Why are current cars so bulky ?
Discussion
Evanivitch said:
What I find more confusing is size creep and how eventually you end up with new models entering the line.
Polo became Lupo became Up.
Fiesta became Ka gave (something as Ka is now a 5 door!)
Clio became Twingo
Yaris became Aygo
Etc etc
A good trick I found is to forget about the name and just go by size that you need. If you only buy Golfs, then yes it will have grown but no one has to do that.Polo became Lupo became Up.
Fiesta became Ka gave (something as Ka is now a 5 door!)
Clio became Twingo
Yaris became Aygo
Etc etc
ts. Vitorio said:
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..
skyrover said:
Vitorio said:
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..
Im at a point where id rather like something reasonably fast, think 150+ HP, but finding a good 2 litre hatchback or v6 estate is hard when 95% out there are poxy 1.6s
Iscb2018 said:
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 !
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Iscb2018 said:
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 !
Simple - manufacturers make cars that people want to buy. Being eco friendly has nothing to do with it. Previously a lot of private car buying decisions have been made on VED, but now the standard rate is £140 for all cars, then there is less of an incentive for being eco-friendlyVitorio said:
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..
I overtook the new shape Polo this evening on the motorway, it's sheer size was quite a surprise, looked like a Mk5 Golf. How that could possibly be classed as a "small car" I have no idea.
I wouldn't mind seeing a tax on SUVs, earlier I was stuck behind a Q7 and the sheer girth of the damn thing meant that I couldn't really see what was going on ahead on the motorway*. Same later with an X6, overly and unnecessarily massive vehicles should be discouraged in my opinion.
I wouldn't mind seeing a tax on SUVs, earlier I was stuck behind a Q7 and the sheer girth of the damn thing meant that I couldn't really see what was going on ahead on the motorway*. Same later with an X6, overly and unnecessarily massive vehicles should be discouraged in my opinion.
- disclaimer - before someone says I shouldn't be tailgating, I wasn't. It was heavy, slow moving motorway traffic.
s m said:
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
s m said:
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
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.
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.
I have a single garage which I alternated my 205 and TVR between. I've recently sold up as I'm moving abroad and hired a 5 door Focus for a few days. I was amazed that it was completely impossible to be able to park it in my garage and be able to get out of the car.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.
vikingaero said:
Anyone Italian give us an insight into the Italian market? I believe you can buy domestic market cars with tiny engines for the compared to the accepted norm.
Im not italian, but i do know they have some laws about how much power a new driver can drive with. The alfa mito had a 1.4 engine capable of 95hp, but for the italian market it was downtuned to 78 (simply by reducing torque to match once power reaches 78hp) so young drivers could still buy/drive one.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff