3 ms·

It often makes me wonder, why especially Americans largely don't prefer to use the most economical to buy/own/operate vehicles, like European/Japanese small car

It often makes me wonder, why especially Americans largely don't prefer to use the most economical to buy/own/operate vehicles, like European/Japanese small cars that give close to 20-25 kilometers per litre of petrol.

eru 7y ago
There are benefits to driving a larger vehicle for some people. It's fun, it's safer (for the occupant, less safe for others), there might be prestige? Europeans would also drive bigger cars, if their petrol was as cheap as in America. And you can see the Americans reacting to at-times more expensive petrol by buying smaller cars for a while.
- dragonwriter 7y ago
  > it's safer (for the occupant, less safe for others) The data usually cited for this is studies showing that it is safer in given collision conditions. On the other hand, collisions are more likely, rollovers are more likely, and rollovers are disproportionately fatal for vehicle occupants compared to collisions.
  - eru 7y ago
    Interesting. In any case, my argument is basically that some people prefer bigger cars; but Europeans don't get to act on that preference as much because their fuel is more expensive. So you'd see different cars, even if they preferences were exactly the same. (They are not exactly the same.)
    - nottorp 7y ago
      It's not only about fuel costs, but also about parking space. The extra half a metter matters in many situations ;)
- benj111 7y ago
  "It's fun" Why are larger vehicles inherently more fun? A go-cart is fun. A double decker not so much (I would guess anyway).
  - undersuit 7y ago
    The trucks in question have outsized power for their size, it's part of their legitimate use as work vehicles. You get in these massive, comfortable vehicles and you accelerate, maybe not as fast as a sports car, but you're easily beating a Honda Civic and instead of a squeal from the transmission you hear a deep-throated roar from your engine.
    - benj111 7y ago
      That's power is fun, not size. A Honda Civic Type R is probably even more fun, and with less body roll.
- ben_w 7y ago
  I suspect Europe’s relatively narrow roads would prevent American-style cars ever becoming generally popular. One of the Smart Fortwo’s selling points is the small size making parking easier, not just the good-but-not-best fuel efficiency.
  - pacifika 7y ago
    Parking bays are limiting the maximum dimensions of cars not so much the roads iirc

eru 7y ago

There are benefits to driving a larger vehicle for some people. It's fun, it's safer (for the occupant, less safe for others), there might be prestige? Europeans would also drive bigger cars, if their petrol was as cheap as in America. And you can see the Americans reacting to at-times more expensive petrol by buying smaller cars for a while.

dragonwriter 7y ago
> it's safer (for the occupant, less safe for others) The data usually cited for this is studies showing that it is safer in given collision conditions. On the other hand, collisions are more likely, rollovers are more likely, and rollovers are disproportionately fatal for vehicle occupants compared to collisions.
- eru 7y ago
  Interesting. In any case, my argument is basically that some people prefer bigger cars; but Europeans don't get to act on that preference as much because their fuel is more expensive. So you'd see different cars, even if they preferences were exactly the same. (They are not exactly the same.)
  - nottorp 7y ago
    It's not only about fuel costs, but also about parking space. The extra half a metter matters in many situations ;)
benj111 7y ago
"It's fun" Why are larger vehicles inherently more fun? A go-cart is fun. A double decker not so much (I would guess anyway).
- undersuit 7y ago
  The trucks in question have outsized power for their size, it's part of their legitimate use as work vehicles. You get in these massive, comfortable vehicles and you accelerate, maybe not as fast as a sports car, but you're easily beating a Honda Civic and instead of a squeal from the transmission you hear a deep-throated roar from your engine.
  - benj111 7y ago
    That's power is fun, not size. A Honda Civic Type R is probably even more fun, and with less body roll.
ben_w 7y ago
I suspect Europe’s relatively narrow roads would prevent American-style cars ever becoming generally popular. One of the Smart Fortwo’s selling points is the small size making parking easier, not just the good-but-not-best fuel efficiency.
- pacifika 7y ago
  Parking bays are limiting the maximum dimensions of cars not so much the roads iirc