Have SUV’s died? Kicked the bucket? Thrown in the towel? Is America turning its head in disgust shunning the stepchild formally known as “sports utility vehicle”? And who started this panic of “since gas goes up, land yachts’ go down”…well for all you driving that Bodonka-Tonka to work right now, have no fear, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it comes in the form of snow! (dashing through the snow) as you’ll get to know me, I’m big on the future, bettering tomorrow, but let’s look at the past for a minute, eight years ago, in year of panic of y2k, U.S Gas prices averaged $1.52, 2003, $2.02 2006 $2.87, today, $3.10…what does this tell us? Gas has gone up consistently roughly 23% a year, yes there’s been ups and downs, but it’s inevitable in this global economy. Fact is, for us – four season states, SUV’s will fluctuate in value, just like convertibles in the summer. Personally, I’ve learned to cope with paying the additional dollars at the pump, yes it’s not the greenest thing to do, but when winter rolls around, i feel better in knowing that I can get my family and I home in a foot of snow.
Now…all wheel drive sedans have become popular with rising energy costs, most have a four cylinder engines which gets in the range of 22-25 miles to the gallon, and for the most part, sticks to the road. Here’s the butt! Most SUV’s will range 18-20 unless you’re driving a tank. And you get the additional safety. Now for those of you driving those 300 passenger, 2 mile per gallon Johnson County step-ford wife vehicles, with mud flaps reading save the environment, I might consider down-sizing, I’m just saying.
So sit back in that SUV, and let Uncle Danny sooth that aching ear from all the negative talk about your four-wheel drive apparatus. The only way we’ll keep industry strong, is to believe in the process of the machine we call “free market!” Want to learn more? Listen to “The Auto Advocates” Live on KCMO Talk Radio 710 Saturdays @ 1:30PM CST !
Your Voice of Reason
-Danny Z
