[LarryP]

My Saab is the car I drive. It is a wagon and is the virtual equivalent of a Taurus. The bikes and the 914 are toys and get virtually no mileage. I owned two SUVs and would never own another. That is my choice; I did not say that what people drive should be mandated. I suppose that would be what YOU read into what I wrote.

But facts are annoying things, and the fact is that for the vast majority of people, an SUV is indefensible for transportation. The only reason people are allowed to make that choice is because, as was pointed out before me, the government permits (read "encourages") is by omitting them from CAFE ratings, so there is great incentive for auto manufacturers to shove them down our throats. And if you think people would "choose" to drive them absent that, you are kidding yourself.

Auto manufacturers respond to what is necessary and no more. Do you think we would have airbags based on consumer demand? Or environmental regulations? I am sure Mercedes would be making 400 hp vehiclles but do you really think they would be clean if not forced to be? Chevy and Ford et al could certainly make efficient SUVs (a different question than making them efficiently, but one thing at a time) but absolutely will not do so until forced. Educating consumers has never been effective against advertising given the disparities in the playing field.