What is the deal with American car makers?

Question

If Japanese car makers can make 30+ MPG cars why can't America? What is our obsession with huge gas gussling trucks?

Answer 1

Good question! Gas guzzlers means for money for oil companies ... its a frickin conspiracy dude! LOL! Im trading in my car for a bicycle!

Answer 2

Guzzling is spelled with 2 z's.

Answer 3

Americans tend to think bigger is better.  Bigger shows power and wealth.

American car makers are supplying the demand.

Answer 4

We can, it's just not as important to the general buying public to do so. Most cars, and trucks, 2003 and newer have the capability to increase fuel mileage by 25% or more by reprogramming the ECM, and NOT hurt perofrmance! A friend recently had his 2002 Trans AM reprogrammed, HP increased 60 HP, and fuel mileage at 70 is 32 - 33 MPG with 6 speed manual trans!

  Fuel mileage hasn't been a huge issue for Americans, it's only when prices are out of line with income that it becomes one. If the fuel prices stay where they are there will be a shift to compensate for it, there always is, or they will go back to a "reasonable" (ha ha ha) level.

  L8R,

  Sid

Answer 5

They make more money for the manufacturers.  They're cheaper to design and build than cars, because they come under different standards, the standards of light trucks.  Plus it's part of our culture--it's easy to convince Americans that we just -deserve- big cars.

Answer 6

1) Americans are BIGGER physically than the Japanese. Ever been in one of their apartments? They're TINY...because they're small people. Over here, we need bigger spaces ( and vehicles ).

2) We have more space, and carry more people like soccer playing kids, to ballfields, so you need a bigger vehicle to transport them.

3) We like our space, whether in a house, or a car. Bigger is better, for many people.

And, 4) the CAR MAKERS only produce what the PEOPLE want, they don't push what doesn't sell. Not to say that Honda's and Toyota's aren't outselling American-made cars, but more Americans got into SUVs and CUVs because they made sense at the time...now, with $4+ gas, they're non-affordable except for the upper crust. God help American car makers, with their lousy short-lived cars.

- The Gremlin Guy -