SUV Drivers Not Patriotic, Survey Finds

[Kadie]

SUV Drivers Not Patriotic, Survey Finds
Percentage Considering SUV Hits Three-Year Low

POSTED: 1:49 pm PDT June 27, 2005

Ninety percent of people in the market say that people who buy SUVs should not be called patriotic.

Kelley Blue Book's third annual New-Vehicle Buyer Attitude Study found that over the last year the number who said SUV drivers are patriotic dropped 12 percentage points, the group said in a news release.

Also, the number of shoppers considering an SUV fell to 34 percent, the lowest level in three years. There was some grown in interest in small SUVs, however.

High fuel prices were cited in a news release as the reason for the lack of interest in larger vehicles. Thirty-seven percent also said they worry that big SUVs hurt the country by increasing dependence on foreign oil

more...
http://www.thekcrachannel.com/automotive/4657128/detail.html


Vote at the survey

Does driving a large SUV make someone less patriotic?

Choice Votes Percentage of 563 Votes
Yes 86 15%
No 458 81%
Unsure 19 3%




From the Kelley Blue Book site...


THIS FOURTH OF JULY, PURCHASING AN SUV NOT SEEN AS PATRIOTIC


Kelley Blue Book’s New Vehicle Buyer Attitude Study on SUVs
Finds SUV Consideration at its Lowest Level



IRVINE, Calif., June 27, 2005 - A new study available today from Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research reveals that a strong majority of American consumers do not see the purchase of an SUV as “patriotic.” In the third installment of the company’s annual New-Vehicle Buyer Attitude Study on SUVs, nearly 90 percent of shoppers in the market to buy or lease a new vehicle do not believe that SUV drivers should be described as patriotic. Compared with attitudes of the new-vehicle-shopping group last year, the percentage of those who described SUV drivers as patriots dropped 12 points to a paltry 11 percent, the lowest level in the study’s history.

Similarly, the number of vehicle shoppers considering an SUV has fallen to 34 percent, also the lowest level in the three years of the study. The only segment among sport utilities to see any growth in interest is small SUV. Interest in purchasing a mid-size or full-size SUV decreased, and luxury SUVs remained flat.

“Consumers can expect red, white and blue-themed auto sales events this Fourth of July weekend, and in the current market they will be accompanied by big incentives on larger sport utility vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Chevy Tahoe,” said Jack R. Nerad, editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Promotions like the GM’s ‘You Pay What We Pay’ will help sales of these vehicles in the short-term, but over the longer term the domestic car manufacturers will have to reconcile themselves to the fact that American consumers seem less enamored of big SUVs than any time in memory.”

According to Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research and recent sales figures, interest in SUVs is rapidly declining and the high price of fuel is a major cause. Last year, the study showed that shoppers’ top reason for not considering an SUV was that it was not the type of vehicle they were interested in. This year, the No. 1 reason for not considering an SUV is the escalation of gas prices. The percentage of those citing fuel prices as a major reason to reject SUVs was up eight points from last year to 61 percent. This concern over fuel prices also has broadened to an unease over SUVs’ effect on the country’s dependence on foreign oil. In fact, 37 percent of shoppers in the study said that U.S. dependence on foreign oil is a major reason they are not considering an SUV.

more...
http://www.kbb.com/kbbmedia/index.asp?pg=release&year=2005&date=6-27

[AlCzervik]

1. i think those figures have changed

Does driving a large SUV make someone less patriotic?
Choice Votes Percentage of 683 Votes
Yes 108 16%
No 551 81%
Unsure 24 4%
Thanks for taking our survey.
clos

[MsTryska]

2. only if they've got support the troops ribbons, W04 stickers and

a bumper sticker referring to iraqi oil as their own oil.


seriously tho - i can't say whether it's patriotic or not, but i'm glad to see the tide-turning on these gas-guzzlers.

the environment thanks America.

[Neoma]

3. kick

:kick:

[_ed_]

4. SUVs

On the other hand, some people actually need a 4WD vehicle like an SUV. I don't consider that "unpatriotic." I own a mid-sized SUV, and I'm a very ardent environmentalist. I live in Colorado at 9,000 feet in the mountains, and as an active climber, I use it to access trailheads that I could not with a 2WD vehicle. I also use my SUV as a rolling "motel," causing less impact on the forestland by sleeping in my car instead of on the ground. I don't ever use my SUV for just driving around. We use my wife's car which gets 30+ MPG.

That said, there is NO REASON for 99% of SUV owners to have one. You don't need 4WD unless you are going on 4x4 "roads." Simple snow and ice is better driven on a good car with All wheel drive, anyway. It always blows my mind to see SUVs in major cities, sparkling clean. Most people never even engage the 4WD on them. A total waste.

-ed

[GeekMonkey]

5. It's being freeped, cmon DU, get on this!

Of COURSE driving an irresponsible vehicle is unpatriotic, given the dependance on foreign oil.

I know, I know, some people need an SUV and both of you are welcome to them.

The problem occurs when there is a large number of them, causing more pollution, backing up traffic, and driving the price of gas up for everyone by increasing demand.

I personally wouldnt drive anything that handled as poorly as most SUVs. I don't like to stop to take a corner.