Monday, May 18, 2009

Hate To Admit It

Have I mentioned recently how much I hate SUVs?

Because I really, really do. I've never ridden in an SUV I've liked, much less driven one worth the effort of getting in.

For about six months back when I was in college I owned a Ford Bronco II. I think it was a 1986, but I can't remember for sure. It was a fun truck to drive, when it actually ran. Reliability-wise, it was a complete P.O.S. I had to walk backwards around it two times and knock on the hood thirteen times under the light of the waning moon just to get it to start. You don't want to know what I had to do if I wanted to go on the freeway.

It was two-tone ugly brown, with rust in all the right places, and a fading Megadeth sticker on the back window. The radio didn't work, the doors didn't lock, and it couldn't climb steep hills without belching black smoke out the leaky exhaust and some fancy footwork between the clutch and the gas pedal. I've never owned a more terrible car.

But it was fun because it was a truck, not a souped up station wagon status symbol. I could actually haul stuff in the back.

Ignoring the bad driving habits of their latte-swilling, cellphone-yapping, utterly oblivious drivers, modern SUVs, to me, seem to be too much car and not enough truck. Are you REALLY going to take that Escalade/Navigator/Expedition up an unmaintained dirt road to go camping?

Due to a fluke NRA-convention in town this weekend, my usual car rental establishment was sold out, so I had to use another. We were planning to go camping near Flagstaff, and we don't really like to take the Mustang on long, mountain drives anymore since it's reaching the age where breakdowns are more and more common. Anyway, I wanted to rent a full-size car, because if you're going to rent a car, why not get something nicer than what you usually drive?

Well, the rental place was out of full-sized cars (and I'd really been hoping for a Dodge Charger, too), so they upgraded me to a full-size S.U.V.

The truck they gave me was a Nissan Xterra. When I saw the ugly behemoth waiting outside, my heart sank a little.

I climbed up into the damn thing, got situated with the mirrors, put it in gear and, accidentally, tore ass getting out of the parking lot and into traffic.

It had a V-8 in there. Who knew?

I hate to admit it, but I warmed to it's monster-truckiness pretty quickly. It ate up the mountain grades to Flagstaff with no trouble, and there was room to spare even after loading all our camping gear in - and we travel heavy.

But the best part was getting out on to the previously-hinted-at unmaintained dirt road. I was chasing another truck with our camping buddies in it, and they were in a hurry. We slid through curves and powered up steep, gravelly hills without complaint.

Later, I discovered the switch to engage 4WD, which made the dirt roads even MORE enjoyable.

Man, I hate it when I have to concede that maybe, just maybe, not all SUVs are ALL bad.

All the same, we're not going to buy one.

4 comments:

Trobairitz said...

The x-terras are one of the few SUV's that are based on an actual truck frame and not a car frame. Must be why you enjoyed it and why those latte sippers don't like the ride they give.

irondad said...

You know, I can actually picture that. You sliding up the mountain like it's Pikes Peak. With this maniacal grin full of trouble on your face. What you meant to say was why beat up your car when you can beat up someone else's? Hope you got your deposit back.

I feel insulted. There is a Navigator in my driveway. Of course, it's a Garmin, not a Lincoln!

Lady R (Di) said...

You got the best of both worlds there. Don't sink you hard earned money buying and maintaining a giant gas sucking SUV, but... renting one for a fun camping trip once in awhile is the bomb! You can get in touch with your inner redneck when you get behind a V-8 big boy toy. LOL!

I'm with you, I would never buy one, but I would drive one. They are kind of fun.

cpa3485 said...

Not a big fan of SUV's either. What I object to us that it seems that there is only one person riding in it. What an inefficient means of transportation. If you have a big family or If you are 6' 10" and weigh 350 lbs, then they certainly have a place. And they are great on a highway, but often enough they do not seem that necessary.

Off topic for a bit; just want to announce that I have started a blog of my own.

http://cpa3485.blogspot.com/

It is a start for something I have been thinking about for some time. Would appreciate it If you would visit me there and make comments and suggestions on what you might think. Many of you have inspired me and I would appreciate your advice. Thanks in advance!