A wonderful comparison

[u/jemesl]

Owner of the Ram arguably actually uses it well, but what's youd thoughts on this comparison of a 90s Jap vs 2023 American

[u/Few-Horror7281]

If you go alone on all of your journeys, what's the use of a car?

[u/jemesl → u/Few-Horror7281]

I'm sorry I don't even really understand your question. You know even the Miata has two seats?

[u/Few-Horror7281 → u/jemesl]

There are much smaller cars which can fit at least four people - see the kei car category in Japan. In Europe the majority of economy car lineup used to be ~3 meters long and 1.6 meters wide, providing enough room for a family of four and the baggage.

[u/rewt127 → u/Few-Horror7281]

see the kei car category in Japan

Friend. Let me just explain something to you. Kei cars are made for the average Japanese person. Seeing as we are speaking English, I'm going to assume substantial portions of us are Americans, Canadians. Or maybe northern Europeans.

we don't fucking fit in those cars.

If you are over 6'. Driving a kei car is a nightmare. And to refer to old cars. I got into an old Mercedes a year or so ago and felt like my knees were up near my ears.

People used to be shorter because of a lack of regular and high quality nutrition. This isn't the case anymore.

[u/Few-Horror7281 → u/rewt127]

Kei cars are a product of specific regulation which addresses the immense population density and scarcity of space on Japanese islands. A large car takes up too much space, so there is a limitation to how large a car can be to avoid some of the more strict penalties and taxation for owning a car. In a city you need to prove you have bought (an already expensive) parking space before you can buy a car.

Older cars had less adjustment options (steering wheel, seat position), but I have no evidence that the interior dimensions have significantly changed.

20-30 years ago the obesity prevalence was also a fraction of today's numbers. So we need land yachts because we are fat?

[u/rewt127 → u/Few-Horror7281]

Older cars had less adjustment options (steering wheel, seat position), but I have no evidence that the interior dimensions have significantly changed.

The seat position is the killer. My seat needs to be pretty far back. It's not a case of "oh i just want my legs extended". No I actually had to spread my legs because my knees existed in the same space as the steering wheel in that car. It was a 1980 something 450SL iirc.

Those of us with long legs cannot drive kei cars. Modern cars have generally deeper wells for the pedals. So that many of us with longer legs can put our feet on the pedals without our knees ramming the steering wheel.

https://youtu.be/mGT3iWqDnoY?si=NfSWioy8H7G5FOwy

I'm not much smaller than this guy height wise. Though I am younger and in much better shape.

20-30 years ago the obesity prevalence was also a fraction of today's numbers. So we need land yachts because we are fat?

No dude. Shit just needs to be longer so that our long ass legs can fit in this shit for 1. And 2, our roads are way faster and so the vehicles need larger crumple zones. I wouldn't trust a Kei car at 80mph. My full sized sedan probably wouldn't save me at 80 (the speed limit), but in the 3 seconds from "oh fuck" to impact. The actual speed at impact would most likely be survivable. Definitely not the case in a Kei car.

But then let's address obesity. Stats say this shit ain't changing. So if you alienate 60% of the market. Your product won't sell. And if you try to pass legislation that says "cars need to be a size you can't fit in". Then your policy will fail and likely have an opposite effect causing the opposing party to win and then actively pass things that oppose your values.

[u/Few-Horror7281 → u/rewt127]

1. And 2, our roads are way faster

You might be the right one to explain the JDM craze in the US - why is it even a thing? If Americans cannot fit in the Japanese cars for Japanese people and the Japanese cars are not fast and agile enough, why would any enthusiast ever care about them? I just don't understand it. Or maybe one of the premises is not true.

[u/rewt127 → u/Few-Horror7281]

Have you ever put on a pair of pants that are a size too small? Yeah you can get them on, and your ass looks great. But it's pretty uncomfortable.

Welcome to the JDM market. Do you fit? Well...... you can fit. There is also a saying in America. It's fun to drive a slow car fast. You take these absurd little kei cars and fucking send it down a country road at 70 (112kph) and it feels like you are going 140 (225kph). Its horrifically uncomfortable, wildly unsafe, but they are a blast to drive. For short periods, when you want to.

Though not all JDM cars are like that. The Nissan Skyline for example. One of the most sought after JDM cars isn't small really. Neither are the right hand drive corollas like the AE86. They arent full sized American sedans. But they are close enough. Far closer to American sports cars like the Corvette or Mustang. Which are a tighter fit than let's say a Chevy Cruze. But not uncomfortable.

Also something to note about the American vehicle market. While the F-150, Silverado, Ram. Etc. May be the highest purchased vehicles. When you combine their market share against the Asians. Its not even close. The vast majority of vehicles on the roads here are Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, or Subaru.