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SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

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juanvi
Get Out!

Member since 10/06

4463 total posts

Name:
Christina

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

I guess when I started the lease the price of gas was not this rediculous. If I would have known, I probably would not have gotten the SUV. But the safety issue is huge for me with my DS.

Posted 5/14/08 10:06 PM
 
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browneyedgirl
family is all that matters

Member since 6/06

6513 total posts

Name:
browneyes

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

my SUV is paid off as of this month. after 5 years of paying, i'm now free from $500 a month payments.

for me to get a new car would not be an option financially. although i'd save money for gas, i'd be spending so much more for many years on car payments.

so it's not an option at all. if my car was newer, that would be a different story altogether.

Posted 5/14/08 10:08 PM
 

Bellabear
1000 posts...FINALLY

Member since 11/06

1161 total posts

Name:
Michelle

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

i have a bigger SUV, pathfiinder, actually and i love it! i haven't had a car other then a truck/suv in a long time. once you drive it, i feel like you never want to go back lol.

gas is def. killin me...i will totally admit that, but's it's hard to give up my truck

Posted 5/14/08 10:08 PM
 

Kierasmom
I love my kids

Member since 5/05

2885 total posts

Name:
Jenn

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

I am use to driving a SUV now and I hate driving non-suv cars. I am short so I like being high up. With us expecting our second child we like the luxury of having the room and being able to have somebody else in the back seat with the 2 car seats. If you have a regular car you can't do that. My friends have a Saturn and they have 2 kids. They can only drive themselves around. If they need to bring their MIL with them somewhere they have to drive to the place, drop off part of the family, drive back home to pick up the MIL and then go back to the place they need to get to. They then have to do the same trick to get home. If they go away with the MIL they have to rent a van. I could not and will not live like that.

As for our parents not needing SUVs and minivans, the car seat law was not in place back when we were kids. Today's law has kids in car seats until they are 7-9 years old, depending on the size of the kid. Back when I was a kid we would all squeeze in together in the back seat and sit on each others lap if need be. I can remember driving with 7 or 8 of us in a car at once into the city. Are we all ok now, yes. Would I ever even dream of doing that knowing now how unsafe that is? No way.

I also enjoy being able to use my car to car pool with people when need be. We have a 3rd row option and when I have family visiting and we all need to go somewhere we are able to fit into my SUV with everyone being safe. So to me it's worth it.

Message edited 5/14/2008 10:34:02 PM.

Posted 5/14/08 10:33 PM
 

ml110
LIF Adult

Member since 1/06

5435 total posts

Name:

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

i'm one of "those" people. i drive an SUV, but don't have any kids yet.
i don't really have any excuses. i'm short ( barely 5 feet tall), so i like being higher up, its easier for me to see. its a small SUV ( toyota RAV 4) so the gas mileage is really the same as a car ( 25 mpg). I also live right across the street from my work, so i only fill up on gas every other week basically.
we also just like the convenience of it. we have a 55 pound dog, and each of our parents lives a couple hours away, so we travel a lot to see them on the weekends, and its just nice having that extra room with the dog, and with all the stuff we need to take with us. also comes in super handy for home depot runs, costco runs, etc.
i still have 2 or 3 years left to pay on it, but i can't see myself ever driving anything else.

Posted 5/14/08 10:41 PM
 

LIMOMx2
...

Member since 5/05

24989 total posts

Name:

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

We decided to get a minivan instead of an SUV because of the better gas mileage a minivan gets. I don't "need' a big car but it will make my life a lot easier esp if another baby comes along. So that is why I will be giving up my Altima. Plus I work a few towns over and that is basically the only driving I do so I don't use that much gas to begin with.

Posted 5/14/08 10:45 PM
 

Alli06
Baby #3 coming this June

Member since 8/05

6721 total posts

Name:
A

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

We have an SUV because of our lifestyle. My DH loves to go Kayaking, Mountain Biking. We both love too skii and we drive up to Vermont a few times during the winter. We also drive on the beach every summer for the past 4 years. We have a rack for the top of the truck to transport the Kayak, skiis, Mountain Bike.
We can't do these things with a car. Yes, it stinks that the gas is so high. Also, my DH commute is long and it would be great if he could drive a small car, but he would never give up his Lifestyle.

Message edited 5/15/2008 3:14:48 AM.

Posted 5/15/08 3:14 AM
 

Emily
Kasey & Me! Lurves it!

Member since 7/06

8703 total posts

Name:
STBHC

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

It is not an option because my SUV is truly a life saver. I was the front car in a three car accident on the LIE, a gentleman stopped short and hit the guy behind me who went into me. The other two sedans were toast and my bumper fell off. The NYPD had to help me load my bumper into my SUV so I could go home. Two years earlier I go smacked by a box truck...on the LIE...and samething, this time the FDNY had to use a saw to cut the bumper off. Knock on wood, if the bumper falling off is the only issue than it is SUV all the way.

