4 ms·
> not that people want to buy them. Completely incorrect. The market demand for gigantic cars in the US is virtually insatiable. And will remain so as long a
by auiya 7y ago
> not that people want to buy them.
Completely incorrect. The market demand for gigantic cars in the US is virtually insatiable. And will remain so as long as the price of gasoline stays around $2-3 per gallon. Once we see ~$6/gallon like what's common in UK for instance, cars will start to shrink again.
- PaulHoule 7y agoIn my nearby family I think it is 50-50% if somebody has a compact car vs something large. I remember a childless couple that went to a car dealer and got talked into a Chrysler Pacifica (monster minivan) at the steal price of $22,000. I rode in it and it was the worst hunk of junk, the only car I've gotten seasick in. That car contributed to the implosion of their marriage. American car makers have a huge incentive to sell 'trucks' because of this old protectionist law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax They make a bigger profit on 'trucks', so they can pay you discounts out of the premium they get.
- auiya 7y agoEven with tax incentives and huge profit margins, the cost of a modern truck is still sometimes three times as much as a family car with the same seating capacity. It's the small social circle status symbol mentality which perpetuates it. Same mindset of people who collect hyper-expensive athletic shoes I feel.
- PaulHoule 7y agoYes and no. My brother-in-law has a big-ass pickup truck with a plow attached and he takes a chunk out his big-ass payment by plowing driveways in the winter. He has worked his way up building roads and really does use his 'truck' like a truck.