undefined | Better HN

0 pointsfooblaster2y ago0 comments

Why exactly do you need an enormous car to feel comfortable on a commute? This attitude is frankly leading to an enormous ballooning in the size of vehicles on the road, which is having tragic consequences for pedestrians. As somebody in the 98% height, and who is perfectly comfortable in well designed "econo-boxes" (vw seems quite good at this), I find the desire to get enormous SUVs for a highway commute terribly unfortunate.

0 comments

RecycledEle2y ago

> Why exactly do you need an enormous car to feel comfortable on a commute?

Someone with a bad back and other chronic pain issues does not just feel every bump, they tear up with pain at every bump.

Someone with those medical issues also can not squat down to get into a compact car or climb up into a truck.

For those people, large, American-made, V8, rear-wheel-drive cars are a blessing.

I do not have those issues, but I know several people who do.

fooblasterOP2y ago

Given the vast majority of new car sales in the US and SUVs and trucks, I'm skeptical that most are being purchased to cope with chronic back pain.

Europeans have also not entirely abandoned the concept of vans, which although not as fun as a rear wheel drive hemi, are generally more comfortable, accessible, and efficient than SUVs.

throwaway-blaze2y ago

A lot of families in the US are forced to larger vehicles (minivans or SUVs) when they have a second child -- my wife and I greeted twins and had to get rid of our VW Jetta because it could _barely_ fit 2 car seats in the back.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse