I got rid of my SUV. Thank God!

[mrgorth]

I traded in my 2002 Ford Sport Trac yesterday for a 2002 Subaru Outback. I probably took a drubbing financially but I have a fierce commute, 75 minutes each way. I was spending $60/week in gas. It feels so good to be rid of that tank and fuel use is like throwing money out the window. No return on investment. Peace.

[venus]

1. Good for you. My husband and I were thinking of buying a SUV

because we like to do a lot of home repair and currently have small Chevy with no trunk room, so we end up having to rent a truck from Lowe's or Home Depot to haul. However I think I'm going to be like you and stick with a smaller auto.

[RoundRockD]

2. We have both. My husband drives the car during the week so the SUV

sits in the driveway until the weekend. It comes in handy at times.

[lukasahero]

4. SUV's - my thoughts

I get really frustrated when everybody pans "SUVs" as a whole group. I drive a '95 Geo Tracker. I get great gas mileage and it's just barely big enough to fit me, my dog and my backpack. I can fit my whole car in the front of some of these monster SUVs. I get grief as one of those gas-guzzling, insurance-raising SUVs and people I know who drive Lincoln Towncars and the like get away with it. :shrug:

Rant over. Thanks for letting me vent - I've been wanting to say that for ages.

[mrgorth]

5. My take on SUVs

It's not that people have them. It's that people with little or no need have them. To me, if you live in Maine and have 5 kids who play drums and hockey, you might need the Ford Exterminator. A single woman in suburban Atlanta with a 45 minute commute? Please. If you get a lot of stuff from Lowe's a crew cab pickup might be for you. How much gas would you use on the week?

[Ron Green]

6. What would living in Maine have to do with it?

The drums and hockey players will fit in a minivan, which gets far better gas mileage, is safer overall, and goes just fine in snow and ice. The problem with the SUV is that people somehow think it's a better big vehicle than something built on a car frame. But the fact that it's on a truck frame is what makes it dangerous and wasteful.

[mrgorth]

8. I lived in Maine for 5 years and own a minivan.

Trucks and SUVs can be useful. I see your point but lets not overdo it.

[Skittles]

9. I grew up with five brothers

and we did fine in an Impala. No one needs to drive those g.d. things.

[wuushew]

3. Give me your financing information and I could calculate

the net gain or loss as an equivalent annuity.

[mrgorth]

7. Value is subjective

I'm not worried about it. Thanks though.

[cheezus]

10. Are there alternatives to the long drive?

Is there any form of mass transit? A park and ride? Can you carpool? Is it a traffic issue that could be solved by an alternate schedule? Could you telework?
It's obviously too far to bicycle, but there should still be some way to cut back on the amount of energy needed to get you to work and back.

[3trievers]

11. love a big Ford diesel but

We drive a 97 neon and a 2002 volkswagen golf diesel.The diesel gets close to 60 mpg on the highway.A real plus if you have to pay Canadian fuel prices.(87 cents a litre,4.5 litres to the gallon,roughly 3.91 cents per gallon.)Yikes!!!!!!!!