Rob Dale Said: "An energy tax on full sized pickups and SUV's would make a huge difference in Canada and the US. I don't know how many people come to work everyday in a vehicle with enough Steel and motor to haul 20 or 30 people. The waste is astounding. But then again, they are the most profitable sector of the North American auto market. Think of all the jobs. The solutions are not simple".

:::giggle!!::: My honey and I call SUV's "Mini Vans". Have you ever noticed how many of them are being driven by youngish men with children? We theorize that they buy "Sports Utility Vehicles" because they don't want the stigma of driving a mini van, but they need a large vehicle to transport the kids to soccer. We have even seen one fellow with an SUV going slowly and deliberately *around* a speed bump. ;D

I think it an utter waste of material and resources that these things are being purchased for the function of a city vehicle. It is a shame that they are being used as such when something smaller and/or easier on the environment would do.

Rob Dales point is valid though, it is a booming industry. But this speaks more to me about status and what is currently trendy than it does the industry itself. Detriot was doing fine before the advent of the SUV's popularity.

If we as consumers would stop buying things because they're popular and start considering our actual needs combined with the impact on the world, then the industry would not *be* reliant on the sales of SUV's to maintain itself. Everyone would be driving the new chic hybrid (electric/gas) cars instead, which would keep the industry alive and kicking. It is too bad that being a responsible and considerate consumer is not trendy.

Wow! Look at all that, and me a newcomer. It makes me want to sing "If I were King of the Forest" ;)