Big Ass SUV's - Do Dems or Repubs own more of them?

[cidliz2004]

Curious, what type of people buy The Eddie Bauer, Hummer, Cadillac... Big Ass SUV's and why do you suppose that is?

[dweller]

1. stupid humans do

of whatever stripe.

b/c their neighbor does, and they covet it.

what were they thinking?
dp

[cidliz2004]

6. Don't you think that shallow keep up with the Jones

people are the main buyers of this obscene piece of machinery?

Seeing one tonight made me think "Republican Republican Republican"
totally oblivious to the cost of this obscenity to the world.

It is all about personal empowerment, status and ego...

Am I wrong, or are these more Republican characteristics than they are Democrat.

[dweller]

9. The first question to ask them is

how many soldiers per gallon they are getting in the beast of war they are driving.

self importance is a downfall, regardless of the political persuasion.
dp

[Red State Rebel]

29. Does that inclued the Heinz-Kerry family?

They own a Suburban...as do I.

[dweller]

34. As far as i'm concerned

yep.

my conscience is clear.
dp

[NewYorkerfromMass]

52. The Kerry family SUV is at their house in Idaho

an appropriate place for such a vehicle, I imagine, in the winter.

[djg21]

75. Isn't this generalization a little unfair.

If you live in the snow belt, require a vehicle to haul cargo or pull a trailer, and can only afford a single vehicle, doesn't an SUV make sense?

[w13rd0]

2. I live in Saint Louis...

...and I see alot of them driven by bad suburban drivers with Jim Talent and Bush stickers.

[physioex]

3. There are a few group...

Of people who need the utility these vechiles offer, but a majority could get by without them. I just don't like it when people play keep up with the Jones's..............

[CaTeacher]

4. I would like to think Repugs own more of them--

but my personal experience is that most of the people who live in my town are Democrats and nearly everyone has an SUV. My best friend, who is extremely liberal drives the Honda SUV (a fairly small one), all 3 of my very democratic cousins drive them, most of the other teachers (85% Democrats) where I work drive them--etc etc. Of my liberal friends--I would have to say that over 90% have SUV's. The most liberal man I know just bought an SUV for his daughter. It has gotten truly crazy! However, most of these vehicles are not the extremely large and most obnoxious of the SUVs--they are mostly smaller or mid-sized SUVs. For non SUV liberal drivers in this area, the vehicle of choice (for liberals) seems to be either a Volvo wagon or a SAAB.

I don't know as many repugs--they are less common here--but the ones that I know seem to love "luxury" sedan type cars (not fuel efficient either)--I recently had a boyfriend who was a repug--he drove a Lexus sedan. My repug neighbor has a BMW sedan. The types of sedans that I usually think of as being driven by old people are favored heavily by repugs here in this area of California. A few of them have an SUV as a second car.

[cidliz2004]

8. A smaller SUV, isn't like the Expedition

or the Hummer totally unnecessary for personal use, unless you haul heavy duty things in your personal life.

I see a "woman" alone driving a Ford Expedition, and I say "Why?" Don't they get how utterly ignorant, selfish and wasteful this is?

Blood for Oil....is it worth it?

[CaTeacher]

18. That is true. I don't know anyone

with a really big SUV--like a Hummer--but most my so-called environmentally conscience friends and relatives drive smaller or mid-sized SUVs.

A few examples--my sister has a Jeep Cherokee, my best friend--a Honda passport (both have the 4-wheel drive option--so they get REALLY poor miles per gallon--although neither do any off-roading).

And these people never carpool--and they do not have big families to haul around--they are single gals--so when they fire up the SUV to go to work or go grocery shopping--they are using all the energy just to carry themselves around. Ridiculous. I ride my bike if possible--if I can't, I try to ride the bus. And I could afford an SUV--I just feel no need to be so wasteful and extravagant.

The only time my sister's SUV has come in handy was when she was moving (one time in the 6 years she has been an SUV owner) and she could have rented a nice truck for a day for much less than it has cost to support that gas guzzler all these years.