Posted 5/15/08 7:14 AM
 

Kissy331
My two miracles!

Member since 5/06

17826 total posts

Name:
Kristen

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

I have only a few payments left on my SUV & then I will be free from a $500 a month payment that I have been paying off for 5 years. I have always drove a SUV & will not change, even if the gas continues to sky-rocket. I only drive 6 miles RT to work 5 days a week. I fill my truck up every week but only when it hits 1/2 tank. I could technically fill it up every 2 weeks if I wanted. To trade my truck in now & get a sedan with better gas mileage is not going to save me much in the long run.

I am a SUV girl & always will be. DH has cars & even though I do drive them on the weekends, I do not enjoy it. I feel unsafe most of the time. The truck does come in handy when going to visit my parents in Maine & also when it comes to transporting things from Home Depot or even the dumps..When we financed my SUV 5 years ago (0 down, 0%), we were not even engaged but we knew that once we did have a family, it would come in handy. DH teases me all time & says it is our "family before our family trusk"

Message edited 5/15/2008 8:45:39 AM.

Posted 5/15/08 7:49 AM
 

CityNYGirl
My everything!!!!!

Member since 5/05

2324 total posts

Name:
Betty

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

I love my SUV and would not change it for anything else....it is big and expensive (costs me $125 to fill up) but I still love it.....The reason we got it was in mind that we will have kids someday and also to feel safer (I drive it, DH drives a regular car).....

Posted 5/15/08 8:39 AM
 

bicosi
life is a carousel

Member since 7/07

14956 total posts

Name:
M

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

I have a big SUV (Suburban). Although I don't complain about how much it costs to fill it up. If that were going to be a problem, I wouldn't have gotten it. I will never get anything smaller. I feel very safe driving it with my 2 kids (3rd on the way and we hope to have a 4th). I also have strollers, sports bags, chairs for games, cooler, my nanny comes with us pretty much everywhere and my DH and I. We also need room to be able to fit a few more bodies if we need to.

Posted 5/15/08 8:41 AM
 

MegZee
My bunny

Member since 5/06

8777 total posts

Name:
Meaghan

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

Posted by browneyedgirl

my SUV is paid off as of this month. after 5 years of paying, i'm now free from $500 a month payments.

for me to get a new car would not be an option financially. although i'd save money for gas, i'd be spending so much more for many years on car payments.

so it's not an option at all. if my car was newer, that would be a different story altogether.



ITA - that is my position. My Xterra is 4 years old and paid off - i can drive it for another 4 years with no car payments, so trading it in even with cheaper gas isnt worth it. I went to go trade it in, but I wont get what its worth because demand is down for them. Makes more sense to keep it.

But, DH traded in his mustang for a civic, so we are doing our partChat Icon

Posted 5/15/08 8:46 AM
 

leighla
Support Cancer Research

Member since 5/05

16353 total posts

Name:
Lauren

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

Posted by Gertyrae

I have an SUV and drive to the train station to go to work.
I won't give up my SUV for a few reasons
It's easier to go places with the dog cuz she has a place in the back.
I drive off road almost all summer at night.
I just paid it off and am not going for another car payment.
I keep my cars for 10 years minimum so have no intentions of giving it up.

I researched my truck before buying and it got good gas mileage for an SUV and I know I will get many more miles out of it since the company has a good rep for high mileage cars.

My last car was a Celica and I drove it for 13 years/140,000 miles...



Ditto on almost all counts. My commute is only 12 miles a day.

Posted 5/15/08 8:50 AM
 

Kara
Now Zagat Rated!

Member since 3/07

13217 total posts

Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

Well, when I can haul my horses with a prius, I'll buy one. Chat Icon

Seriously, though, my CR-V (not my horse hauling/towing vehicle) gets better gas mileage than most sedans and most minivans and just about any larger SUV. Quite frankly, we use this vehicle for local stuff mostly - or if we are traveling to visit family or go on a small trip. We fill the tank up maybe once per month. (We walk 3/4 mile to and from the train station in the morning for work and don't drive much during the week)

I use my Civic (which gets great gas mileage) for going back and forth to my barn on a regular basis -- since the barn is a good 20-35 minute drive for me. It gets great gas mileage and is paid off.

Another thing to consider, though I honestly don't have the numbers in front of me (perhaps someone who is more knowledgeable can weigh in)... It takes a tremendous amount of energy to make new cars. So, isn't is possible that the consumerism of getting rid of your perfectly fine larger car to buy a smaller one may sometimes outweigh the benefit of a more fuel-efficient vehicle. I know I read something about this somewhere a while back, but honestly am having trouble finding the article. I'm NOT at all knocking people who are buying more fuel-efficient cars AT ALL. I'm just questioning something I read a while back...

