Is it a sin to drive to drive a SUV?

[O'Dannyboy]

I don't mean to judge people. The current oil prices/fuel prices are pretty upsetting. Perhaps I take it more personally than most. The more people wasting fuel the higher the prices are for everyone else. I don't like seeing the Muslim world with as much influence as they have and the more we use the more dependent we are on them. I honestly get upset at the sheer numbers of these less than efficient vehicles on the road. Many people have valid reason for driving them and many others drive them merely for the "status". For a person to drive a vehicle as a status symbol is, to me, a sign of vanity. I'm not saying this to condemn anyone only to give them something to consider in their efforts to be good stewards.

Forgive me if I offended anyone or misunderstood anyone on this topic. I only wanted people to consider their stewardship and reflect. We should be grateful for all that we have rather than feeling entitled. In this case, we should be even more grateful for that which we have that is above and beyond our needs. I think of all the people around the world that have less than me and I am humbled when they offer to share, with a smile no less. There are things in our lives, luxuries and such, that we should not take for granted and when people start barking about how they earned this or deserve that I feel compelled to remind them where these blessings come from.

[forrestkc]

I can't see how it could be argued that driving a big SUV is a sin. Now, if you don't need one then with 3 dollar a gallon gas (maybe 4 dollars a gallon by spring), it certainly is stupid to buy one now, but there is a difference between blowing your money on gas unnecessarily, and sin.

Some people need big trucks. For example, farmers and ranchers can't exactly two horse trailers and tractors around with a Prius. For most people though you are better off buying the most efficient vehicle you can that supports your needs and lifestyle, and of course, more efficient vehicles are better for both the environment and our nationals security as they help reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Don't you drive a TRUCK, forrest?

Yes I pointed that out in the previous post. There is hardly a weekend that goes by that the weather is not nice where it does not have a canoe or a mountain bike in the back of it. Unlike 99% of truck and suv owners these days, mine gets used and goes into 4wd for more than just snow and ice. Now, that all said, I wish it got a lot better mileage than it does, but luckily I live less than 4 miles from where I work (and I try to bike to work when the weather is nice). Anytime I drive any kind of distance I have taken to driving my wife's Outback instead of the truck because its so much better on the gas and believe it or not almost as capable off road. As much as I like my truck, the next I get will probably be a Subaru because they are such good vehicles, and are good for outdoorsy people too.

[forrestkc]

I don't mean to judge people. The current oil prices/fuel prices are pretty upsetting. Perhaps I take it more personally than most. The more people wasting fuel the higher the prices are for everyone else. I don't like seeing the Muslim world with as much influence as they have and the more we use the more dependent we are on them. I honestly get upset at the sheer numbers of these less than efficient vehicles on the road. Many people have valid reason for driving them and many others drive them merely for the "status". For a person to drive a vehicle as a status symbol is, to me, a sign of vanity. I'm not saying this to condemn anyone only to give them something to consider in their efforts to be good stewards.

Forgive me if I offended anyone or misunderstood anyone on this topic. I only wanted people to consider their stewardship and reflect. We should be grateful for all that we have rather than feeling entitled. In this case, we should be even more grateful for that which we have that is above and beyond our needs. I think of all the people around the world that have less than me and I am humbled when they offer to share, with a smile no less. There are things in our lives, luxuries and such, that we should not take for granted and when people start barking about how they earned this or deserve that I feel compelled to remind them where these blessings come from.

I don't think you have anything to apologize for. Everyone knows your right whether they admit it or not. The fact of the matter is most people that buy big SUVs do so out of materialism and as a status symbol. Sure, there are exceptions, some have large families or have the kind of outdoors lifestyle where they actually need one. However, almost everyone I have ever known that bought a 30 to 50k SUV did so because it was a status symbol. The vehicles never one time went off road.

[Vickilynn]

I don't mean to judge people. The current oil prices/fuel prices are pretty upsetting. Perhaps I take it more personally than most. The more people wasting fuel the higher the prices are for everyone else. I don't like seeing the Muslim world with as much influence as they have and the more we use the more dependent we are on them. I honestly get upset at the sheer numbers of these less than efficient vehicles on the road. Many people have valid reason for driving them and many others drive them merely for the "status". For a person to drive a vehicle as a status symbol is, to me, a sign of vanity. I'm not saying this to condemn anyone only to give them something to consider in their efforts to be good stewards.

