Automotive Ethics
A long time ago I was an SUV snob. SUV's (and large cars in general) were, in my mind, the pinnacle of American bourgeois waste and faddism - a vain attempt at self-worth via automotive pretentiousness at the expense of thrift and conservation.
Now that I have a few more things to think about other than my egotistical elitism, some of those sentiments have changed (I still hold a small amount of scorn for H2's, though). In the last several months we've had to replace both of our cars. While planning for the future and trying to decide what types of vehicles would be beneficial for a growing family, several different considerations have begun to manifest themselves. Not only do I have a responsibility to be careful with money and a somewhat decent steward of creation (Gen. 1:28), there's also the new responsibility of protecting a wife and young children.
Sure, it'd be great to have a car that got 50mpg. But the data indicate that, in general, bigger is better. The larger a car, whether a minivan, SUV, or station wagon, the lesser risk of death or serious injury to the occupants in case of an accident. I could save a few miles per gallon and preserve myself from the embarrassment of conformity, or I could decrease the risk of death to my wife and child. Let me think about that.
Our final decision? One older-model SUV as a utility vehicle (get it?) and backup family car. And, for a primary family car: the other pinnacle of yuppiedom - a Volvo station wagon, which has more safety features than you can shake a stick at. The transformation is now complete.
The moral of the story: I guess that one should not condemn someone for suburban middle-class mindlessness without first understanding what the actual needs and desires are. Sometimes, there are multiple factors that shape what the appropriate ethical decision should be.
At least, that's my rationalization.
December 14, 2004 04:01 PMHey, what about the minivan? Minivans did pretty well too, as did full size cars.
I'm trying not to be an SUV snob these days, and I commend you in the effort. Still, don't things like "driving defensively" make a bigger difference than car size? That would be my thought.
However, if they sold the diesel Toyota Hilux here like they do in Honduras, I might be in line for one in a few years. An auto that can fit a family comfortably, get good gas mileage, go off road, and carry a piano across town. That's pretty decent.
Pondered by tom at December 14, 2004 05:45 PMAs far as minivans go, we did consider them. The first problem is that they tend to be more expensive. The second is that we'd been warned against them b/c of a tendency to be unreliable. And in terms of gas mileage, most midsize SUV's are only slightly worse.
As I understand it, defensive driving does have an impact on safety, but once in an accident (as virtually everyone will be), larger cars tend to be better simply because they have more mass. The increased mass absorbs more of the impact, thus reducing the impact on passengers.
The consumer guide article I linked to had a fairly extensive discussion of the different factors in the stats. For example, larger cars in general have a lower death rate, but part of that is because young males tend to drive smaller cars and mothers and the elderly tend to drive larger. Still, their conclusion was that, everything else considered, size does actually matter.
Pondered by maphet at December 15, 2004 11:20 AMmaphet you suburban trash gas burning freak, when will you be in Canton? We'll be there from Friday until Sunday.
Pondered by Joe at December 16, 2004 01:22 PMMy rationalization as well. Great minds think alike!
Pondered by G. van den Bosch at December 17, 2004 01:13 AMMaphet - No way, you went with the Volvo wagon over the Subaru? Which model did you get? I knew it; you see, deep down we are all Swedes, aren't we?
Pondered by Novey at December 17, 2004 02:43 PMYou are, of course, more likely to kill other people with your large vehicle.
Pondered by Unreconstructed elitist at December 17, 2004 09:06 PMEh, who cares about "other" people?
Buy a Jeep.
Pondered by Malnurtured Snay at December 20, 2004 01:23 AM