Blog Action Day post about driving big cars -

I own a Suburban, I admit it. I’m a gas guzzler; burn me at the stake! But I am always up for saving the environment. I recycle weekly everything I’ve got that is recycleable. I donate to Enviro-friendly businesses. I get all my statements from all my accounts in email format. I subscribe to Greendimes (very highly recommended!!!) to stop junk email and tree killing. So am I really that bad? I’m trying to give back!

Why do I own a Suburban? I have grown to need it. I have 2 kids under 3 and possibly more on the way – try to tell me a better way to get them all where they need to be with all the things they need in the drive. Our closest family lives 600+ miles away, and flying is out of the budget especially with all the diapers, clothes, playpens yada yada, etc…

It’s just got so much room I can’t see going anywhere without it – and grocery day, I can’t tell you how much I use it for stacking things in there from Costco. We need a lot of things and I am very happy with its performance. But what if there were an alternative to big SUVs that suck down the gas? (Mine actually isn’t too bad – it gets 14 city and 19 highway.)

Well now there is! Starting in Fall 2007 Chevrolet is coming out with a Hybrid Tahoe. But Hank, what about the hybrids that are out there now? There are hybrid SUVs. Yes, they are out there, but are they any good? Sure, they’re good, but can they handle all the luggage? Nope, they don’t have the storage of a full-size SUV – Why? Because hybrids need batteries. LOTS of big honkin’ batteries, and to power a vehicle that big, you’d run your tires bald in half the time (bumping the cost of ownership that you’d save by spending it on gas). ugh.

I have read good things on the 2008 Chevy Tahoe and I really like the style and the look of them, and it is VERY close to the size of the full-size machines -
“The key to Tahoe Hybrid’s real-world efficiency is the two-mode full hybrid propulsion system that is designed to deliver an approximate 25% improvement in overall fuel economy.”

25%??? That’s actually very good. That means an extra 5 or 6 miles per gallon. It seems small now, but think about the average consumer travels 15,000 miles per year. That means you WERE spending money on all 15k of that, now you’re technically only spending 12,000 miles worth of gas. Same room, save the planet, use less gas.

I’m considering just leasing one though for 2 or 3 years. I’m not a big fan of leasing, but if I buy a car like this at this stage in the eco-friendly SUV world, we’re going to be sitting on a bad ROI in 3 years when another one comes out that is 3 times as efficient and can mop your kitchen floor as well. I think it is getting to be peak time to sell your SUV now in a good market. Change is coming and big SUVs sucking down gas are going to be a thing of the past, starting in Fall of 2007. Sell now if you have one, I’m going to.

What are you thoughts? Do you own one? Do you need it? Would you consider this one?

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