Comments on: SUV Sales Up… In London

By: JT

JT — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:17:51 +0000

One possible explanation, spotted in the wild in
an unrelated story in today’s New York Times:

“affluenza”

By: ash78

ash78 — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:39:30 +0000

Without digging into the numbers, I suspect an 11% increase in London is about the same units as 0.5% in Dallas. 11% in a relatively tiny market is still small.

And I don’t think this really counts if we’re talking BMW X3, VW Tiguan, or Landy LR2…all of which are nearly as economical as regular cars.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:19:14 +0000

Does seem to be more of them on the market, and people definately don’t have any more money over here. However, just recently, Ford launched the Kuga. I don’t like SUVs usually (Chelsea Tractors), but I must admit I kinda like this one – and the 2.0l Diesel will probably get around 30-35mpg so could be tempting even though I have absolutely no need of a vehicle like that.

By: yankinwaoz

yankinwaoz — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:50:45 +0000

Are they US SUV’s? Between the falling US dollar and the collapsed US SUV market, a Brit can pay for a lot of petrol with a huge saving in capital cost for the SUV. Even the RHD switch can’t cost that much.

By: JuniorMint

JuniorMint — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:29:56 +0000

Finally, a place to unload your year-old Yukon!

If any of y’all know any Brits, I can get them a screaming deal on a Dodge Ram…

By: Gottleib

Gottleib — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:25:15 +0000

rob@ “I never really did understand the need to hit 60mph in under 7 seconds in an Escalade ….”

many of the owners of Escalades need that acceleration to escape the authorities……

By: rob

rob — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:49:21 +0000

OMG! The free market is working. Obviously taxes must be raised further/targeted towards large vehicles to prevent this kind of shit.

As was mentioned, the SUVs here are underpowered by American standards. I never really did understand the need to hit 60mph in under 7 seconds in an Escalade …

By: AKM

AKM — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:47:22 +0000

Well, last time I was in France, I was quite a few more SUVs, generally in…the suburbs or the “new” nice neighborhoods.

I take it as the “bling’bling nouveau riche” attitude coming over to Europe.

BTW, they’re still very much frowned upon by most, in a country where trunk badges are rare (i.e. even if you have a big engine in your car, you don’t want to advertise it)

By: Scottie

Scottie — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:42:01 +0000

Yes, they actually have Small SUV’s in Europe. The idea of an SUV with 4 cylinders is absurd by US standards. Let alone one with less than 2.0 liters of displacement

I want a Suzuki Jimny.

By: nudave

nudave — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:29:50 +0000

Actually, the Daihatsu Terios – perhaps rebadged as the Scion x? – would be the perfect “SUV” for these times.