Maya Nibbe
Mrs. Doherty
Speech 101
11-7-2022
Persuasive Speech Outline
Topic: Why you should drive a 4X4 SUV in Colorado
Time: 5-6 mins
PowerPoint is necessary
Four sources cited verbally and in MLA or APA format in outline
Intro:
Attention Grabber: Depending on where you live in Colorado, more than likely, you need a vehicle to get around. Public transportation isn’t great, bike lanes are dangerous, and most places are too far away to walk to (and the weather in Colorado is unpredictable and often very bad).
Ethos: I was born and raised in Colorado, and have ridden in and driven in many, many vehicles over the years. One of my earliest memories was of Mom and I getting stuck at the bottom of a hill in the middle of a blizzard in her 2003 Ford Focus, and having to be rescued by someone driving a truck-based SUV (who, unlike us, got through the snow just fine). Then, when I was in middle school, my mom and I were rear-ended by a large Ford pickup truck in her 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The truck suffered minimal damage, but my mom’s car was totaled, and we both needed three months’ worth in Physical Therapy (not to mention that we couldn’t ever go anywhere when it snowed more than a couple inches). Since then, my family has primarily driven truck-based SUVs and pickup trucks, which have proven to us to be much less likely to get stuck in bad weather, and were/are also safer and more comfortable than sedans and SUVs.
Thesis/Listener Link: Based on my experiences living (and driving) in Colorado, as well as on the sources I have dredged up from the internet about all-things vehicles; their safety ratings, pricing, how well they do in bad weather, how reliable and tough they are, the list goes on. I must say, I’m most impressed by truck-based SUVs, such as the Toyota 4Runner and Nissan Xterra.
Summary: In this presentation, I will show you the safety-ratings of truck-based SUVs vs those of sedans, the off-road/snow capabilities of truck-based SUVs vs sedans, as well as comparing specs such as gas mileage, average lifespan, and horsepower to help you (the audience) see why, when push comes to shove, you should purchase a truck-based SUV instead of a sedan, especially if you live in a place like Colorado.
Body:
First Main Point: Capabilities of SUVs vs Sedans.
Subpoint: SUVs tend to be much more capable than Sedans for a number of reasons. According to a Hearst Auto Researchers published in Car and Driver, SUVs are, on average, safer and more capable than sedans. Why? Because most SUVs are bigger, have a higher ground clearance, larger tires, and 4X4 options, while most Sedans are smaller, have lower ground clearance, smaller tires, and only 2WD options.
Subpoint: If you live in a place that experiences a lot of bad weather, and public transportation is hardly an option, getting an SUV would save you a lot of time and a lot of headaches (literally and figuratively), then a Sedan would.
Transition: With that said, Sedans do have a few advantages over SUVs…
Second Main Point: Gas Mileage/Average Lifespans.
Subpoint: According to John M. Vincent, an auto researcher/writer for US News, Sedans typically get better gas mileage and are easier to drive than SUVs. However, adding snow into the mix makes things much more complicated for sedans, because most sedans don’t have traction control or All-wheel drive (let alone 4WD).
Transition: If you want a good, Colorado-ready vehicle, perhaps a sedan isn’t the best idea. Speaking of Colorado-ready vehicles…
Third Main Point: Types of SUVs
Subpoint: There are many truck-based SUVs to choose from, and all of them can be a little different from each other, which is why in-depth research is key. Take the 6th Generation Ford Explorer (2020-present), for example.
According to Consumer Reports, the 6th Generation Ford Explorer has a total of 14 recalls, ranging from loose bolts in the suspension, to seatbelt and airbag failures, to coolant issues. Clearly, a stock 6th Generation Ford Explorer might not be the safest/most reliable vehicle.
Subpoint: On the flip side, also according to Consumer Reports, the 2020 Toyota 4Runner has only one recall so far.
Transition: Based on this alone, I can see why you (the audience/consumer) wouldn’t touch a Ford Explorer with a ten-foot pole (I certainly wouldn’t), and instead go for something just as pricy with a 14th of the problems.
Fourth Main Point: Cheap/Used SUVs that are still reliable.
Subpoint: Of course, as a fellow broke college student (and someone who is aware of the fact that most teachers/professors don’t make a lot of money either), I recognize that we can’t afford brand-new, $50,000 vehicles. Thankfully, there are many used SUVs you can find for dirt-cheap on Craigslist or Kelley Blue Book, that are still very reliable and will last you for as long as you need it.
Subpoint: Such as, the Nissan Xterra. According to Consumer Reports, the 2012 Nissan Xterra is a cheap though very reliable alternative to those fancy, brand-new 2020s SUVs mentioned earlier, with an average retail price of roughly $10,000-$11,000. It also has a superior safety rating according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, as it is built for off-roading, has surrounding airbags, a built-in roll cage, and most models also have 4X4.
Obviously, I think if you’re gonna get an SUV, it must be 4X4 to get through the snow and mud (or wherever in Colorado and beyond you plan to drive it).
Conclusion:
Summary Sentence: In conclusion, I believe if you’re going to survive a year in Colorado with minimal mishaps, you ought to drive an SUV lest you are more likely to get seriously injured/die in an accident, get stuck in the snow and freeze to death, or need to transport something large you bought on a whim from Ikea that wouldn’t fit in a standard-sized Sedan.
Clincher: Next time you’re buying a vehicle, get yourself an SUV.
Works Cited (MLA9):
Hearst Auto Research. “SUV vs. Sedan: Quick Comparison Guide: Both SUVs and sedans have become incredibly popular with drivers all across the country. You probably already have a preference, but the best fit for your needs may be more complicated than previously thought.” Car and Driver. 11, Jun. 2020. https://www.caranddriver.com/research/a32767250/suv-vs-sedan-quick-comparison-guide/.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “2012 Nissan Xterra: Midsize SUV/4-Door SUV.” IIHS. https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/nissan/xterra-4-door-suv/2012.
Vincent, John M. “Sedan vs. SUV: What Fits Your Needs?.” US News. 24, Mar. 2017. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/sedan-vs-suv.
“2020 Ford Explorer.” Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/ford/explorer/2020/reliability#recalls.
“2020 Toyota 4Runner.” Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/toyota/4runner/2020/reliability.
“2012 Nissan Xterra.” Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/nissan/xterra/2012/reliability#recalls