Vehicles like this infuriate me. Your average Durangoat/Tahore/Exspuditchin' owner uses that neighbourhood carpool, I use it to tow 'X', rough and tough offroading hillbilly argument however each time I see one of these things pull into our local community centre, only one or two kids pops out of it. Follow one to it's roost and you generally don't find that accessory recreational vehicle, or at least one that's easily towed by a Fusion. They're so flipping high off the ground that your average spouse needs a step ladder to get into it, and as Chris points out, you practically split your back hoofing stuff up into it. They occupy a relatively massive amount of real estate compared to a family sedan or minivan, I refuse to park beside them for fear of parking lot dings. They are also generally the 1st to go into the ditch in bad weather, people usually get this unwarranted sense of overconfidence with the lumbering ride and high driving position.
Solution - economical vehicle for the 99% of the time where you don't need a beast like this. The 1% can be satisfied with a rental, F150's are had for $19.99 a day from most rent-a-sled companies.
So people are wrong for driving a vehicle of their choice??? Something they worked hard for??? Not everyone makes $10/hour and can afford something better than some ridiculous little s%^tbox. I couldnt imagine ever driving something like that, Id go nuts owning a Fit, Accent or something like that. Thats not a car, its a tin car with 83 horsepower. Besides, when we get huge snowfalls here, its everyone with their little cars moaning and complaining to the city that they cant go to work because this wasnt plowed or went off a road because of a 6" high snowdrift. Its personal preference, you keep rocking your subcompact.....Im buying my wife a Z71 Tahoe.
Good call. I see your Tahoe and raise you an Expedition Max.
Not insulting their choice in the least. I am postulating that the reasoning behind their choice is significantly flawed based on the 99% of driving typically done in this country, and the excess amount of waste and consumption associated with these overgrown behemoth's.
KTM & Vmango - MDX's and LR3's aren't in the same size category as the domestic monsters. While both vehicles are about as wide as the Durango, neither are anywhere near as long; or as wide as the Tahoe or Expedition. At over 18 feet long, the Expedition Max practically needs to be parked out back of the donut shop with the big rigs. Plus none of the big three will ever have a prayer of keeping pace with the ergonomics or quality that LR and Acura put out.
I'm inclined to agree somewhat on the Fit/Accent statement. I'd say there's likely a remarkable co-incidence between people who drive these and whine about not being able to get into work with 6 inches of snow on the ground and the absence of snow tyres or/combination a complete lack of driving skill and judgement. Lady leadfoot's snow tyre shodden SiR chews through knee high snow drifts with ease (we live in Dufferin County, similar flatland topography and snow dumps/drifting courtesy of Georgian Bay streamers), the previous cheapie car was a similarly equipped 2000 Accent, similar lack of difficulty in the winter. Funny how if you were to take a drive through my neighbourhood and seeing a full size SUV or a pick up truck is a rarity. Most drive a compact SUV or a combination of minivan and small car.
