I haven't read the whole thread but my wife and I are in our 50s and the next vehicles we get will be an SUV or crossover simply because they sit higher off the ground and are easier to get in and out of.
I also had several conversations with crossover owners and their real world mpg never touched what the vehicle was rated for while most Asian sedans overachieve their ratings. It is such a CRAZY misconception that if you have kids you need an SUV/Crossover. The whole "I want to sit higher" is truly the only reason I could see in justifying a crossover over a sedan. If you are willing to part with multiple thousands of dollars over the life of a vehicle than I guess an SUV may be right for you
I drive a '12 Forester and my reason was more room for my outdoor pursuits but not so much room that I would have too much crap.
Works perfect in that regard. Also comes up big in times like last summer--was on some pretty iffy national forest fire roads that I don't believe my old Civic would have made it through.
Agree on the MPG though. It's not as bad as an Explorer I once had but it's certainly not what it was rated.
Yes, it is an unwritten rule of truck ownership: if you just got a truck, so did your friends, neighbors and relatives.
EDIT: I don't own one, but I learned this way back when I did.
Part of the reason trucks (and cargo vans) are so expensive is because of a 25% tariff on trucks imported into the US. I'm sure Nissan, Toyota and Honda trucks could be much more competitive if not for that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax
My experience has been the same. I'll see a neighbor trying to wedge something in their van or pull a trailer that's too much for their vehicle and I'll send them a "do you want me to help you out?" text.You must have had some ****** friends, neighbors & relatives. In the ~5 years I've had mine, I've only been asked to use it a couple times even though I'm more than happy to lend a hand.
I'm the kind of guy who hates to ask people to borrow a tool/truck/anything, but I will go out of my way to lend something to someone else or help with anything. Which is part of the reason I got a truck, and I've used it plenty. It was 5 years old when I got it though, don't know how sooo many people can afford new ones for $40k+. Most of them gotta be leased, right??
Except this is all wrong. Look at any SUV that costs around $35k. For the same price you could have a loaded Honda Accord that had more features, faster, handled better, got a lot better gas mileage, more reliable, quieter, rides better, and on and on.
The problem is fitting 3 kids and their stuff into that vehicle.
I don't have bad friends, neighbors or relatives. When I had the truck they always nicely asked. My point was that it is a commodity that just about everyone needs from time to time and when you don't have one and a friend does you are liable to ask. I didn't say there was anything wrong with it. They generally expressed and showed their appreciation as well.You must have had some ****** friends, neighbors & relatives. In the ~5 years I've had mine, I've only been asked to use it a couple times even though I'm more than happy to lend a hand.
I'm the kind of guy who hates to ask people to borrow a tool/truck/anything, but I will go out of my way to lend something to someone else or help with anything. Which is part of the reason I got a truck, and I've used it plenty. It was 5 years old when I got it though, don't know how sooo many people can afford new ones for $40k+. Most of them gotta be leased, right??
Depending on the situation. For my BIL in KC, sure. For me in Minnesota, not so much. Having clearance and 4WD comes in pretty handy in the winter whether it is for bad roads or just getting into my driveway after the snow plow plows it in and then the second one for the side street pushes around the corner and drops it all at the end of my drive. Also, a lot of the other drives and parking lots don't necessarily get plowed before I have to get in them.Yes, I can see if you have a bunch of kids. Although then I would argue that a minivan is an even better choice.
My experience has been the same. I'll see a neighbor trying to wedge something in their van or pull a trailer that's too much for their vehicle and I'll send them a "do you want me to help you out?" text.
Part of the reason trucks (and cargo vans) are so expensive is because of a 25% tariff on trucks imported into the US. I'm sure Nissan, Toyota and Honda trucks could be much more competitive if not for that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax
The new crossovers are classified in a different class for CAFE mandates. They are not considered cars. They are in a different class, which has different mandates.Didn't American car manufacturers make more efficient vehicles (at a near loss) to satisfy EPA mandates that their vehicles average a certain mileage per gallon? If this is the case, Ford is banking on the EPA relief of the present regulations to be long term. If I'm wrong, please disregard.
Worried that all of the tariff sabre rattling from the White House will do the same to the German cars I like.Last three everyday cars have been Audi's.