Why are American Cars so BIG?

[brum]

State our opinion and whatever your country thinks of Americas love affair with large pick-ups etc.

[TheOne]

towing.....mostly. there's a lot of ranches here in texas, you need a big pick-up for offroading. loads of materials and other stuff.

[Karrmann]

because the us doesn't care about fuel economy

[eyebrows]

because the us doesn't care about fuel economy

thats a fair estimate in my opinion... and in respect to the other post my dad's 1990 L300 with a 2.4 4cly which does 30mpg can pull a load of 2tonnes and can carry 1 tonne on board so there goes that theory.

[Egg Nog]

One thing is that fuel is often around 1/4 the price as it is in Europe.

Also, very importantly, roads are very different, especially in cities. Many of Europe's tiny streets were built long before the automobile, with stresses put on everything being close and accessible. When car culture came into effect, they were mostly built to be accomodated along these same streets. In the states, most of the development of the country happened after the automotive revolution had taken place, and thus, opposite to what had happened in Europe, the roads were designed around cars.

[Matra et Alpine]

One thing is that fuel is often around 1/4 the price as it is in Europe.

Also, very importantly, roads are very different, especially in cities. Many of Europe's tiny streets were built long before the automobile, with stresses put on everything being close and accessible. When car culture came into effect, they were mostly built to be accomodated along these same streets. In the states, most of the development of the country happened after the automotive revolution had taken place, and thus, opposite to what had happened in Europe, the roads were designed around cars.

and not just in cities.

Most of the journeys in EUrope between cities were started over two thousand years ago with the growth of the roman empire

A lot of the major routes were 'built' in the intervening centuries, so had to follow contours - which over here means NOT straight !!

Also, lots of towns and cities in between. You don't go more than 20 miles without seeing an intersing town with restaurants, cafes, pubs and petrol - not necesarily in that preference

[Coventrysucks]

To fit Americans in.

[Karrmann]

funny

thought it seems that those cars accually that the suvs are made of fuel because of all the fuel they take, it is like the driver is drinking fuel.

[baddabang]

fuel is cheaper but how would you haul big stuff without a big truck. Just to top it off my dad has a F450 superduty with duel wheels and a turbocharged diesel engin he used at work. it has twin gas tanks and costs 120 usd to fill and a large percent of americans are overweight and we need big cars with big suspension

[MrVette83]

We(my family) have three "big" vehicles if you will but all have a purpose. We have a Ford F350 dually which we use as the tool truck for our trucking company. It has a total of 8 different compartments on it and a bed that we have the air compressor in; we also use the bed to haul tires in when changing tires. We have a Chevy 3500 flatbed that we use for various things. It has a gas powered Miller welder and torches on it. We also use it to pull our farm tractor using our gooseneck trailor. The third is my Dad's Chevy Avalanche, it's something he drives daily on and off-road with his job. He got it b/c he also hauls things with it. On a regular basis he pulls our 16ft. utility trailer with two 3,000lb. tanks.

[henk4]

fuel is cheaper but how would you haul big stuff without a big truck. Just to top it off my dad has a F450 superduty with duel wheels and a turbocharged diesel engin he used at work. it has twin gas tanks and costs 120 usd to fill and a large percent of americans are overweight and we need big cars with big suspension

Just check how many trucks you see are actually involved in what you describe. If you really need to carry big stuff around, you simply hire a van, much cheaper, and only needed for one day.

[crimefighter196]

funny

thought it seems that those cars accually that the suvs are made of fuel because of all the fuel they take, it is like the driver is drinking fuel.

I own an SUV, yet I do agree with your sarcasm.

I own an SUV because I haul workers to worksite. I also own a V8 Tundra truck. Also to haul equipment to sites.

What I don't understand are those Super Clean Behemoths that never really had to taste mud in their Flaps ??? , driving by themselves,, now that is just sheer Excess !!!

[henk4]

I own an SUV because I haul workers to worksite.

That is laudable in itself, however in Holland we would use a minibus for that, capable of taking 8 passengers (room to expand your business!!) with the fuel consumption of an average mid size car and slightly bigger than the old VW bus. SUV's and trucks are mostly used by posers who have no intention of carrying anything but themselves.

[doylede]

To fit Americans in.

Bingo. Americans are large people. They don't easily fit into Japanese cars. It's not just the Japansese cars, Porsche builds cars that are too small for the upper 50% of Americans based on size.

Ever tried to get in a 911? Not!

I'm an old American at 6'3" 230. In my youth I was 6'5" 250. I don't fit into Lambo's or Ferrari's. My niece is 6'0". Her husband is 6'5". His brother is 6'9".
Americans are big people.

But I fit nicely into my C5 Corvette. Built in America for Americans.

[Coventrysucks]

Bingo. Americans are large people. They don't easily fit into Japanese cars. It's not just the Japansese cars, Porsche builds cars that are too small for the upper 50% of Americans based on size.

Ever tried to get in a 911? Not!

I'm an old American at 6'3" 230. In my youth I was 6'5" 250. I don't fit into Lambo's or Ferrari's. My niece is 6'0". Her husband is 6'5". His brother is 6'9".
Americans are big people.

But I fit nicely into my C5 Corvette. Built in America for Americans.

Dutch people are bigger than Americans, and most Europeans aren't significantly smaller than Americans.

As I write this, they have the BMW 1 series ad on the television...