[spacemanspif]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Having owned a tacoma and driven an impala

To me those don't count as "big" cars. A Tacoma is a small truck, and very useful one, compared to it's competitors. And the Impala, while big-er, is still a V6 powered car that returns acceptable mileage for it's size and comfort level.

When we talk about people compensating, we are talking about people who own F-350 King Ranch gigantic trucks and have never used the truck for anything other than driving to work and getting a cup of coffee. Same goes for the people who but the SRT8 Charger or SS Impala who have no plans of racing anything, ever. But these people buy these cars because they have something to prove and that is usually "Mine is better than your's because I paid more; my wallet makes me more important".

I have no idea why people buy the really big trucks unless the actually need them for work/hobbies. I've driven too many F-350/Silvy 3500 for work and I can't speak for the "small" ones but the 8' bed, 4 full-door models are HUGE and suck to park. I just drive to the back and park in 2 spots. If I tried parking between 2 cars, my doors would hit their car and half the bed would hang out of the spot...and that is only IF I have a lane that's 40' wide that allows me to swing the beast enough to get in cleanly. I'll take a small car that can be whipped around over a tank any day...