Re-thinking SUVs

Lately, I've been thinking of what kind of car will replace my beloved Jetta many moons from now when I choose to buy a new vehicle. The front-runner is the VW Tourag. Maybe it's the dream of having a family one day or living where snow is plentiful. Perhaps VW's marketing department are popping open champagne bottles for developing my brand loyalty. But whatever the reason, I've been leaning SUV.

Last month my car was backed into while I was visiting friends in VA. Luckily, the college kid who left the gash in my rear bumper also left a note (gotta love Southern hospitality) and his insurance company is taking care of the repairs. So, since last Wednesday I've had a rental while my car's been in the shop: a Jeep Grand Cherokee. And I HATE it. My petty list of grievances:

• The CD player can't play my CD-Rs.
  
• It is is dire need of a tune up, as there are many rattles and noises. It just doesn't feel solid.
  
• The right blinker bulb is out, so I get that annoying double-time click when I signal (which was just remedied on the Jetta - thanks Spydrz).
  
• The antenna is broken, so the radio reception is mostly crap.
  
• The gas gauge bounces all around so I don't know exactly how much is in the tank.
  
• It reeks of cigarette smoke.
  
• The thing guzzles gas faster than Tara Reid at a bar.

Really, the gas thing is annoying. Given the nature of rental car policies, I'm determined not to return it with an ounce more gas in the car than when I received it. So, it's always hovering around 1/8th of a tank in hopes that tomorrow will be the sweet, sweet day when I can get my car back (an aside: I called the body shop to get a status report and they found more extensive damage and are trying to get a supplement from the insurance company. *sigh*). I've literally been putting $5 worth of gas in the Jeep every other freakin' day. I'm at the point now where I will not leave the house unless it is to go to work, the grocery store, or the gas station. I've neglected going to the gym (bad) or frivolous media shopping (good). I'm essentially a shut-in.

It's really making me re-think the whole SUV thing. On one hand, it's expensive as crap to drive around in. On the other, I'm an American and owning an SUV is my birthright. Plus, I've got to keep up with the rest of my family - who own(ed) Range Rovers, Explorers, Jeeps, and Excursions. The only consolation is that at least I didn't get these repairs done a month ago when gas was $3.10/gallon (it was at $2.19 this morning).