Do Suvs really need to get any bigger?

"jkm7680" (jkm7680) 04/12/2014 at 20:49 • Filed to: No Makey Sensey

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I recently had a chat with a Chevrolet spokesperson. He told me that the new Suburban/Escalade/Tahoe/Yukon was even bigger than the last one. I'm not biased against large Suv owners in any way.

But does your average soccer mom with two kids really need a giant Luxo-Truck? The Suburban was not build to haul Soccer Moms around to Starbucks, and Soccer Practice, and what's the point of a massive SUV when it isn't being put to any utility purpose? What ever happened to Sedans, or Crossovers. Or does everybody need the power and assurance that they are the biggest car on the road, making them absolutely superior to every other vehicle on the road. The previous generation Gmt 900 was enough size, why does it need to get bigger. The 3/4th ton Suburban I'm fine with. They were intended for towing, and actual utility work actually yielding for the size, instead of needing to be Giant, and Luxurious.

Anyways, those are my thoughts.

tromoly > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 20:53

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Agreed. I drove a '14 Tahoe up to Chicago yesterday, let's just say the massive blind spots on either side pissed me off tremendously, enough so that I asked a good friend to sit in the far back passenger side to watch that corner since I couldn't see anything through the windows and the mirrors can't cover the entire area. Which was good, at one point a motorcycle was riding in my passenger-side blind spot and I would have never known if my friend hadn't informed me of it, they're just dangerous.

jkm7680 > tromoly 04/12/2014 at 20:55

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Coming from a Rider. It's terrifying enough being around any type of large Suv, especially with giant blind sports and a possibly Texting driver (60% roughly Gmt 800 drivers are distracted)

Truck drivers at least notice you, and acknowledge that you are there. But that is what they are trained to do. The Suv is slowly getting bigger, and bigger and I'm not liking it at all.

Alex B > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 20:56

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America should ban SUVs and make everyone drive German sport wagons.

jkm7680 > Alex B 04/12/2014 at 20:57

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Yes! Finally somebody who sees my vision.

Rs4, Avant, Everything for everyone.

Alex B > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 21:09

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and the RS6 for bigger families.

dogisbadob > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 21:13

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Point taken, but just a couple minor corrections and shit: crossovers became popular after SUV's (they wanted the same height but better mpg). Yeah what happened to sedans, but more importantly, wagons and possibly minivans :)

Also, fuck GM for killing off the barn doors and diesel engine on the Suburban and friends. Do you remember the SWB 2-door full-size Blazer?

Sadly, ever car is a donk luxury car today.

jkm7680 > dogisbadob 04/12/2014 at 21:17

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Ok, Thanks for straightening that out :)

Remember when the Suburban was a simple, hardworking Suv? Not a Luxury Barge for somebody who wears yoga pants to all occasions.

Everything was good until the Gmt-900 where everything started to get way to flaunty.

M54B30 > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 21:34

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I love Suburbans but my student loans keep them out of my price range. I live in South Dakota, and we get 40-70mph gusts all day long. Why is that important? We don't have trees or towns to slow the wind down so you get tossed all over the highway. it gets so bad that I have to keep the steering wheel in my Montero held 1/8th over (think the 1:30 position) to stay straight. If I had a big Suburban it wouldn't be so bad. Plus, we have lots of empty miles and the big sculpted seats in a Suburban are so much more comfortable than the sport seats in my 530i.

I also have a 2 month old. So what you ask? Everything fits fine enough in our cars but if we are driving home (Ohio), we need a playpen, stroller, diaper bag(s), bags for my clothes, my wife's clothes, bags for whatever useless crap my wife brings with us every time and the stuff for my Jack Russell and Pitbull. We are talking food, kennels, toys, etc. it's a lot of stuff. Plus you'll want a cooler so you're not stopping at every gas station for drinks or snacks (also keeps bottles cool).

We haven't made the trip yet but I already know it won't all fit in our Montero and absolutely won't fit in our 530i.

dogisbadob > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 21:35

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Yup!

Also, I love the 67-72 and the 92-98 Suburban and GM trucks!

jkm7680 > M54B30 04/12/2014 at 21:37

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From that perspective, I understand fully, . For people with large families it makes perfect sense. In your situation, yeah. It's fine, because you need the space.

The kind of people who purchase these cars, seem to be mainly Suburbia dwellers with two kids, and no pets.

jkm7680 > dogisbadob 04/12/2014 at 21:38

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Same! 60's and 70's Gm was the best Era for them.

Leadbull > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 21:39

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Why not?

/MURRICAH

M54B30 > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 21:42

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That's what scares me - we only have one kid and I'm justifying a Suburban. I dunno. I'd rather $50-60,000 and want for nothing then $40,000 in an Edge and have to Tetris everything into it, if that makes sense.

jkm7680 > M54B30 04/12/2014 at 21:44

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I'd say go for the Suburban! Dogs can be quite a handful, if I had another one. I'd literally need a Suburban.

M54B30 > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 21:49

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my pit is a great traveler - excited for about 45 seconds before curling up and sleeping. My Jack Russell, as you see in the picture is always a pothole away from falling out the window

jkm7680 > M54B30 04/12/2014 at 21:53

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Good looking dogs! Luckily I borrow my Gf's Xc for Rottie transportation. I need a wagon in my life. My A4 also has beigue interior, another nope.

M54B30 > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 21:56

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my wife and I would LOVE to find a wagon. Anything German, not that we are fanboys but US options (Focus, Taurus) make us cringe. We both grew up in Germany surrounded by Audi and BMW wagons

jkm7680 > M54B30 04/12/2014 at 22:00

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That's awesome! I'd love to get a B7 wagon, but there were few on the market and I needed a quick buy so I fell for a B7 sedan.

I wish America would see the light about wagons though. They are sedans with more practicality. Why wouldn't anybody want one?

M54B30 > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 22:06

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I wish I knew. I think once the generation from the 50/60/70s passes on it'll get better. My dad was born in 1962 and has horror stories of being crammed in a wagon with 8 brothers and sisters

jkm7680 > M54B30 04/12/2014 at 22:13

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My dad was born in the same era and had multiple brothers and sisters also. It's probably bad memories of being uncomfortable as a kid that scared them off. I do agree that the 80s and onwards generations will buy more wagons. I'm just wishing for the Rs4 wagon, Haha.

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cuts_off_prius > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 23:39

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Just watch these take over the narrow city streets and highways of New England. LOL. On a side note - we NEED a gas guzzler tax for "light trucks" too, or abolish the tax completely, as it only applies to cars and wagons.

cuts_off_prius > Alex B 04/12/2014 at 23:40

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Then we won't be unique :(

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > jkm7680 04/13/2014 at 01:46

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The last good big SUV. My father in law has 5 kids, 4 four wheeler, two boats, and one black diesel Excursion to haul them all around.

jkm7680 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 04/13/2014 at 06:44

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Completely Agree! The Excursion was a great Suv. If you had a large boat, Kids, Dogs then it was the perfect toy hauler. Diesel for extra points also.

jkm7680 > cuts_off_prius 04/13/2014 at 06:46

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That's a good idea. For vehicles weighing over a certain amounts, or being over a certain size should have a tax on them for entering cities. I like the way you think.

George McNally > jkm7680 04/13/2014 at 16:47

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They should put "always on" blind spot and rear view monitors directly in the drivers field of vision on the dashboard. Sure it would add a couple hundred bucks to the price....they already cost 60k, so what's the big deal?

jkm7680 > George McNally 04/13/2014 at 16:55

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Good ideas. With all those blind spots, monitors would be a great idea. It's not like the buyers couldn't afford a little extra money for them.

HammerheadFistpunch > jkm7680 04/15/2014 at 18:19

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This thought occurred to me as I was comparing the size of the new 4runner with my 97 land cruiser. The Cruiser is the same size or smaller than the 4runner outside but significantly larger inside. I think new safety features, construction methods, technology and NVH measures mean that the inside walls are further than the outside with each generation. its not that we are getting more spacious cars, the cars we have are just getting thicker.