Why do Americans still buy gas hogs?

Question

My '78 Subaru got better millage than all but the current hybrid models. I just don't understand this.

A (Ford?) auto exec had a sound bite on national news early this week: Better gas millage will cost too much, he said, and consumers will have to pay for it - $3,000 per vehicle (deja vu of industry resistance to air bags.)

From these answers, I think what I am hearing is "Because we can buy gas hogs, we can fuel them, and we like them." Every one is a slave of their desires, whatever they might be.

Answer 1

it's the way our society thinks....we americans feel that MORE is always better....FASTER is always better....BIGGER is always better....we feel that the bigger the car, the better......sooner or later we will have to change our way of thinking....

Answer 2

it is the funniest element seeing slightly female utilising a huge truck. SUV's are mandatory in case you have particularly great kin, ~ 5 or so or greater autos are mandatory while you're a contractor/ have a farm/ continuously hauling a boat/trailer/something like which you pick that V8 engine on your truck in case you would be hauling heavier plenty between the main reward of a V6 engine is its fairly compact length. in spite of the actuality that it is wider than an inline engine, a V6 is barely 3 cylinders long, and shorter than an inline-4 cylinder engine I VERY hardly see monster autos and while you're some douchebag scum bag who does not paintings on a farm, haul heavy plenty and nevertheless drives that F-350 diesel, then i think of you're probable attempting to overcompensate the place you're lacking. yet once you incredibly choose the truck, than get it. yet do no longer use that argument England makes use of assorted those mini cooper sensible vehicles issues properly, we've a hell of plenty area than ya'll do 31 of our states are larger than their u . s . a . yet till you may get the capability of a v 8 right into a 4 cylinder, i do no longer see a metamorphosis every time quickly

Answer 3

I don't know why we seem to do that, maybe for the comfort, or the fact that suv's and luxury cars are a status symbol in the United States. I have 4 kids and a husband that we all have to fit in my car. I currently get about 28 miles per gallon which everyone keeps telling me is pretty good, but I think it sucks and I want better gas mileage.

Answer 4

America is a big country with big stuff and big people. Americans can't get by with teeny-tiny cars like the Smart Car. They need big cars and trucks that can carry lots of stuff from one point to another. A car that fits american usage would need to carry several big people, lots of stuff, drive long distance at high speeds and is capable of driving in heavy snow, up steep inclines, and through strong winds. If someone can make an inexpensive car or truck that can do all that and is fuel efficient, they will win the market.

Answer 5

Because it's hard to haul around large families in roller skates. And some of us don't feel safe riding around in roller skates. They are too small to hold up in the slightest fender benders. And in the winds here? Forget it!

That said, we only leave town when we need to, and try to do as much as possible in our local community. If people did that rather than commute so much, what kind of car we drive wouldn't be an issue. Bicycle or walk when possible, but when it comes to vehicles, I want big, sturdy, and roomy-- thank you very much!

Answer 6

To haul the tools for my job, my camper to the park, my snowmobiles to the snow. Family to the show. Cant haul 6 people and a 8,000lb skid-steer with a honda civic!!?? Some people buy vehicles for more than just transportation, its called usefulness. Why cant other people get that through their heads? It shouldnt be about making tiny useless cars get better mileage. Buy a moped if you want 90+mpg, ill stick to my truck!!!

Answer 7

Economically, it doesn't make much sense. Environmentally, it's suicidal. But those advertisers keep punching away - bigger, better, faster.
Despite the fact that most cars carry only one passenger much of the time advertisers convince us that we need to drive a van. Despite the fact that speed limits bear no relation to the speed potential of the car, advertisers convince us that we need a car that goes 80 mph faster than the speed limit.
And we listen to their siren call and rush out to buy the biggest car we can get.
It's a sad commentary on common sense.

Answer 8

Well I think it is a "Status Quo" I live in a small college town and the kids that go to the high school drive Hummers, BMWs
full size gas hogs... some have parents that are professors,
others are barely getting by... I just don't understand either!

Answer 9

because they are cheaper in most cases and you must remember that many of these "gas hogs" on paper are used cars not just the new ones ever time someone buys a car and the title changes hands it is re-enterd as a new percahses about 60% of cars bought are uesd ones and are notorisely bad at drinking up the gas

Answer 10

b/c they don't know better. they aren't educated about the savings and the environmental impacts.

american auto makers will ruin their competitive chances if they don't step up to the plate and invest in the technologies. honda and toyota are already leaps and bounds ahead of then as far as gas mileage and environmental concerns.

if the public demands it, the auto makers will deliver. their profits aren't hurting enough for them to care.

Answer 11

Because America is the land of the wasteful, the rich and the obnoxious. They will buy anything that makes them look better in the ey es of others.