I was discussing powerful cars with a car magazine editor friend when we began talking the recent trend in American SUVs which is stuffing giant engines in vehicles that don’t need them.

I was discussing powerful cars with a car magazine editor friend when we began talking the recent trend in American SUVs which is stuffing giant engines in vehicles that don’t need them. He had recently driven the new Chevrolet Trailblazer SS so we talked about its speed, how it handles surprisingly well for an SUV, and that it doesn’t look half bad.

I said that I just don’t see the point of such a vehicle. He then tried to justify the SS with towing stories or getting up hills full of people and their stuff. Eventually I got him to admit the real reason people want these. He got a mischievous grin on his face as he said, “All this thing is good for, is smoking that prick in the BMW who thinks he’s all that.”

I have several friends that are Bimmer people. When you ask them why they drive a BMW, they will talk for hours about the driving experience, the engineering that went into the car, and even the service they get at the dealer. I have never heard a BMW driver say they bought the car to “Smoke some guy in a Toyota.”

So next time you’re lawfully driving along in your performance car and some soccer mom goes blowing by you in her SUV full of frightened children, don’t get mad or, worse, push on the accelerator. Just remember: you’re helping her feel better about herself.