It's a result of stupid/foolish mileage laws. A Truck had different laws than a Car. So instead of a Sport-wagon or a Family Truckster, we got Escalades and Expeditions.
All those people who died flipping Ford Explorers with Scab labor tires? Blame them all on bad government meddling in the car world. And I bet you, the people actually responsible for the carnage to this day think they did right.
I haven't tried the new Jeep. But. The original Cherokee was a righteous off road useful machine. Jeep knows dirt & mud. The Original Grand Cherokee was a righteous luxury version of a useful off road machine, and it actually worked off road to the limits of it's clearance. On road was just outstanding for an all season station wagon. Today? They know how. I'll have to go try one.
To me the ad at the very beginning of the this thread is very cool. One of the things I noted during our trip was the strong patriotism, in obvious ways like U.S. flags *everywhere*, and less obvious like the occasional comment "I'd prefer to buy American made". That pride in your country, pride in wanting to do it better, is not something you see openly here that often.
A typical Prius will never see the mileage they claim to get.
We buy these things, sometimes, not because "we do", but because "we could".
And seriously - mackin' on a big luxury SUV for not being good offroad when you yourself ride a bike designed 100% for the street in the dirt? There are more than one parallel line in that comparison.
I agree. I went and looked at one yesterday. I've kind of considered replacing the Ford F-150.
The Cayenne I looked at was the base model which is about $58,000. I tried comparing it to a F-150 all decked out for about $44,000.
Then I started to look at my "old" F-150 with 62,000 miles that's had Mobil 1 put in it every 5,000 miles since the day it was new . . . and is paid for.
I think I'll sit tight.
Cousin has a bit of a "car thing" . . he's also bought a Panamera Turbo, Bentley convertible and a Ferrari this year.
In my mind the "Rule of Boats" applies . . "Why buy when you can borrow?"
Spank has it right - Rolls Royce trucks and Cadillac wheels - lol - just dated myself. My friend's dad used to make laminate boards - we'd get the scotch-guard stairs safety tape, and decalls/sticker it and ride - rocked a lot of swimming pools and the LA river - lol - and had almost a perpetual broken wrist from 6th grade through about 1/2 of HS. EZ
I will take my V.W. Touareg Over that Range Rover any day. Last summer I took it up to the pipeline ( awesome off road trail ) and came across a RR group from Ill. 3 RRs 2 stuck, the Touareg went right through no problem. I was going to help the gentle man out of the mud hole he was stuck in, however he didnt want to take his sandles off to hook up the strap on his truck, we all laughed and carried on . I have to say that nite at camp that crossover got a lot of attention form my fellow Legandary Civillian Jeeper club members. And seeing as how my CJ still wont be together this year the ol VW will be going back up again to do it all over.
Fatty that is plaim evil please refrain from diplaying that kind of filth on bad web Blake coubadweb could use that pic for penance Rocket ( Sean) would have to stare at that for x amount of time to get back on badweb
Hahahaha . . I've been paying the "real truck" gas bills (about $980 last month) to commute to work everyday.
The truck will stay but it's going to get augmented. Another cousin got a Range Rover Sport last month and is getting rid of it . . The looks never really grew on me but it looks very "purposeful". . . just too damned expensive, to own, operate and maintain, for a commuter.
I'm with Court. My paid-for Suburban has +/- 122,000 miles and has been trouble-free. I'm on my third set of tires, third battery, second set of shocks (all of which I consider to be "consumables"). The only repair I've had to do was replacement of U-joints at about 60,000--the factory decided that grease fittings were unnecessary, so the bearings went away.
I'm gonna drive it a while longer.
In my mind the "Rule of Boats" applies . . "Why buy when you can borrow?"
The broader rule is, "If it flies, floats or f***s, it's cheaper to rent it!"
Stalker, I couldn't agree with you more about the Touareg, but it's not really a fair comparison, The VW is more the equivalent of the Discovery than the Range, which is more in the Cayenne class as a rich persons weekend toy.
its yuppy drome. 
(notice the windup key on the side... too funny!) 