Cash-strapped SUV owners in a tight spot -- good!
Filed under: Transportation
I'm normally a pretty compassionate guy, but this story really brings out my inner schadenfreude.Those annoying, upwardly mobile, credit-dependent, latte-sipping, people who just had to buy big new SUVs so they could crush smaller cars in accidents and make it harder to see in traffic are finding that their chosen toys of masculinity compensation aren't worth what they thought they would be.
According (subscription required) to the Wall Street Journal, "A three-year-old large SUV today is worth about $2,000 to $3,000 less at trade-in than a three-year-old large SUV would have been in 2007." The culprit, of course, is soaring gas prices. People just can't afford cars that get 12-MPG.
In a wonderful example of the power of good karma, environmentally conscious folks who bought compact cars a few years ago out of concern for the environment sometimes find that they can actually get more for the cars now than they paid!
Recent Posts
- Ask the Dolans: Should I re-address my estate planning documents when I move? (8/29/2008)
- Urgent safety matter: popular bassinet kills two infants (8/29/2008)
- Smithsonian's Museum Day - hundreds of local museums to offer free admission Sept 27th (8/29/2008)
- Are you ready for pay as you go car insurance? (8/29/2008)
- Fantastic Freebies: Love your mom and get a free movie rental (8/29/2008)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-04-2008 @ 7:01PM
marcsirishgirl said...
For all the ass-holes who think that the SUV craze is to be the biggest on the phone---i will give you a pipe to suck on.
I went from a Ford Explorer to Ford Expedition BECAUSE we have four children and a grandson and I, the mom, is living in a wheelchair...
Build me a Porsche Boxster or a Prius that can fit all that crap AND groceries for all of them.... and I will get it in a heart beat----save on gas and rent a DOZER for ignorant drivers who think I want to own the road
Reply
6-04-2008 @ 7:25PM
Kurt said...
Did it ever occur to you that a mini van would be a better choice. More room and far easier for your wheel chair bound mom to get into. Plus better gas milage than most SUV's.
SUV's were made for off roading and construction workers not soccer moms thats what minivans were made for. The excuse that SUV's were safer which until recently was patently not true, Most were and still are actually were far more dangerous than your average VW bug.
I also really hate the monster Expediton driver going 1 MPH over the slightest bump of a rail crossing.
That proves my point that most SUV drivers belong driving any but a SUV. It also is proven by the number of said turtle SUV's on the side of the highway after ever rain storm.
6-04-2008 @ 7:47PM
BeingHelpful said...
Hey ya, marcsirishgirl and Paige-
If it helps at all, there are a few hybrid SUV's out there. Here's a link for a quick comparison:
http://www.hybridsuv.com/
Also, a newer company called Phoenix should be producing a highway-speed SUV-EV (electric vehicle) sometime in the next year. Their first highway-speed EV truck orders are expected to be delivered either this June or July, so it's pretty hopeful on the SUV's. I'm not sure if they're only accepting fleet orders right now, but at least it's a start. Here's a link to that:
http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/vehicles/phoenix-suv.php
Unfortunately, as noted in the blog entry, getting rid of one's current gas-only SUV would be difficult and will likely incur a decent financial loss. Best of luck!
6-04-2008 @ 7:26PM
Paige said...
I would kill to drive a normal sized car!!!! Unfortunately, I am the mother of four children and as the law stands right now, I have to drive a car that seats six due to seatbelt laws. I do not like driving a gas guzzler that gets 10m miles to the gallon, but that is my only option right now, so please don't critisize us because we have to do what we have to do!
Reply
6-04-2008 @ 7:26PM
Jason said...
Yeah! How dare people buy something they wanted, and in some cases needed! What losers!
I wish we had more people out there to decide what they felt was right for us to buy. You know, I sure do hope we get to a point where we can ditch this whole pesky freedom thing.
I welcome the days when I can just check the manual for what colors are government approved so they don't injure the seagulls as they fly over the gaping hole in the ozone created by me enjoying my Starbucks coffee.
You know what we could do next? We could get rid of airplanes and big rigs! Yeah that'll really put us on the path to saving the mosquitoes! The Amish had it right the first time. Why stray from the proven methods. Horse and buggy are here to stay.
Reply
6-04-2008 @ 7:37PM
Jason said...
@ Kurt
1 Mom + 1 Dad + 4 Children (Carseats?) + 1 mom in a wheelchair in a regular minivan?
One or more of these things applies to you.
