21–30 of 528 posts
The chart makes me sad. My Subaru BRZ (2013-) "sports car" comes with only 200hp. Many people looking for more power install aftermarket superchargers.
I'm not sure that I believe their assertion that cars have gotten lighter. Perhaps the real land-yacht monstrosities have been weeded out (and replaced with SUVs). But it seems like comfort and safety concerns, coupled with more power and better fuel economy have been causing equivalent cars to become heavier (and more expensive) over time. As an example, one of my first cars was an 84 VW GTI. It weighed ~2000lbs. Tr…
So perhaps it would be fair to say that vehicle weights are converging on the low-mid 3000lb range.
The most useful result is that almost everything on the road can go uphill without slowing down. Even heavy trucks. This requires not just engine power but better cooling.
I see you haven't met my 2000 corolla. :-)
The chart makes me sad. My Subaru BRZ (2013-) "sports car" comes with only 200hp. Many people looking for more power install aftermarket superchargers.
They would be arguably faster, lighter, more efficient, and safer than anything on the market.
But, ya know. Car wrecks are good for business, and efficiency is bad for business.
I'm not sure that I believe their assertion that cars have gotten lighter. Perhaps the real land-yacht monstrosities have been weeded out (and replaced with SUVs). But it seems like comfort and safety concerns, coupled with more power and better fuel economy have been causing equivalent cars to become heavier (and more expensive) over time. As an example, one of my first cars was an 84 VW GTI. It weighed ~2000lbs. Tr…
Economy cars have gotten heavier, largely due to safety concerns. Bigger cars have gotten lighter. So perhaps it would be fair to say that vehicle weights are converging on the low-mid 3000lb range.
my 2001 toyota echo: ~35 mpg
my 92 VW cabriolet: ~28 mpg
my 2001 ford ranger 4x4: ~25mpg
These vehicles all got better or equivalent of vehicles made 20 years later.
I'm not sure that I believe their assertion that cars have gotten lighter. Perhaps the real land-yacht monstrosities have been weeded out (and replaced with SUVs). But it seems like comfort and safety concerns, coupled with more power and better fuel economy have been causing equivalent cars to become heavier (and more expensive) over time. As an example, one of my first cars was an 84 VW GTI. It weighed ~2000lbs. Tr…
Economy cars have gotten heavier, largely due to safety concerns. Bigger cars have gotten lighter. So perhaps it would be fair to say that vehicle weights are converging on the low-mid 3000lb range.
If only the auto industry hadn't canned Henry Ford's efforts to mass produce cars with hemp-composite materials.[0] They would be arguably faster, lighter, more efficient, and safer than anything on the market. But, ya know. Car wrecks are good for business, and efficiency is bad for business. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srgE6Tzi3Lg
Hemp is not a magic fiber, it's just able to be grown with a much lower environmental impact than cotton. Otherwise its just another fiber.