To ask how drivers of massive SUVs square it with themselves in terms of climate change?

[Bleepingtons]

Same goes for those who go long haul on the regular? Buy loads of cheap, disposable fashion? Etc etc? Do you just not worry about climate change?

I know I sound sanctimonious but I am genuinely baffled by people driving massive diesel SUVs like there isn't a major issue.

@Cocomarine

I think for a lot of people (me included, though I don’t have an SUV!) it comes down to, “it’s only one plastic bottle… said 10 million people.”

I’m intelligent, I am aware, and I care. But despite that, honestly the scale isn’t compelling. I look at my one thing (my many one things: the steak, the diesel car, the not turning back for my water bottle) and know I’m part of the problem - but don’t really feel that it makes that much difference.

Not sure if I’ll get my arse handed to me for that! I’m certainly not arguing that I’m right, just trying to give insight. I think it’s maybe 90% that I don’t really FEEL the urgency and impact of my one thing in the moment, and 10% that I’m selfish and want it anyway.

To be clear: I might be making 95% good choices. I’m not saying I’m a walking (driving?!) environmental disaster! But in my 5% of bad choices - it’s the 90% don’t feel it, 10% selfish moment.

Yes - this is me, pretty much. I think about the climate every day, and do make an effort, but probably not as much as I should. I drive - but am only one in my household who does, so that's one car between 4. I have cut down enormously on meat (but so still eat it sometimes, and I sometimes eat prawns, which apparently are terrible environmentally), don't buy many clothes at all (that's mostly because I hate my appearance and am a bit phobic though) and I am v frugal about heating (but bought a house with an oil tank).

Having an suv does not mean that person automatically has a higher carbon footprint than you

Instead of criticism and buck passing look at your own footprint , put your own house in order and then talk about in in such a way as people see your life style as aspirational rather than sanctimonious

@bordermidgebite

Having an suv does not mean that person automatically has a higher carbon footprint than you

Instead of criticism and buck passing look at your own footprint , put your own house in order and then talk about in in such a way as people see your life style as aspirational rather than sanctimonious

No not automatic. But everyone I has ever known with an SUV has a higher than average carbon footprint. Because generally it means they have money. So more flights, more consumption and bigger houses than average. Sometimes a holiday home too.

I have a looooong commute. Bought a bigger car for comfort after driving last one til it dropped, and it's a diesel for fuel economy because I spend a fortune getting to work. There is no public transport alternative for me.

The commute allows me to earn more than I could locally (not to mention do a far more interesting job!), a wage which will hopefully soon enable me to afford an Electric Car with an acceptable range... but my workplace needs to install charging points too.

So I'm working towards a more climate friendly option but I don't beat myself up daily in the mean time, I'm afraid.

Helpful: reduce your footprint , act as a role model , push government and business for real change

Unhelpful : pointing fingers , playing blame game, refusing to take action unless someone else goes first

We have a diesel (not SUV) because it had the best eco rating of all the cars we looked at and could afford.

Overall, climate change needs to be tackled by countries and corporations. I as an individual and a tiny insignificant dot. We ummed and ahhed for 3 years about going for longed-for baby 3, because of climate reasons, and am very happily and guiltlessly now pregnant. My third kid won’t cause the end of the world and we have an aging population. So you have to look at things overall.

Oooo, late to the party but I’ll bite too😆. We have 2 suvs - 1 large, 1 medium. We live rurally and I do 30k miles a year - a lot with a good few children in tow. The safety, comfort and ability to get through snow & the odd flood, road covered by mud etc is too important to me currently to swap. When there’s a capable off road safe electric car I’ll get one. On the flip side I fly rarely (last trip short haul 8 years ago), planted 60 new trees last year, the kids & I wear a lot of hand me down clothes, we avoid single use plastic and we don’t use chemicals on our land. What measure are you going to use to see if that makes you better or worse than me?!

SUVs are worse for snow and mud than cars with a lower centre of gravity. Yes they are more comfortable, most luxury things with higher carbon footprints are. But you are more likely to lose control in an SUV than a car lower to the ground.

@Watchingyou2sleezes

We have 2 large engined petrol SUVs and an electric SUV. Of those vehicles the electric one is by far the least versatile. I try not to buy diesel vehicles where possible as a token effort to reduce particulate pollution.I use a non suv electric car as my daily drive.

We love to travel both long and short haul.

I never buy 'designer' labelled clothing.

I'm not in the least bit concerned about climate change. Part of that position comes from actually reading through these infernal climate change 'catastrophe' reports themselves and not the reporting on what they supposedly say.

Are we reading the same reports?! I read scientific peer reviewed reports on the likely outcomes of climate change, and they are terrifying. Can you please link to the reports that paint a rosy picture?

SUV's do have a higher center of gravity, which makes them more likely to roll.
DH's car is more stable with it much lower center of gravity.
But when we get lots of snow his car just gets grounded and my suv doesn't.
The snow setting doesn't give my SUV magical powers anymore than the increases ground clearance does but driven sensibly I can get myself out of more situations than DH can in his much lower slung car.

