Filipinos love SUVs. If your familiar with the H2 and planning to get one... think again:rolleyes:

Although an SUV owner myself, you are right. Tests prove SUV's have inferior handling and braking capabilities to cars and of course are gas guzzlers to boot. There is little evidence to support they are safer in accidents.

However I would argue with your post. Without knowing at what speed the H2 and the other one collided, the H2 appears to have retained its cabin structure intact. That along with airbags would tend to suggest the occupants survived. Don't forget that modern vehicles are engineered with "crumple zones" deliberately designed to absorb impact while maintaining the integrity of the passenger compartment structure. By that standard the Hummer looks as though it comes out well from the encounter.

Prejudices against SUV's are rising in Europe and beginning to surface in the US. In UK unless you're a farmer and it's a Range Rover, owning an SUV is pretty close to be being politically incorrect. In England the Landbruiser is the one to hate, when people buy it just for the school run and block the road while unloading, or keep it just so they can charge over speed humps.
SUV's get a very bad press as being totally OTT for the real work they actually do.

I was brought to earth by my daughter who lives in UK but visits the RP. She said didn't I ever feel selfish at taking up so much road space on these congested roads? She went further and called my SUV a lumbering hulk of energy-wasteful junk! If I'm 10% honest she's right.

I'm seriously thinking of down-sizing to a CR-V. But then those always seem to be driven badly, as though their owners couldn't afford a Pajero and feel deprived, so they like to behave as they though they have one. so then I'd have another, different, prejudice to overcome!

dude..... you sure sound serious:D
but what you said make sense about the crumple zones and all;) nice write-up too.

GROWLER,

Your technical views are really very informative. I hope you stick to it.

I've noticed that everytime you make a remark on the filipino way of doing things here I have not read any good remark from you but rather very nasty generalizations. Your forum name even suggests so .

Make me wonder what the hell you are doing here in the Philippines. Can't you go back to UK where everything is perfect ?

Originally posted by abet
GROWLER,

Your technical views are really very informative. I hope you stick to it.

I've noticed that everytime you make a remark on the filipino way of doing things here I have not read any good remark from you but rather very nasty generalizations. Your forum name even suggests so .

Make me wonder what the hell you are doing here in the Philippines. Can't you go back to UK where everything is perfect ?

Ouch.

I don't know growler personaly. But most of the time I tend to agree with his views on how most people tend to be selfish in their road manners. The truth hurts.

This reminds me of the time everyone went bonkers when Clair Danes called manila "dirty". Erap went so far as to threaten to ban her movies. The thing is she was right. So why get pissed at someone who just stated something that was obvious to begin with?

Truth hurts... nuff said.

would you shout--tol ang baho mo may putok ka! in front of a crowd?
the truth hurts but break it gently or be discreet.

In the philippines ... we have to take account how the pinoy would feel. Just the way we are. Here, when a boss needs to correct an employee's attitude or manners, it is a no-no to be done in public. Proper pinoy protocol calls that he has to get the employee on a private place, where no one they know would hear them.

Probably why the philippines is lacking behind their asian neighbors. Pinoys don't want to be told that what they're doing is wrong. And they specially don't like it when other people know that somebody told them they were wrong!

Pride goeth before a fall.

Lot's of stubborn people in the PI... me included.

Kazmut,
stubborn? me too!!
hehehe
but we pinoys are on the way to be better.

Richie / Kazmut ,

I disagree with you when you say that what growler said is the truth rather than just some few cases. I don't say that filipino drivers are perfect, they're not , but rather adopts to the situation easily.

That may be in your case or observation, but then I still believe that filipino drivers are nothing different to others given the same situation. They behave properly in subic and clark don't they ?

I do agree also that reponses should have been discreet but not when we are already being discredited in general. Growler should have been refraining from such comments also. Tell him, not me.

When I took from Frank Woolf the MCP shirts & umbrella he was driving his CRV . So is he included in what growler described of a CRV user ? Do you ?

