Sport SUV's, Love Em or Hate Em?

[JPolen01]

Why does everything with you people turn into a pissing match about XJs?

[Kaan]

Why does everything with you people turn into a pissing match about XJs?

its not a pissing match about XJs but if you know the "cherokee" line up... and want to say the heritige of the Cherokee... it will come up. the fact is the GRAND Cherokee was always the luxury line and never the "awesome offroader." They took the "name" of the luxury jeep (not the good offroad cherokee), redid the entire suspension, added a bad ass V8 (not the crappy ones) made it even more luxury oriented, added brembos for gods sake... but you want to compare them all because they share the same "name."

[Jake]

OK, so everyone put your Jeepcocks away for a second. Here's what I don't get.

When our Escape blew the transmission into a million pieces, mom needed a new car. Well, rather, it was a convenient excuse to get a new car instead of replacing the transmission. Anyway. Not important.

So we go looking, and the 'rents ask me what I'd suggest. I'm like "DUDE MOM E90 WAGON" and she goes "Eww, I don't like wagons, ugh."

They looked at 14 (yes, really) crossover-UVs, drove a few of them, and brought home an Outback 3.6L. Which is a wagon. On stilts. It gets 19 mpg, is far larger than they need, is almost no fun to drive (except woof, that 3.6 makes some power) but I guess it has AWD for the rare instance of flurries in Northern Virginia and oh my god we're out of milk.

Like... it's just the two of them. They have no use for something that large. The tow rating on it is something like 3,000 lbs, and they never tow anyway.

Why not Impreza/WRX? Why Outback?

I don't understand people.

[HAULN-SS]

I dont really see whats wrong with just wanting a higher seating position? A stock SUV is easier to get in and out of than a car I think. You can see more because youre up higher, too. Arent those two perfectly good reasons for getting an SUV, the rest of them be damned?

[G.Irish]

I find a lot of people have an unnatural bias against wagons. I think our parents' generation associate wagons with the old wood paneled wagons of the 60's and 70's that were extremely uncool. Now I can't see why someone would be against a nice 3 series wagon, TSX wagon, 6 wagon, etc.

[Jake]

But see, then you have the problem of everyone wanting higher seating positions. So the trucks get bigger, the SUVs get bigger, everything gets bigger. Soon, we're all driving F-450s and changing lanes into people who drive sensibly-sized things like hatchbacks.

Keep in mind, I also don't understand why people want automatic transmissions in not-trucks, how people can consume hours of television and enjoy it, and why the color beige is so popular.

[.RJ]

[V1GiLaNtE]

Keep in mind, I also don't understand why people want automatic transmissions in not-trucks, how people can consume hours of television and enjoy it, and why the color beige is so popular.

Because 'MURICA.

[V1GiLaNtE]

God I still want one of these..

[Jake]

^^ YES.

But not with the 390 or whatever motor was in it.

[V1GiLaNtE]

I find a lot of people have an unnatural bias against wagons. I think our parents' generation associate wagons with the old wood paneled wagons of the 60's and 70's that were extremely uncool. Now I can't see why someone would be against a nice 3 series wagon, TSX wagon, 6 wagon, etc.

If only we could shape peoples opinions towards the EU.. Throw out the political argument why we don't follow them but dammit why can't the US have our wagon options and diesels too? While the 60's and 70's wagons WERE uncool there's no denying the awesomeness of an S4/S6 Avant. Maybe people have a "my dick is too small" issue and can't slip into the drivers seat of a wagon and feel awesome driving around. I'll instead show how big it really is by commanding the road in my Porsche powered SUV which I drive to Starbucks the treacherous terrain of the local country club.

[V1GiLaNtE]

^^ YES.

But not with the 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 engine or whatever motor was in it.

FTFY

Let's be honest Jake.. You're not buying that Sumbitch for MPGs.. Gimme my wood panels, Dana 44's and enough seating where we need string cups to communicate between the back and the drivers seat over the roar of that engine and tires.

[Ken]

It's actually really simple; many people just don't like the appearance of wagons. You can debate why all you want, but people just don't like them. Sorry? I'd kill for a CTS-V wagon over any of these, but those things ARE unicorns. I thought i read somewhere they are actually more rare than most high end exotics, pretty much a special order. People (in the US) just don't want wagons.

[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?

[WRXtranceformed]

I'm not going to lie, I have lusted after this V8 beast after I got to drive an older one as a volunteer at the Quail Hollow golf tournament ferrying them back to the airport to be shipped off to the next MB golf event (they were player cars):




It was noticeably faster and more fun to drive than the S550s. That thing will apparently eat up the offroad too, it had like 5 different offroad settings.

[SlimKlim]

^ I think my bosses' wife's car is an ML63. :lol:

[WRXtranceformed]

Naw, GL550 son! 426hp/516tq

[V1GiLaNtE]

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.

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?

See the problem is that just equates to complete jack-assery driving here in NOVA. And you as a rider of 2 wheels should know that better than anyone else.

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?

It is an it isn't. But when I see a woman(not trying to discriminate here but..) who can barely see over the wheel hauling ass down 123.. Yea I'm gonna be a little judgmental.. Or the guy with the slicked back hair and aviators with that smug "I drive a Porsche SUV look.. Yes I'm going to be a little judgmental. You're an anomaly to the equation. It doesn't make the vehicle useless, because like most things here in the States BECAUSE I CAN doesn't make up for the fact that you bought something that serves an almost worthless purpose that was good in theory.

If you're into guns it's the 40S&W argument... and I don't buy it.

[Ginger]

Hold-up. You're going to hang me out to dry on a "driving quickly occasionally" assertion on a forum of motorsport enthusiasts that have street-registered sports cars and regularly drive on the street a little more quickly than is reasonable? That's a bit unfair. As a motorcyclist, you're right, I'm, intimately familiar with where and when it's safe to go quickly. And should I own an SUV capable of laying it down occasionally, you've got to trust that I have the judgement to do so in a reasonable manner. Otherwise, that point's a bit specious at best. I mean, you're basically geographically limiting who can own fast things or assuming that the people that do only go quickly at the track. So let's take that one off the table.

One thing I continue to learn is that I am not special or unique. I'm far from the only person that really does see a lot of usefulness in this type of vehicle. Yeah, I agree that you've got your toolsheds and douchebags running around giving themselves a bad name, but every group has them. I don't think it's reasonable to write off an entire model group based on anecdotal experiences. I guess if you don't think they're useful, then you don't. But I'm not the only person posting here saying "I really can see a role for these vehicles in my life" and I think that speaks for itself.

[Ginger]

Oh, and I think it's only fair to point out that I look like a douchebag.