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The end of cool small cars

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Re: The end of cool small cars

#121

Post by leokennis »

eindiran wrote: post #117
leokennis wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except for some edge cases, what else is the use of a 3,000kg 6m truck when it is transporting between 1 and 4 people except to compensate?

The point is that the compensating / micropenis jokes have been beating a dead horse for at least 10 years at this point. It's boring, it's embarrassing and it takes away from your message when you pepper them into your speech.

I disagree. At least in The Netherlands, these vehicles are a classic “mid life crisis mobile”. People compensating for something by buying an outrageous vehicle. So the “compensating joke” I’m making is in my opinion at least 50% truth.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#122

Post by JambalayaJim »

redeeman wrote: post #63
sw104 wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really sure where you're going with this line of thought. I stand by my point. Many people do purely use these cars for no purpose besides them being a status symbol, or to be more secure on the road (which could be suggestive of a non-confident or bad driver). The roads are getting more dangerous and the climate is taking a bigger hit as a result of these cars being on the road. I'm sure once in a while they're…

> Many people do purely use these cars for no purpose besides them being a status symbol, or to be more secure on the road (which could be suggestive of a non-confident or bad driver). In the same way me configuring which interfaces to bind to also could be suggestive of a non confident or bad firewall configuration ability. And sure, most of the time the car gets used for other purposes, because people have to WORK…

I think you’re missing the point here. Operating a powerful computing device doesn’t negatively impact other people.

On the other hand, SUV drivers directly make my life less safe every single day.

This shouldn’t even be thought of primarily as a climate issue - pedestrian and cyclist fatalities are up simply because of the size of cars on the road today.

It’s simply not worth it, and cities should tax SUV drivers accordingly.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#123

Post by JambalayaJim »

rocgf wrote: post #23
dusted wrote: post #2

I've noticed a large increase in what I call "idiot cars" in Denmark too, these giant monstrosities that seem impractical in every way except for driving through smaller cars and making sure the driver survives whatever incompetence lead them to buy it in the first place. I feel it might be time to legislate this, there are perfectly legitimate reasons to drive a very large car, like, you live 100 miles from the near…

> you're an idiot helping to accelerate the problem as this now becomes a weapons race on the road This is a very harsh take for something that is legal and widespread everywhere across the world (at least Western world). You have to try really hard to pretend you don't understand why this is happening. It's a race to the top of the safety spectrum, and for good reason. Traffic accidents are among the single biggest…

This just needs to reframed so that political actors / governments can actually legislate this away.

The reality is that large SUVs do make everyone on the road less safe, and that should be impressed upon people buying these things. Buying an SUV might make you the driver safer, but your kids, neighbours, relatives etc. less safe.

People are more communally conscious than you give them credit…

Re: The end of cool small cars

#124

Post by neuralRiot »

Aromasin wrote: post #73
DoingIsLearning wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The interesting thing to me is that all the 'rational' arguments given by SUV buyers (more storage, easy of entry, larger interior space) are without exception much better in any family MPV instead of SUVs that invariably are also pretty shit off-road vehicles. Literally just more weight and waste, zero function other than satisfying the buyers reptilian brain.

Agreed. I've been a passenger in plenty of them; many of them don't seem any bigger on the inside than a hatchback, with very similar boot space. It's all pointless, superficial bodywork that makes the demand for them seem even more egregious to me.

Have you been on a BMW X6? I swear there’s less interior space in it than in a 3-series, the trunk is almost at armpit level and a mazda 3 can load bigger things. Same for the mercedes GLC. They’re the contemporary version of the hummer.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#125

Post by tonyedgecombe »

cookiengineer wrote: post #35
tonyedgecombe wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the real reason is it's very hard to make money on a small car.

I think the VW beetle would disagree. The Avtovaz Lada, too. Opel Corsa, Mazda Familia, Fiat Uno, Trabant 601, Toyota Corolla, VW Golf, Renault Clio, Seat Ibiza... All of those the best or second best selling models of their manufacturers.