Originally posted by abet
Richie / Kazmut ,

I disagree with you when you say that what growler said is the truth rather than just some few cases. I don't say that filipino drivers are perfect, they're not , but rather adopts to the situation easily.

That may be in your case or observation, but then I still believe that filipino drivers are nothing different to others given the same situation. They behave properly in subic and clark don't they ?

I do agree also that reponses should have been discreet but not when we are already being discredited in general. Growler should have been refraining from such comments also. Tell him, not me.

Growler does have a lot to say about the sorry state of drivers/roads/traffic/mmda/police in this country but sad to say, a lot of it is true. I don't even have to drive outside my village to see idiot, non-licensed 16 year-olds driving tricycles like there was no tomorrow. Or snooty, rich neighbors double or triple parked in their SUVs along the curb by the school waiting to pick up their kids oblivious to the horrendous traffic jam behind caused by them. I have to agree even though I wish I did not.

About Filipino drivers adapting to the situation... well if taking up the opposite lane to avoid getting stuck in traffic or stopping in the middle of gaddamn.. errr.. gaddarn EDSA to pick-up/drop off passengers is called "adapting" to the situation, then it's hopeless.

Subic and Clark? Residents there are lucky because they know and understand how it is to be polite and law abiding. For the other thousands of visitors, they only dirve properly because they're afraid to get fined. To cut it short, Subic and Clark are the exceptions.

Just ranting... Sorry to be off topic. I'll be quiet now. :crazy:

Peace to all! :D

it also helps that in Subic and Clark, there is a big chance that you will be caught if you violate any traffic rules and regulations. kung ganon lang din dito sa Manila, sigurado, susunod halos lahat sa batas trapiko.

Hello? Isn't this the SUV lovers thread:?

back to the Topic plz....

I let my wife drive the SUV. She thinks it is more safer and she feels more secure on that. I think so too!
except i don't have the Soccer Mom stickers. :)

In my opinion an SUV is the most ideal vehicle for Philippine road conditions. With the deteriorating road condition plus the ever present floods during the rainy season justifies ownership of an SUV. SUV suspensions can take the abuse of Manila roads unlike your normal 4 door family sedan. It can also lug around all your bike gear plus 5 full size adults in total comfort while towing a trailer with your race bike on board :).

Originally posted by abet
Richie / Kazmut ,

I disagree with you when you say that what growler said is the truth rather than just some few cases. I don't say that filipino drivers are perfect, they're not , but rather adopts to the situation easily.

That may be in your case or observation, but then I still believe that filipino drivers are nothing different to others given the same situation. They behave properly in subic and clark don't they ?

I do agree also that reponses should have been discreet but not when we are already being discredited in general. Growler should have been refraining from such comments also. Tell him, not me.

on the contrary, in my humble opinion, growler says it the way he sees it. It is the truth FOR HIM. Sometimes, it's much better to hear criticism from someone who is outside the paradigm. As for your observation, it is true indeed, I have lived in the US and saw how pinoys who grew up here changed their style of driving when they went behind the steering wheel stateside.

No disrespect here, but what I mean is this. If my room had a stench on it, and I have lived in that room all my life, I would be immune to that smell, and won't even notice that it is unusual. But a friend may come by, asking what that stench is. To my friend, that smell is intolerable. To me, it's just a fact of life. I then have an option, is my friend telling the truth? Remember I can't smell my own stench. Should I clean it so it conforms to what is acceptable to him? It is indeed my choice my friend. But if I friend doesn't point it out, I would not even entertain the thought of cleaning my room. In my own consciousnesss, that stench does not exists.

I appreciate what Growler is doing. Sometimes we are blinded by our own differences. He gives us a window, nay, an opportunity to see how other people from different culture sees us.

