Rush hour rant, anyone?

[blueyes]

So I'm thinking we should enact a new law:

If your vehicle is larger than a 2-yr old elephant, you need a CDL. I think a 2-yr old elephant is a decent size to cut off at. Really - how many wanna-be hot soccer moms would drive the enormous SUVs if you had to get a CDL and have trucker friends who call you 'Hot Mama'?

Yeah. Not many.

No, seriously. If we could get rid of the idiots who yammer away on their cell phones and sip their Starbucks while driving with their elbows, rush hour would be eleventy billion times less painful for those of us who don't drive houses-on-wheels. Who is so effing important that you MUST talk to them at 6:53 in the morning? Most people aren't even conscious - let alone awake enough to remember talking to your hopped-up-on-that-triple-espresso self.

HANG UP THE PHONE. PUT DOWN THE STARBUCKS. DRIVE.


Oh - and to the guy in the Camaro:
No, I don't think you're hot b/c of your Camaro. Revving your engine and honking won't work either. Camaros were hot when I was six. Go trim your mullet.

[WeirdBrake]

Ugh... just the thought of driving in Pittsburgh's morning rush hour makes me infinitely glad that I don't have a car and that I only have to walk every day to the campus. What is it with the proliferation of SUVs in Pgh? They're like nuclear weapons; people think that if everyone else has them, then they'd better have them, too. The sad part is there's a grain of truth in it. After all, if a small car and an SUV crashed, in which car would you rather be? Ugh... an "S.O.B. in an SUV" is what I say. And why are SUV drivers notorious for talking on cell phones and being all-around rude, aggressive, careless drivers?

[Morgan81]

Seriously people who own SUVs should pay higher taxes or something...
Take comfort in the fact that we pay $50 at the pump every week...

[bostongirl]

Seriously people who own SUVs should pay higher taxes or something...

Hey! Be kind! We're not all bad :huge: And trust me, from the fact that SUVs cost more to insure (ex. my Jeep is a '95 and I pay $1,900/year for insurance... I have a clean driving record too... no speeding tickets, nothing... though it is registered in Boston, which accounts for some of it) and the fact they drink gas like its going out of style, those of us who drive them definitely do pay!!! It does bother me how bad they are for the environment, but I love driving it... once you get used to the higher vantage point from driving something like that, driving a regular car is weird... I would love it if Jeep would come up with a hybrid or something... I would be all about that... that way I could have my SUV and not be so bad to the environment!!!
-Margaret

[pisces2473]

To me, Jeeps aren't SUV's. SUV's are those big freaking monsters like Escalades, Excursions, Suburbans, etc.

[ce607]

OK, I'm probably just not using my head, but what's a CDL?

[pisces2473]

Commercial driver's license--you need it to drive anything over a certain weight (I forgot what) but it's what truckers have.

[ce607]

AH - thank you. I would not have come up with that.

[bostongirl]

To me, Jeeps aren't SUV's. SUV's are those big freaking monsters like Escalades, Excursions, Suburbans, etc.

Please tell this to my insurance co.!! :green: Although I'm betting that a new one of those huge ones prob. gets the same gas mileage as my poor baby :( Yeah, the really huge ones are for the most part a waste unless you've got like 6 kids or something... I remember growing up there was this one family at my church that had so many kids they had to have a 15 passenger van to drive them all around in!!!! Eeek! (they had the money and more than half of the kids were adopted, so you had to think what they were doing was good though!)

-Margaret

[blueyes]

To me, Jeeps aren't SUV's. SUV's are those big freaking monsters like Escalades, Excursions, Suburbans, etc.
EXACTLY.

(filler crap)

[pisces2473]

Bostongirl--LOL I know. My friend's sister had a baby last June, and she and her husband ALREADY have a minivan! I remember being totally shocked and saying to my friend, "But they only have ONE baby!" I don't think single people/couples w/out kids, need some big ass car/SUV/whatever. Why do you need all of that space?

