Why are current cars so bulky ?
Discussion
In the late eighties I had a Capri (1.6) at the time it was a big car, certainly length wise and on a par width wise with virtually everything on the road. For various reasons (*) I have recently bought a Capri again and it now seems so much smaller than even the so called compact cars (eg suzuki swift) of today.
Why ??? In this era of allegedly being eco friendly surely "smaller" less bloated cars would be more appropriate - yet all the manufacturers are making SUVs which are even bigger !
Ian
(*) was thinking about changing my car, and seeing if I could find a gt86 for sensible money, and realised the I wanted another Capri. I have to say that while it is "agricultural" it's a joy to drive and I'd chose it over any other car (I could afford to buy). I also have the benefit of knowing that I'm certainly not losing money at the same rate.
Why ??? In this era of allegedly being eco friendly surely "smaller" less bloated cars would be more appropriate - yet all the manufacturers are making SUVs which are even bigger !
Ian
(*) was thinking about changing my car, and seeing if I could find a gt86 for sensible money, and realised the I wanted another Capri. I have to say that while it is "agricultural" it's a joy to drive and I'd chose it over any other car (I could afford to buy). I also have the benefit of knowing that I'm certainly not losing money at the same rate.
Iscb2018 said:
In the late eighties I had a Capri (1.6) at the time it was a big car, certainly length wise and on a par width wise with virtually everything on the road. For various reasons (*) I have recently bought a Capri again and it now seems so much smaller than even the so called compact cars (eg suzuki swift) of today.
Ian
(*) was thinking about changing my car, and seeing if I could find a gt86 for sensible money, and realised the I wanted another Capri. I have to say that while it is "agricultural" it's a joy to drive and I'd chose it over any other car (I could afford to buy). I also have the benefit of knowing that I'm certainly not losing money at the same rate.
What model Capri did you get Ian?Ian
(*) was thinking about changing my car, and seeing if I could find a gt86 for sensible money, and realised the I wanted another Capri. I have to say that while it is "agricultural" it's a joy to drive and I'd chose it over any other car (I could afford to buy). I also have the benefit of knowing that I'm certainly not losing money at the same rate.
Blaster72 said:
<Ford Capri> It's not, by a long shot smaller than a Suzuki Swift. It's a about a foot and half longer.
Capri is same width as the pre-2017 Swift (1.70m) and narrower than the latest Swift (1.74m) which has become as fat as the other B-segment cars albeit not quite as long.I have a Swift and one of my grumbles is that it's a bit too big as a town car but unfortunately there isn't anything in the A-segment that I can squeeze into and which also has a bit more oomph than the usual 1-litre 60-70hp town cars.
AmosMoses said:
...pedestrian impact rules and various other crap.
Yep, I hate driving around knowing that if some moron ploughs into the front of my car, or I screw up, the safety cell, airbags and pre-tensioners will probably save my life. Total load of s
t.OP- here's your answer-
https://youtu.be/L7o2MB6DuKk?t=53s
In the 80's I had a Carlton CDX, I traded in a 2..8 Granada, they were very big cars in their day, The CDX was white and was in great demands for family wedding for carrying round the brides maids. Today I have a Lotus Carlton and people comment on how small it is, people regulary say :I thught the Carlton was a big car" it is only slightly bigger than my wife's Nissan Almera.
Same with BMW I had an E32 when they were new, saw one last week and it looked tiny.
Same with BMW I had an E32 when they were new, saw one last week and it looked tiny.
The Lotus Carlton is 4.5 metres long. Not exactly tiny is it?
I get the perception but isn't it because of the width rather then the overall size? Most modern cars have strengthened doors to allow them to pass side impact tests. Something the majority of cars from the 80's and 90's would fail.
https://oppositelock.kinja.com/graph-of-car-size-i...
I get the perception but isn't it because of the width rather then the overall size? Most modern cars have strengthened doors to allow them to pass side impact tests. Something the majority of cars from the 80's and 90's would fail.
https://oppositelock.kinja.com/graph-of-car-size-i...
Edited by Blaster72 on Saturday 10th March 00:18
Blaster72 said:
The Lotus Carlton is 4.5 metres long. Not exactly tiny is it?
I get the perception but isn't it because of the width rather then the overall size? Most modern cars have strengthened doors to allow them to pass side impact tests. Something the majority of cars from the 80's and 90's would fail.
https://oppositelock.kinja.com/graph-of-car-size-i...
Width is the main difference. I get the perception but isn't it because of the width rather then the overall size? Most modern cars have strengthened doors to allow them to pass side impact tests. Something the majority of cars from the 80's and 90's would fail.
https://oppositelock.kinja.com/graph-of-car-size-i...
Edited by Blaster72 on Saturday 10th March 00:18
No its not, but the Nisan Almera is 4.12 meters long and today its a small car, the Lotus Carlton is 400 mm longer that's about 16 inches.
That's my point a big car in 1990 was 4.5m today a small car is 4.1. In its day the Carlton felt bigger/looked than most cars around it, today it looks small or medium at best.