Peace bro :D

sorry :D last OT post :D

Originally posted by Dencio
Hello? Isn't this the SUV lovers thread:?
yes! :D

or no? :?

anyway, judging from the picture, growler was right about the safety of the h2.

and imho spdfgtr is right. suv's are one of the best vehicles to drive in & around metro manila.

my 2 cents.

peace!

it looks like the H2 had replaced the driver and front passenger with its engine.:crazy: :8

Originally posted by ricci
it looks like the H2 had replaced the driver and front passenger with its engine.:crazy: :8

That picture is probably from one of those anti-SUV groups.

My Family just got back from a 5000+ mile trip this June. We had a great time on our journey, and our SUV contributed to a big part of comfort and enjoyment. We would not have dreamed of doing a trip like this in a smaller vehicle.
We own a 2000 Ford Excursion with a 6.8L V-10 motor.
For our whole trip we averaged 14.5 mpg, that with hauling a bike and fully loaded with two weeks worth luggage. Without hauling the bike and with weekend luggage we average 15.9 mpg, and around town we get 11+ mpg. And we have seating for 8 adult passingers in comfort. So when we met up with Rene and his family, all 8 of us took 1 vehicle instead of 2. And the same when we visited Elena's cousin's family in S.F. Calf. we took one vehicle. And we are soccer parents so it gets plenty of use at home too.

I've seen those Escalades and Excursions and they're as big as ocean liners! :eek: As my uncle woud say when he sees a big SUV: "Parang barko ah! Hindi kaya tubuan yan ng talaba??!"

Originally posted by Rocky D Heuer
My Family just got back from a 5000+ mile trip this June. We had a great time on our journey, and our SUV contributed to a big part of comfort and enjoyment. We would not have dreamed of doing a trip like this in a smaller vehicle.
We own a 2000 Ford Excursion with a 6.8L V-10 motor.
For our whole trip we averaged 14.5 mpg, that with hauling a bike and fully loaded with two weeks worth luggage. Without hauling the bike and with weekend luggage we average 15.9 mpg, and around town we get 11+ mpg. And we have seating for 8 adult passingers in comfort. So when we met up with Rene and his family, all 8 of us took 1 vehicle instead of 2. And the same when we visited Elena's cousin's family in S.F. Calf. we took one vehicle. And we are soccer parents so it gets plenty of use at home too.


ops ops ops......hey rocky!...you left your helmet on the trunk....hihihihi!

monstrous SUV dude....cool!:C

Having an SUV/CR-V/TRUCK/CAR depends upon a persons need, use, or likes. Like Rocky's Excursion carrying his bike - thats cool as you an take a vacation with your family and still be able to ride your bike. You use a truck or SUV to tow a boat trailer or RV but may be difficult for a small vehicle. Also, you may just like having a Hummer 2, you can affort id, you are confortable with it so why not.
This also holds true with owning a bike- you ride what you like, what is comfortable with you, what you can afford, and what type of riding you will do. Cant ride a gold wing if you want to go off road or vice versa.

Bottom line is you are free to choose , even communist countries are starting to change too - imagine driving a Ferarri in China , a decade ago might end you in trouble, now you can - if you can afford it.

A Ferrari yes, but you can forget about motorcycles...

"Shanghai to clear its streets of all motorbikes XINHUA NEWS AGENCY (August 21/2002)
All Motorbikes are to be phased out in all of Shanghai's downtown areas within the next three years, Xinhua reported on its Web site yesterday.Quoting Wang Jimin, head of the traffic unit of Shanghai's Public Security Bureau, the agency said all motorcycles would disappear from downtown streets in the city by latest the end of 2005. Beginning 1st.August 2002, motorcycles were banned from a number of Shanghai's busiest streets.
The number of motorbikes in the city has soared in the past few years.In 1997, Shanghai had only 40,000 motorcycles and motorscooters. Today, it boasts some 140,000 motorcycles and 500,000 scooters. These figures do not include the 140,000 unlicensed "black motorcycles" currently in use. "Motorcycles and motorscooters account for more than half of Shanghai's vehicles, but they only account for 2.1 per cent of the daily passenger volume," Mr Wang was quoted as saying. "This inefficient mode of transport represents a serious waste of Shanghai's already scarce road space and this city's very limited road resources. "At the same time, the problems of traffic violations, including unlicensed vehicles, traffic congestion, speeding and unauthorised transport of passengers are rampant."
Officials said the purpose of the motorcycle ban was to improve Shanghai's road safety, raise transport efficiency and reduce pollution. Quoting police's statistics, Xinhua said motorcycles accounted for more than half of Shanghai's traffic accidents last year, killing 237 people.Motorcycles are also high sources of pollution, with the average bike emitting more than 30 times the air pollution of the average passenger car, according to the news." (http://www.homestead.com/shanghaibikers/)

