Comments on: NYT: Let’s Send Our Unwanted SUVs to Russia!

By: Stephan Wilkinson

Stephan Wilkinson — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:22:12 +0000

Hey, suddenly it’s 1952! You left out “faggot.”

By: JEC

JEC — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:19:37 +0000

With the liberal pinko commie greenwash that oozes from the pages of the NYT, I certainly would have believed some dimwit hippie would suggest shipping our vehicles to Russia. All that pollution will, like, stay all over there, right? Yo, quit hogging the bong Todd..

By: Stephan Wilkinson

Stephan Wilkinson — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:51:56 +0000

For a website that never turns down an opportunity to satirize, it’s amazing how few people seem to understand that the Times editorial was satire. SATIRE, gentlemen and ladies.

There will be a quiz tomorrow on Jonathan Swift.

By: N Number

N Number — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:00:06 +0000

It just may be a bit more intelligent of a choice for somebody who doesn’t spend all of their time on paved roads ferrying their 2.3 kids around

True. I just got back from Alaska where paved roads (even roads, for that matter) are a bit of a luxury and there are a great deal of SUV’s around, despite the highest fuel prices in America.

I just find it funny that the NYT thinks that it is bad for the US to be driving SUV’s because of the excessive fuel usage and pollution but if we ship them to Russia, somehow all is well.

By: ljw

ljw — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:42:14 +0000

In Soviet Russia, SUVs import you!

By: Raskolnikov

Raskolnikov — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:16:34 +0000

SUV’s are popular in Russia mostly because they are a status symbol. That and the roads outside of the cities suck donkey schlongs.

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:56:10 +0000

N85523 :
August 11th, 2008 at 10:33 am

So it’s OK if Russians drive SUVs but not OK for Americans to drive them?

No, it’s okay for either to drive them. It just may be a bit more intelligent of a choice for somebody who doesn’t spend all of their time on paved roads ferrying their 2.3 kids around (that would be the typical American).

By: N Number

N Number — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:33:35 +0000

So it’s OK if Russians drive SUVs but not OK for Americans to drive them?

By: indi500fan

indi500fan — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:41:54 +0000

Sorry NYT

12,000 miles a year
17 mpg
3.50/gal
$2470 for gas

I save more than that just on taxes here in flyover country

By: Stephan Wilkinson

Stephan Wilkinson — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:56:00 +0000

Kidding. Just meant that Dimitri is spelled with three i’s.

By: Areitu

Areitu — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:12:09 +0000

A friend of mine went back to his native iraq a couple years ago, during the war. He said “all the used cars in america” are being shipped back there and had a picture of a semi loaded up with old Caprices and Crown Vics. Their method of transport were old Suburbans too. No surprise that trucks, now worthless, make nice exports

# Stephan Wilkinson :
August 9th, 2008 at 8:37 pm

His name was Dimitri, not Demitri. I know him.

Intriguing. Can you elaborate on the burns, hands and quiet brother?

By: npbheights

npbheights — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:42:25 +0000

SunnyvaleCA ,

Funny you say that as I recently bought a new Corolla (I know its the automotive equal to an appliance… i even got it in white to underscore that) and parked my 03 silverado in the garage. Planning to use it only to bring my 1974 Cigarette 28 to the boat ramp, and reluctantly to Home Depot if i need something large/dirty. I was never a truck fan and the little toyota feels like a sports car after logging 101K miles on that truck. It is in excellent shape (looks like a 45K mile truck inside and out) and I plan on keeping it the rest of my life for said purpose (and I am 29 years old) Sorry gm, no more trucks for me from you, better start making some decent cars soon (unless you are counting all NUMMI cars as your own too now).

By: SunnyvaleCA

SunnyvaleCA — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:39:51 +0000

The poor resale value of SUVs will continue to get worse over the next few decades as gas gets more expensive. Those people who aren’t dumping them now are going to be even less likely to dump in 5 years. A better solution for a person that has some use for an SUV is to get an efficient vehicle for most of their driving and use the SUV only a few thousand miles per year. The paint, plastic, and metallurgy of a modern vehicle means it should last decades sitting outside with just basic care. With only a few thousand miles per year, the engine and other wear components should go for decades also.

—-

morbo: “People still read the NYT?”
Mr. Farago reads it for us and reports the interesting parts right here in TTAC.

By: capeplates

capeplates — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:31:14 +0000

Hasn’t Russia had enough problems with vehicles – they are still recovering from the Lada so why burden them even more

By: Rix

Rix — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 01:18:12 +0000

If there is any company in the United States that is not qualified to give advice to GM, it is the new york times.

Case in point:

The New York Freakin Times.

No kidding, Times management is on par with GM, or even worse. Failing to invest in the core product, failing to see the future staring them in the face,lack of urgency in dealing with existential problems, trashing a great brand name with poor quality…the parallels are endless, as are the parallels in the price of the stocks.

By: Stephan Wilkinson

Stephan Wilkinson — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:37:54 +0000

His name was Dimitri, not Demitri. I know him.

By: phil

phil — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:44:00 +0000

True story. Put my 2004 X5 4.4i up for sale on autotrader. got a call from “demetri”- swear to god that was his name. “you take cash?” was his major contribution to our conversation. “i be there in 4 hours”. he lived in LA and i was in sacramento. he and his “brother” arrived about 5 hours later in a Dinan Stage 3 M3 covered with more bugs than i’ve ever seen. “We drive fast” was their comment upon arrival. Demetri was missing his hand (i know because i shook his wrist stump) and had 3rd degree burns all over his neck and the part of his chest that was exposed. His brother wore sunglasses and never took them off and never spoke. Didn’t drive the car (it was showroom condition), paid in $100 bills, said they were sending it to russia and would make a lot of money. They drove off and i was praying that the tranny wouldn’t start slipping until they were far away. So far i’m still alive. Go figure.

By: Steven Lang

Steven Lang — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:30:35 +0000

Leave it up to the NYT to promote something that’s already been a reality for nearly a decade now.

SUV’s have been going en masse to Russia, Eastern Europe, South Central Asia, and the Middle East. Many dealers these days already have contacts with exporters, and the ones that have limited relationships use the dealer auctions for the same purpose.

By: speedlaw

speedlaw — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:09:25 +0000

Russians who can afford it (still a small class) want X5, AMG benz, and G Wagons. A used SUV other than an Escalade won’t cut it.

The other russians are poor and still trying to keep the Lada going.

By: davey49

davey49 — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 19:09:47 +0000

We should sell new SUVs and trucks in Russia.

By: Praxis

Praxis — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:52:39 +0000

50merc, similar to the German ad from the 90’s:

“Go to Poland for holiday… your car is already there”

By: Blunozer

Blunozer — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:00:47 +0000

Maybe GM should send over Wagoner with a convoy of all the unsold GM SUVs… That should get him out of our hair for a few years.

By: RedStapler

RedStapler — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:00:31 +0000

I have a friend who used to work as as skip tracer for car repo men.

The fools at a bank allowed someone to drive off with 30+ 911s using a stolen ID. I’m sure they were driven straight from the dealership into a waiting overseas container.

Of course the dealership had to know something was up, but they got paid.

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:52:11 +0000

An SUV actually makes some sense in Russia with their lack of paved roads and all the oil you could want.

By: morbo

morbo — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:45:37 +0000

People still read the NYT?