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Old 07-24-2008, 04:33 PM   #24 (permalink)
jamesqf
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Dave View Post
Another huge people consideration: Small, low, slow cars make people feel more vulnerable than big ol’ SUVs with a 7 second 0-60 time.
But small, low cars do sell. I just made a rough count of the part of the parking lot I go through on my lunch walk, and out of about 150-200 cars I noticed 5 Porsches, 7 other 2-seaters of various kinds, and 4 Minis. (Plus 5 Priuses.) I didn't count the small 4-seaters like Honda Fits, but there were some, plus several motorcycles. So in a place where most people make over $100K/yr, and so can presumably afford to drive whatever they choose, a significant number do choose small cars.

The problem, I think, is that the US auto industry has come to believe its own advertising. Because of the loophole that let them put car bodies on truck chassis and call them trucks, they started heavily selling the SUV - and now they think that's what everyone wants.
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