The fact they are best selling in the range doesn’t mean they are profitable.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#126

Post by datavirtue »

Aromasin wrote: post #7
dusted wrote: post #2

I've noticed a large increase in what I call "idiot cars" in Denmark too, these giant monstrosities that seem impractical in every way except for driving through smaller cars and making sure the driver survives whatever incompetence lead them to buy it in the first place. I feel it might be time to legislate this, there are perfectly legitimate reasons to drive a very large car, like, you live 100 miles from the near…

Same in the UK. SUVs and large off-road vehicles are taking over. The Range Rover seems to be the car of choice for every wealthy middle-aged mother on her morning school run. Just recently, one of them managed to careen hers into kids outside their school, killing a number of them [1]. Low emission zone are becoming more ubiquitous, which combats the issue to some regards, but I question why anyone but a farmer need…

In the US nearly everyone drives their truck like it's a car. This is very dangerous. Hence the pedestrian death numbers soaring.

I have a 4x2 F-150 as my daily driver that is also my tow rig and work truck. I drive like a grandpa because I dont want people/pedestrians to be threatened by my vehicle. Nor do I want to hit anyone or anything.

You would not believe how popular it is to make the truck even bigger. People are obsessively doing 3" lift kits with aggressive stance rims and 40" tires. It costs yet another fortune to do this and causes otherwise fuel efficient trucks to suck gas like a 1977 Dodge 3/4 ton.

I'm in a truck and I have to dodge these fucks.

Edit: Part of this is due to the tax code. People can form an LLC and write off the truck and any "expenses" (cough... lift kits and superchargers) and still use the thing as their daily driver.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#127

Post by datavirtue »

arethuza wrote: post #94
vikingerik wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are small 'subcompact' crossover SUVs that get the best of both of those worlds. I've owned a Nissan Kicks and Honda HR-V. Both are marketed as SUVs but really function as roomy hatchbacks (lightweight, tight handling, front-wheel drive), along with others in the category. Very practical compromise between cost/efficiency and size/utility. Generally the only thing that cars in this class don't do is tow.

So apart from being a bit higher up - what is the benefit of the SUV? Edit: It's a question I keep asking myself, my wife still has a SUV...

You can tow a small camper. ??

Re: The end of cool small cars

#128

Post by datavirtue »

leokennis wrote: post #101
DiggyJohnson wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like the "compensating" joke about large SUV and truck drivers has really run its course by this point.

Except for some edge cases, what else is the use of a 3,000kg 6m truck when it is transporting between 1 and 4 people except to compensate?

Status symbol of intimidation. I can afford this because I'm something. Step aside. You get to telegraph your success everywhere. Especially at work. When you telegraph success it begets more success. Shiney door handles, wheels, and badges that say "Platinum."

I need to tow shit and haul building supplies. The base model tows more, gets better milage, and handles better...and costs a hell of a lot less.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#129

Post by aidenn0 »

Kon-Peki wrote: post #86
ewgoforth wrote: post #78

This video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azI3nqrHEXM explains why small pickup trucks can't really be sold in the USA anymore. This explains the drive to larger pickups, but I don't know what explains the drive from cars to trucks/SUVs. We were considering a wagon when we bought our last vehicle, an SUV. The ability to occasionally carry more than five people was the deciding point. I believe crash standards preven…

The Mercedes E450 wagon has the rear-facing 3rd row as standard equipment in the USA. Because of course you wanted a wagon with a starting price of $75k without any options.

We legitimately considered it; there are no cars that seat 7 for under $40k new these days, so it's less-than-double the price of the cheapest option.

Totally off-topic, but I actually saw a E450 wagon AMG on the streets the other day. Had no clue they even made one of those. Will only set you back $177k

Re: The end of cool small cars

#130

Post by lincon127 »

rocgf wrote: post #23
dusted wrote: post #2

I've noticed a large increase in what I call "idiot cars" in Denmark too, these giant monstrosities that seem impractical in every way except for driving through smaller cars and making sure the driver survives whatever incompetence lead them to buy it in the first place. I feel it might be time to legislate this, there are perfectly legitimate reasons to drive a very large car, like, you live 100 miles from the near…

> you're an idiot helping to accelerate the problem as this now becomes a weapons race on the road This is a very harsh take for something that is legal and widespread everywhere across the world (at least Western world). You have to try really hard to pretend you don't understand why this is happening. It's a race to the top of the safety spectrum, and for good reason. Traffic accidents are among the single biggest…

Sounds like you're one of the idiots
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