I'd suspect CaptainObvious is going to point out that the Chrysler branch of DCX has a long ways to measure up to the Mercedes branch in terms of durability. Just a guess - I can't make a judgement on either one these days....

 

Actually, just about any car is going to last a really long time these days. The time is long gone when any new car would return to the shop in a week or so for a long list of problems.

I have a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I drove to arctic parts of Alaska and Yukon that now has 150,000 miles on it. I've changed the oil, filters, tires, a serpentine belt, and brakes. Nothing else has needed work except that I had to replace the stupid plastic headlight assemblies because the sun clouds them after a while. Not even my (older) Toyotas can match the (newer) Jeep's service and quality.

My 2005 4WD Ford Escape Hybrid has 30,000 miles on it and has only needed a few quarts of oil and a few filters. I expect that to continue.

 

dude- Durangos actually get 12+ mpg. still not a good figure, but 4-6 mpg wasnt accurate.

also, some people drive these big suv's because they need to. where i live, 4x4is a necessity.

some people drive suv's because a small car won't hold their entire family.

 

Minivans can hold an entire family too with better economy.

Anyone wonder why the average American family has two children, yet there has been an explosion of jumbo SUVs that seat 6 or 8? Something to think about.

 

A necessity. Sure.

I remember when we went on a vacation trip to Mt. Rainier (Washington State) in our '76 Corolla Wagon, and drove past a Dodge "Power Ram" stuck in the snow, 4WD and all... There were other cars stuck in other places, and none of them with out-of-state plates, so you'd think the drivers would have known better...

The Corolla only had RWD, but it held the whole family and the dog just fine. I'll bet it really got peoples' goat that a 2WD wagon with Texas plates was making it around on the snowy roads without going off into the ditch...

 

Actually, 4-6 is probably fairly accurate:
1. The EPA's figures are inflated by 10-20%. (Durango now gets 10 MPG).
2. 4wd mode saps a *lot* of fuel economy. (Durango now gets 7 MPG)
3. The average SUV owner employs the "Punch & Gun" driving technique. (Durango now gets 4-6 MPG.)

 

You know, I get real tired of the assumption that everyone that has a large SUV is merely feeding their ego and doesn't really "need" it. Yes, a percentage of the market (probably a large % don't have a "need" but a good number DO.

Shortly after getting my HH, I had a conversation with someone at church who was talking about rumors that Toyota was planning a large Pickup in a hybrid ... he's in construction and needs the size/power of a large truck but would love a hybrid option.

I have a good friend who sells carpet for a company called "Carpet Direct" they don't have a showroom - the sales reps bring all the sample to your home for you to choose in a relaxed atmosphere. She had to upgrade a year or so ago from an Explorer to an Expedition because she didn't have enough space for all the samples in the Explorer. She was just talking this weekend about how she's changed some of her habits in an attempt to save gas. I know she'd love an option that provides the space to carry all her samples yet still have 4WD (she lives in the foothills as I do and has to travel on roads in all kinds of conditions) and decent gas mileage.

Regarding the proliferation of minivans etc despite the "average" of 2 kids per family - many of these minivans are used regularly for carpooling, taking the kids and their friends to the movies etc. Plus, for a long family trip, being able to separate the kids so you don't hear complaints about "he's touching me!" can be very valuable

 

Very few people NEED and SUV, which is why as I stated before, they were the nerdmobile of the 70s.

Let's talk about that large truck. Guess what? The F-150 has gained almost 2000 lbs in the last 15 years, yet it's towing capacity is almost identical, load carrying capacity is identical, and headroom has actually decreased. But ooooohhh.... it looks so impressive to pull up in a BIG truck. I wonder how cool it looks when you have to get your step ladder out to put anything in the back.

Your friend is an idiot and should have bought a minivan. You can carry a lot more stuff.

The other stupid excuse I hear all the time is how people need to tow their camper. Yeah, drive a 10MPG vehicle year round and spend $3500 a year on gas because you want to tow your camper twice a year.

I do have to say that it is odd that AWD isn't more common on minivans, but it is rare that AWD is very important on pavement.... especially with the excellent winter tires that are available now.

 

I've driven a medium-size SUV or a full-size pickup since about 1980.

If your minivan has a sunroof, you might be able to fill it with a half-ton of gravel or, better yet, horse manure. I used my trucks to help clear a field of trees, haul feed and manure, and pull horse trailers. I also always had a 4WD because rain turns the clay soil here into mud and the public authorities don't know how to clear the roads of snow.

What steams me in a snowstorm is when someone driving their 2WD 40 mpg vehicle gets stuck and stops all those behind them. They probably still think they saved gas despite the hundreds of cars behind them with engines running and going nowhere.

I would have liked an F250 pickup with 4WD and a full hybrid drive.

 

I'll make a concession to people in your area - Colorado. Four wheel drive makes a lot more sense in the Rockies than....Dallas. The terrain is such I might even consider trading in my Insight for a Prius if I lived there.

This arguement on the jumbo SUV explosion - who needs them seems something like this.

Say you worked at a fast food place growing up. One month, there is a big shortfall. Everybody says they were honest with the money - human nature. On a similar note, more people will say they voted or regulary attend church than is the case.

The statistics make it clear that as a whole, Americans are driving with more than they are going to use, driving up the price of gas.