Sport SUV's, Love Em or Hate Em?

[Ginger]

I was unaware that an XJ was big enough to be used as a smush room. Then again, I hardly fit in the driver's seat, so...

It is.

Some of the myopia shown here is kind of disappointing. I drive an XJ and I'm looking at replacing it with a Cayenne. Not a car with 4 driven wheels, not a truck with an open bed or a cap, but an SUV with locking doors, reasonable ground clearance, a good modicum of everyday driveability, and a bucket of fun, on top of all that.

Here's why: in the entire six years I've been with my company, we've had one day of reduced operations. I've had to drive to work on more than one day with so much snow accumulation that I do not know of a single car that would have made it. I've even pushed water crossings that would have quadrupled my time commute if I'd had to avoid them with a car. And I live in Northern Virginia. In addition, there's absolutely no way I would give up the cargo capacity I have now.

What about a truck? No. Occasionally, I have to drive more than one other adult in relative comfort. It's part of being an adult (shut-up, asshole friends). And I'm not a huge fan of emptying my cargo immediately upon arriving at my destination, or having to plan for the weather. I'll use Jeep to travel to bicycle races and you can be damn sure I don't want to unload both bicycles (that fit in the enclosed cabin) and all the luggage every time I stop at a hotel, or have to make sure I park in view of my table at restaurant stops. Yeah, I suppose a 4 door truck with a cap on top would satisfy all those requirements, but an SUV is a lot more convenient 95% of the time.


Topping all of this off, I already own two motorcycles. I can't keep two cars, too. I should really only own one bike and one car. Does that mean I should just give up all hope of driving something I enjoy stomping the loud pedal with, or driving a bit sporty-like occasionally?

I'm not the only person with these kinds of decisions to make. I think it's pretty damn arrogant to see a guy in a tie going to work or a mom grocery shopping with something like one of these things and assume they're just status symbols or "never used for what they were meant" or some other annoying cliche. If you can get away with having a truck and a sports car, or some other combination, great, good for you. There are a whole boatload of people that can't, though, and they're not seeking maximum go-fast or towing to go yank the Titanic out of the ocean. Does that make the entire genre worthless and stupid just because a real sports car and real trucks do it better?

The XJ has been, hands-down, the most useful vehicle I've ever owned, and it's kept me from getting stuck in plenty of conditions that a 4 wheel drive car would have stranded me. And I've not ever done a single day of off-roading. And probably never will. Sport SUV? Yeah. Sounds freaking great. Fun and usefulness (by the way, utility doesn't JUST mean Jeep trails) Sign me up. Where's my Porsche?