The American Spectator

The Nation's Pulse

Crossover Repeal

By Eric Peters on 2.26.08 @ 12:07AM

(Page 2 of 2)

All of them are chasing a relatively small, relatively static buyer pool (at least in the US) for
ever-diminishing returns, since the profit margin per vehicle continues to trend downward as more and more vehicles flood each market segment.

TAKE THIS NEW Toyota Venza (please).

It's another recycling of a well-worn theme: Five door hatchback wagon that (in the equally well-worn words of Toyota PR) "combines a unique blend of sedan refinement and sport utility functionality."

"Unique"? Er, maybe on Planet Zolton. But here on Earth, this concept is about as unique as a
Wal-Mart/Bed, Bath & Beyond/Regal Cinema shopping mall. Toyota's PR spiel could have been lifted in toto from the press kits of half a dozen other automakers.

Guys, if there's more than one of something, it ain't unique. Ok?

I selected crossovers for this rant because they're the worst offenders, but you encounter the same pap
when reading about the latest SUV bling-mobile, too. Or minivan. Or econo-box. Hang around long enough and it feels like Groundhog Day -- every day.

Makes my head hurt.

The question is, how long can it go on?

Maybe there is a happy medium between the mostly empty shelves of a Soviet-era government supermarket and the overwhelming, wastrel overflow of supercapitalism run amok. No sane person can claim we need (or could ever hope to make use of) thirty different types of toothpaste -- or the 400 or 500 different makes and models and sub-models of vehicles we currently have to choose from.

I don't know about you, but my cup runneth over.

Enough, already.

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Energy