Friday, April 10, 1998
Sports utility vehicles for status, safety, looks on road
JUST BECAUSE
By Michelle Navarro
Daily Bruin Staff
Choosing a car can be as difficult as choosing that significant
other. After all, it’s always there. You can eat in it and
sometimes you even spend nights in it. So naturally people should
select a vehicle with a personality or style similar to their own.
For example, moms and dads tend to drive the big wagons to haul
around the kids, and men more in touch with the macho side of life
are usually found behind the wheel of a Chevy truck with a dooley
and an extended cab.
Therefore, it shouldn’t be unreasonable to expect someone who
purchases a sports utility vehicle (SUVs) to really appreciate the
capability of the car and actually use it accordingly.
Surprisingly, that’s not the case. Why do people buy SUVs when all
they use it for is to drive back and forth to exciting, rough and
rugged places like … the supermarket? What’s the point?
"My mom thinks they’re safer. I think it’s because they look
nice."
Rhiannon Tanaka
Fourth-year
Sociology
"Because they have money. It’s the most expensive car, so it
proves the point."
Omar Elenes
Construction worker
The Gonda Project
"They want to look like they’re more athletic. In L.A., so many
drive SUVs, it’s just because they want to look cool."
Lindsay Culp
Second-year
Political science
"To boost their egos."
Laura Dressler
First-year
Physiological science
"Any car you pick out, it’s because you like the way it
looks."
Annie Luke
Second-year
Molecular biology
"It’s one of the safest vehicles. I’ve got one. And, you can
bring 10 people with you."
Chris Empero
Construction worker
The Gonda Project
"They want to look bigger than everybody."
Brandon Schneider
First-year
Business-economics
"You can go over bigger things."
Rochelle Ouchi
Second-year
Pre-med