Date:         Sun, 9 Sep 2007 19:44:28 -0400
Reply-To:     Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject:      Re: 50 worst cars, and the vanagon isn't one of them
Comments: To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>

I love this one....

1995 Ford Explorer

How could the best-selling passenger vehicle in America 14 years running,
the mother of all mom-mobiles, the beloved suburban schlepper of millions,
wind up on this list? Forget about the whole Firestone tire controversy. In
its very success, the Ford Explorer is responsible for setting this country
on the spiral of vehicular obesity that we are still contending with today.
People, particularly women drivers, discovered that they liked sitting up
high. Even though more fuel-efficient minivans do the kid- and cargo-hauling
duties better, people came to prefer the outdoorsy, go-anywhere image of
SUVs. In other words, people became addicted to the pose. And, as vehicles
got bigger and heavier, buyers sought out even bigger vehicles to make
themselves feel safe. Helloooo Hummer. All of that we can lay at the
overachieving feet of the Explorer.