Saab BioPower Plugin Hybrid

TahoeDriver17082

Jun 23, 2006 at 3:59 pm

Sure, the Saab was a good idea. And, yes, it should have been pursued. Maybe by Saab’s sister company Saturn.

But why does everyone down the SUV? I’ve got a large family. We used to drive 2 small cars when taking the family out together. Now we take one SUV. We all fit comfortably, are much safer, I pay less insurance, and here is the kicker for all the “enviromentalists,” I use less fuel!!!

My 2007 Tahoe saves the environment possibly 100+ gallons of fuel being burned at my house alone each year. Then with the E85 mandate (that in my humble opinion is not agressive enough at all) my Tahoe is ready to go.

When I go away by myself I ride my GSXR if the weather is nice or, if not, I own and drive an old 1992 Mazda MX-3 that still gets pretty good mileage at 185000+ miles on her.

So next time you see a guy driving a Tahoe perhaps he is actually doing his part for the environment and not “polluting as sport” like a lot of people think I do when I pull up to the pumps and drop $70+ for premium gasoline.

Editor: Let’s look at the math here. Let’s say you’ve got two cars that get 30mpg. And let’s say you have to use both cars 20% of the time, but the other 80% of the time, you only need to use one. Instead of only getting 20mpg 100% of the time, you’re getting 30mpg 80% of the time and 15mpg (30mpg / 2 cars) 20% of the time. That means you’re getting 20mpg with the Tahoe and 27mpg with two cars. That is, if you’re using the Tahoe for trips the car would be adequate for.

However, I see you also drive a motorcycle and a small sports car for solo trips. Unfortunately, this leaves your wife to drive the Tahoe for those times she doesn’t really need 4,000 pounds of steel encasing her. It would be much better to have a small car, a mid-size wagon, and a motorcycle or scooter. The small car would get about 35mpg, the mid-size wagon, something along the lines of a Passat or Volvo, would get around 30, and the motorcycle would be for short, solo trips during nice weather.

Also, don’t think that E85 is all sunshine and rainbows. You’ll get about 3mpg less than running on gasoline. Don’t believe me? Ask AutoByTel

I don’t think that all SUV drivers are polluting for sport, but I do think a lot of them are convinced of their need for an SUV when they could get by just as well with a passenger car. Before people buy a vehicle, they should take a rational look at their needs and then buy the most fuel efficient vehicle that meets those needs. If you’re not using the SUV’s capabilities at least 50% of the time, then perhaps you should reconsider buying an SUV.