CAFE standards... rolled back

[Li'l Work Truck]

...do we have an appetite for smaller cars?

Almost every vehicle I've owned has been a subcompact. I've had multiple Festivas and Aspires. I currently own a 2016 MINI Cooper S, and my wife drives a Fiat 500 Abarth. In fact, the only other vehicle I owned of any size other than the Ranger (which is still the smallest option for '08) was a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero. I prefer small cars, but I'm also a <200# guy under 6'. I just don't see the need to drive anything bigger than you need. I don't have kids, so no need for a colosseum on wheels, and even if I did a sedan or wagon would suffice.

I even think the new Ranger is too big, but these are my opinions.

 

[pjtoledo]

appetite for smaller cars?
yes and no.
I have a blast driving my 2005 2wd Ranger. currently it has 379,000+ miles.
for family stuff it's the 2019 Edge. much more comfortable on longer runs.

a couple past rides:
1976 Grand Torino Elite.
1982 VW Jetta diesel.

 

[superj]

They made so much space behind the grills for crash absorption and energy absorbing parts that it made all the vehicles a foot longer

 

[sgtsandman]

Afaik...
The reason for the bloat is that under a certain size footprint the fuel mileage is mandated to be better. So the companies skirted the law by making everything bigger. Same reason there are very few sedans made, SUV's are classed as a truck and dont have to meet as stringent fuel mileage requirements.

That's why the Ranger got bigger in 2019. Well, technically in 2012 with the World Ranger. The original format wouldn't meet fuel mileage requirements.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

I believe we'll have HHO/solid state vehicles within the next decade. Hydrogen generated by onboard conversion, and electric motors to drive the vehicle.

 

[Rick W]

I agree with 99% of what people are saying here, I’m not contradicting anything. But a different thought on the increasing size of vehicles, basic brand marketing.

When you’re young and broke, you buy something less expensive that you can afford, so you get a small vehicle with few options. And you love it. Each year that vehicle is offered, or every other year, the manufacturer will offer enhanced options, a different grill or tail lights, etc., To entice you to the next model year.

When you’re a little older and you can afford a little more, they jump to the next generation, which is also fancier and may be a hair bigger.

Take that over a person’s lifetime, and the vehicles get bigger and fancier because the people can afford more stuff and like the status of the big vehicle, and if they’re creaky old farts like me, they appreciate the extra room and comfort.

It’s not designed into the vehicle, it’s designed into the vehicle development plan for generations. But I also agree, that they will move things from this category to that category to avoid the government regulations. I’ve had the fortune to work with some of the CEOs of big companies, and they never care what the regulations are. They just say “tell me the regulations” and then they work around them.

And contrary to thinking that the manufacturers fight or support legislation for the benefit of mankind, often the pressure they put on Congress through lobbyists, or against any regulation, has nothing to do with cleaning the air or such, it has to do with an advantage. They have over their competitors if it goes this way or that way.

 

[sgtsandman]

If what I did would work with a smaller vehicle, I would do it. I can't haul 1,500# of retaining wall block, 4x8 sheets of plywood, off road, or overland in a Festiva. Well, chances are good you couldn't do it more than once. And keeping one car for fuel mileage, a truck for hauling stuff, and a backup that kind of meets both isn't financially efficient. As is, with the girlfriend's Escape, the 2011 Ranger, and the 2019 Ranger, we were down to one vehicle at one point since the other two were broke. Now add a fourth just so I can hace high fuel mileage ..