C. E. White wrote:
> "AZ Nomad" <aznomad.3@PremoveOBthisOX.COM> wrote in message
> news:slrnhdnd78.78e.aznomad.3@ip70-176-155-130.ph.ph.cox.net...
>> On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:14:19 -0700, Ashton Crusher <demi@moore.net>
>> wrote:
>>> On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:38:26 -0400, "C. E. White"
>>> <cewhite3@mindspring.com> wrote:
>>>> Earlier this month I asked for advice regarding a new car for my
>>>> Mother to
>>>> replace a Ford Freestyle that was totaled in an accident. I mostly
>>>> was
>>>> looking for advice regarding the Toyota Venza and Highlander. Well
>>>> we
>>>> finally went shopping and my Mother is getting a new Highlander
>>> I'm not disagreeing with your mom's choice but why does she need an
>>> SUV?? What were her needs from a technical perspective?
>> She doesn't like cars that are easy to park, safe on the highway, or
>> that can be
>> handled out of an accident instead of plowing its way through one.
>> Having fuel
>> bills equal to the monthly payment is also important.
>
> She bought a four cylinder front wheel drive Toyota Highlander! Come
> on, this is not a Excursion, it is a Camry wagon (more or less). The
> EPA rates it 20 city, 27 Highway, 22 Combined.....not as good os the
> Camry, but about the same as an Avalon and a lot better than any
> mid-sized SUV.
>
> Have you actually been in a Highlander?
>
> Ed
>
> Ed
>
>


I hear ya - I have a 4 cyl, 5-speed stick, FWD '06 Saturn Vue and they
(NY State and Saturn) classify it as a SUV. After I bought it and had
it in for it's 1st and last dealer service they let me know my "truck"
was ready. At the counter I told the guy "my '99 F150 is a truck - and
that's a small truck as it is when talking about trucks - This is not a
truck" .....he smiled and said that he knows, but they make him call it
that and he'd get in trouble if he didn't. (BTW - Gotta say that the
VUE has 95K on it and not one prob...Still won't buy another
though...they won't be around anyway by the time I'm ready to look)

I agree with you though - I have my SUV (and I hesitate calling it that)
because they don't make wagons anymore I guess...These are the Ford
Country Squires, Plymouth Fury's and Impala/Caprice wagons of today...I
have 2 kids and soccer/karate/etc practices to play chauffeur with and
it gets 30mpg in the summer and 27 winter. Some people are getting
conditioned to automatically see someone buying an SUV or say "why do
you need that?" and scorn you without knowing that it gets better
mileage than the car they're driving...Sad state of affairs in this
country...People are sheep doing what they're told, feeling the way
they're told they're supposed to feel based on spoon fed crap instead of
using their own noggin: SUV = BAD - CAR = GOOD. Get what you
need...Need the room but not 4WD or a 6 cyl...

Sorry for the ramblings...