As impractical as it may be, I think the only answer is to limit the size of vehicles, either through taxation or an outright ban. Larger vehicles are worse for pretty much everything and many of the costs are externalized.
Americans' love affair with big cars is killing them
21–30 of 429 posts
Re: Americans' love affair with big cars is killing them
#22I hate sounding like a broken record but my belief is that car makers are more excited about XXXXL cars in American than car buyers are. The media is consistently complicit in covering this up, sounding like the brainwashed soldiers in The Manchurian Candidate It's not to say that we don't like big cars because we do, but walk into a car dealership looking for a small car and they will tell you they are out of stock…
I think there’s a lot of truth to this.
Relatedly, it’s infuriating that American manufacturers are only interested in developing expensive, large, luxury EVs. We slapped a 100% tariff on cheap Chinese EVs… but our domestic companies refuse to develop a $20,000 compact EV!
The cost of new cars in the US is insane. As is the protectionism of the industry. Give me cheap Japanese/Korean cars plzkthx.
Re: Americans' love affair with big cars is killing them
#23I hate sounding like a broken record but my belief is that car makers are more excited about XXXXL cars in American than car buyers are. The media is consistently complicit in covering this up, sounding like the brainwashed soldiers in The Manchurian Candidate It's not to say that we don't like big cars because we do, but walk into a car dealership looking for a small car and they will tell you they are out of stock…
It's an arms race too, I'm in the market for a car now and would prefer something compact for city parking, but given that every _other_ car on the road these days seems to be an enormous SUV, I'm looking at probably at least a crossover so I won't constantly feel like I'm about to get steamrolled by a 4Runner or F150
Re: Americans' love affair with big cars is killing them
#24I hate sounding like a broken record but my belief is that car makers are more excited about XXXXL cars in American than car buyers are. The media is consistently complicit in covering this up, sounding like the brainwashed soldiers in The Manchurian Candidate It's not to say that we don't like big cars because we do, but walk into a car dealership looking for a small car and they will tell you they are out of stock…
Seems like the market isn't working.
Cheap gas allows the cars to get bigger. Seems like the market has filled the gap as one might expect?
Re: Americans' love affair with big cars is killing them
#25It's not a love affair. Once there are large vehicles on the road, you cannot afford putting yourself at greater risk by not having a large vehicle yourself.
Re: Americans' love affair with big cars is killing them
#26I hate sounding like a broken record but my belief is that car makers are more excited about XXXXL cars in American than car buyers are. The media is consistently complicit in covering this up, sounding like the brainwashed soldiers in The Manchurian Candidate It's not to say that we don't like big cars because we do, but walk into a car dealership looking for a small car and they will tell you they are out of stock…
> walk into a car dealership looking for a small car and they will tell you they are out of stock of new ones of the model you want because the factory washed out in a flood
Are you making this up?
Re: Americans' love affair with big cars is killing them
#27I hate sounding like a broken record but my belief is that car makers are more excited about XXXXL cars in American than car buyers are. The media is consistently complicit in covering this up, sounding like the brainwashed soldiers in The Manchurian Candidate It's not to say that we don't like big cars because we do, but walk into a car dealership looking for a small car and they will tell you they are out of stock…
What would you do differently if you owned a dealership ?
What's the added value of dealerships? They feel like parasites.
The mere idea of having to negotiate prices like in an flea market is disturbing and disgusting to me.
I want to be treated fairly and as well as the next guy.
Fixed & open construtor prices and warranties, online customisation and ordering should be the only norm.
Re: Americans' love affair with big cars is killing them
#28I hate sounding like a broken record but my belief is that car makers are more excited about XXXXL cars in American than car buyers are. The media is consistently complicit in covering this up, sounding like the brainwashed soldiers in The Manchurian Candidate It's not to say that we don't like big cars because we do, but walk into a car dealership looking for a small car and they will tell you they are out of stock…
What would you do differently if you owned a dealership ?
Take all those customers looking for reasonably priced, reasonably sized cars and put the other guys out of business.
Re: Americans' love affair with big cars is killing them
#29Imagine a large truck, like Ford Super Duty F-450, but even heavier because its electric, and with the acceleration of a Tesla.
Now imagine a testosterone filled teen driving it on the freeway after a couple of beers and wants to show off.