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Having lived (and appreciated) Europe and their cars: 1. You guy drive a lot less than us. I do trips three times as long as what would destroy me in Europe (t

Having lived (and appreciated) Europe and their cars: 1. You guy drive a lot less than us. I do trips three times as long as what would destroy me in Europe (twice a month I drive 500 km without stopping and back the next day) 2. Are you using the imperial gallon or the american gallon? Very common mistake (the mile used in the article looks like and probably is the 3.8l gal) Edit, you're using the right gallon.

kmm 9y ago
Sure (if true), but that's not the point, because driving more doesn't increase mileage. Why does driving more make you prefer less efficient cars? What do you get back from it?
- irixusr 9y ago
  Sorry I forgot to finish the point for 1. A larger car (more space, inertia and soundproofing) with a bigger engine (lower rpm therefore less noise) with more cylinders (less vibration) is more comfortable and wears you down less. And I loved my wife's no frills stick-shift Versa (4000 rpm at 80 mph really got annoying though) As to American's driving large distances, based on my personal experience, there's no comparison. American cities are further apart, families are more scattered, families are larger. Don't forget that in many ways America is actually two societies in one. One America lives in places largely undistinguishable from Europe. The other has 90 mile one way commute (a colleague. Mine is only 17).
systemtest 9y ago
Driving 500 kilometers without stopping is terribly dangerous for yourself and the people around you. Please be considerate.
- saimiam 9y ago
  It's a matter of practice. 500 km is 312.5 miles. At 60 mph, this is about 5 hours of driving. You can definitely handle 5 hours of driving at one shot. Start at a time when you don't expect to feel sleepy for the next 5 hours and you'll be set.
- iamacynic 9y ago
  no it's not. that's 4 hours of highway driving. waking up and starting a drive at 6am and driving until 10am is not any more dangerous than normal short trips and in fact is probably safer since you aren't dealing with intersections.
- irixusr 9y ago
  No, it isn't. It's the difference between driving in the EU and driving in N America. I can't think of any 500 km route in Europe that wouldn't destroy me. And a little engine screaming for dear life wouldn't help

kmm 9y ago

Sure (if true), but that's not the point, because driving more doesn't increase mileage. Why does driving more make you prefer less efficient cars? What do you get back from it?

irixusr 9y ago
Sorry I forgot to finish the point for 1. A larger car (more space, inertia and soundproofing) with a bigger engine (lower rpm therefore less noise) with more cylinders (less vibration) is more comfortable and wears you down less. And I loved my wife's no frills stick-shift Versa (4000 rpm at 80 mph really got annoying though) As to American's driving large distances, based on my personal experience, there's no comparison. American cities are further apart, families are more scattered, families are larger. Don't forget that in many ways America is actually two societies in one. One America lives in places largely undistinguishable from Europe. The other has 90 mile one way commute (a colleague. Mine is only 17).

systemtest 9y ago

Driving 500 kilometers without stopping is terribly dangerous for yourself and the people around you. Please be considerate.

saimiam 9y ago
It's a matter of practice. 500 km is 312.5 miles. At 60 mph, this is about 5 hours of driving. You can definitely handle 5 hours of driving at one shot. Start at a time when you don't expect to feel sleepy for the next 5 hours and you'll be set.
iamacynic 9y ago
no it's not. that's 4 hours of highway driving. waking up and starting a drive at 6am and driving until 10am is not any more dangerous than normal short trips and in fact is probably safer since you aren't dealing with intersections.
irixusr 9y ago
No, it isn't. It's the difference between driving in the EU and driving in N America. I can't think of any 500 km route in Europe that wouldn't destroy me. And a little engine screaming for dear life wouldn't help