[SemperEadem]

45. I remember reading somewhere a while back

that they didn't see what an actress needs an SUV for--hauling around a script and a tube of lipstick?

[Seeking Serenity]

72. I actually saw a Ford Excusion

or whatever the hell it's called with a Howard Dean and a "Love Your Mother" bumper stickers on it.

Some people simply have no sense of irony.

[fairfaxvadem]

5. I can't even say how many of my Dem friends own them.

I don't get it. The last thing I'd want to drive in traffic all day is one of those big behemoths and be a slave to the gas station, even when gas is a lot cheaper.

I know folks get all uptight over criticisms over SUVs but having to park one of those big lugnuts all the time would get old quick for me.

But hey, just my opinion.

I will say that if I owned a single family home I'd consider buying a used pick-up for all of the gardening and household stuff, since I am a "do it yourself" type, but it would definitely be parked the rest of the time. They have their practical uses and commuting ain't one of 'em.

Oh, and if I lived on 100 acres, I'd own one.

[Mojambo]

7. Wealth.

They are status symbols and wealthy people of both parties own them.

[Wheelie_Alex]

10. I drive mine because

it makes up for my small dick.

[cidliz2004]

11. Wouldn't a penile implant be more practical?

[Wheelie_Alex]

12. I also ride a motorcycle.

A sportbike so a penile implant would bump up against the gas tank. No, the Hummer, sadly, was my only other option.

[Red State Rebel]

32. Not any more practical than flamebait SUV threads...

I'm sick to death of seeing these judgemental, "I'm better than you are because I don't drive an SUV" threads.

They serve absolutely no purpose but allowing posters to make assumptions about other peoples lives and cluck their tongues like they are superior.

I drive a Suburban, I am director of a non-profit performing arts youth group that requires each rehearsal to have the following: 1 400 lb., 50X70 ft. vinyl gym floor cover, 32 6 ft. flag poles with flags, 17 39" stainless steel performance sabres, 17 18" wooden performance rifles, one shelf stereo system duct taped to a luggage cart, one large gear bag.

The windows on my SUV are tinted so if you drive by me, you have no idea what I have in the back, much less the days I'm also hauling around performers.

When it comes down to it, you really have no idea why anyone bought the vehicle they are driving. We live in a very hilly area and if you need to get to work in the winter, you better have something 4 wheel drive close at hand or know someone who does.

What gives you the right to judge anyone for their vehicle? Why do these threads continually pop up at regular intervals? I'm beginning to think it's to make up for peoples own insecurities about themselves that they have this driving need to insult and look down on others when they should just be minding their own business.

[Fatima]

64. hear hear!!

We have a full size pickup truck, with which I once used to haul around my (now retired) Quarter Horse to local horse shows. I am getting ready to lease a Thoroughbred to show again and the truck will pull a two horse steel trailer with dressing room. I also haul hay and grain and other equipment in the bed, and my spouse hauls work gear, but most of the time the bed is...empty! Does it guzzle gas? Compared to most small cars certainly, but you can't get 30 bales of hay into a small car no matter how creative you get. What we do is keep the truck in good condition and it gets about 20 mpg...if all people attended to simple things like tire inflation and maintenance we'd all use less fuel and maybe we can snipe at each other less about what we drive!

[Gyre]

33. LOL!

Gyre

[yellowdog]

13. I belong to an archery club populated by Democrats

and on league night the place is surrounded by big-ass four wheel drive pick-ups and SUV's, plus my Toyota Echo. A couple guys need the 4-wheel drive trucks for their jobs but I think the rest are just penis extensions.

[cidliz2004]

16. WOMEN drive these obscenities to!??!!

We don't have that part of the anatomy, so what is your explanation on that?:shrug:

[Wheelie_Alex]

17. Hubby!

One of my customers owns three of them. One is his personal vehicle, one is his company vehicle and one is his wife's.

