Runners and small cars

jus wondering wrote:

I notice this and wonder why. I own a compact car because they're cheaper, better gas mileage, and I like manuals.

A few thoughts. Obviously there are exceptions to these generalizations, if you need the utility of a full sized pickup truck, a Corolla isn't going to cut it.

1) Runners are out there breathing exhaust fumes on a regular basis. Might this imply a higher degree of environmental consciousness?

2) Runners are much thinner than the general population hence they just plain fit comfortably in the semi bucket seats typical in compact cars.

3) Perhaps persons who compete in serious or recreational athletics have that as a defining part of their identity and hence have less need to buy a 4-wheeled image proxy. Do you really need an SUV to make you look like the kind of guy who would do a 20 mile races on muddy trails if you already are they kind of guy who does 20 mile trail races?

4) Compacts provide a less comfortable ride than larger vehicles. Runners have a much higher tolerance to physical discomfort than the general population.

5) Chicken and egg. Do runners tend toward compacts or do the kind of persons who drive compacts tend toward running?

For what it's worth, my primary car is a Focus, the wife's an Integra, and most of my in season commute miles are on a Kawasaki EX250.

ive gained muscle since traing, not skinny anymorez

Honda CBR600F3. Well over 50 mpg in mixed driving. Costs damn near nothing to insure, no trouble finding a parking spot, don't have to worry about getting stuck in traffic, and outperforms anything short of a Ferrari.

Perfect way to get around if it weren't for the clueless jerks who are too busy with their cell phones, iPods, and blackberries to bother looking where they're driving.

Wife drive a Chrysler Town & Country. I drive a Mercury Mountaineer. I like the extra space for the kids and all their stuff, sitting up higher, 4 wheel drive for the commute on tough snowy new england wintery days-and honestly have had 3 Explorers and now a Mountaineer in the last 10 years- I just like them and they are very reliable.

Maybe the small car reference is too single runners. I drove a civic for years, then got married and had kids. Now it is a Tacoma Crew cab and the Honda Pilot.

maxman wrote:

honestly have had 3 Explorers and now a Mountaineer in the last 10 years- I just like them and they are very reliable.

How would you even know about reliability? You get a new one ever 2.5 years.

I have a Jeep Liberty. Not too big, good leg room, great in snow and rough camp roads up north. Enough room for golf clubs and stuff for weekends. Peppy; 210 Horses. 4 years old next month. Love it. I feel cramped in small cars; I'm 6'2".

My take on vehicles; the real culprit in gas wasting is bad driving causing traffic jams. I'm tying to do the calucations to prove my theory that all the Hummers ever made compared to say the same number of Hondas don't burn as much excess gas as one bad traffic jam due to some moronic move by a crappy driver. THousands of cars inching along. THat is the real gas waster.

I know what someone is going to post; What about a bad Hummer driver? SO I'm taking that away!

PRobably another thread but I see the crappiest drivers driving: mini vans and volvos almost exclusively. I hope volvo never makes a mini-van.

I have a Citroën Berlingo 1,4l 2003 model. A proper utility vehicle (without the upfront S).

Run 110 mpw. Work in the oil & gas industry. Have a decent salary, but live in Norway so most of it goes to the government.

Flagpole, I think you couldnt be more wrong when you say that runners make a smaller income than average people. Running is definitely an upper middle class hobby and sport in the US, no way around it. Who else has the time and money to spend that at least 10 hours a week training at a physically demanding sport and is able to pony up 80 bucks for shoes every two months and the occasional 25 buck race entry fee. While running is not as cost prohibitive as golf, it is certainly up there among the most expensive sports (though, just like golf, there are ways to run without spending nearly any money, im just saying that i wouldnt be surprised if the majority of runners fall under the description i made above).

brawn wrote:

Flagpole, I think you couldnt be more wrong when you say that runners make a smaller income than average people. Running is definitely an upper middle class hobby and sport in the US, no way around it. Who else has the time and money to spend that at least 10 hours a week training at a physically demanding sport and is able to pony up 80 bucks for shoes every two months and the occasional 25 buck race entry fee. While running is not as cost prohibitive as golf, it is certainly up there among the most expensive sports (though, just like golf, there are ways to run without spending nearly any money, im just saying that i wouldnt be surprised if the majority of runners fall under the description i made above).

