Truth comes out... no more porsche/porcupine

[johnnyo200]

This is a really good read. Now where can I post it where "those" people can read it.
Then maybe I could lead them to this BB and let them see how we, as Porsche owners, really are.

BUMPER MENTALITY
Stephanie Mencimer, Washington Monthly
A new book says the SUV is the car of choice for the
nation's most self-centered people -- and the bigger the
SUV, the more of a jerk its driver is likely to be.
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14839

[atlporsche]

I'm partial to this paragraph.

"The occupant death rate in SUVs is 6 percent higher than it is for cars – 8 percent higher in the largest SUVs. The main reason is that SUVs carry a high risk of rollover; 62 percent of SUV deaths in 2000 occurred in rollover accidents. SUVs don't handle well, so drivers can't respond quickly when the car hits a stretch of uneven pavement or "trips" by scraping a guardrail. Even a small bump in the road is enough to flip an SUV traveling at high speed. On top of that, SUV roofs are not reinforced to protect the occupants against rollover; nor does the government require them to be. "

sjd

[Chuck Moreland]

I agree with just about that entire article, despite its obvious single-sided bias.

I am sure the increased death rate is also largely due to the wreckless and aggressive driving style of many SUV drivers that seems to go hand-in-hand with the sense of power they get behind the wheel. The article did hit on that a bit:

"Because of their vehicles' size and four-wheel drive, SUV drivers tend to overestimate their own security, which prompts many to drive like maniacs, particularly in inclement weather. "

[pbs911]

I just wonder how many people are killed each year by being broadsided by those monoliths each year because the driver is too busy on their cell phone and orange mocha frapachino to pay attention to the road.

[jmohn]

I dislike this kind of sweeping generalization. This type of "journalism", in my opinion, is BY people who dislike and know nothing about automobiles FOR people who dislike and know nothing about automobiles. If any group should be sensitive to typecasting due to the transportation they prefer, we should. Even though this critical article appears aimed only at SUV's, I'm certain the writer would not hesitate to find fault with "arrogant sportscar owners" also. I have no particular love for SUV's; I think it's joke on themselves for people to spend so much for vehicles so cumbersome, so ugly, so unpleasant to drive, so indistinguishable, so useless (mostly) but it's their money and I don't think SUV owners, as a group, are any worse than we are, just not as smart.

Jerry M

[911nut]

Because of their high gross weight, SUV's put a lot of load on their tires.
A few months ago I was driving alongside a Chevy Suburban with an underinflated tire. This tire didn't look like it was going flat but within 2 miles it blew out. Fortunately the Suburban didn't roll over but the episode meade me glad that I like and drive cars.

Getting back to the topic though.....seems like driving an SUV today is a fashion statement like driving a Cadillac was 25 years ago.

[kumma]

wow, i must be the biggest jerk on the planet then. that must be what people think when i tow the 911 with my 7 foot tall Jimmy. now i know why i get all those funny looks.

[ChrisBennet]

Originally posted by kumma
wow, i must be the biggest jerk on the planet then.

Yeah kumma, we've been meaning to say something about hat.
-Chris

[gregk1]

I drive a one ton DIEsel duley extended cab But that's a Truck Not an SUV Right???

[old_skul]

I drive agressively in my 911.

I'm also insecure and vain. And I distrust marriage; that's why I'm 34 and never married. And I hate kids; no offense to those of you who have already reproduced.

I lack confidence in my driving skills, so I attend DE events regularly. I'm certainly self-centered and self-absorbed; I'm one person living in a 3-bedroom house. I don't know any of my neighbor's names, and I tend to be pretty anti-social at times.

I love fine restaurants. I never, ever go to church. And I don't volunteer for anyone unless there's a paycheck involved.

Why am I not driving an SUV?


-------------------


I felt this story was inspiring, and I wish more Americans would buy cars as opposed to SUVs. But on the whole, this article was propagandic BS.

[johnnyo200]

I have to agree that it is harsh, but this was written by a journalist from the Washington Monthly, (investigating this for the last SIX years) who was covering the automotive industry and these findings are from the automobile indusrty/manufacturer's own marketing research.

I don't like to generalize either, but the fact of the matter is that I see more dumb-@ss drivers in huge four-wheel drive SUVs (that have and never will be driven off-road) doing stupid things or just plain being asleep in the left lane than any other type vehicle. Or that some wonderfully thoughtful SUV driver doesn't know that their truck does not fit in the compact car spots when they go to park at the grocery store, boxing in my girlfriend's car for an hour, and avoiding the several intercom pages in the grocery store.

All that said and done, I am in the market for a tow vehicle and I really like the Land Cruiser. I just know I will not be like the persons written about in this report.

[Moses]

Reading that article made me want to start smoking, wear fur... and buy a Hummer.

[Bones]

so just to add to the depth of human interplay ...here is a Porcupine from the UK....

[Bones]

well father of Porcupine......here's the real deal!!

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Holy cr@p, that's a gorgeous scoot!

I'd still prefer a Vincent Black Shadow but I could make do with the E95.

On topic: my wife drives a Tacoma but we haul hay and lumber with it. Plus we load up our recyclables in it and drive to the recycling center.

old_skul, the article would have been "propagandic BS" if it hadn't been backed up with actual statistics and research.

[JavaBrewer]

That's why I say get a Land Rover. Ours is slow off the line and does everything to discourage fast and/or agressive driving behavior. It has big windows encouraging you to slow down and take in the passing vistas. When I drive it on the weekends I can feel my stress level drop as I slowly sip my drip coffee. Any contrary to the article our Disco tracks sure and steady over bumps in the road, hehe.

[Bones]

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
Holy cr@p, that's a gorgeous scoot!

I'd still prefer a Vincent Black Shadow but I could make do with the E95.

On topic: my wife drives a Tacoma but we haul hay and lumber with it. Plus we load up our recyclables in it and drive to the recycling center.

old_skul, the article would have been "propagandic BS" if it hadn't been backed up with actual statistics and research.

wahat do you mean 'ON TOPIC' haha

[Zeke]

Originally posted by old_skul
I drive agressively in my 911.

I'm also insecure and vain. And I distrust marriage; that's why I'm 34 and never married. And I hate kids; no offense to those of you who have already reproduced.

I lack confidence in my driving skills, so I attend DE events regularly. I'm certainly self-centered and self-absorbed; I'm one person living in a 3-bedroom house. I don't know any of my neighbor's names, and I tend to be pretty anti-social at times.

I love fine restaurants. I never, ever go to church. And I don't volunteer for anyone unless there's a paycheck involved.

Sweet Jeeeezus! I just found the perfect role model! One exception, I'm confident about driving skills, at least I'm in the 90th percentile, Micheal Schumacher I'm not.

In my years as an auto enthusiast, I've run into precious few who agnonize over any gear change that is less than so perfect that a passenger couldn't tell except for the change in the engine's note. If we are going to generalize about the drivers on the road in SUVs (or other cars), I think that it would be safe to say that they are not students of technical, high performance driving. They're just going somewhere with no thought of the means of getting there. Ever had a woman tailgate you with her cell phone in her face and you start to slow down just to see how long she'll hang? I think my record on the freeway is about 7 miles at 55mph. And I move over one lane and she hammers it until she's right up someone else's ass and sits there with this transfixed gaze for another 5 miles.

[rcilurso]

Before I rant and rave does my Land Rover count as an SUV?

[VincentVega]

I was thinking the same thing, he was in my area I might have a new drinkin' buddy. Let me think, single, home owner, dont know the neighbors, 27.... no complaints here!