[meow2u3]

69. Female SUV drivers are trying to overcompensate...

...for their small boobs :evilgrin:

For which I recommend a boob job; it costs about the same.

[yellowdog]

19. I have no explanation for the women drivers,

just commenting on some of the guys. Penis envy? Naah, never did believe in that.

[soothsayer]

14. well, it was AHNOLD who got the hummer produced for civilians to buy.

SO I'm thinking repubs, cuz they don't care about the environment or other people's safety.

[Wheelie_Alex]

15. I beg to differ,

as a motorcyclist I am pretty much a safer, more alert driver, even in my SUV.

[dweller]

20. Beg and differ all you want

but you've already admitted upthread you are over-compensating.

Freud, while spinning in his grave, could tapdance all over this thread.
dp

[Wheelie_Alex]

22. Not arguing with you, Dude.

Just posted my POV. Apparently the sarcasm in my post about my penis size went unnoticed. Nothing wrong with the size of my penis. If I stay away from the swimming pool and the light hits it right, it looks pretty close to average in size (on a good day :( ).

[soothsayer]

60. I just meant that SUVs tend to KILL OTHER PEOPLE MORE than other

vehicles. They crash 'em and mash 'em, while the SUV drivers themselves are ok.

I'm a motorcyclist too and DEFINITELY think that makes me a more alert driver. Tho I do have those moments of panic where i think "oh god, does that person not see me" when I'm pulling out in my car before remember, oh yeah, they can see CARS, just not us bikers.

[napi21]

21. I doubt theres much of a difference.

I've had arguments with friends who own these monstors. My side is that most own them because they are a status symbol. Their agrument is that they are safer. Not safer for the rest of the drivers on the road, but safer for them and their families.

It is a difficult argument to fight. It is true that most of time you are safer in the bigger, heavier vehicle.

I will also add that several of these SUV's are parked in the driveway because they just cost too much to drive.

[Wheelie_Alex]

23. I'll fess up.

I drive the H2 because I have reached a financial rung where I feel that I should be able to enjoy the fruits of a lot of hard work.

Being single, the Hummer is also really good panty remover, too.

[dweller]

26. You should have quit

while you were ahead.

a panty remover? :wtf:

the harder they come, etc.
dp

[prolesunited]

59. Yeah, apparently they're good

for picking up chicks that leave in the morning and he'll screw his ex that he hates just because he's hard up.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=1532769&mesg_id=1532769

Can't wait to hear his "enlightened" opinion on our discussions of feminism and sexism. :eyes:

[PassingFair]

65. Because nothing says...

asshole quite like a Hummer!

This is the advertising tagline that pops into my head each and every time I see one.

Nothing personal, wheelie, but the type of woman who would be impressed by a gas guzzling, environment killing, excess of metal like a hummer is no "catch".

[cally]

24. If you buy a vehicle over 6,000 pounds

and own a small business, you can take the entire price off as an expense (Up to $100,000). Basically it's free if you have enough income. If you buy a more environmentally friendly car then you can deduct something like $3,000 the first year. I'm not making this up. It's absurd.

[yellowjacket]

31. There's more to it than that.

There are certain other requirements and restrictions on the subsequent sale of the vehicle which make it more difficult than you might think. My father is a CPA and looked into it for a friend of his who bought an H2. In the end, he took a huge loss after selling it 2 years later.

[tritsofme]

25. I drive a Yukon Denali.

I bought it with 0% interest, and it was a hell of a deal.

And I'm a life long Democrat, and I've never noticed a partisan bend.

[Wheelie_Alex]

27. Your truck is not much smaller than mine.

I wonder if this is what they call "measuring dicks?"

[cidliz2004]

30. Well then maybe it has to be Dem Activist vs. Repub Activist

I think that MOST Dem Activist are aware of what so much of this Iraq War and this Terrorist mentality is coming from. Now I am not saying all of it, but some of it. MOST Dem activitsts wouldn't put status and ego over the cost of the human blood being spilled for ME domination.

