[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.