SUVs driven by *******

[WyrreJ]

For the last month or so, my regular commute has been under construction. During the day they work on one lane of a two lane road and after work, they just leave the construction lane open but unpaved. So it is all dirt and loose gravel on that lane for about a quarter of a mile.

With my VX, driving over the unpaved section is just about as comfortable as driving over the regular paved & patched 200 times (Boston roads are full of crappy patch jobs). But it seems like 90% of the time, when I get to the unpaved section, I end up stuck behind some puss in a SUV who has slowed down to half or so of the regular speed. Sometimes, when there is no oncoming traffic, they will drive in that lane instead of the unpaved lane.

This really ticks me off. If you are going to buy an SUV and you aren't even going to take it off-road, the least you can do is make use of its SUV powers when the road gets a little rough. But noooo, other than myself, I have yet to see a single SUV driver take on this unpaved section like a real man - they always slow down to a ridiculous low speed - like they are driving a sports car with no clearance or something. Fortunately, it is a passing zone, and I have had the chance, twice now, to actually pass a couple of these *******.

Anyone else see this phenomena of SUV drivers forgetting that they are driving SUVs? (and this is the same state where it snows and ices and you see SUV drivers going 70+ because they think 4wd makes them invulnerable, I don't get it...)

[Ldub]

I feel your pain VX brother,
We have the same ummm..."drivers" here. I also like the ones that go around corners at a speed that makes it look as if they think their vehicle is going to tip over.
I'm constantly threatening to install forward mounted "50's" on hood to deal with this issue... I think I'll go out driving right now, while most everyone else is in church.
There, all better now.
Bye Bye, Ldub

[transio]

SUVs are no more impervious to rock chips than sports cars. Most SUVs, anyway. The VX is kind of unique in that the entire bottom half is clad in impact-resistant textured plastic. If I weren't driving a VX, I'd travel slow over loose rocks too!

[TDAWG]

I know exactly how you feel. I see it all the time. Even my wife has made comments about it. There should be special licensing for any person who buys an suv to take a course of off-roading as well as learning what it can and can't do. Here in RI when it rains or snows I see suvs slow down to a crawl like it was a sports compact or lowrider. If the street gets flooded they do the same thing. I always say to myself " Why do they buy it if they have no clue how to drive it." I guess it's because to them it more of a stat symbol than practical symbol. At 1st I thought that maybe it was just a kid or woman thing no offense to all the real women who actually know how to drive 4X4s. But it's not just them it's guys too.

[morgan-tec]

So i guess you can call me a pu$$Y, but i have almost as much paint on the front of the Axiom as the VX has on the entire car. I do plan on a custom clear bra when i get my paint done but that will still run $400 through a friend

[Triathlete]

My favorite are the ones with 30" lifts running 40+ inch tires that slow down to a crawl to go over a speed bump that my daughters lowered Nissan could take at 25 mph!

[transio]

I slow down for speed bumps and pot holes. You don't? You're screwing up your alignment (or worse!) if you don't.

Besides that, the tight suspension and big wheels make the ride impossibly hard at speed. Also, if I go too quickly, the bouncing makes me lose control of my vehicle - not a good thing to happen in a top heavy SUV. I imagine even worse in a 30" lifted vehicle.

[Joe_Black]

I dunno, somehow I expected a post with cats driving trucks. Kittens maybe?

[WyrreJ]

SUVs are no more impervious to rock chips than sports cars. Most SUVs, anyway. The VX is kind of unique in that the entire bottom half is clad in impact-resistant textured plastic. If I weren't driving a VX, I'd travel slow over loose rocks too!

It seems like it is becoming more common. I haven't noted any specific models, but I see a lot of SUVs, especially the mini-ute type, with loads of cladding.

[Triathlete]

Oh I slow down for them just not to a crawl. I'm talking lowriders could go faster over the speedbumps than what these guys go...I think they're scared all the crome plating might fall off all thier bling if they went any faster. They go so slow I can almost see the spiderwebs forming underneith them!

[pbkid]

morgantec your a different story, your ride is pimp, plus its lowered. yea my pet peeve is when they practically stop to turn like they are gonna tip over like you guys already said. well i just usually pass em on the shoulder if they do that slow on rough road...=)

[WormGod]

I have to agree with ya. I treat my VX like a newborn but there are times when I have to give her the "crash course on the Hard Life", and she really takes a lickin' under my control.

I think there are exceptions to this though. Folks with anything LESS than AWD/4WD/TOD (equivelents) are granted immunity from these conditions.

If you have any of these goods, and you drive like Mrs. Daisy is in the backseat.... then you probably chose the wrong vehicle. (Sorry Morgan-Tec.... understanding your auto is for a whole other purpose is another thing ).

Ya, I realise there are folks that do indeed have "pretty" trucks and they chose almighty $8k rims and with low profile/skinny city-boy tires.... thats fine. Just, for the love of all mankind and for the sake of the true SUV reputation.... leave the offroading, no matter how slight, to the ones who arent afraid of getting dirty tires and paint chips.

[MZ-N10]

My favorite are the ones with 30" lifts running 40+ inch tires that slow down to a crawl to go over a speed bump that my daughters lowered Nissan could take at 25 mph!

alot of ppl lift their cars for the look. just like how people lower cars but dont plan on racing them.

[mbeach]

Unless you have some substantial mudflaps, passing on gravel is a no-no

It flings rocks all over other cars, and occasionally (often up here) right at the windshield. I'm sure that your'e not making any friends by doing it. Who's so impatient that they can't follow an (overly) cautious driver through a construction area for a mere 1/4 mile?

I drive on gravel (lots of it) every day, through mountains, etc. Today it's snowing and 21 degrees. If you want to prove your SUV's manhood, stay out of the ditches -you won't impress me by driving fast.

[Bulldoggie]

I have to agree, Passing on gravel is not cool.
Construction zones have maditory slow downs in my part of the world.
It's not about getting dirty and playing rough, it's about manners.
Rough play is for no traffic zones.