Repubs, I don't think would look at it that way. I think that they feel that they are entitled to be able to drive whatever vehicle that they choose to as long as they can afford it. As long as the American Dream is defined by financial success, this will be the path of many.

Now remember, I don't mean 100% of any group. I think a "more likely than less likely" is what I think is true.

[seabeyond]

28. the rich dems that buy it tell me for the safety of their children

and that i need to buy for safety of my children, as more rollover deaths in suv and suv that hits another car causes more deaths for others, blocks others view, but they will be the first to tell me my children need to be taken away cause i smoke. shit take my kids cause i dont put them in suv's either cause i think it is the ultimate in selfishness and i refuse to feed into it both with product and fellow travelers

plenty of dems own them for me me me protection of theirs

[MalachiConstant]

35. hummer h2

biggest piece of shit EVER! sorry, personal opinion, poor guess mileage, incredibly ostentatious, not even good for off-roading, and a hazard to everyone else on the road. this not too mention the rollover ratings on suv's are awful, and with all the extra weight (6800 pounds i believe) braking is pretty terrible as well. to top it all off it is made by GM and sits on the chassis of a chevy tahoe. ...just something to hang your 24" rims on.

http://www.fuh2.com

i completely understand the ownership of an suv for utiilitarian purposes. however, as for the "soccer mom" in the suv, NO need. somebody that uses it as a commuter vehicle, also no need.

my stepfather drives a 4x4 ford f150 to commute to work in his suit and tie every day. my mom and i agree that it is some sort of masculine insecurity, and quite pathetic. he used to hunt and fish and work in the tool shop and was in the military, etc., now he's just a corporate recruiter with a gas guzzler he doesn't need.

[dweller]

36. well, that's already established, but

is it a panty remover?

ask your stepdad. :evilgrin:

dp

[NewYorkerfromMass]

54. www.fuh2.com

Thanks! that was good link.

[Tight_rope]

37. Repuke or Dem...most people are just keeping up with the Jones!

[no_arbusto]

38. Baby boomers do

Repub and Dem. They need extra large vehicles because their greedy asses have gotten so fat while walking on the backs of those younger than them. Most of the 20-somethings I know (Repub and Dem) drive more economical Hondas and VWs because we care more about our planet and have been handed a world in which our salaries don't go quite as far as yours used to. I know that is not the answer you were looking for but someone had to say it.

[Tight_rope]

39. I tend to agree with you...Although in Houston everyone wants to drive one

Which is truly stupid because if you live here you need to own a car. No mass transit here...and the people could care less as long as they have their BIG FAT SUV to drive.

I drive a Mazda 626.

[Catherine Vincent]

41. I'm in Houston also and you're right.

Everybody wants an SUV. Some people tell me to buy an SUV and I ask "What in the heck do I need an SUV for? I'm single with no kids!" I proudly drive my Camry with my DU bumper sticker in the window.:-)

[no_arbusto]

42. Everyone wants to drive one here too

We just can't afford it. Gas is STILL over $2.00 a gallon here. Between our gas guzzler (Jeep) and our economical car (Honda Civic), we manage to average about 28 miles per gallon. I guess that's still better than most people get.

[dweller]

40. well said

now say it LOUDER.

some of us are on your side, youngen.
dp

[CaTeacher]

43. you know--I have to admit that sometimes a four wheel drive is

handy--but it is really easy to rent one for a day when you want one.

I like to go into the mountains with my friends--we enjoy doing a bit of cross country skiing and snow camping in the winter. We all chip in and rent a 4-wheel drive for our trip--usually costs less than it would to fill the tank for one week if I actually owned one and drove it around for all my errands.

My point is that even if a 4-wheel drive is cool once in a while--it is not neccesarily something that a person needs to OWN.

[Laura_B_manslaughter]

44. It's vehicular viagra

All the little men whose wives laugh at that 3 inch sponge between their legs buy the SUVs. Just like the gun loonies.