[bostongirl]

yeah... my one friend who has a child just bought a minivan... although she just found out she's pregant with child #2 (she wants like 4 I think, this is all planned, she's been married since she was 20!!!!)... so I guess its not a total waste since they are they type who will drive the car for a long time... but still... She is 25!!! NO MINIVANS!!!! :eek: She seems happy though, so I guess to each her own... God willing I will never own one of those things though...
-Margaret

[pisces2473]

That's what my friend (sister w/ minivan) said! NO MINIVANS! She was like, give me an explorer or a subaru/volvo wagon anyday!

[Morgan81]

Bostongirl--LOL I know. My friend's sister had a baby last June, and she and her husband ALREADY have a minivan! I remember being totally shocked and saying to my friend, "But they only have ONE baby!" I don't think single people/couples w/out kids, need some big ass car/SUV/whatever. Why do you need all of that space?

My uncle is like that because his two have so much CRAP they travel with, books, dvds, picture books, blah, blah, blah.... so for two kids they have bigass minivan FILLED with garbage.
I got a book when I little, and was happy with that, in my family's Toyata Tercel EZ 2-door hatchback..... Now do you know why I bought a truck? :)

[pisces2473]

My uncle is like that because his two have so much CRAP they travel with, books, dvds, picture books, blah, blah, blah.... so for two kids they have bigass minivan FILLED with garbage.
I got a book when I little, and was happy with that, in my family's Toyata Tercel EZ 2-door hatchback..... Now do you know why I bought a truck? :)
Yup, my uncle and aunt--same way. They started out with a Chevy Blazer when the first one was born, then went to a Plymouth Voyage, now they are on a Ford Expedition. All this crap they have to bring with them...ugh. WTF is wrong with parents? Why do they need to have a DVD in the car? My parents did fine w/ us, giving us walkmans w/ books on tape and stuff like that...or benadryl so we'd sleep ;) The thing I don't get is that my aunt and uncle work full time, and they never see their kids. Yet on car trips, they have to alienate themselves from the kids by having them watch a movie. I don't get it.

[pisces2473]

Yeah but my parents did fine w/ that. And so did their parents.

[bostongirl]

No one freaking needs a DVD player in their car... it really gets me how people seem to view their kids as almost a nuisance that needs to be occupied so they won't be bothered... like, I don't know, use the time to talk to your kids or let then read a book/ listen to music or something... when I was a kid I remember having some really great conversations with my mom when she was driving me places... but them I am also an only child so my mom never had to deal with kids fighting or what all, but really, I'm starting to think that kids sometimes fight because they are subconsiously looking for some parental attention...
-Margaret

[biodork]

My subaru wrx has child safety locks AND is set up for child seats in the back...there's plenty of room in there! and its a faster car. Its a family car already set up!

I think the only thing that bothers me about SUVs is the fact that they aren't used for what the really should be used for, like harsh terrain. I don't mind the smaller ones, but the bigger ones are just ridiculous. My dad has an explorer that he uses to carry large amounts of supplies, etc for his business, so i think thats ok (esp cuz its not some huge monster) but a lot of times people get the SUVs and they just take up space on the roads and are a danger to the smaller cars.

Oh and don't get me started on the Hummer SUVs!

[bostongirl]

Oh and don't get me started on the Hummer SUVs!

Those are ridiculous, I can't really think of a SINGLE reason why any civilian would need one... I remember reading some article a couple of years ago when they were getting popular about all these people who had bought them and then were complaining about the fact that they get like 10mpg or something.... um, "HELLO!? What did you EXPECT????... " I had to laugh at their stupdity...

-Margaret

[pisces2473]

Hehehe, my car gets like 25 mpg. Yay Escort!

[paiger81]

Yep, the CRV gets around 23mpg on average, which is a combo of city & highway driving.

At it's best, strictly highway driving I got 28 mpg, I was freaking out with happiness!

[ar211]

I also cannot stand all the SUVs running wild on the streets of the city. I drive a Honda Accord, and SUV drivers often times seem to think that they have the right of way over me, just because they drive a bigger vehicle. However, I do get great comfort in the fact, that my car gets far superior mileage than an SUV. I couldn't imagine spending close to $40-50 on one tank of gas. The sad fact is however, the SUV trend in America is only getting worse, and the advertisers know how to make people want something even bigger and more inefficent than what they already have.

[pisces2473]

Paige, I'm really thinking about a CRV when it comes time for a new car, if they are still making them. I also like the Ford Escape, which comes as a hybrid too.

