Re: [Paddlewise] rec boats/commercial

On Thursday, April 25, 2002, at 10:33:49 AM PST, Michael Daly wrote:

> ...the vast majority of owners who never ride dirt roads for fear of
> getting their precious SUVs dirty!

I know that some will consider this off-topic, but since we are a
group of people who insist on hauling large objects and their
accompanying gear around, and also claim to respect the "great
outdoors", I think it's more on-topic than not. In that spirit, I'll
add my own little rant...

I live in an area where *at least* half of the vehicles I see are of
the large SUV variety (realistically, more than half - especially if
one includes large, perpetually shiny 4WD pickup trucks as well).
Being as generous to those who feel they "need" them as I can be, I'd
say that well over 90% of them never see *any* action beyond daily
trips to the grocery store, post office, or to work. Most also are
seen with only one or two occupants.

For many years, I drove a 1984 Honda Accord hatchback (front wheel
drive only). It carried as many as three single sea kayaks (or a
single and a double), and was perfectly capable of driving on dirt
roads, in the snow, etc. Sadly, that little car recently requested
retirement, so I went in search of a new (used) car. I ended up with a
1987 Subaru GL wagon. It gets about the same great mileage as the
Honda, and is capable of carrying even a bit more interior cargo (and
at least as much on top). It does have a 4WD option, but I've only
used it once so far - in some deep snow (it didn't slide around, so I
guess it worked; but my front wheel drive only Honda never slid around
in the snow either). Otherwise, its default front wheel drive seems
just fine for 99% of my driving (including gnarly dirt roads).

My little cars seem more than adequate for my "sport utility"
requirements, and they certainly perform the duty more often than well
over 90% of the big gas guzzling shiny SUVs I see every day (recently,
I'm seeing even more of the BMW and Mercedes models - all very nice
and shiny!).

I really wish we here in the USA were forced to pay more realistic
prices for fossil fuels (yes that's right - I wish even *I* had to pay
much more per gallon).  I think it's the only way our manufacturers
and "consumers" will get the idea that something perfectly functional
and far more efficient can be "fashionable".

I do in fact understand some people's reasonable need for a more
powerful, larger vehicle, but those people are really a minority. Most
large, powerful vehicles driven these days are on the road for fashion
- nothing more. Unfortunately, this "fashion" has resulted in greater
pollution and more deadly accidents (especially deadly for occupants
of the smaller cars they hit). And for those who do truly feel the
need for "off road fun", the unnecessary ripping up of perfectly
beautiful countryside is their main contribution.

In my opinion, there are more than enough roads - both paved and dirt
- and very little need for "off road" driving. Most "regular" cars are
perfectly capable of driving on the available roads - even in varied
conditions.

Melissa
-- 
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