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The end of cool small cars

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Re: The end of cool small cars

#131

Post by southwesterly »

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 look down on the plebs? :/

Re: The end of cool small cars

#134

Post by NullPrefix »

cpursley wrote: post #38
sw104 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Range Rovers are a disease in the UK. A brand which had it's origins in the military and farming, which has now been repurposed to drop kids off at a school. It's also the most frequent car I see which is sped around and overtakes with zero concern for other road users. The people driving them seem to not understand the size of their car and either pass over-cautiously or tunnel through everybody else whenever the ro…

Land Rovers are a disease anywhere they go just based on their quality ratings alone. They are consistently rated as the most unreliable vehicles on the market.

A status symbol. Like BMW. Breaks all the time, but you're showing off to other people that you can afford to fix it and keep it running

Re: The end of cool small cars

#135

Post by eindiran »

leokennis wrote: post #121
eindiran wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I am not making a claim about the truthiness of the "joke". I'm saying it's old, not funny, and frankly annoying. And, to be clear, I have no stake in defending large vehicle ownership; I'm just saying you will elicit more agreement and fewer eye-rolls if you drop the "compensating" joke.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#136

Post by earthling8118 »

redeeman wrote: post #32
FranzFerdiNaN wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, they dont. Those same people also lived thirty years ago, most likely had a much more active lifestyle and did perfectly fine with much smaller cars.

well yeah sure, they lived, they used what they had. we also lived with computers of the 90ies, 00s, did mostly same things, Wanna go back? You want them to limit themselves to the equivelant in car tech

Right, all of the innovation in cars has been the ability to make them larger. We absolutely didn't have the capabilities in the past, did we? It's remarkable what the current times bring: finally we have advanced car tech that can support my need for size.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#137

Post by CobaltFire »

wcarron wrote: post #113

While the author rightfully decries the bloating of the Rav4, it's pretty close to a perfect size for a couple who consistently travels outdoors. Our '14 Subie crosstrek just shit its transmission out and we migrated to a used pre-facelift Rav out of necessity, being in a small city with little pub transport and poor infrastructure. I just really, really wish a carmaker would make something that size, and put it on a…

Just as a note: The 4Runner (and related GX) haven't changed in size since 2004 (GX this year got larger).

They aren't "getting bigger every year"; they've stayed basically the same size for a very long time. The incoming Tacoma/4R is almost the same size as that 2004 model, and is a hybrid to boot with a true 4WD system. It's larger than the RAV4, but the gap has gotten smaller every time the RAV4 gets larger.

Source: Currently have a 2004 GX470, used to have a 2018 GX460, most of my friends have 4R's or Tacoma's. Note that my daily is a Mercedes Metris because my child is special needs; the GX has been in the family for a very long time at this point.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#138

Post by CobaltFire »

flyingfences wrote: post #90
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…

There aren't even wagons for sale in America anymore. There are a few crossover-wagon options, with lifted suspension and plastic cladding a la Subaru Outback; there are a few overlarge hatchbacks, e.g., the Honda Civic; but, look for a normal wagon with traditional four-pillar proportions and normal car handling and styling and the only option you'll find for sale here is the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo, which is…

Volvo still sells the V60 PHEV if you want one.

Audi sells the A4 and A6 wagons (and the RS6), Mercedes has it's E class wagon last I looked.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#139

Post by CobaltFire »

aidenn0 wrote: post #129
Kon-Peki wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

You could possibly grab a Metris for ~$40k on closeout, though it might be a bit too basic for you.

It's amazing for us.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#140

Post by stuaxo »

This is true. I'm in the UK and cars are getting bigger and uglier for no reason, just like taller versions of existing cars. People don't realise that big cars look stupid.
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