[paiger81]

I know they are releasing a CRV Diesel in 2006, I think it's already available in Canada, that gets really good mileage.

I actually think the Hybrid Accord is neat. I'm hoping by the time I need a new car, they'll have a Hybrid small SUV. I'm not a fan of Ford.

[pisces2473]

I'm sure the CRV will soon be offered in a hybrid, especially if the flagship car, the Accord, is going green.

[coll214]

If there were more ppl like most of us, then the SUV trend will hopefully start to slow down. I get sick and tired of everytime i go to park my adorable Civic somewhere there's 2 freakin' SUV's both taking up 2 spaces b/c they can't fit their precious Suburban into one spot since apparently that is SOOO much better than my car. GRRR.

When i moved recently i had a rental car while my baby was being fixed and it was a station wagon/SUV combo thing (Pacifica) that while fit a ton of shit in, got maybe 15 mpg... I was at the gas station every other day. No thank you!!

And i will never own a mini-van. NEVER. Smaller SUV such as CRV, quite possibly or actually i've thought about the WRX as well... but when i bought my car it was a wee bit out of the price range at the time :cry:

[paiger81]

I'm not gonna lie, I love SUV's, will probably own them for the rest of my life. I think they are better looking than a mini-van, I know, I'm a terrible person.....I don't mind paying for gas and I want to drive death-mobiles :evil:

[Tayl405]

I'm with Paige. I've always had an SUV, my family always has, and probably always will. They're safer and I feel more comfortable being able to see everything from up higher. Plus I can fit more in my car (which also works against me because I ALWAYS end up being the one to cart everyone around or make the Target/IKEA runs). And I thought it was cheaper to insure an SUV because they're safer...

[paiger81]

When I stop and think about it, except for my Corolla, I have always driven big ass vehicles. I learned to drive in a 1987 Chevey Blazer(the big ass Bronco looking things) then I got my dad's GMC Silverado Z71 pick up, then downgraded to the Corolla-which was nice but I was always getting hit by bigger cars, and now I've got the CRV.

[pisces2473]

My first car was a GMC Jimmy and I loved being able to see everything. I have never hit so many things as I have in the Escort.

[paiger81]

Yep, my favorite accident would be when a WELDING TRUCK carrying stuff with signs that said "FLAMMABLE MATERIALS" backed into me at a Stop Light! First words out of the bastards mouth was "I just didn't see you" :madder:

1 month after that, the Corolla was gone & the CRV was in.

[biodork]

Some people are just total ASSES though just because they are in SUVs though (not that anyone here is!). While i was sitting in my car in a parking lot, talking on my cell, I totally saw this one guy in an SUV come up and park in TWO spaces, half on one side, half on the other...and then get out, look at it and keep on walking to the stores. WTF. Just because you have a bigger car doesn't mean you can take up two spaces. I've seen huge trucks do this as well.

[Morgan81]

CRVs are nice, I have to say. Even my Dakota is a little too cumbersome some times, not when getting hit from behind however!
But if I could design the "perfect" car for me it would be a little smaller than my Dakota, maybe like a Nisan Xterra, with more fuel efficency. (Yes, I want the impossible, I know it.)

[paiger81]

I actually see more Cadilac Cars doing that than anything else. >I always figured it was rich arrogant people taking up two spots.

[MetFanL]

I just skimmed this, so forgive me if it's already been posted, but I believe there is a bill in NYS that will allow Police, toll operators, etc. to treat certain larger SUVs the way they do heavy trucks, etc. The cost of road maintenance is increasing b/c the average daily traffic now consists of more overweight traffic b/c of larger SUVs. So, tolls and motor vehicle fees will begin treating these kinds of SUVs the way they should have been the entire time. Expect your registration costs and your tolls to increase if you're driving one of these really large SUVs. I'm sure other states will follow, if they don't already enforce these rules.

[biodork]

Its just the people in the bigger cars that don't have a lot of space sometimes in spots, so they feel its ok to go over the lines. There's this huge truck that does it ALL the time in my apt complex, and it has a small trailer attached to the back so he will park over 4 freakin spaces. And there is NO parking near my apt building at night so that really cuts into what there is. And he does this despite the fact there is actual trailer and boat parking spots in the complex.