1. You can't count.
2. Have never driven a mini-van.
3. Are simply looking for a way to make you feel better for NOT getting that Ford Expedition you wanted.
Reply
6-04-2008 @ 8:15PM
Cecil said...
Did it occur to those that say they have to have a SUV realize that just a few years ago, there was not a vehicle called a SUV? I'm pretty sure back then that there were large families and people with handicaps. They all seemed to have survived the "ordeal" of not having a SUV. Please remember there is a big difference between what you want and what you need. Or were you just trying to impress someone all along?
Reply
6-04-2008 @ 8:52PM
Jason said...
Years ago there weren't any washing machines either. Think about the manufacturing plants, the employees driving their trucks to work, and all that pollution that it produces, but I'm sure every American that can afford one has one. And I say, good for them.
I drive a Honda Civic, but could care less if someone wants a big car. I sure do support more fuel efficient vehicles, but spending what we want how we want is part of our freedom here in the US.
Instead of making everyone change what they like, perhaps it would be more effective to make what they like more environmentally friendly, eh? This may surprise you, but a lot of companies are doing this on their own and they have an army of consumers that applaud their effort. Market drive innovation is a key powerful force.
6-12-2008 @ 1:21AM
SafetyMan said...
@ Cecil
Correct, SUVs are a relative newcomer to the market. And in the 1970's & 80's people used full size vans to carry their large families/haul large items. When the mini-van gained in popularity, so did the SUV and they combined began to apeal to the primary user of a full sized van.
6-04-2008 @ 8:52PM
Blaine @ 5McCKids said...
So, what is you suggestion for a family with a Mom & Dad (both widowed), their 3 kids from before + one step kid, one kid birthed together, one kid adopted from Ethiopia together, and another orphan from Ethiopia on the way? Just curious. 8^)
Reply
6-05-2008 @ 12:15PM
Jack said...
There are people out there who need SUVs. But most of them don't.
Plenty of mother's and fathers have raised many children with a single compact car and survived. Look down a class or two and you'll see.
Jason said:
"Instead of making everyone change what they like, perhaps it would be more effective to make what they like more environmentally friendly, eh?"
But no one is MAKING anyone change what they like. Obviously, or SUVs would be out of style. Because thats usually what it comes down to.
Its just sad to see people only give a crap about making things environmental when they feel it in the pocket.
I going to say that I generally agree with Zac on this one.
6-05-2008 @ 12:15PM
Jack said...
Sorry Blaine, I wasn't trying to respond to you in my last comment.
6-04-2008 @ 10:21PM
Alicia said...
Hi I have a Ford Expedition yes and I don't have to defend to anyone what I have had to do was find a way to pay of the gas. I got involved in a business that pays for referral to their service in GAS & CASH now when I run the gas guzzler it pays for its own gas by being a moving BILLBOARD for my business and I feel good by telling people about the life saving service.
WWW.FREEGASATLAST.COM/FREERIDE
Reply
6-05-2008 @ 1:07PM
Eric said...
Hmmmm? Maybe I needed my big SUV to pull my big gas guzzling boat?
Have the SUV drivers asked for help like ALL the Huge Mortgage people do when they realize oops I screwed up and can't afford this anymore.
Reply
6-07-2008 @ 11:11PM
Gary E. Sattler said...
Hmmm, there are a few fundamental misconceptions here.
First, SUV's "didn't exist" a number of years ago because the denotation SUV was verbiage created by our government regulators and a handful of ne'er do well tree huggers a few years ago to give those vehicles a tag to place an extra tax on.
The fact of the matter is that full sized panel trucks, precursors to today's Chevy Suburban and Ford's Explorer, were being built en masse beginning in the 1930's. They've just become nicer and more popular along the way. SUV's existed, they just weren't called such.
Today's minivans are built on frameworks nearly exactly the same as todays mid size SUV's. They carry similar engines and turn in similar mpg ratings.
When will you people realize that the single biggest reason for this smaller vehicle push is in the pursuit of lowered importation expenses. That's exactly how they kick started Toyota, Honda and Datsun in the 70's with that FAKE gas crisis.
I submit to you that if we could build a full sized Chevy Suburban which got 40 mpg, the foreign auto manufacturers who have decimated our big three, would quickly crumble under the expense of trying to ship to us what we really want.
Reply
6-10-2008 @ 5:15PM
pat said...
I'd much rather have my Escalade. I mean I'm 27, family of four, and not ready to give up the space it provides. Minivans aren't that great on gas milage either. I drive them regularly at my funeral home.
Reply