I agree to what SENZALI said. I'm in the car export business and fortunately, I have the opportunity to use different cars. I have used small K-cars, sedans, wagons, sports and luxury cars but I always end up in my dirty, ugly, high kms. SUV. I use an old Delica 4WD for my everyday use because I use to load it up with car part like doors, bonnets, engine, gear box, and even front half cuts. I'm a trials rider and I use it to haul my bike to the mountains. One time I went to buy 1 old motorcycle but ended up loading 3 inside my Delica. I also use it to push scrap cars, thanks to the bull bar and I have pulled a car carrier truck with two cars loaded on the deck. I use it when we go skiing and on the beach in summer. I have changed it's suspension from scrap parts and now it rides like a POGO STICK. The engine and gearbox is dying because of my rough use. The AC doesn't cool very much, it squeeks all over, and it smells like gasoline has been spilled all over. I'll use it until March bec. of the registration. I will get another Delica or a Space Gear next year to replace my trusted garbage hauler.

I love Japanese SUVs maybe because I live here in Japan (and cannot afford the expensive US made ones). I have several SUVs with me like Surfs, Cruisers, Big Horns and Pajeros. All are good sellers and always brings food to the table. I have this UGLY HIGH LIFT SURF which I have driven only once since I bought it. It's big and hard to drive. Passers by usually take their picture beside the UGLY SURF. I think that's the only purpose it's good at.

The marriage of all-wheel drive and turbo techno-
logy is not new at Porsche. In 1996, the Porsche 911 Turbo was the first street Porsche to transfer its incredible power to the road via all-wheel drive. Now, Porsche engineers have applied this advanced technological combination to the all new Cayenne to achieve a striking new level of sport utility vehicle performance and driving exhilaration.

On road or off, the new Cayenne Turbo is a reso-
lute and masterful performer. The 4.5-liter V8 produces a prodigious 450 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque for impressive acceleration.

Porsche Traction Management (PTM) uses per-
manent all-wheel drive to balance the power delivery between the front and rear wheels. Con-
tinuously adapting to changing road conditions, PTM ensures optimum traction and driving dyna-
mics. Porsche Stability Management (PSM) moni-
tors the forces acting on the Cayenne to help you maintain the ideal line through a corner. Additio-
nally, the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) continuously modifies the damping force on all four wheels to compensate for steering in-
puts and the nature of the road.

The self-leveling air suspension with ride height control, center differential and two-speed transfer case combine to offer exceptional off-pavement capabilities.

The result is a new type of automobile mixing genuine Porsche power and handling with unpre-
cedented all-round versatility.

http://www2.us.porsche.com/english/usa/cayenne/cayenneturbo/default.htm

FUTURE 4WD FREAKS !!!

My son doing the 'V' thing. He rides Go Carts and has a KX80 w/c his legs are too short for. I had him drive my 4WD in the dirt and crashed it twice. He's 6. He asked me if he can take this Surf for a spin. I told him to use his bicycle instead.

Originally posted by spdfgtr
In my opinion an SUV is the most ideal vehicle for Philippine road conditions. With the deteriorating road condition plus the ever present floods during the rainy season justifies ownership of an SUV. SUV suspensions can take the abuse of Manila roads unlike your normal 4 door family sedan. It can also lug around all your bike gear plus 5 full size adults in total comfort while towing a trailer with your race bike on board :).

exactly. :)

Originally posted by Rocky D Heuer
My Family just got back from a 5000+ mile trip this June. We had a great time on our journey, and our SUV contributed to a big part of comfort and enjoyment. We would not have dreamed of doing a trip like this in a smaller vehicle.
We own a 2000 Ford Excursion with a 6.8L V-10 motor.
For our whole trip we averaged 14.5 mpg, that with hauling a bike and fully loaded with two weeks worth luggage. Without hauling the bike and with weekend luggage we average 15.9 mpg, and around town we get 11+ mpg. And we have seating for 8 adult passingers in comfort. So when we met up with Rene and his family, all 8 of us took 1 vehicle instead of 2. And the same when we visited Elena's cousin's family in S.F. Calf. we took one vehicle. And we are soccer parents so it gets plenty of use at home too.

that is the biggest SUV money can buy. did u get the diesel motor? a guy here at work owns one and he really is happy with it. but to park that beast can be a hassle at times. :D

Originally posted by Ronnel de Ramos
.................................................I'm a trials rider and I use it to haul my bike to the mountains. One time I went to buy 1 old motorcycle but ended up loading 3 inside my Delica. ..................................


OT.
cool!:C ronnel!........................so what do you ride? a bultaco? beta?

....i think japanese SUVs are trying to capture the american market by building larger ones and in no time they'll grab the top spot in SUVs

The Excursion is the biggest Land Yacht on the roadway. The Escalade is a very nice and very expensive SUV but not as big. In the earilier pic we were in New Mexico at White Sands National Park standing on the sand dunes while my children slid down. Think that is my camera bag on the hood. The 6.8L V-10 is a gas engine and for our use I am glad it is.

Just so everyone can get an idea of the size, here is one more pic taken a few months ago. My Excursion is nose to nose with my Jeep Cherokee. Just remember my Cherokee is 4X4 with over size tires and my Excursion is 4X2. The 4X4 Excursion is 2 inches taller.

Hi RICCI. I'm using a Honda RTL250R 1998. I'm dreaming for a Gas Gas 2003 but cannot afford it yet. Havn't been practicing lately because of work.

Japanese 4WDs/SUVs are doing good in the market. Makers are making larger models but are too expensive for ordinary people like me. Most of the rich people prefer to use expensive foreign made cars because they can afford it but I know of rich company owners in my area who uses garbage haulers like the one I have but a little bit cleaner than mine. I think that it is also about practicality. Other people uses loans/credits to buy 'good cars'. I think that Jap made cars will win in the market because they don't break down easily, have abundant parts, very easy to maintain and repair and most of them are less expensive than their foreign counterpart.

*** The streets in the area where I live (Kyoto) and to where I go (KANSAI AREA: Nara, Osaka, Kobe etc.) have narrow streets and are congested too.

My group prefer using cheap SUVs for everyday use. I'll bet anybody that no sane car napper will even think of stealing my garbage box. The color of my car is moss green but now it's brown from dirt up to the roof. You can even plant tomatos inside because of the dirt build up. ***

*** I often read people posting complaint and comparison about the Philippine road/driver's condition to other countries. I think that this is a good thing. Japan may have a good image but not as always as many of you might think. Espesially in the Western part of Japan (where I live). There are some 'WORST' drivers still on the loose. They'll drive 10 kms/hr on the high way doing a zig zag. Throw garbage and ciggar butts on the streets. Do a 100 at a school zone or residential area. Use loud horns and mufflers early in the morning. And say 'BAKERO' to the police.

I drive carefully and keep my road manners but from time to time I use my Pinoy driving skills. I burn tires, give them my sweet black smoke, I blast my horn to stupid 'Pong Pagongs' and stupid drivers, I cut over from left to right and do a full stop, I drive on side walks when I have to, other things cannot be said through the net... As a Pinoy 'the finger' is always my best choice to communicate. One time things nearly went rough but when the guy heard my ANDREW E. (Huwag kang Gamol) rap song, he asked me who's the singer... I ended up giving him my priceless Andrew E, Francis Magalona, and Sharon Cuneta collection and now I'm left with the copies. The guy's GF even asked for my 'I love the Philippines' T-shirt with the bahay kubo printed on it. That was a rough day and will never be forgotten. ***

*** Here's a picture of my art work. Guess what it is... I'm the Kung-fu man and the Karate Kid and I've mastered the ancient art of CHOP 2. ***

OT

:o ....err!....ah!....by any chance are you related to lucila lalu........:) :eek: :D :O just kidding!...chop chop Kamo e!:rolleyes:

so how long you been there and plan to stay there? i was in kyoto last march....froze my butt...

the 10 days i was there, i hardly noticed big american SUVs.....what i've noticed in the hotel i stayed in were porshes, audis, benzes and ferraris parked outside the hotel.:8

Hindi ako related.. who's she? Namimili rin kasi ako ng crashed vehicles at paminsan-minsan ay kinakatay ko ang mga ito for parts. Like aluminium wheels benta por kilo parang bakal bote. HAHAHA !

13 years na at 10 years na hindi nakakapasyal sa Pinas dahil walang pamasahe. Dito na ako permanente. Kapag nakapasyal ka ulit sa Kyoto ay kontakin mo ako. Ipapakilala kita sa mga tropa kong trialists.

Konti lang dito ang American SUVs dahil hindi popular. Maganda sigurado ang tinigilan mong hotel dahil magaganda ang nakaparada. Pag mumurahin ay siguradong kariton at bisikleta lang ang nakaparada. Maraming mahihilig sa European cars dito sa Kyoto. Pag gusto mong bumili ng MB o BM ay pwede kong ipahiram sa iyo ang lisensiya ko sa auc. pag punta mo rito at baka sakali ay pwede mo itong mai hand carry pag uwi mo. HAHAHA !

Minsan pasyal ka sa amin. Magaling magluto ang biyenan ko.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ronnel de Ramos
Hindi ako related.. who's she? Namimili rin kasi ako ng crashed vehicles at paminsan-minsan ay [B]kinkatay ...........................................


:D ...you must be very young...lucilla lalu was know, i think around the 60s, as the original chop chop lady......her body was chopped up and placed in a "sako"...there was also one (slipped my mind) in the 90s....ginawa ngang sine eh!:rolleyes: hehehe!

i will pm you some details.

Here is a pic of my Excursion taken at South Padre Island ,Texas during S.P.I.BikeFest 2003. We had a very good time there. I'll try to post some more picks soon in the picture albums of the ride.

Try this with a small S U V . My wife is standing on the front of the bike trailer, it is coupled to our large fold-up camper, and it is coupled to our Excursion. The Excursion had no trouble pulling everything and the rig handled very good at well above legal speed limits. Was in a little hurry going home and we made the 675 miles in 10.5 hours, including two stops for gas and food.

I stand completely behind my comments which are factually based on my wide reading of the international motoring press.
SUV's suffer from poor handling, roll easier than cars, take up excessive road space and guzzle gas. That is the general consensus of informed motoring journalism not mine.

If you want to go off road regularly or tow stuff they may make sense. On the road they don't. If you want to car lots of family around get a van.

Here are a few authoritative links which support my point.

http://www.citizen.org/documents/behavior.pdf

http://www.evworld.com/databases/shownews.cfm?pageid=news150103-07

http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/safety/suv_dangers.html

As for my whimsical remark about CR-V drivers suffering from delusions of Pajero adequacy, while said in jest, three days ago I nearly suffered at the arrogance of a badly driven one of these as I posted on the Motorcycle Safety Forum. One swallow doesn't make a summer but my jest on that occasion at least was uncomfortably near the mark.

