Proof of the "trendiness" of trucks/SUVs....

[Flexin]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

I could see 4WD helping when trying to accelerate up a wet hill.......But when you are just cruising on a wet highway I don't see how it helps. Hydroplaning is the issue there.

AWD does help with hydroplaning. At least it did in the downpour I was in coming back from the cottage. My tires were getting bad and it was hydroplaning bad. I feel the AWD had a big part in keeping it out of the ditch.

Of course the most important thing is tires. With proper tires your pretty good in most cars.

James

[Flexin]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

People are free to buy what they want, and should be. I just think a lot of people's choices were heavily influenced by peer pressure & advertising.

But why do you make it about SUV's and trucks? There are some people that will buy a Prius that might have needed/wanted a truck just because of peer pressure.

Some people will look at someone in an econo box and think that they are great people for not buying a big gas guzzling truck. But some of this people (because of location and so on) could have took the bus everyday.

Its not just Suv/truck owners that buy more then they really need.

James

[karl_1052]

Originally Posted by Flexin

I hate all season tires. I swore I would never drive a winter with them again after my first car. I remember working the gas and clutch climbing a snow covered hill in traffic. There was no turning around because of the row of cars behind me. It was hell. I made it but I had to work for it. That was enough of that. I borrowed money from my stepfather and bought a nice set of winters. I was sold at that point.

When I bought my truck it had new all seasons. They told me that the tires would be good for the first winter then I would need winters after they wore down a bit. My truck was rwd and it would kick the ass out for no reason at all. Yes if you jumped on the gas it would come around but I'm talking about maintaining your speed it would be fine then just kick out for no reason. I went in and put on four winters and I never had a problem again.

Last year was my first year with AWD and winter tires. I love it. I was doing some snow removal last year and I wouldn't have made it to work on a few of those days without the AWD and winter tires.

James

Remember, I don't get maritime snowfalls. We only get 12-24" at a time, not like you crazies.

[BobTheBiker]

Where I am, and the fact that my family shops in bulk, decide we required a small truck. although 4 cylinders and 2wd is JUST fine for that vehicle. I'm going to get a 4x4, but its just going to be my toy for the sake of fun when I'm in the mood for driving with the top down or mudding.

[Flexin]

Originally Posted by karl_1052

Remember, I don't get maritime snowfalls. We only get 12-24" at a time, not like you crazies.

I was away on training and happened to be in Ontario. On my way from there to Saginaw, Michigan I drove in a snow storm. I did it in my rental on all season tires but if it would have been during the day with more traffic I woudl have been in a accident. In Michigan it went sideways on me. It went back and forth, I was using three lanes. I saved it but if someone would have been beside me it would have been a bitch.

We can get a big stor then have it turn to rain. So other then the ice if you wait you can get by with All seasons here but I don't like to wait and I don't want to put wife, kids or myself at risk just to save $70-100 a year.

Everyone is different but thats how I feel about it.

James

[Homeslice]

Pretty much every tire these days is "all season" (marked M+S for mud and snow).......Except if you buy super-high performance tires for dry weather only.

You can buy pure snow tires instead, but in my experience they're noisy as hell when the road is dry.

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by Flexin

But why do you make it about SUV's and trucks? There are some people that will buy a Prius that might have needed/wanted a truck just because of peer pressure.

Some people will look at someone in an econo box and think that they are great people for not buying a big gas guzzling truck. But some of this people (because of location and so on) could have took the bus everyday.

Its not just Suv/truck owners that buy more then they really need.

James

But we're talking degrees here. Sure, an econobox owner could have taken the bus. But so could the truck owner. So in that situation the truck owner bought even more than he needed than the econobox owner did.

The funny thing is that a lot of these SUVs actually have LESS room inside than a good car.

People say what if I have to go to Costco, well there are plenty of 5-door cars with foldable rear seats that have TONS of room to put stuff, and they get better milieage, are lighter weight, and have lower center of gravity for better handling.

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by Flexin

That has nothing to do with the suv. I used to work at Costco and last going off I worked in the lot. I seen people with econo boxes that couldn't drive. Some drove like they had 40 ft trailers behind them. Some people just suck at driving.

James

And if those same people are short, what happens when they get in a truck? You get a 5'2" person behind the wheel of an F250 or Expedition and it's hilarious watching them trying to park.

[Flexin]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

Pretty much every tire these days is "all season" (marked M+S for mud and snow).......Except if you buy super-high performance tires for dry weather only.

You can buy pure snow tires instead, but in my experience they're noisy as hell when the road is dry.

The traction in snow is worth the road noise. Sliding into another car, hitting a curb, or driving into a ditch can make some noise as well. I prefer the tire noise. And the tires need to have the snow flake to have the real snow tire. The m+s doesn't mean shit anymore. I'm pretty sure the all seasons that came on my truck had m+s on them. They were garbage in the snow.

James

[Flexin]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

But we're talking degrees here. Sure, an econobox owner could have taken the bus. But so could the truck owner. So in that situation the truck owner bought even more than he needed than the econobox owner did.

The funny thing is that a lot of these SUVs actually have LESS room inside than a good car.

People say what if I have to go to Costco, well there are plenty of 5-door cars with foldable rear seats that have TONS of room to put stuff, and they get better milieage, are lighter weight, and have lower center of gravity for better handling.

Yes your right. But not everyone is looking for that. And around here there are some bad pot holes after winter and you can't avoid them all. The larger tires of the truck normally make out better.

James