For me, personally, I find no need to get rid of my SUV or car right now. Both are functioning just fine and I don't find myself struggling to pay the cost of gas for them b/c I drive very infrequently. I'm also someone who buys my cars and drives them for 7-10 years or however long they are useful...

ETA -- I also drive much, much less than most people in the suburbs and am careful about the use of electricity we use, etc. It's not that I'm indifferent to the environment... I just don't think I need to switch vehicles right now.

Message edited 5/15/2008 9:33:05 AM.

Posted 5/15/08 9:30 AM
 

HeathKernandez
Our Ron is an awesome Ron

Member since 4/07

9091 total posts

Name:
baby fish mouth

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

I have a compact car and managed just fine with it.

My DH has to have an SUV b/c he has a DJing business on the side and needs a car large enough to hold his equipment.

Posted 5/15/08 9:32 AM
 

MrsFlatbread
Skinny jeans are in my future

Member since 6/06

10258 total posts

Name:
Baby Momma

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

I like my SUV and for me although the gas prices are $$$$$, it is not an option for me to give it up. My last car was an SUV and my next one will be as well! I feel safe in it, I can carry larger items and just plain like it. DH and I both have SUV's and we both plan to have then for a while.

I understand everyone has their own personal opinion on things, but I hate posts like these that try to make others feel bad about their choices in life and make them justify their reasons for things. Different strokes for different folks!!!Chat Icon

Message edited 5/15/2008 9:50:52 AM.

Posted 5/15/08 9:48 AM
 

Songwriter76
LIF Adult

Member since 4/08

902 total posts

Name:
David

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

Posted by SweetestOfPeas

Posted by ave1024

Maybe the people that have SUVs and don't want to change have them paid off and don't want to be strapped with a new car payment.

I can guarantee the difference in the cost of gas between a 15MPG SUV and a 30MPG sedan won't even come close to the difference in cost you would have with buying a new car (between a new car loan principal, interest, and insurance).

I actually crunched the numbers with my boss the other day. Going from a 17MPG vechicle to a 30MPG vechicle (and driving about 17k miles a year) saves you about $100 a month in gas.

That's not enough savings for me to be strapped with a new $500 car payment, and a $50 a month increase in insurance for insuring a newer car.

And on the other hand, maybe the people that are in the middle of loans would take too much of a hit selling it. Either negative equity or breaking even. It's a bad financial move.

well alright then - I can agree with that logic



Why can't you sell the SUV and get a good used car with better mileage that would also be paid off? Why does it have to be a new car?

Posted 5/15/08 9:54 AM
 

MrsFlatbread
Skinny jeans are in my future

Member since 6/06

10258 total posts

Name:
Baby Momma

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

Posted by Songwriter76

Posted by SweetestOfPeas

Posted by ave1024

Maybe the people that have SUVs and don't want to change have them paid off and don't want to be strapped with a new car payment.

I can guarantee the difference in the cost of gas between a 15MPG SUV and a 30MPG sedan won't even come close to the difference in cost you would have with buying a new car (between a new car loan principal, interest, and insurance).

I actually crunched the numbers with my boss the other day. Going from a 17MPG vechicle to a 30MPG vechicle (and driving about 17k miles a year) saves you about $100 a month in gas.

That's not enough savings for me to be strapped with a new $500 car payment, and a $50 a month increase in insurance for insuring a newer car.

And on the other hand, maybe the people that are in the middle of loans would take too much of a hit selling it. Either negative equity or breaking even. It's a bad financial move.

well alright then - I can agree with that logic



Why can't you sell the SUV and get a good used car with better mileage that would also be paid off? Why does it have to be a new car?

And honestly....why does she have to justify to you what her reasons are? She likes her SUV, for whatever her reason, and that's her perrogative!Chat Icon

Posted 5/15/08 9:57 AM
 

Beth
The Key to your new home....

Member since 2/06

24849 total posts

Name:
Beth

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

My SUV gets decent MPG- 22 on average- even 23 sometimes

I just had a "loaner"seden for the weekend from my dealership while my SUV got an oil change and breaks

and I got a whooping 25 MPG

and could barely go food shopping in it

so for the 2 MPG more- I will keep my SUV for now

our other car is a sports car and gets alot less then the SUV- 14 MPG

so for us- we need one car that is good in the snow and can carry large stuff

Posted 5/15/08 9:59 AM
 

Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)

Member since 5/06

23378 total posts

Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

before we got our current car (2 seater BMW Z-3 coupe) we had an Isuzu Rodeo.

i can tell you that I am just as comfortable in the 2 seater as I was in the rodeo.

we have enough trunk space for the many road trips we take (the coupe has a big booty) and, since neither of us ever sat in the back seat anyway, the front 2 seats are all that ever mattered for our comfort.

