I’m currently driving around Iceland. I have seen a Renault Megane, a plethora of newer Yaris’, one Yaris Cross (I lost my damned mind) and a crap ton of Suzuki Jimnys. Now, I’ve driven in some awful conditions in the states. Blizzards in Montana, Tornadoes in Texas, hail storms in the South and ridiculous wind in Arizona. I have driven in all of that in this tiny country, all in a short wheel base Kia Sportage. I was also outpaced by a fucking Yaris today, absolutely bombing down the mountain in 1c weather. Mind you, it was not a GR so AWD was out of the question.

I am so impressed by this Kia and all of the insanely capable Jimnys I am seeing coming off of F-roads.

If a harsh place like Iceland can coexist with RAM 2500s and modern Yaris’, why can’t we?

Oh, and when I say around I don’t mean poking around Reykjavik, I am literally driving the Ring Road around an entire country. Coolest experience ever.

  • Throwaway@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    10 months ago

    fuel efficiency

    True

    road durability

    Wtf does that even mean? Bigger cars are usually more durable in general.

    handling

    Mate youre talking about tiny cheap cars, they dont handle well, theyve never handled well.

    not starting an arms war with bigger and bigger cars.

    Cars and trucks have been the same max size for decades. Hell, have you seen the land barges from the 70s? The '74 Caddilac El Dorado was 21 feet long! The ford trucks maxes out at 20 1/2 feet with a crew cab and long bed. Cars are smaller these days. Not by much, but smaller.

    it doesn’t matter if you smash some people in a compact, right

    Modern safety rating make that point moot. And pedastrations, if you get hit by car, youre going to die no matter if its a Kona or a Silverado.

    • squiblet@kbin.social
      0·
      10 months ago

      road durability

      Wear and tear on roads and bridges themselves. Heavier vehicles cause dramatically more damage to pavement.

      handling

      SUVs and trucks turn and stop like total crap compared to smaller vehicles. Longer braking distance, wider turn radius, harder to park, and far more likely to turn over in a collision or when driven poorly.

      And yes, I actually had a 76 Lincoln 4 door. Perhaps you noticed that trend reversed in the 80s and 90s.

      One of the reasons some drivers cite for buying SUVs and trucks is it makes them feel safer in an accident. They are, it’s true, while people in smaller vehicles are much more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a collision with these larger vehicles. As for your next claim, of course getting hit by a 7,000 lb truck is worse than a 3500 lb passenger car. It’s also more likely since many trucks and SUVs are too tall to see say, a 4 foot kid in front of the vehicle.