How long will it be until American cars are as small and efficient as European cars?

Question

I live in the UK, motors from the USA look pretty gross, with grilles like the front of a bank, all square, heavy, pedestrian unfriendly and obviously fuel inefficient. It's obvious from the fuel efficiency, comfort, internal quality and space effectiveness of European and Japanese cars, that the USA is buying dinosaurs. How much much longer will they last?

Answer 1

who knows but they are some pretty cool motors with some massive powered engines.

you know long ago your street races came from America with the just standard v6 cars none of this nos maxed up little civics like you get now.

they may be big you may think they are ugly but you must admit they was and are good.


regards x kitti x

Answer 2

Your question has a rhetorical element, but I'll address the superficial aspect- Just today, USA automakers are going to have to plan for tighter CAFE standards. The big three will have to get better mileage soon- increase 40% to 35mpg or 6.72 liters per 100km. Details below. Yes, this isn't astounding by European standards, but it's not bad.

Your comments about American dinosaurs looking like banks is taken. However, I don't know how many Smart cars have eight seat belts. While American cars are, indeed large and heavy and consume fuel greater than European ones, I think there's a certain panache and style that goes with large cars with big motors.

FSIW, in 1980 I bought a brand-new Volkswagen Rabbit diesel. It was supposed to get 50 mpg, but never got better than 45. Oh darn. I sure would like to have that car again!

Until then, I'll drive my 1964 F-100 with a 1956 Ford 292 w/Holley four-barrel. Not the speediest off the line, but fast enough. And I like the style of the grill. It's got all-steel body, with a bumper that will survive a 6 mph collision. It's 43 years old, and I suspect will roll another 43 years, a bit longer than I will So while the dinosaurs we drive will keep rolling, the new cars available are evolving into lighter, more fuel efficient rodents.

I've driven in the UK and I like the old Minis like my sister-in-law's. Small, zippy, fun to drive, and lots of style. UK also had a three-wheeled car of some sort, didn't they? Panache a-plenty there.

Yep, sometimes us fossils like our dinosaur rides. Be well!

Answer 3

Don't forget we have some pretty big cars in the UK...

Rolls-Royce with 6.75L V8's
Bristol, Jensen, etc..

I know that the US always tended to build big thirsty cars, but as the fuel is getting more expensive, the cars are getting more efficient and there will probably be some much smaller cars being built as well..

I have for the last 15 years owned fairly big cars, the current one a Lexus GS300, large by UK standards, middling by US standard I suppose, but each to their own..

The main problem with US cars in the UK, is not fuel economy, but physical size of the older models, and the fact that they were built for straight roads.. anything looking like a bend, and they wallow about like nodding dogs..
Sure they are made for comfort, but with our roads, something that handles is infinitely more desirable.

Answer 4

Drilling gained't do some thing for us for a lengthy time period. What we want to do is open up each and each of the Oil Wells that are laying dormant. And there are a good number of those round. he's lifelike my pricey. As to the better gas powerful autos, that could take a jiffy. Too many everybody is stuck with their Monster automobile Notes and they couldn't have sufficient money to commerce those because that they receives just about no longer some thing for them. i imagine we may change right into a fit united states of america because I see further and extra Bicycles on the roads I go back and forth. we ought to continuously construct better Bicycle tracks because that we do not construct public transportation. Tracks for bicycles and tracks for motorcycles so as that everybody will be especially probability-free.

Answer 5

I don't know how long it will take for Americans to give up their bulky, fuel inefficient cars/trucks, but if gas prices continue to rise, that will discourage at least some people from buying gas guzzlers. Already I believe there is a trend in America of people buying smaller cars...the only downside is that you are more likely to die in a car accident if you're driving a smaller car (since there are so many larger vehicles on the roads here that can easily crush a smaller vehicle in a collision).

Basically I don't know when there will be a radical change in car size here. Americans are a stubborn lot (in case you haven't noticed) and we love our big vehicles.

Answer 6

I dont know about America but we're feeling the pinch concerning the petrol prices in Australia, more are opting for smaller cars or motorbikes, there's still a lot of 4 wheel drivers though especially in Western Australia where the whole state is sandy and some of the best fishing spots are off road.

Answer 7

It is part of the American culture to run cars like this.Remembering that until recently the price of Gas was cheap in comparison to Europe.Many of these cars are totally useless against the European counterparts.But then if they did sell cars like we are used to the price of gas would increase at alarming proportion, as it has here.They also dont have the Parking fiasco that we have and are used to travelling much farther across the big countryBut it has to be said that cars in Europe are way ahead in terms of performance and economy..

Answer 8

probably when the world is just about to run out of petrol.everyone is on about a greener earth and there seems to be a world wide paranoia at the moment,except for council buses pumping out there diesel fumes,i think there should be no engine bigger than a 1000cc nowadays,of course you will have the egotistic 4x4 and rv people moaning but I think it would help.

Answer 9

Not sure but there is a guy in Lincoln UK who has a black Hummer which is only just capable of getting around the cities narrow winding streets,,it just a status symbol to him which most people here laugh at,,,

Answer 10

If they paid the same price for the fuel that we have to pay in U.K.they would soon want to change..
As for there addiction to pick up trucks its a good job that they don't have to drive on roads with bends lol