freedom of choice -- allowed to drive what you want.
freedom of speech -- allowed to ridicule those whom make absurd choices.
Okay, an over simplification I know. We don't actually get to drive what we want. There are rules for safety that govern our vehicles. Unfortunatley, many of these basic saftey rules have been undermined by the "Truck" catagory.
The most haunting being bumper height. A few years ago I witnessed this problem first hand. Ever see a Volvo wagen, full of kids get rear-ended by a driver who apparently didn't get enough Tonkas as a kid?
Now I know Volvos fold like Ikea furniture, but the kids in the back would of had a better chance (of not getting squished) if the truck bumper was
at least below the Volvos rear window.
I generally despise laws about a technology, but how about some
standards!? If I drive around with a big beam sticking out the back, I put a flag on it, and drive fully aware of the extra hazard.
Unfortuantely, the average "SUV" driver expects their vehicle to be no extra hazard . . .but it is. This under-ride/over-ride problem is huge.
IMO, These jacked-up, rock-thowing, POS are a nusance at best.
If it has the wheels covered, and reasonable height bumpers, I don't care if it gets 2mpg.
wrt ride height, I believe Porsch-o-file may is right about one thing; This "jacked-up" thing *is* for idiots. . . the drivers are after (ill-perceived) "personal safety" that they believe can be attained by drive something resembling a raised battering ram.
People buy say a Jeep Cherokee over say a Jetta stationwagen. Why? . . The Cherokee is nothing but a jacked POS mini-stationwagen.
I suppose the boomers think they're better (more sporty) than their dull-stationwagen-driving-parents were.
. . .if the stationwagen is on a lift-kit. (cracks me up)
The only thing notable about these jacked SUV is the DPJ (Darwinian-poetic-justice) of their high center of gravity, and their inherently weak roof structures.