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The end of cool small cars

blackbirdspyplane.com

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Re: The end of cool small cars

#151

Post by chiefbucket »

CobaltFire wrote: post #137
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. Sourc…

I wonder how much of this perception is based on the observer’s age. To me “trucks have gotten so much bigger than I remember” but what I think of as my formative car years were late 90s, so of course that is how it feels… it’s for sure true that rigs have ballooned since ‘95. It’s not necessarily true they have since 2015?

Re: The end of cool small cars

#152

Post by CobaltFire »

chiefbucket wrote: post #151
CobaltFire wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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. Sourc…

I wonder how much of this perception is based on the observer’s age. To me “trucks have gotten so much bigger than I remember” but what I think of as my formative car years were late 90s, so of course that is how it feels… it’s for sure true that rigs have ballooned since ‘95. It’s not necessarily true they have since 2015?

No, they absolutely have continued to. The new Tundra is an absolute monster.

The Toyota 120/150 platform trucks (FJ Cruiser, Tacoma, 4Runner, GX) are an exception to that trend, lasting from about 2003 to 2024. I think the new Tacoma/4R are pretty close to the same size, but the GX did increase a bit.

My formative years were the same as yours. Got my license in 1998, and I drove a 1979 Toyota truck that was absolutely TINY even compared to my 2004, but was the same size as the other mini trucks that were everywhere at that time (Mitsubishi Mighty Max, Toyota whatever they called it, Nissan Hardbody, etc.).

Re: The end of cool small cars

#154

Post by Forgotthepass8 »

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?

They survive the crash.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#155

Post by [deleted] »

CobaltFire wrote: post #139
aidenn0 wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

[deleted]

Re: The end of cool small cars

#156

Post by Kon-Peki »

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

> I actually saw a E450 wagon AMG on the streets the other day

Awesome. When I was growing up, my parents had a big orange wagon with the Oldsmobile Rocket 455 in it. Kind of like the predecessor to the AMG wagons :)

Re: The end of cool small cars

#157

Post by demondemidi »

DiggyJohnson wrote: post #87
leokennis wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same in The Netherlands. In the last year I’ve seen several micropenis-compensating huge RAM and Ford pick-ups appearing in my neighborhood. They don’t fit a standard parking spot. For small businesses they carry less than something like a Ford transit. Horrible noise. Terrible visibility from the wheel. Terrible fuel economy. I’m severely hoping that our government imposes a 1000% tax on them or something.

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

Wonder why.

Re: The end of cool small cars

#158

Post by [deleted] »

i2km wrote: post #105

As my modest contribution to the battle against SUVs/crossovers/other bloat, I am attempting to popularise the term ‘bimbo box’ - the credit of which belongs to Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash

[deleted]

Re: The end of cool small cars

#159

Post by ChainOfFools »

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…

Don't get me started on the retina singing eye level headlamps that all these vehicles are starting to wear these days.

Do the people who design and market these things not have families of their own, with kids in the back in rear facing seats whose 9 month old eyes get blasted with straight up stadium-level lighting by some dead eyed balding suburbathug in his lifted FU-150?

Re: The end of cool small cars

#160

Post by kcplate »

FranzFerdiNaN wrote: post #34
geff82 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed traveling educated me concerning cars. 1.) When traveling through the US, I understood that giant cars ("rolling living rooms") make perfect sense for the often long distances that have to be driven to get from one place to the other. 2.) When traveling through Italy, I understood why most people have a small Fiat Panda (because villages are so tight that even my moderately sized family car almost feels too bi…

Bigger means like a Ford Focus or so, not a fucking SUV. Nobody ever needs an SUV. If you need more space to move stuff just get a van.

So can you provide some clarity on why you feel the need should demand people to opt for a van instead of an SUV? My SUV fits my needs, is a hell of a lot more comfortable to drive, and it gets literally the same gas mileage as a ford focus (Which is a helluva lot better than a van).
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