Forgive me if I offended anyone or misunderstood anyone on this topic. I only wanted people to consider their stewardship and reflect. We should be grateful for all that we have rather than feeling entitled. In this case, we should be even more grateful for that which we have that is above and beyond our needs. I think of all the people around the world that have less than me and I am humbled when they offer to share, with a smile no less. There are things in our lives, luxuries and such, that we should not take for granted and when people start barking about how they earned this or deserve that I feel compelled to remind them where these blessings come from.

Shalom Danny,

Hey Bro, I understand passion about a topic. And you are right in saying we all need to take assessment of our blessings and carefully examine our needs/ wants. But, just reiterating that it is for each of us to do for ourselves, not for our neighbor.

[Vickilynn]

Everyone knows your right whether they admit it or not.

Shalom Forrest,

Oh give me a break!!

The fact of the matter is most people that buy big SUVs do so out of materialism and as a status symbol.

And here we are judging another's heart. Sorry Bro, you are not equipped to do that, only G-d is. You don't know "most people" who own SUVs or their reasons and so you cannot make such a sweeping generality and condemnation of them.

[Guest LadyC]

i'm not sure whether this thread is just offensive, or if it's downright funny. but can somebody PLEASE point out where in scripture i can find the command "THOU SHALT NOT DRIVE AN SUV"?

[Treasure]

[forrestkc]

Everyone knows your right whether they admit it or not.

Shalom Forrest,

Oh give me a break!!

The fact of the matter is most people that buy big SUVs do so out of materialism and as a status symbol.

And here we are judging another's heart. Sorry Bro, you are not equipped to do that, only G-d is. You don't know "most people" who own SUVs or their reasons and so you cannot make such a sweeping generality and condemnation of them.

I am not making a judgement, I am making an observation. Almost everyone I know that owns one owns it as a status symbol. Maybe they are not a representative sample, but I doubt it.

[Marnie]

These are reliable, built well, more economical than you would think because it is a midsize product built on the chassis of GM's compact Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck. It seats 5 comfortably and gets around 22 mpg on the highway, 17 mpg in town.

I hate to break this to you, but I drive a Chevrolet Colorado Z71 4wd Crew Cab. It is the truck version of the H3. The platforms and engines are exactly the same. Mine is rated on the sticker at 22 mpg on the Highway, and 17 mpg in town. In the real world, you are going to get about 14 to 15 mpg in town, and on your absolute best day, with the wind behind you, about 20 mpg on the Highway.

Now, my wife's Subaru Outback (Symmetrical AWD) actually beats its EPA ratings on the highway. Its rated at 28 mpg and gets around 30 on the highway, and believe it or not, that car is better in the snow than my truck is, and would go 95% of the places off road that my truck can get to. I would recommend them to anyone.

I do like my truck though, just wish it was more efficient.

Yeah, now you scare me. I drove the H3 to and from church tonight and I confess it does have a great ride. But I won't be putting the gas in it...

My Mini gets around the 30 mark too, which is nice. And it fits me great, but my husband has to unfold himself to get out.

[Treasure]

These are reliable, built well, more economical than you would think because it is a midsize product built on the chassis of GM's compact Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck. It seats 5 comfortably and gets around 22 mpg on the highway, 17 mpg in town.

I hate to break this to you, but I drive a Chevrolet Colorado Z71 4wd Crew Cab. It is the truck version of the H3. The platforms and engines are exactly the same. Mine is rated on the sticker at 22 mpg on the Highway, and 17 mpg in town. In the real world, you are going to get about 14 to 15 mpg in town, and on your absolute best day, with the wind behind you, about 20 mpg on the Highway.

Now, my wife's Subaru Outback (Symmetrical AWD) actually beats its EPA ratings on the highway. Its rated at 28 mpg and gets around 30 on the highway, and believe it or not, that car is better in the snow than my truck is, and would go 95% of the places off road that my truck can get to. I would recommend them to anyone.

I do like my truck though, just wish it was more efficient.

Yeah, now you scare me. I drove the H3 to and from church tonight and I confess it does have a great ride. But I won't be putting the gas in it...

My Mini gets around the 30 mark too, which is nice. And it fits me great, but my husband has to unfold himself to get out.

Should we get Ted to change Mike's name to "Pretzel Man"