Was the SUV a Fad?
BillS
I was talking to a guy today and he said he thought the SUV might have been a fashion/fad. In California that's always possible, but SUVs sold everywhere. I always thought SUVs were a kind of stylish people-mover -- you bought one because you needed a big car but you didn't want to look like a dork. But maybe the functional part was minor? Was the SUV mostly a style thing?
- Discuss (5 comments)
- Digg It
- Del.icio.us
- StumbleUpon
Popular Sections
- European Car Talk (German, British, Italian, Swedish)
- Automotive Industry
- Tuning and Project Cars
- Automotive Technology and the Driver
- European Car Talk (German, British, Italian, Swedish)
Dave B.
I think it was a perceived power thing. Trucks are "macho", and the elevated driving position gives a feeling of commanding the road.
I can't wait for them to become extinct.
Ducati Minor
Yes.
Chris Paukert
I think that depends on one's understanding of the term "fad." I think that the SUV genre offered very real plusses: improved visibility, improved feeling (<--note the word choice) of safety, better off-road and towing capabilities, and so on. That said, I do think that the vast majority of SUV owners bought into their rugged charms without fully realizing that they didn't need those capabilities on a regular basis, and they subscribed to them without realizing their substantial pitfalls. Naturally, cheap gas and a friendly social and political climate helped them overlook at least a few of their shortcomings, although that situation has clearly changed. Further, with the advent of crossovers of all shapes and sizes, there are now a plethora of alternatives that didn't exist before, making the exit from SUVdom all the easier.
Chris Paukert
Editor-In-Chief
Winding Road Magazine // NextAutos
Verde
Some time back, I attended a lecture from an executive at Nike whose role was to understand and predict trends in their market areas. He spoke of the growth in concern about personal safety, and the opportunity for consumer products companies to service these needs.
This was some time back, but for the auto industry he predictied and positioned continued growth of autos with greater mass and perceived invulnerability and with smaller window area and the like being consistent with this trend.
I don't see any of this abating, but the price of fuel will require new ways of these needs being fulfilled.
fxhlost
Here is the best Tiffany shop online.Tiffany jewellery and Tiffany uk Tiffany jewelllery uk Tiffany jewellery sale Tiffany jewellery london silver jewellery Tiffany jewelry tiffany rings tiffany sets tiffany bracelettiffany necklace tiffany pendant tiffany earrings tiffany bangle tiffany charms tiffany accessories