[Must_B_Free]

71. Not true

There's nothing wrong with having a three inch sponge and an SUV, and it doesn't mean your wife laughs at it.

[Piperay]

46. Equally owned by both

would be my guess. I believe the difference comes down to why and how much they are driven, Democrats have them but drive them less to save on the environment. Repukes will drive them all the time, even when they only have to go a block. I know lots of Democrats who have them, I have one too but only use it for long trips or on the freeway while I use my little gas saving Chevy for daily use.

[baldguy]

47. We've done this before, haven't we?

SUVs are overblown, overengineed, wasteful and stupid. And they're ugly too.

99% of them are NOT used for their intended purpose of going off-road with a very large cargo and at least four adults. They're used by arrogant, selfish, self-centered blowhards who are more interested in style and looks than substance.

[IronLionZion]

48. Big SUVs are mommy cars

seriously, Where I come from women love SUVs and men love pickup trucks.

conoisseurs like me prefer small fast American-made "foreign" cars with good fuel economy.

[DaveSZ]

49. I drive a big Chevy truck that was made in America

Does that make me evil?

If I could afford a hybrid car I'd buy one.

I really like the new hybrid silverados and accords.

[IronLionZion]

50. yes

I can't find the word evil anywhere in my post.

Or anything that knocks people who drive trucks.

cheers mate :hi:

[DaveSZ]

51. Well in my case

The other smaller truck I used to drive cannot make it out of the city because it overheats, but it's ok for in-city driving.

If I could have afforded a new car, I would have bought one.

I already have too much compared to someone living on the street who doesn't even own a shirt.

With a Chevy it's kind of a quandary of buying American vs. how many soldiers per gallon it gets.

The good thing though is that more models of hybrids are coming out now, and that will help with our dependence on oil. Kerry should fix the tax code to remove that huge SUV exemption and replace it with a hybrid vehicle tax credit/deduction.

[IronLionZion]

53. I imagine Kerry would do that

at least go back to the Clinton/Gore tax deductions for fuel efficient vehicles.

I can't speak for all hybrids, but the Prius is so damn expensive because it is still being made in Japan and they can't keep up with demand. There's a wait list of like 6 months to a year. Once they start making them here they will be much cheaper.

GM is going for big trucks a few years down the road. And Ford already has a small hybrid SUV.

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

55. if i could get hybrid car and not have to wait for 2 years

I'd buy one.

What is the big deal about the SUVs or a truck? What you drive is all about you. Right now I'm looking for a new vehicle, and I'm thinking, small and sporty. Still fuel efficient but small and sporty.

The bigger question is, why do people get in the car to go two blocks when they can dang well walk?

[IronLionZion]

56. and we wonder why are Americans so fat?

I'm a strong supporter of walkable communities. People would walk more often if stuff was closed to their homes and they had sidewalks and whatnot. It's really unsettling to walk alongside fast traffic when there's no sidewalk.

[MalachiConstant]

62. holy crap!!!!!

they're going to make a hybrid silverado, and accord too! that's good news, for i while i thought the hybrid thing was sort of lame. only because the two cars that were out i found unattractive (honda insight and toyota prius) then came the civic hybrid and i found out that for was going to put a hybrid engine in its escape. good news keeps coming, just slowly.

[IronLionZion]

63. The hybrid Silverado is useless

google it

It doesn't save much fuel and it isn't even a full hybrid. It doesn't use both electric and gas at the same time. It just shuts off the gas engine when braking or stopped, and uses the battery to run the computer.

I've been hearing good things about the Accord, Escape, and Highlander though. And the Altima and Camry are in the works for later on.

[MalachiConstant]

66. that's a shame,

why bother at that (about the silverado)

[kittykitty]

61. I think you come from where I come from, I see your Paul Politis

sticker. I wish he had more visibility, which unfortunatly translates into $$$. We prefer '96 Buick station wagons--which they don't make anymore. Great cars, all the advantages on an SUV except the 4 wheel drive.

