this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2025
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Fuck Cars

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[–] DegenerateSupreme@lemmy.zip 60 points 6 days ago (3 children)

The shift to these ridiculously large trucks is partially consequent of the poorly-implemented Obama fuel economy regulations. The regulations were determined by wheelbase and tread width, which disincentivized manufacturers from making mid- or small-sized trucks. The bigger they made them, the less restricted they were by fuel economy. Larger vehicles also ease constraints on engineers; they don't have to struggle fitting a lot into a small body. Once large trucks became the default offering, they morphed into the annoying cultural "status" symbol we know today.

Anyway I have a Miata MX-5 and I love my tiny car.

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 27 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The CAFE act caused most of these changes and was signed by Clinton in the early '90s. Obama may have made things worse, but the roots of the problem go back much further

[–] potpotato@lemmy.world 10 points 6 days ago (1 children)

CAFE standards date to 1975

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[–] Reygle@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago

I also love your tiny car, even when I see one from behind the wheel of my slightly less tiny Civic, which I adore.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 6 points 6 days ago

Long before that though, back when SUVs became popular because they were trucks and didn't have to obey sedan fuel economy. This was back in the late 90s

[–] untorquer@lemmy.world 28 points 6 days ago (7 children)

I miss mini-trucks. Compact size cab with full size bed, engine from a sedan and 4wd. Good economy, much cheaper, great utility, better handling, less dead children, and a lot more fun out on the trails.

~~Caustic masculinity~~ fear of smol pp ruins everything.

[–] Troz@sh.itjust.works 9 points 6 days ago

I strongly agree. One thing to add to your list: easily being able to lift things in and out of the bed, even from the side.

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[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 18 points 6 days ago (1 children)

🎵 12 yards long, 2 lanes wide 🎵

[–] InFerNo@lemmy.ml 15 points 6 days ago (1 children)

65 tonnes of American pride!

[–] mothersprotege@lemm.ee 8 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] Pulptastic@midwest.social 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Top of the line in utility sports

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[–] ICastFist@programming.dev 17 points 6 days ago

Baby, I may have micropenis, but my monster truck will vibrate enough to make you orgasm!!!
Some time later, the woman breaks up with the dude and starts a relationship with the truck

[–] bvoigtlaender@feddit.org 20 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

I mean these are also two different types of cars. But it is actually so weird to see even two cars of the same type made in different times next to each other. It’s like somebody messed with the scale slider in the level editor. It’s uncanny.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 28 points 6 days ago (2 children)
[–] Soapbox@lemmy.zip 9 points 6 days ago (3 children)

I don't want to defend the overly supersized truck too much, but I do want to point out that even these are two different class of vehicles. Sure, you can cram 4 smallish people into that old Ford Ranger, but nobody is going to be comfortable or happy about it. Also, that small ranger has far less cargo and towing capacity.

Of course, a good chunk of truck owners do not need that much capacity and big trucks are just a toy/status symbol to them. Which is stupid. But there are use cases where those trucks are actually needed, and a small Ford Ranger won't cut it.

That said, I do wish we could get more small pickup trucks again. The maverick is a good start.

[–] MajorasMaskForever@lemmy.world 9 points 6 days ago (1 children)

For these kinds of comparisons people have to cherry pick and cannot compare similar class trucks because similar class trucks haven't really changed in 30 years

If you compare the size of a base 1990 F150 https://www.edmunds.com/ford/f-150/1990/features-specs/

To a base 2025 F150 https://www.edmunds.com/ford/f-150/2025/features-specs/

The 2025 is 6 inches shorter, barely an inch taller, and barely an inch wider. Or in terms of percentages: -3.1%, +1.1%, +1.2% respectively

What has changed in 30 years is it was common back then for an average consumer to buy a "regular" cab two door truck with a 6 foot box, four door behemoths were rare. If you wanted a 4 door truck you had to get the F350

Today it's the other way around, it's rare to see a single cab F150 and now you can get a 4 door F150

[–] Mesophar@pawb.social 9 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, the problem isn't that the big trucks exist. There is a place for them, always will be. But they shouldn't be a commuter vehicle, the majority of owners never use them for their intended purpose, and even those that do need a truck rarely need one of the size they get.

Most definitely. The fact that the four door 5 foot box exists is hilarious to me in a sad kind of way.

I occasionally get made fun of for owning a 22 two door Ranger, that I bought a "tiny" truck. Honestly I hate how big it is, but I wanted a truck that would be my single vehicle, something I can use for DIY house projects, commute in, go camping/off roading, and take on cross country road trips. Custom ordered it with the specific features I wanted all for ~40k, meanwhile the guys giving me shit for it are paying just as much for a truck with less features, it never leaves the city, and waaaaay more expensive at the pump.

Morons

[–] grue@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago

I tried to compare to a '90s F-150, but that site doesn't have one.

Also FWIW, anecdotally around here small trucks seem more likely to be used as work trucks than [now greater than] full-size ones. My '90s single-cab Ranger was pretty clearly a former work truck (given how beat up the bed was and the fact that it came with a toolbox), for example, and I use it mainly for hauling and towing. Small trucks can, in fact, "cut it" in a lot more situations than people give them credit for.

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[–] AnitaAmandaHuginskis@lemmy.world 17 points 6 days ago (1 children)

If you need to explain to Trump why many american cars do not sell well in Europe just show him this image. Chances that he'll get it is higher than zero at least.

I cannot imaging driving around this hulk of a car all day. How would I even find parking space?

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[–] Stalinwolf@lemmy.ca 11 points 6 days ago

Here in Alberta, young men hatch out of their eggs with a mullet on their head and the keys to a Ram in their hand. It's basically a social pressure at this point.

[–] bstix@feddit.dk 14 points 6 days ago (6 children)

I was in Rome last week and pleasantly surprised to see how many tiny cars they use.

There were plenty of Smart cars, but also many other ultra minis like Citroën AMI, XEV Yo-Yo and Renault Twizy.

They're not just concept cars or used as gimmicks like elsewhere. People actually use them for their daily business.

The traffic in Rome is insane though. The reason they use tiny cars isn't that the roads are small, but due to congestion and parking. It makes very little sense to own a car there at all.

[–] tetris11@feddit.uk 5 points 6 days ago

It makes sense for Rome though, these cars are expensive and appeal to the fashion sensibilities of the population there, rather than just using the good public transport there. It's a signal of wealth, rather than an actual functional commodity.

I found this out the hard way the last time I expressed my love of the AMI

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 4 points 6 days ago

Yep my uncle's work van in the UK was as small as my Honda Fit. Just two barebones front seats and an empty cargo space.

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[–] Shardikprime@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago

Thanks Obama

[–] bieren@lemmy.zip 10 points 6 days ago (1 children)

But I need my insanely large blacked out, lifted, with black rims, f-250. I have to get 3 bags of groceries.

[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Of course off-road capabilities are required. How else would I drive on nicely paved suburban roads?

[–] InputZero@lemmy.world 5 points 6 days ago

Just always gotta be prepared for the one day a year snow stays on the ground. Even in June.

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Guess what destroys offroad performance though?

An insanely long wheelbase coupled with a top heavy design....

[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago

Well, it's marketed to the same people who think that a Cybertruck is an offroad vehicle.

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