What makes many SUV drivers think they are in a performance car?

Question

I've seen more near fatal crashes and fatal crashes (mainly on police chases) than any other vehicle. On the road, I've seen more SUV's and minivans speeding and other forms of aggressive driving, when these types of vehicles are the least roadworthy when it comes to handling and most likely to roll over.

Why is there such a misconception among many whom drive these types of vehicles?

Answer 1

Simply due to the fact that these people feel the sheer size provides added safety. Most of these people probably don't realize that their SUVs have higher center of gravity, which makes for poor handling. Furthermore, because the driver sits higher above, compared to normal people driving standard cars, their field of view is expanded, which also gives them additional confidence.

Granted, there are exceptions where some SUVs actually do handle better than some of the cars on the road today -- e.g., BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, and even some domestics and imports.

Of course, I still feel that SUVs are more for image than for function.

Answer 2

Hey now, don't lump everyone together! I drive an Acura MDX. I do not drive aggressively. I have the car because I like it. I drives really comfortably. It is super safe if someone hits me (again). Our second car is a Honda Insight.
If someone hits me while I'm in it, I hope I die, fast.

There are performance SUVs and unfortunately that it the trend (cf: the new RDX). BMW, Porsche, Audi and Volvo have SUVs. These have worse mileage. The 2007 MDX is coming out with a turbo and other changes which make it less desirable to me. It has been an ultra-low emissions vehicle and I hope that stays part of the package.

People are just so caught up in their own egomaniacal bubbles, not just drivers of SUVs, but they are some of the scariest due to the size of the vehicle and attitudes of some drivers.

The MDX was the first with the stabilization devices. It is good at cornering and although it's wide it's been great on forest roads here in Montana.

Anyone stupid enough to run from police and dies saves us the cost of court. It does endanger everyone anywhere near them, and no one has the right to jeopardize the rest of us that way.

Answer 3

back in the early 80's not many 4x4 suvs around. They were used as trail vehicles and people understood how to drive them. When people wanted something different for a family ride, but did not want a station wagon the suv was perfect. But they did not understand the handling was different. So if an emergency arised, they would panic and oversteer the vehicle resulting in rollovers. They think it handles like a regular car. It may ride like one but it doesn't handle like one. Most of these vehicles are driven by women with children in the back and result in many deaths. I believe that owners of high centered vehicles should at least have some training before they are handed the keys. If atv riders have to have it then shouldn't suv drivers too?

Answer 4

My guess would be the false sense of security they get from the size of those things... and your correct, a good number of them cant drive a car let alone a boat of an SUV... After many hundreds of miles up and down the interstate (35) they don't look when they change lanes, they speed and they are always the ones getting pulled over by the local Highway Patrol ( with apologies to all you SAFE SUV drivers reading here )

BTW there ARE performance SUV's out there, Porsche makes one as well as the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 8

Answer 5

oftentimes, an SUV is extra extra handy to tension for shorter human beings than a motor vehicle. it is why: SUV are extra vertically susceptible... they are taller and function extra area for the driving force's seat to make ameliorations. you will desire to advance the seat bigger than you will desire to be waiting to in a sedan. Sedans are extra laterally susceptible; once you sit down in a sedan, you're oftentimes on an identical point the place the engine bay is. because of the fact of this you'll have situation seeing over the guidance wheel. An SUV has their seats basically slightly bigger than the engine bay (the reason being because of the fact maximum SUVs are powered by potential of a bigger engine... in case you have been to be in a frontal motor vehicle crash, not basically will the engine drop or circulate out of how, the seats interior the SUV are particularly designed to be bigger and keep away from the engine in case of a crash). yet one extra reason SUV seats are bigger is because of the top clearance it has -- an SUV oftentimes has a taller roof. even nonetheless, maximum modern-day autos can accommodate numerous heights... the designers in the back of numerous of the autos made do not overlook this element because it could impact the procuring industry. you probably did not say how previous your Acura Integra became into, yet my wager is that it rather is a ninety's motor vehicle. it would desire to not have the right seating ameliorations that would healthful your desires.

Answer 6

<>It is probably the same misconception that lead them to think they are invulnerable, that they won't get hurt in an accident. I think the heyday of the giant SUV has come and gone (look at the H3!) and vehicles will once again start to be scaled down as they were when the gas crunch first hit in the 70s.

Answer 7

Think about the type of person that generally drives and SUV, assholes, they don't care about anything but themselfs, so of course they will drive that way.

Answer 8

Most suv's are powerfull,look at the escalade!

Answer 9

Now that you mention it have you ever seen them drive in the snow???