The same applies with the significant amounts of standing water we had recently.

I don't think SUV's are the only cars you can drive in bad weather, other cars have different advantages as has been pointed out.
I don't think that they are a green choice.
But they can be a practical and helpful choice for the person driving them.
( although DH's car is much more luxurious than mine which is just a fairly basic Ford)

The OP's question was why to do people drive these cars with mental equanimity and I was giving her my answer.

SUVs are more likely to roll and to skid. Yes SUVs have higher clearance which helps in some situations. But if you go to places like the Rockies, locals don't drive SUVs it is the tourists driving them. Because SUVs are less safe.

Yes SUVs are much more luxurious and much more comfortable. That and the status is why people drive them.

Well, not all large SUVs are diesel. Mine is a plug in hybrid. I wish we could have afforded a fully electric car that would have fit everything we need to transport but we couldn’t.

But generally OP I think the answer is: people don’t care. At all.

@julieca

SUVs are worse for snow and mud than cars with a lower centre of gravity. Yes they are more comfortable, most luxury things with higher carbon footprints are. But you are more likely to lose control in an SUV than a car lower to the ground.

Depends on tyres. That’s more important than you’d think as they are the only part of a car in contact with the road. So a sporty SUV with 20” wheels is going to be shocking.

I live in a bad weather area and change mine for winter tyres. Makes a huge difference, but doesn’t make you invincible

Oh. I don’t have an suv. It’s a very old car people would have had as a first car.
On the mot she still emits less than the average new small car.

Some SUV's are more luxurious and comfortable than some other vehicles.

My SUV while I am very happy with it for a range of reasons is the least luxurious car I have owned for a while and not anymore comfortable.

No one drives a Ford for status.

You don't have to think much of the driving experience, you can think that a vehicle like a Subaru Outback is more practical.

You can't insist you know what everyone else is thinking however, particularly when they are telling you differently.

There are huge swathes of the USA where local country people drive SUV's and trucks for practicality. There are also city areas where a Macan is driven for pose. It isn't a one thing fits all deal.

Who on this thread has no SUV but 2 cars?!

@Justheretoaskaquestion91

Who on this thread has no SUV but 2 cars?!

One car between DP and I and no SUV.

There's nothing new under the sun.

Since the dawn of time there's always been someone saying "the end is nigh"

The modern apocalypse is climate change.

Middle class and rich people have the luxury of guilt and hair shirt wearing whilst those on the breadline are just bit more concerned with actually trying to put food on the table and clothe their kids.

We have 2 cars, both diesel. One is a people carrier, the other a SUV 7 seater. We need them to fit the kids in.

Some people just don’t care. My SIL has a huge SUV, 7 seater for a family of 4 plus another ‘family’ car. They drink bottles water as standard as they don’t like the taste of tap water, and they don’t even bother recycling the water bottles - they go straight in the bin. They have the air con on all year around keeping the house at an exact temp summer and winter. As long as they have their comforts, and everyone can see how they can afford to be wasteful they really don’t give a monkeys.
SIL has voiced her opinion that the scientists will come up with a solution soon to pollution and the energy crisis soon. BIL doesn’t believe climate change exists.

‘Who on this thread has no SUV but 2 cars?!’

Not me, even though it’s not always convenient. I just turned down a free work car. The one we do have is a hybrid.

I honestly think that many people driving SUVs don't care.

Yep. Spot on.

We have a large pick up, we have 4 dogs, 2 kids, live rurally, use it for off road driving and towing ( you do need a big car when your towing something heavy by the way, caravans are light, loads of wood, horses, livestock are not) I also won't cut down on the amount of meat and dairy we eat, we eat locally so nothing flown in, most food from farms neighbouring us, cow farts really aren't the problem, agriculture being used as a scapegoat by big business and travel companies. In the UK the number of cows has gone down from the 1950s from 10.6 million to 9.9 million but plane usage from just 2004 (23 million commercial flights)to 2018 ( 38 million commercial flights) this isn't counting private. Military or freight flights. Farming needs to happen to feed everyone look how much people panic brought when they thought they couldn't get to the shops? Don't bite the hand that feeds guys!

I couldn’t care less

@Monsteres

We have a large pick up, we have 4 dogs, 2 kids, live rurally, use it for off road driving and towing ( you do need a big car when your towing something heavy by the way, caravans are light, loads of wood, horses, livestock are not) I also won't cut down on the amount of meat and dairy we eat, we eat locally so nothing flown in, most food from farms neighbouring us, cow farts really aren't the problem, agriculture being used as a scapegoat by big business and travel companies. In the UK the number of cows has gone down from the 1950s from 10.6 million to 9.9 million but plane usage from just 2004 (23 million commercial flights)to 2018 ( 38 million commercial flights) this isn't counting private. Military or freight flights. Farming needs to happen to feed everyone look how much people panic brought when they thought they couldn't get to the shops? Don't bite the hand that feeds guys!

Well said