XPost: comp.mobile.android, misc.phone.mobile.iphone   
   From: spam@nospam.com   
      
   nospam wrote:   
      
   >>> Disregarding pick up trucks, most SUVs never see even a *gravel road*   
   >>> much less go off-road.   
   >>   
   >> Not sure what country you're in, but that statement is untrue in the   
   >> U.S.. Where most vehicles, SUV or not, do drive on gravel roads on   
   >> occasion.   
   >   
   > only on rare occasion do they drive on gravel roads, and for a small   
   > number of owners. you're actually confirming what he said.   
      
   Even worse, it's my observation that most SUVs in the _very flat_ Silicon   
   Valley are 4WD, and almost _none_ of them ever get off the shoulder of the   
   road.   
      
   However, quite a few visit Tahoe to go skiiing... which is likely _why_   
   they added the 4WD option when new, as it often (but not always) negates   
   the need for chains as per whatever the CHP declares on the highways in bad   
   weather conditions.   
      
   In fact, habitually, the people stopping people let the 2WD vehicles go   
   through 'cuz most SUVs out here in California appear to be 4WD even as most   
   of California doesn't get snow or ice.   
      
   >> In California and Oregon, a lot of people buy 4WD SUVs, with all-season   
   >> tires, to avoid the requirement to put on tire chains in winter in the   
   >> mountains in the snow (occasionally chains are required even for 4WD   
   >> with snow tires, but if conditions are that bad then the road is usually   
   >> closed, I've only run into this two times, both times in National Parks).   
   >   
   > chains are only required because the majority of drivers there have no   
   > idea how to drive in the snow, and for california, also the rain.   
      
   Having grown up in upper NY state, I would agree with nospam that   
   California drivers can't even drive in the first rain, although it's   
   _different_ here in that the first rain is an oil slick since it doesn't   
   rain for about 10 months prior to that first rain.   
      
   It's funny, actually, in that first rain though, as it's like the first   
   snow in the middle states when they get an inch and the traffic is snarled.   
      
   Funny thing, in Tahoe they can get _feet_ of snow, and they're back in   
   business the next day, so it's all in the planning and equipment I guess.   
      
   > the traffic reports in california correlate with the weather. lots of   
   > crashes, it must be raining.   
      
   This is true. California is a funny state that way. Also if the power goes   
   out, a bird must have landed on one of the PG&E power lines.   
      
   Never say California isn't a wacky state 'cuz it is.   
      
   They never have to fight the weather like you need to do back east.   
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