americans want heavy gas hogs

[mikehallbackhoe]

I remember when I was in high school in the seventies, and our family car was an oldsmobile with 454. that car was a boat, and got 18 mpg on the freeway. I don't know what it got around town. My dad decided it was time for an economy vehicle, because gas finally hit 1.00 a gallon. we went down to redding and stopped at the toyota dealer. we went for several test rides, and we were not impressed. the cars seemed tinny, and we didn't like them . then we spotted a toyota mark 4, and went for a test ride. now here was a car that felt like a real car. when you closed the doors, they sounded solid, and no tinny feeling going down the road. dad bought the mark 4, and that toyota got 18 mpg! The japanese car makers pay attention, and that's why when you buy a new japanese car, the doors close with a good solid thunk. now they ride like big solid cars, and no longer get great mpg like they used to. I would like to say that I don't fall into this trap of wanting a big, heavy car, and yet back in 2,000, when we were shopping for a new car, I hated the subaru impreza, because it had a rattle in the back. we ended up buying the outback. a big, heavy ,gas hog.

[user removed]

Rebuilt a totalled 1977 Accord for Pop in 1978. He was living in the Florida Keys and working as a volunteer for the American cancer Society. He averaged 39 MPG in the Accord, and I think he was paid 38 cents a mile for providing his own transportation.
He drove that car 45k miles before he traded it in on a Toyota.

The Accord weighed 2050 pounds and had a 1.5 liter engine. That car saved both of my parents lives in 1979 when a drunk in a Cadillac came over into their lane at 50 MPH. Mom just whipped that car left and went past the Cadillac. At almost exactly the same spot on the same road 7 years later I had a drunk come into may lane at night in a powerful thunderstorm. I had to swerve across the oncoming lane of traffic and into a parking lot to avoid the collision in my 1973 Alfa Romeo.

In both of those potentially deadly accidents their lives and mine were saved by a smaller more maneuverable car instead of a boat that would not have been able to do the evasive maneuver.

My parents have been married 65 years this April. Pop will turn 91 May 8th and Mom will be 87 August 3rd. The both drive Cadillac Eldorado's and get close to 30 MPG highway when they go to Ocean City to play some slot machines.

regards
Mech

[mikehallbackhoe]

the smaller cars always looked dangerous in a crash, but you are right, there is something to be said for agility. I ride a motorcycle, and have managed to avoid contact with cages for over 35 years. I still have the subaru for driving in the snow, but my wife and I fight over who gets to drive the crx.

[gone-ot]

MASS = crumple-zone ( + ).

...but, also:

MASS = inertia ( - ).

[Frank Lee]

I can't fathom why anyone that throws a leg over a bike even thinks car size should be on the radar???

It's true, Uhmericans do like the big and heavy... was outside doing yardwork over the weekend and it's true, it's not a figment of my imagination, there are more and more and more guys ripping around in mufflerless mud trucks than ever before. Gas prices up and incomes supposedly down... how can this be? Mom and Dad pay for their gas? Maybe the punks buy all their own gas but live in Mom's basement and don't have to buy anything else? Uhmericans: the ultimate contrarians. Never miss a chance to make the stupid choice.

[ProDarwin]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I can't fathom why anyone that throws a leg over a bike even thinks car size should be on the radar???

I don't fall into this category, but...

Some people have kids. Kids ride with them in their car, but not on their bike. Protection can be viewed as more important when you have the lives of others in your hand in addition to your own.

[mikehallbackhoe]

you are right, when my daughter was young, I drove a big car. now since she is grown, my wife and I feel just fine in the crx. My daughter never rode with me on my motorcycle when she was little, but I introduced her to motorcycles when she was a teenager. now she is a motorcycle safety instructer.
till americans change their thinking about small cars, we are not going to see small efficient cars like they have in europe. a friend of mine only drives an f-250 4x4 pickup. he says he doesn't want his tombstone to read" he was getting 40mpg when he was killed in a car accident"

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by mikehallbackhoe

a friend of mine only drives an f-250 4x4 pickup. he says he doesn't want his tombstone to read" he was getting 40mpg when he was killed in a car accident"

That's funny, the statistics say he is more likely to die in his F250 than in a Toyota Corolla.

My tombstone will read "Invincible!". Hopefully it makes someone laugh.

[mechman600]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

It's true, Uhmericans do like the big and heavy...

It's not much different up here. Maybe a few more smaller cars, but not noticeable. Gas prices here are about 25% higher than just across the line in Blaine, WA (where I often fill up). People keep saying that things will change once gas reaches $X.XX/L, but here in Canada it IS higher and things have yet to change.

[jakobnev]

Originally Posted by tombstone"

He was getting 13mpg when he was killed in a car accident

Much better!