Finally, so I can say with the voice of experience as opposed to just joining the anti-SUV bandwagon until recently I owned a Ford SUV. Because of its all-terrain tyres its roadholding and handling in the wet were very unpredictable and its cornering, let's say on on or off-ramps was nothing less than frightening. The roll was terrible, and in particular the way oversteer set in without warning made that one dangerous vehicle. We won't go into the 3 km/liter fuel consumption.

More than that it was a completely hopeless vehicle in traffic because of its bulk and of course little use in a city where all the car parking spaces are made for vehicles the size of Toyota Corollas. So I sold it.
=====

As for the rest I'm a Yorkshireman, I call it like I see it. That apples to driving standards as much as anything else, whether it's a Filipino, A Brit or a Little Green Man from Mars, if he's driving like a prat then he's driving like a prat. Traffic and driving problems are never going to be addressed successfully if we all go round pussy-footing and getting cosy about it.

The simple fact is that with the exception of Cambodia, Burma and Laos, which don't matter very much in the grand scheme of things, the RP is the only ASEAN country which has no apparently coherent strategy or plans to deal with the impact on society and the environment of the motor vehicle. Bangkok used to be a nightmare, it's unbelievably better than 10 years ago, Jakarta likewise, KL has huge congestion problems but they're working on it. Singapore solved theirs long ago. Here we haven't even got the left boot on yet, or if we have it's on the wrong foot. And it bothers me too because I live here.

I pay my taxes in this country like a dutiful resident. That doesn't give me the right to vote, but then I probably pay a lot more taxes than many of your politicians anyway :> :> but I sure gives the right to air my views. Discreet? you want me to be discreet towards some guy who nearly killed me thru his stupidity and lack of skills, or the ******* who refuses to stop at a red light and nearly t-bones me, or the twat in the taxi who doesn't know what a pedestrian crossing is? Get away.

Don't like 'em? fine with me, that's your right, just click on by. I lobe a good old debate meself.

Growler, guess every body has their own preference in vehicles to drive. We use our SUV all the time for towing and vacations.
We owned two vans before we bought the Excursion. One of our vans was a very nice GMC hightop conversion. We owned it for 3 years and drove it on many vacations. It would not tow very good, took up just as much road space, taller, very ill handling, and the gas mileage was not as good as my Excursion.

Over the past years I have driven many different vehicles of all sizes. From a small 125cc motorcycle to a big Tractor-Trailer rig(Simi). I owned a Mazda Rotary Race Car and drove it to Second place in the Sports Car Club Of America Mid States Championship
Maybe most people who think that most SUV's handle bad went from a car to a SUV. You must know your limits on what you drive. You can not drive a SUV like a car, or a car like a bike, hope you get the big picture.

VAN or SUV ---SUV or VAN

right now we are very happy with our SUV.

Like Rocky, I too owned and used vehicles from trucks, vans, SUVs, luxury, sports and even scap candidates. I prefer SUVs because it fits my needs. I don't use it often in the dirt or snow because I prefer to use my bike but SUVs fits my everyday life. I deal cars and often I have to tow cars. I have to push and pull crashed cars (without wheels) to arrange my yard. I can't push a huge Land Cruiser without wheels if I use a normal vehicle. I have towed huge damaged loaded car carriers and at the end of the truck is another crashed car being towed. I load my SUV with car parts including a 4WD engine and gear box, bikes, and scrap metal. My wife usually gets dizzy riding my SUV because of the sus conversion that I made but she's telling me that no other car will fit my needs. I'll dump my car next Feb. but I'll get the same vehicle or maybe bigger. Some of the roads here are very narrow and I use too much road space "BUT" I have rescued (towed)dozens of cars that fell from ditches and they always thank me with a bit of cash also. NICE EY!

I have driven about 90,000 kms in the past 1 1/2 year. My SUV is not comfortable to ride (life aint too) BUT IT GETS THE JOB DONE.