our car has rear wheel drive...the absolute WORST for snow. I can tell you it left us "stranded" maybe TWICE this past winter. We just don't get that much snow here. (and living walking distance from a major MTA/NYCTA hub doesn't hurt)

we get better gas mileage, better PARKING since the rodeo was much larger and we have not sacrificed one ONCE of comfort (we have heated leather seats Chat Icon )

while I think that there are SOME people who do NEED a larger size vehicle, MOST people COULD make do with a smaller more fuel efficient car.

but making DO isn't as fun as being MORE THAN comfortable..and it's not the american way Chat Icon

Unless it's a hybrid, I do not anticipate us getting an SUV ever again. We WILL be getting a new car with AWD b/c we will be buying a house soon in an area that gets much more snow, but we are looking for the most fuel efficient car possible.

As long as we get a car that fits the two of us and 2 carseats (for any bundles down the road) I am fine with that. as long as a soccer ball fits in the trunk, my kids will have to "make do" as well.

Message edited 5/15/2008 10:06:31 AM.

Posted 5/15/08 10:04 AM
 

ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road

Member since 12/07

6153 total posts

Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

Posted by Songwriter76

Why can't you sell the SUV and get a good used car with better mileage that would also be paid off? Why does it have to be a new car?




Because no matter how you spin it, the used car will still cost money, you will be taking a hit selling the SUV, and the difference in gas mileage for most people would not justify the cost of replacing the car.

You would be better off driving the SUV to the ground (or at least till it's 8-10 years old), THEN replace it with a vechicle that gets better gas mileage.

Cars are depreciating assets and if you buy them new, you are paying bigtime for the luxury of driving them new (or at least the first few years of being like-new).

You do not see the real benefits of financing a car until you start driving it after it's paid off. What's the point of selling it right after it's paid off? Why not ride out a few years of no car payments and use the money you would be paying in a car payment and SAVING to buy that hybrid. Chat Icon

Posted 5/15/08 10:12 AM
 

MikesWife
Wanting...........

Member since 1/06

6887 total posts

Name:
Karen

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

For me it's not the fact that I have an SUV that's the problem, it's the actual price of gas. Whether it costs me an extra $20 to fill a sedan or an extra $20 to fill an SUV it's still an extra $20.

Luckily I only travel 8 miles to work. I used to travel 47 each eay.

Posted 5/15/08 10:12 AM
 

HoneyBadger
YourWorstNightmare.

Member since 10/06

15979 total posts

Name:
BahBahBlackJeep

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

Posted by SweetestOfPeas

but that you hate how much it costs to fill it up...

may I ask why you don't have an option?

I don't want to start drama at all - but my parents had 3 kids and never owned an SUV, or even a station wagon (which was the SUV of the 70's and 80's).

I guess my point it - they managed. sure it would have been more convenient to have an SUV, but they didn't exist back then. so how did we as a society evolve from not having SUV's at all to not being able to survive without one? I'm curious



I don't have an option b/c my husband is a contractor. If GOD forbid, his box truck broke down, he needs a back up. If need be, he could use my expedition and drive me to work.

But with that in mind, I don't complain much about filling up. It's a fact of life and I can't get around it. This is the life we live and we chose it.

Posted 5/15/08 10:15 AM
 

bird382
.

Member since 7/07

1712 total posts

Name:

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

Posted by Ophelia

while I think that there are SOME people who do NEED a larger size vehicle, MOST people COULD make do with a smaller more fuel efficient car.

but making DO isn't as fun as being MORE THAN comfortable..and it's not the american way Chat Icon




Exactly.

I will never own an SUV, a minivan, a pickup truck, a sports car or any other non-fuel efficient vehicle. There are too many other options available.

It's not 100% convenient or comfortable or even safe for me to take public transportation or ride my bike everywhere. But this is an important issue to me, and I am willing to make some sacrifices.

For me it's not about the price of gas at all. It's about minimizing my impact on the environment and decreasing my dependence on (foreign) oil.

Posted 5/15/08 10:18 AM
 

Goobster
:)

Member since 5/07

27557 total posts

Name:
:)

Re: SUV question - for those of you say it's not an option to get rid of your SUV

I don't use my mid sized truck to commute, and the bottom line is I feel safer, and I NEED to feel safe. Also when I just had a car, I could never fit anything in it without it being ridiculous and having to ask others to do me favors transporting something. Or make multiple trips to the store when with a SUV I can make one trip.

I won't go back to a car. I am extremely uncomfortable in a car these days, both mentally and physically. Plus my truck does a lot better in rain and snow than my car did. I had many an experience skidding b/c the car was too light in the back.

Message edited 5/15/2008 10:25:22 AM.

Posted 5/15/08 10:22 AM
 
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