Comments on: Sorry, But I’m Not Driving a Hybrid! 10 Reasons Why Good People Are Sticking with SUVs

By: Patrick Guerin

Patrick Guerin — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 20:16:47 +0000

My god, 30 mpg on a hybrid. That is a joke. I have a year 2000 Ford Focus 1.8 turbo diesel that will do 55 mpg and a year 2008 Audi Q7 3.0 turbo diesel that will average 38 mpg. Ford is an American car so how on earth have you not got the focus at least. I am sorry but when will Americans learn that your rate of consumption is not sustainable. I am from Ireland where if you have a car that that dose less than 40 mpg it is impossible to run at our cost of EURO 1.35 per litre which is EURO 6.75 a gallon and converts to about $9.40 USD a gallon. That is the price of fuel here in Ireland and it is more in the rest of Europe. It will have to hit that price in the US and trust me it will as we have used almost 40% of the worlds natural resources in the last 50 years. At this rate we will run out in the next 50. Also electric cars are not the answer as the energy needed to run it is more than likely produced threw the burning of fossil fuels which is in actual fact more damaging to the environment.

By: mos effed

mos effed — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:12:47 +0000

Well… isn’t that special…

By: huh?

huh? — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:54:17 +0000

You guys do realize there are hybrid SUVs, no? My Highlander Hybrid gets around 30 mpg, has optional three row seating and is very safe.

By: Luanne

Luanne — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:17:39 +0000

Yes, we have to understand the mindset to make important changes. It’s the same with health care. Every time an idiot speaks against taking action, we learn about that person’s true allegiances (party partisanship over the people). Every time a gay lawmaker who consistently votes down gay legislation is outed, we learn more about that person’s real priorities: Staying in office rather than helping his brothers and sisters. And every time an SUV fan sings the praises of the trucks despite the clear environmental drawbacks, we learn about what it means to be completely self serving and out of touch with the goals of reducing and radically changing how we consume. It’s all good information for understanding what we are up against.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:31:11 +0000

For a start, I would think that eco-friendly car manufacturers would be first in line to know exactly why many people have driven, and some people continue to drive, SUVs. And environmentalists. And anyone remotely interested in the environment. And human beings. Which I think is everyone.

If we don’t know why people find eco-hostile habits attractive, we’ve got no basis for offering alternatives. We’re not empathizing. We’re just saying “Don’t – it’s Bad!”. And as history (and parenting) teaches us, hey, that *always* works.

By: Sara Ost

Sara Ost — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:18:23 +0000

Again, we are not saying SUV owners’ reasons are valid. Good grief, it should be abundantly evident – when we refer to SUVs as waste wagons and a pernicious addiction in the first few graphs of this post – where we fall on this. I know a whole lot of people – in the Bay Area, no less – who claim to have green sensibilities yet still drive these things. We all do. And these are some of their defenses. Judge them if you want, and perhaps as you should, but a post about “10 reasons SUVs are just awful!” is preaching to the choir. Don’t you WANT to know people’s reasoning for SUV ownership? I would think that would be illuminating in trying to promote the green cause. Shouldn’t we be trying to understand the thinking, however flawed, of “the other side”? My personal reaction to this post? “Pretty ridiculous sentimentalism and selfishness driving these choices. Good to know how people rationalize. Obviously some facts and figures about saving the planet won’t change these folks’ minds. Now I know why they cling to SUVs, and I can rethink how I discuss the importance of driving an eco friendly car with them when I’m trying to make a persuasive case.”

Or, hey, we can just shoot the messenger. Next up at EcoSalon, 10 Reasons SUVs Are Awful (But You Knew That), and after that, 10 Reasons SUV Drivers Are Stupid And We Shouldn’t Talk To Them or About Them Respectfully.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:56:16 +0000

I think this is a silly post too. It’s out of touch with many realities. Off road? Take a look at how people actually use SUv’s. Safety, again, take a look at the data. (That picture of a Smart Car crushed between two semis in New Orleans that’s floating around the internet?. Do a little fact check again – it’s an SUV.) Status? If SUV’s are where you get your status, that’s pathetic. Popularity, once again, check out the sales numbers – people are radically fleeing from these unsafe, uneconomic, polluting machines. This really damages your credibility.

By: Luanne

Luanne — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:24:15 +0000

That’s right, Sara. I think it’s important to point out in the post we are looking into those reasons to get some understanding at a time when many “good” people are feeling the need to scale down in all aspects of life, especially what they drive.

By: Sara Ost

Sara Ost — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:59:13 +0000

Hi, Kathryn, read the post again. From the beginning: “Why is it that well informed, nice people refuse to pull the plug on those ubiquitous waste wagons, despite poor gas mileage and environmental concerns?

The valid eco argument rubs up against a strong attachment to the behemoth breed at every turn as America keeps on trucking. ”

The post next addresses the “pernicious addiction” of driving an SUV and then interviews SUV owners.

We’re not defending or promoting SUV ownership or owners, and we’re not saying their reasons are valid or credible. We’re simply exploring why people still own SUVs when they’re so clearly not good for the environment. Given the popularity of SUVs in this country, that seems like a pretty good thing to explore to us.

By: kathryn

kathryn — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:27:14 +0000

I don’t get it- what is the point, or point of view, of this post? None of these seem like valid reasons to stick to your SUV. I used to be the poster child for this argument: I switched from gas-guzzling (and beloved) Jeep Grand Cherokee to Prius in 2005. I had all the appropriate feelings about my Jeep- It made me feel safe and I loved the freedom it provided, but I love my Prius just as much. The only thing my Jeep legitimately had over the Prius was the four-wheel drive, but other than that, the Prius and I get along fine. Do you really want to validate ‘Status Symbol’ and ‘Empowerment’ as reasons to hang onto these unnecessary vehicles? Come on.