Why does this not surprise me? A Civic owner myself, I don’t have any particular use for SUVs. They’re big, they’re clunky, they use a ton of gas. Not exactly my cup of tea.
But something tells me that banning them – especially in Europe, where most people already sensibly drive smaller cars than they do here in North America – is less about practicality and more about politics. Somehow, SUVs have joined McDonald’s and, well, Israel, as symbols of the hated capitalist-American-imperialist ideology that the socialists love to hate. Especially in France. After all, why else pick on SUVs and not, say, minivans or commercial vehicles?
And limos. Especially armour plated limos for third-world dictators that weigh 8 tons.
Given how much one pays in taxes when one pays for gas both here in Canada and in France, they should be thanking those who drive SUVs, not banning them.
This hate thing for Sport Utility Vehicles is just silly. There’s a world of difference between a Rav 4 and a honkin’ huge Escallade or Navigator.
My wife drives a Nissan XTerra and gets great milage. It’s got something like 9 1/2″ of ground clearance which makes it extremely practical in snow or on local mtn. logging roads. The thing is, do you need to go to the mall or can it be put off till the next time you NEED some groceries. Face it, NA’s love to just ‘drive around’.