Motor Trend SUV of the year!

[hoggie101]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc1wQ8Xha9s

I won't be able to afford girls nor gas if I got that thing

[Hudson]

im going to disagree there, the SUV broken down means Sport Utility Vehicle. Vehicle is the obvious one. 4 wheel gas powered etc
Utility the ability to carry cargo and passengers safely
Sport the ability to use it for recreation and pleasure

SOOOO if you combine all of them together you get SUV they(auto makers) have successfully and completely removed the SPORT aspect of the vehicle which IMHO is 50% of the vehicles soul. after that it just becomes a boring old vehicle with no character. like a Toyota Camry. that has utility and its a vehicle but its certainly not sporty and it definitely has no soul.

When was the last time you heard somebody go into the stealership and ask if the SUV has a live axle or an ifs/irs? Nobody goes in there with the intent of seeing if the thing can make it through Rausch or what have you. SUVs have turned into soccer mom grocery getters.

[Pedro]

When was the last time you heard somebody go into the stealership and ask if the SUV has a live axle or an ifs/irs? Nobody goes in there with the intent of seeing if the thing can make it through Rausch or what have you. SUVs have turned into soccer mom grocery getters.

Exactly the point I was trying to make

[CumminsJeep]

My take on this is that yes, the SUV has def gone out the window. But let's get real, how many people these days want to drive a vehicle that rides on solid axles like crap and gets shit gas mileage. Nobody goes to buy a Mercedes ML or GL to take it Offroad. Also, how many people are going to wheel their range rover or grand Cherokee overland just because the suspension height is variable. You are right, it has gone out the window. And the truth is that no one wants old technology. Who wants to pull a lever up for 4wd anymore? Technology changes because the market changes. For the 1% who really take their trucks Offroad, there is a 4x4 of the year in petersens that you can check out. But for the readers of car and driver or motor, they want to know that their"SUV" rides well and has AWD. They don't care about 4.10 gears, mud tires, rock Trac cases, and D44s.

[92xjlaredo]

My take on this is that yes, the SUV has def gone out the window. But let's get real, how many people these days want to drive a vehicle that rides on solid axles like crap and gets shit gas mileage. Nobody goes to buy a Mercedes ML or GL to take it Offroad. Also, how many people are going to wheel their range rover or grand Cherokee overland just because the suspension height is variable. You are right, it has gone out the window. And the truth is that no one wants old technology. Who wants to pull a lever up for 4wd anymore? Technology changes because the market changes. For the 1% who really take their trucks Offroad, there is a 4x4 of the year in petersens that you can check out. But for the readers of car and driver or motor, they want to know that their"SUV" rides well and has AWD. They don't care about 4.10 gears, mud tires, rock Trac cases, and D44s.

very much liked because its very true. I just so happen to be in that 1% that LOVES how shitty my jeep rides

[92xjlaredo]

Exactly the point I was trying to make

totally understood, just that the SUV to me means something different than to your "average" consumer. guys like ALL of us were special prior to the SUV fad and guys like ALL of us now are still special because we are the last testament to an awesome group of people who still support and adore this sport. to everyone

[HeavyMetal]

first and 2nd gen xterras are a great example of an SUV. first and second gen explorers too

it has IFS, not a live axle. that doesnt make it less of an SUV

this doesnt have anything to do with SUVs rock crawling

it has to do with the fact "SUVs" arent "SUVs". which is the whole point of the conversation. no ones saying an SUV has to be like a modded xj or needs mud tires and a lift or has to go wheeling

[92xjlaredo]

first and 2nd gen xterras are a great example of an SUV. first and second gen explorers too

it has IFS, not a live axle. that doesnt make it less of an SUV

this doesnt have anything to do with SUVs rock crawling

it has to do with the fact "SUVs" arent "SUVs". which is the whole point of the conversation. no ones saying an SUV has to be like a modded xj or needs mud tires and a lift or has to go wheeling

precisely...lol this whole thing was interpreted differently by everyone, but yeah how much you wanna bet the new manuals dont have offroad driving tips on them like the old XJs used to. far as a know EVERY XJ came off the factory floor with an entire section dedicated to teaching someone the basics of how you drive off road without wadding your jeep up rolling down a hill.

[Burton58]

im going to disagree there, the SUV broken down means Sport Utility Vehicle. Sport the ability to use it for recreation and pleasure

sport can mean a variety of things other than just off road capabilities. hence the bmw x6, porsche cayenne turbo, srt8 grand cherokee. mazda, acura and ford have turbo suv's as well. range rover has a supercharged v8. they are still sport utility vehicles

[HeavyMetal]

sport can mean a variety of things other than just off road capabilities. hence the bmw x6, porsche cayenne turbo, srt8 grand cherokee. mazda, acura and ford have turbo suv's as well. range rover has a supercharged v8. they are still sport utility vehicles

your opinion is 100% wrong!

[92xjlaredo]

your opinion is 100% wrong!

Eye see we see eye to eye

[Mangi Hill]

sport can mean a variety of things other than just off road capabilities. hence the bmw x6, porsche cayenne turbo, srt8 grand cherokee. mazda, acura and ford have turbo suv's as well. range rover has a supercharged v8. they are still sport utility vehicles

I honestly don't 100% agree. In your argument, then, they are more sport than "utility". I think the whole idea behind the "sport" in SUV is really about offroad capability.

My jeep often gets referred to as a "sport truck." which usually carries a street connotation.

I love jeeps and offroading. I love my jeep. But while it's AWD, and I can toss my bike in the trunk. It's no SUV. I have zero traction in anything wet, and I have about 3.5" ground clearance under my front bumper.

[92xjlaredo]

I honestly don't 100% agree. In your argument, then, they are more sport than "utility". I think the whole idea behind the "sport" in SUV is really about offroad capability.

My jeep often gets referred to as a "sport truck." which usually carries a street connotation.

I love jeeps and offroading. I love my jeep. But while it's AWD, and I can toss my bike in the trunk. It's no SUV. I have zero traction in anything wet, and I have about 3.5" ground clearance under my front bumper.

least you know it. Like I said I think sport and utility need to be split 50/50. However you may define sport is your call. The guys over at Jeep Cherokee XJ-R have a VERY sporty SUV and by sporty I mean pavement princess. Doesn't make it any less cool, just for me it better be an offroad machine if you're gonna call it an SUV. Cause that's what ill always remember them as. Will, yourself, Phil, and I can't be the only ones who think that right?

[Mangi Hill]

Well I honestly think the issue is that people don't want to admit it.

My Jeep is technically an SUV. I have every right in the world to call it one, as that's its classification. But ..... it's not.

Maybe we can compare it to our friend Crocodile Dundee? The dude did have a knife. It had a blade, a handle and it was sharp. Now... Mr. D said it's not a knife, and proceeded to pull out something that made that knife look like less of a.... knife.

Maybe we in the offroad world really know what an SUV can do. What it SHOULD be able to do. Soccer moms take their mercedes SUV and drive it in 2" of snow, over a curb in the parking lot with the 10" ground clearance. And they are all like Why? because they have nothing to compare it to.

[Hudson]

Who wants to pull a lever up for 4wd anymore?

I don't know about you, but every time i pull that lever i feel like a fucking badass and the thought of "shit is about to get serious" goes through my head.

Twisting a little plastic decorative knob from "2wd" to "4hi" doesn't give you that feeling.