That's my point a big car in 1990 was 4.5m today a small car is 4.1. In its day the Carlton felt bigger/looked than most cars around it, today it looks small or medium at best.
Having once brought our old 2014 Nissan Note into the single garage where my 1986 Capri normally lives, I can say with some certainty that the 28 year younger "small" car does indeed seem considerably more bulky despite having, on paper, a smaller footprint.
It's several inches shorter than the Capri, and slightly narrower. But it's very tall and boxy/slab sided compared to the old Ford, which is low slung and a very "tapered" shape. Consequently it occupies a much greater volume of space, something you really do notice in a pokey modern garage!
The trade-off is that the Note is much more spacious, comfortable, well-equipped and crash worthy than the Capri, and generally a much more useful vehicle for ferrying small children around. Not half as good-looking though...
(Quite interesting reading the specs for my ageing semi-sporty coupe alongside those of a modern sprog transporter: the two cars have near identical power outputs, and as it turns out surprisingly similar weights, the Capri being a mere 90kg lighter despite lacking literally all the tech and safety features of the Note. Probably down to that cast iron boat anchor of a Pinto engine and the great big lumps of metal that are the back axle and propshaft!)
It's several inches shorter than the Capri, and slightly narrower. But it's very tall and boxy/slab sided compared to the old Ford, which is low slung and a very "tapered" shape. Consequently it occupies a much greater volume of space, something you really do notice in a pokey modern garage!
The trade-off is that the Note is much more spacious, comfortable, well-equipped and crash worthy than the Capri, and generally a much more useful vehicle for ferrying small children around. Not half as good-looking though...
(Quite interesting reading the specs for my ageing semi-sporty coupe alongside those of a modern sprog transporter: the two cars have near identical power outputs, and as it turns out surprisingly similar weights, the Capri being a mere 90kg lighter despite lacking literally all the tech and safety features of the Note. Probably down to that cast iron boat anchor of a Pinto engine and the great big lumps of metal that are the back axle and propshaft!)
Berw said:
No its not, but the Nisan Almera is 4.12 meters long and today its a small car, the Lotus Carlton is 400 mm longer that's about 16 inches.
That's my point a big car in 1990 was 4.5m today a small car is 4.1. In its day the Carlton felt bigger/looked than most cars around it, today it looks small or medium at best.
Isn't the Almera is a golf sized hatchback ie Medium sized car?That's my point a big car in 1990 was 4.5m today a small car is 4.1. In its day the Carlton felt bigger/looked than most cars around it, today it looks small or medium at best.
Your old Carlton is still miles longer than that, it's not in any way comparable to a small modern car. Granted cars have got bigger but calling a Lotus Carlton "small" is a little shy of the truth. I do appreciate your point though, I've owned a whole raft of cars through the late 80's and 90's and driving one now in the modern day does really show how much they've grown.
Edited by Blaster72 on Saturday 10th March 12:00
Why are cars so bulky?
Safety, crumple zones, air bags, electronic aids, space for child seats. However, this can’t be argued with. In 2016 per 100,000, people, guns killed more people in the US than cars, not because gun crime has risen so high, but because car safety has improved so much.
Everything is electronically controlled, requiring motors, seats, windows, mirrors and sunroof.
More features, sunroof, aircon, cameras and sensors.
US legislation, requiring a higher windscreen line, because the idiots don’t wear seat belts.
Fashion, people want larger vehicles and the perceived safety it affords them.
People are getting bigger, compare European cars of the 60’s with American cars of the same era the difference is huge, but that is changing.
Small still exists, Caterham or an Elise for those focused on the driving experience.
Safety, crumple zones, air bags, electronic aids, space for child seats. However, this can’t be argued with. In 2016 per 100,000, people, guns killed more people in the US than cars, not because gun crime has risen so high, but because car safety has improved so much.
Everything is electronically controlled, requiring motors, seats, windows, mirrors and sunroof.
More features, sunroof, aircon, cameras and sensors.
US legislation, requiring a higher windscreen line, because the idiots don’t wear seat belts.
Fashion, people want larger vehicles and the perceived safety it affords them.
People are getting bigger, compare European cars of the 60’s with American cars of the same era the difference is huge, but that is changing.
Small still exists, Caterham or an Elise for those focused on the driving experience.
ash73 said:
It's become an arms race, VED should be based on kerb weight.
Over here (netherlands) tax is based on weight, still doesnt stop loads of people from buying big audi QsWhat does reduce the size of the average car here is the rather high petrol prices, and the big extra tax on CO2 emisions, anything with a decent engine is pretty much unaffordable to the average driver here. An Audi A3 with the 1.5 lump starts at 27K5 gbp over here, you guys pay 23K, if you want an S4, the same car you pay 45K for suddenly becomes 74K, mostly based on engine size/emisions.
So most people run C/D segment cars with the slowest engines, 1.6 TDIs, 1.2/1.0 TSIs etc..
Wills2 said:
If you could crash both your Capri and say a modern version of it, the 4 series for example and you'll have your answer.
That's the clincher really.With the Capri you have to pay a lot more attention pulling out of a petrol station onto a dual-carriageway and minimise risks etc where you can
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