that my car was a hearse and not a fleetwood the last 2 states it was regestered in says hearse of amblulance on the title. so they call around and tell me what my car is. I tell them thats is based on the comercial chassis, but no they tell me ists a fleetwood, so i settled for fleetwood limo. oh well

 

[elwesso]

Stupid DMV, they think they know everything

 

[Dead Sled]

Stupid DMV, they think they know everything

I guess I cant complain about $25 a year for registration tho

 

[Mad'lac]

Back in my wild teen years me and my dad built a 3-wheel trike using a VW engine and tranny. Imagine the hell we went through trying to register it as a bike. First they said no it ain't a bike then told us its a VW. It went on for months!!! Finally we got it registered as a '79 Sportster since thats was the parts bike we used , sad part is we had to track down the title of the bike. Spent money getting a new title on the bike numbers filing a lost title claim and all that b.s. DMV just like to ruin yer life sometimes

 

[Dead Sled]

Back in my wild teen years me and my dad built a 3-wheel trike using a VW engine and tranny. Imagine the hell we went through trying to register it as a bike. First they said no it ain't a bike then told us its a VW. It went on for months!!! Finally we got it registered as a '79 Sportster since thats was the parts bike we used , sad part is we had to track down the title of the bike. Spent money getting a new title on the bike numbers filing a lost title claim and all that b.s. DMV just like to ruin yer life sometimes

yeah I imagine that would be pretty hard