I'm afraid I just have to jump in here and defend SUVs a little.  This is the wrong list to be
saying bad things about them.  My daily driver is an Isuzu Rodeo.  It gets better MPG then my
Vanagon Westy by far.  In addition, being a much newer vehicle, made in 2001 when emission
standards were much more strict, it produces far less polution.

There are many good reasons to drive a Vanagon, and I love mine, but I do not delude myself
that it is the "environmental" thing to do.  From an environmental standpoint, driving my Rodeo
is a much "greener" choice than driving my Vanagon.

Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: "Clive Smith" <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM>
>
> The massive trend towards driving heavy, uneconomical SUV's in Europe, just
> to run kids to school or go shopping, simply as a status symbol and (some
> would say selfish motives) is deplored by environmentalists - and on any
> reasonable grounds one has to at least agree in principle.