I don't disagree with much of that. My comments were based on a study I saw about a year ago that could of course be flawed. It was a study of income levels associated with PARTICIPANTS in certain sports.

Golf was first

Basketball, swimming, raquetball, volleyball, rowing, aerobics were then all ahead of running.

I think the rationale for it was that people had to pay for gym memberships to do most of the sports (activities).

If comparing runners to the whole population though, I do agree that runners have a higher income than the general population and are generally upper middle class and well educated. Poor people, and more specifically, uneducated people simply to not exercise much at all.

I've noticed that at races there are two types of runners. Runner A is there to run fast, compete and race. Runner B is there to have a good time, run with friends, help some cause. There are a lot more of Runner B than A at any given race.

I've noticed that Runner As tend to drive small, crappy cars. Runner Bs are usually upper middle class, so you get a wide range of cars, but most tend to be nice.

I think the type of person who goes to races to race, simply doesn't care that much about keeping up with his neighbors, because his neighbors already think he's a weirdo for running that much. So he drives something cheap to get from point A to point B.

And to the person who thought that running is expensive...you're dead wrong. Ever play ice hockey, traveling baseball, basketball, soccer, etc. Running is cheap compared to other sports.

iowrghfsi wrote:And to the person who thought that running is expensive...you're dead wrong. Ever play ice hockey, traveling baseball, basketball, soccer, etc. Running is cheap compared to other sports.

Depends. Going to the park for a pickup game of basketball or soccer costs very little. It's when you start getting organized, with uniforms, referees, reserving court time, that it gets expensive.

My 18 year old is driving the 2000 Explorer with 87000 miles on it. I base the reliability on only getting routine maintenance and only one time did I have an out of pocket expense- when the cruise quit on my 94- otherwise 1 recall and no, I mean zero, warranty work has ever had to be performed.

Our 2001 Town & Country has 98000 miles and may be the best of the bunch.

Personally, I'll never drive a mini-van. Driving a mini van means that your life is over and you've accepted being a soccer parent for the rest of your life. I'm glad to see that you make your wife drive it, and continue with an SUV... 'at a boy!

Personally, I just got sold my 2001 4 door Frontier 4x4. Great truck, just wasn't down for paying the gas prices, when I wasn't using the functionality of a truck (i.e. towing, 4x4, etc..)

I now drive a 2006 Chevy Cobalt SS supercharged. Its pretty fun to drive and gets 30mph highway, which for me is great cause I drive to chicago on a regular basis for work.

Giddy wrote:

Personally, I'll never drive a mini-van. Driving a mini van means that your life is over and you've accepted being a soccer parent for the rest of your life. I'm glad to see that you make your wife drive it, and continue with an SUV... 'at a boy!

Don't fool yourself, an SUV is no different than a minivan. Your a soccer parent.

I dont make her drive the minivan- that was what she wanted. I would like her to trade it for a new Expedition, Tahoe- or another Chrysler minivan- but she loves it and just isnt ready for a new one-her decision on that one, but she says she will change it up a bit this time-by getting a red Town&Country with leather vs. our silver one with cloth.

Don't fool yourself, an SUV is no different than a minivan. Your a soccer parent.

Aside from the fact that most SUV's are 4 wheel drive, have a better towing package, ride higher, and used more as a utility vehicle, I could see what you mean.

A cute little yellow bug with the flower is a car the same as a Saleen Mustang... what would you rather drive. Scream mandy moore meets rainbow bright or Worlds strongest man...

Don't fool yourself, an SUV is no different than a minivan. Your a soccer parent.

Spoken like a man who's given up his life for coupons, car pooling, and being an advicate for all kids to wear dorky helmets while riding bikes.

The primary funciton of a mini van is to transport people, where as an SUV is a Utility vehicle. Now, they can both do many of the same things, however, so can a VW Bug and Saleen Mustang, but I don't see to many men driving around in a yellow bug sporting the cute little flower in the middle.

SUV's are just a more acceptable purchase to me for men before a mini-van. Mini-vans are for trips to Disney, where an SUV can tow your ski-boat to a camping trip.

sorry about the re-post, my machine is getting nuts... crashed halfway through...

i'm about to get pwoned....