Why have cars gotten so tall?
Discussion
And I mean small cars. I know car bulk has increased to cater for improved crash and impact regulations. And to cater for more refined and luxury motoring. But wouldn't that affect width and length more?
For example. A current Ford ka is as near as damn it 60" tall. That's only 3-4" shorter than my Jeep Cherokee. And upto 4-6" taller than the previous generation ka. In fact I think it's taller than the current Fiesta too.
That weird Vauxhall Agila thing is 63"'tall!!! A Metro, reknown for it's head room managed at under 54" tall.
So what gives?
For example. A current Ford ka is as near as damn it 60" tall. That's only 3-4" shorter than my Jeep Cherokee. And upto 4-6" taller than the previous generation ka. In fact I think it's taller than the current Fiesta too.
That weird Vauxhall Agila thing is 63"'tall!!! A Metro, reknown for it's head room managed at under 54" tall.
So what gives?
I would imagine it's a byproduct of attempting to maximise interior space.
For example, the fuel tank on various Hondas is under the front seats in order to maximise storage space in the boot and under the rear seats.
If you have to find room for a fuel tank under the front seats, those seats have to move upwards, which has a knock on effect on the roofline.
For example, the fuel tank on various Hondas is under the front seats in order to maximise storage space in the boot and under the rear seats.
If you have to find room for a fuel tank under the front seats, those seats have to move upwards, which has a knock on effect on the roofline.
Chrisw666 said:
Easier for less mobile people to get in and out, easy way to create more cabin space, easy way to stop a car looking out of proportion when stretching or widening it.
But they do look out of proportion. At least to my eye 
Eg the Ka. It looks like it's been caught between some battering rams when you're following one. Very narrow and very tall.
It's the cabin space thing. But also it is partly due to the fact that some drivers, particularly women, like the extra visibility for sitting 'higher up'. Which is one of the main reasons why people buy so many 4x4s... Infact, for people who don't take them offroad, it's the only reason, surely?
300bhp/ton said:
Eg the Ka. It looks like it's been caught between some battering rams when you're following one. Very narrow and very tall.
I looked closely at one of those to replace ours the other day and it does indeed look huge, very odd when the 500 that it shares a platform with looks normal. 
It's more practical and comfortable, especially in town cars if you are hopping in and out allot. Also great getting kids into car seats.
Nothing wrong with cars being designed to do the job they supposed to instead of trying to always please Evo/PH types who want to get arse out at every corner. Who care about CoG on a KA anyway - it's a town car...
Nothing wrong with cars being designed to do the job they supposed to instead of trying to always please Evo/PH types who want to get arse out at every corner. Who care about CoG on a KA anyway - it's a town car...
Dino D said:
It's more practical and comfortable, especially in town cars if you are hopping in and out allot. Also great getting kids into car seats.
Nothing wrong with cars being designed to do the job they supposed to instead of trying to always please Evo/PH types who want to get arse out at every corner. Who care about CoG on a KA anyway - it's a town car...
What town cars like the MK1 SportKa or the Pug 106 Rallye?? Nothing wrong with cars being designed to do the job they supposed to instead of trying to always please Evo/PH types who want to get arse out at every corner. Who care about CoG on a KA anyway - it's a town car...
Liquid Knight said:
Pedestrian crash tests. If the car is too low people are more likely to flip over and do more damage. If however the engery required to flip is greater the momentum is carried forward rather than upwards resulting in fewer injuries.
thats what I thought also there needs to be 'give' in the bonnet before hitting anything hard, higher bonnets, higher roof line
I might be wrong
You just drive around with more air between your hair and the car roof.
I agree, it's retarded and looks stupid. Even BMW are at it now.
But then we have Mercedes and VW releasing CLS, and Passat CC etc, for people who don't want the tall versions, which is ok I guess.
I just think manufacturers need to grow balls and give consumers what they don't know they want. OK, accessibility is important, if you are truly disabled or something, but how many people are?
Tall cars are just for lazy people, lazy physically and mentally, for not having the imagination or satisfaction to think for themselves!
Every year my list of cars I want for the future grows smaller and smaller and becomes more and more exotic, simply because to get something even mildly exciting requires an even more focussed car. Even an M3 or something these days has to be huge, tall and heavy!
Where are the mass market 106 Rallyes and stuff, that you might have had instead of an Elise because you needed a bit of practicality
Dave
I agree, it's retarded and looks stupid. Even BMW are at it now.
But then we have Mercedes and VW releasing CLS, and Passat CC etc, for people who don't want the tall versions, which is ok I guess.
I just think manufacturers need to grow balls and give consumers what they don't know they want. OK, accessibility is important, if you are truly disabled or something, but how many people are?
Tall cars are just for lazy people, lazy physically and mentally, for not having the imagination or satisfaction to think for themselves!
Every year my list of cars I want for the future grows smaller and smaller and becomes more and more exotic, simply because to get something even mildly exciting requires an even more focussed car. Even an M3 or something these days has to be huge, tall and heavy!
Where are the mass market 106 Rallyes and stuff, that you might have had instead of an Elise because you needed a bit of practicality
Dave
To be fair, the Cherokee was unusually 'short' for a 4x4 even when it was released, 1620 for the tallest original Cherokee vs 1780 for the shortest Range Rover Classic, that's over 6 inches difference.
ETA - You've also only got to sit in a Cherokee to realise why cars have got so tall, there's f
k all headroom in them
ETA - You've also only got to sit in a Cherokee to realise why cars have got so tall, there's f
k all headroom in themEdited by The Wookie on Wednesday 20th April 15:09
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff