Posted by Ben on January 24, 03 at 19:38:39:
In Reply to: SUV Disparaging posted by Elliot on January 23, 03 at 20:13:00:
Sweetie used that term during dinner just now and hit a cord.
Have had SUV's since mid 1960's. M38 Jeep we rebuilt from ground up, literally. Then Dune Buggy, then Toytota FJ40, then Chevy K5 Blazer, now the Suburban.
Nobody back then even considered a SUV, nor knew what it was. Too rough and only for those die hards who really camped off road in the dirt, or hunted, or fished, or hiked. We also knew a bit about the outdoors and environmental issues. We even packed out more than we brought in...swearing at the "newbies" because of the new found "back to nature" magazines/books/etc. Point being that it's only been in the last few years that SUV bashing has come to light. Up till then, most folks accepted them as part of your right to own whatever.
But with the gentrification of the SUV bred, just about anyone will consider, even if they don't really need one. I have too many friends/acquaintances who have purchased SUVs just because it's the latest rage, plus they are all wannabie in any new thing.
Is it the improvements of the SUV bred or is it the type of people who buy them that these bashers are against?