[pisces2473]

I actually see more Cadilac Cars doing that than anything else. >I always figured it was rich arrogant people taking up two spots.
No, those are old people driving their boats and can't see. :p

[mishl982]

I'm not a fan of huge cars. I've had the opportunity to drive both my dad's toyota tundra (with the super huge long bed) and my mom's toyota highlander on the highway and on local streets. I felt like I was taking up 2 lanes! I felt bad about taking up space that i would either stick to the far left or far right lanes so I wouldn't take out anyone on the road! LOL

But back to the road rage topic, I hate when I'm stuck behind a slow person in the left lane, only to pass them (don't get me started on how I have to pass slow people in left lanes) and find they're on their cell phone! It's the worst when the slant their head all the way to the side to talk on the phone.

[Kristyn]

I think there needs to be a middle ground between cars and SUVs. There needs to be smaller versions of the Jeep Liberty, or the RAV-4, or the CRV...I want a car that can take a beating, but also something that doesn't warrant so much space.

Living in a city where space is limited, and where aggressive driving beats the crap out of an average car, there is definitely a market for smaller versions of SUVs. I wonder why no one has tried that niche yet.

[paiger81]

:confused: Um...the smaller version of a CRV would be a station wagon. CRV's ARE small SUV's.

[pisces2473]

I think there needs to be a middle ground between cars and SUVs. There needs to be smaller versions of the Jeep Liberty, or the RAV-4, or the CRV...I want a car that can take a beating, but also something that doesn't warrant so much space.

Living in a city where space is limited, and where aggressive driving beats the crap out of an average car, there is definitely a market for smaller versions of SUVs. I wonder why no one has tried that niche yet.
Those are the smaller SUVs :confused: They don't take up as much space as the monster sized ones. I forget which Toyota one it is, but it sits on the same frame as the Camry. Just like the CRV has the same frame as the Accord, they are just higher.

[paiger81]

Exactly, which is why they are usually insured as cars. At my old job, this one guy would complain that my CRV took up to much space. I was like, it's built on an Accord frame, so it takes up just as much space as a car :confused:

[Kristyn]

It doesn't need to be classified as an SUV, there should just be some car that can take a beating and not take up a ton of space. The closest thing to that would be a jeep...you would think there would be more varities of that size and durability made.

[pisces2473]

Remember the Suzuki Sidekicks? Those were small, but not safe. lol

[lilyflower]

Some people are just total ASSES though just because they are in SUVs though (not that anyone here is!). While i was sitting in my car in a parking lot, talking on my cell, I totally saw this one guy in an SUV come up and park in TWO spaces, half on one side, half on the other...and then get out, look at it and keep on walking to the stores. WTF. Just because you have a bigger car doesn't mean you can take up two spaces. I've seen huge trucks do this as well.

Oh, thank you, please tell this to my annoying neighbor with the Jeep Cherokee. I have no clue when the hell this guy works, if ever, but he insists on taking up two spaces whenever he parks - and it always seems that he parks DIRECTLY in front of my door. :mad:

Speaking of Hummers, one flipped over on 280 last night and tied up traffic. It took me an extra hour to get home because I was sitting there. :madder:

[Morgan81]

Speaking of Hummers, one flipped over on 280 last night and tied up traffic. It took me an extra hour to get home because I was sitting there. :madder:

I saw one on its side in a tree in the median on 78 one day. It had to have just happened since there was no backup and the wheels were still spinning. :razz:

[Desiderata]

The Jeep liberty will be offered as a hybrid in 2006. And there are a number of smaller trucks and suv's that are hybrid (limited selection, but they exist) in Canada anyway. Also, there's a big push to give tax discounts/rebates to anyone who buys a hybrid, not in effect yet, but probably within a year or two. Also, where I live, there's a huge push for public transit/cycling. Hell, they're actually reducing street lanes to make more bike lanes throughout the downtown core. Granted the weather allows for such, and the cyclists are maniacs, but its still a good idea. Major city's should be spending money on top notch mass transit systems, offered at affordable rates. I must say though, very glad to see even the SUV people are keen on going the way of the hybrid.