[Mari333]

57. If their kid was standing in Iraq right now being mortared

they would actually think twice about buying an SUV, and think a lot about how much gasoline and petrochemicals they waste in their daily lives. Fuel prices will be up 10-20% this winter..its too bad, imo, people havent got an ounce of compassion and empathy as to where the oil comes from, not an ounce of compassion. It has to hit their pocketbooks which , evidently, is more important to them then the lives and suffering of others.

[happynewyear]

58. people that can afford them I guess

I never wanted such a vehicle and I live in an area where every other person out there has such a thing.

I strongly prefer a car that will give you 30 mpg or more. I've always driven this type of car.

I have a cousin that has a whole fleet of these things and spends his entire days trying to keep them running. :wtf: for. I say get rid of them (sell them!) and buy something that will give you some efficient gas mileage.

SUVs suck IMO.

:dem: :kick:

[Ezlivin]

67. My area is thick with coiffed blondes...

...driving their H2s while they chat on the phone.

I've never seen an H2 with more than one person in it.

Most of the big-ass SUVs in this area are piloted by women, in particular distracted women (cellphone, make-up, kid, DVD player).

If SUVs got good gas mileage, had bumper heights that matched other vehicles and weighted approximately the same as a minivan, I'd have no problem with them. As they are now, however, they are a hazard to other drivers.

When the oil price rises enough, the used car market (excuse me, "pre-owned"), will be flooded with these behemoths. And soon the unskilled teenaged driver will be behind the wheel, distracted (cellphone, DVD player, Gameboy, sex).

[maxsolomon]

68. i have 'The Eddie Bauer'

the ford explorer isn't nearly as decadent as an expedition, an excursion, a suburban, a lexus, a hummer or an escalade.

and we USE THE 4WD all the time. lots of steep, bad mountain roads up to trailheads.

due to gas costs, it mostly sits in the driveway & we use the 91 saab.

why don't people pick on cars with crap mileage, too? say a BMW 7 series?

[Must_B_Free]

70. I've got two expeditions, but for safety concern.

I only wanted my family to be up high and in something big to absorb the crash if someone hit my car, This has actually happened already - a mercedes just bounced off my nice big tire and they replaced the front quarterpanel. It was like having a bumper car. If he would have creamed us and we were in a sedan, someone might have been hurt.

[Catfight]

73. I have at least four Hummers in my neigbhorhood, where a lot of

professional sports figures live. I suppose they would be Repugs since they get that 100k tax break from scumbya. If you don't know why Repugs love their gas guzzling tanks, look here: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0101hummer01.html

Also, everyone I know who owns an SUV have Bush/Satanenny stickers on the big oversized bumpers. Repugs, the wasteful, none-thinking, leave your children a crappy world, party of values. I just can't figure out what values they are talking about. I think they value the almighty dollar before any god.

[Wheelie_Alex]

76. I am no Repug,

I bought my Hummer for status, I already admitted that. But I ride my motorcycle everyday to work and my weekends are strictly for carving up the twisties on it also. Nothing like sliding a knee around a corner. Nothing!

It is not that I can't afford to drive my SUV (One of my businesses is a full service gas station), I have always had a motorcycle as my primary vehicle. Ever since I got my first bike in high school (a Kawazaki KZ900), through my six years in the Army and every year since I have been all about motorcycles. There have been times in my adult life when I have not owned a car or truck, but I have never not had a bike since I turned 17.

[Zorra]

74. Republicans probably. Most Dems care about the environment. Very

few republicans do. Bu$h is the worst environmental pResident in the history of the US.

[Cynicelle]

77. Advice?

I drive a Jeep Cherokee. The gas mileage sucks and it doesn't run great, but my husband is 6'5 and we have 2 kids with one on the way. He wants to buy a larger SUV, which I object to, but I must admit we're very cramped as it is. Any suggestions?