Why do people in the (particularly) US make and buy such large engined cars? Surely 1600cc is adequate!?

Answer 1

dependes on what you need it for.
I need a 4X4 and for the job its used for there is no way a 1.6 would do it.

Answer 2

A bigger engine does not necessarily mean more power. Take the Mitsubishi Evolution FQ-400. It has a 2000cc engine and yet delivers 400bhp - thats over 200bhp per cubic litre!!

Or the Mini Cooper S - that has a 1600cc engine (albeit supercharged), and kicks out 170bhp. I have one, and I know that it will leave far larger-engined cars in it's dust. I dont know any US made cars with engines producing anything close to 100bhp / 1000cc. Maybe half that?

American engineering has never really been able to produce small capacity engines that deliver high output - but the truth is they've never had to! There is a culture of "bigger is better", and petrol costs are so much cheaper that people can afford to run cars with huge 5 - 6 litre engines! Different leglislation / emissions laws also apply.

Bottom line is - an American built 1.6L engine in America, would be woefully inadequate, underpowered and certainly not desirable - whereas a European 1.6L engine would be sastisfactory for most people's requirements over here.

Answer 3

Now living in Ireland but having grown up in the US, I can tell you a 1600cc 4-cylinder in the UK is equal to about a 2200cc 4-cylinder in the states. I think EU cars are not as bogged down with emissions controls as they are in the US. Emissions controls are required by law but they sap power big time. Also, don't forget that the summers in the USA are very HOT and HUMID. Air conditioning is another drain on power. 1600cc in the US just really is not what it is in the UK. I actually drive a 1.6 Honda civic here. The biggest motor I would probably consider is a 1.8 but I am happy with a 1.6.

Answer 4

Amaricans have always had the opinion, when it comes to cars, big is better. Big cars...Big engines. A 1600cc engine would not be suitable in a big car, it would be totally gutless and would guzzle fuel like it was going out of fashion. A large capacity engine if kept in good condition and tuned properly can be as fuel efficient as a smaller engine. A bigger engine also produces more power.

Answer 5

Sure, 1600 cc is adequate for a little commuter car that never drives more than 45 miles per hour, or more than 20 miles in a day, but try fighting it out with all the heavy trucks and 75-mile-per-hour traffic on the freeways and Interstates of the USA in a mini-car. I'll guarantee you'll be sick of it in a week.

Answer 6

Its nothing to do with power output, nobody wants a dustbin piped chavmobile that sounds like a fart in a coffee jar when you can have eight or more cylinders that can cruise and sound as though it was meant for the job.

I would rather pay the exorbitant price for fuel here in the UK to run my V8 than use a lesser vehicle.

Anyhoo, been using V8's since the early 70's and I don't intend to change now.

Answer 7

Bonny and Clyde started all this when they Bought a Ford V8 when the first made them, back in the twenties, they could outrun all the police Cars- then Moonshiners got the big V8 to outrun the Cops and Revenue boys, then young men wanted them to hot rod, and drag race, to beat their perceived competition, fastest car got the fastest woman, More than anything we travel vast and long distance, up mountains- and across deserts, we want that power . And in America its not about whats adequate, its about what you want and can afford.

Answer 8

1600cc belongs in jet boats. I wouldn't be caught dead with such a small lawn mower engine in my car.

Answer 9

depends what the car is used for, if the car was used for drifting or track days then it would need more power than a 1600 can produce, also larger cars with larger engines are much more comfortable for long motorway cruising. my girlfreinds 1000cc car struggles on motorway hills and makes journeys tiring.

Answer 10

Try pulling a trailer with a lawnmower, you wont get very far. I'll take my big block, We like larger vehicles and small motors can't pull that kind of weight.

Answer 11

Its a Falic Symbol and generally describes a males inadequacy with what he was given at birth.