General Chat / What Do you Drive?

It's crazy how the Americans are dependent on their cars. Do the cities even function without them? lol

Haha it'd be interesting to see but it's not really the cities that rely on them, it's all the people that live in the suburbs and middle of nowhere that need them. And these people make up a huge portion of our population

Haha it'd be interesting to see but it's not really the cities that rely on them, it's all the people that live in the suburbs and middle of nowhere that need them. And these people make up a huge portion of our population

Hence the need of good planning! I don't need a car because everything I need is easily accessible by public transport or bike. It's slightly to late for the US though, there's just too much urban sprawl.

Comet-Very interesting, I was planning on the 4 door anyway I'd definatly take good care of it haha. But it's looking like it could be a ways off.

Louis-Haha, there is yet to be a car posted in here I'd consider big. TG and I have medium sized cars. And there actually cheaper to insure. If I got a GTI my rates would go up, but thanks to some discounts I can get only very little. Another funny thing about this thread is, I don't think I've ever seen a Puegot, Seat, Alfa Romeo, Fiat or Renualt on the streets here, which seem rather common over there

Gas, where I live is about 3.10USD/gal which my phone is saying is 2.314 Euro's.

Dave^-No I don't think we could survive without our vehicles. There is not a train station or bus stop anywhere where I live, but I live in a rural area. I'd guess less than 10% of Americans drive during the average workday. I couldn't Imagine living without a vehicle! When I was younger I wanted to live in Down town Chicago or Seattle or some place, and not spend any money at all on my own car. But it just couldn't work. And now, there's nothing I'd rather spend money on but cars. And driving is easily the highlight of my day.

Louis-Haha, there is yet to be a car posted in here I'd consider big.

Mazda 6 and the Accord are the large model sedans. Then there's a big ass truck and an SUV. Agree to disagree?

Louis-Haha, there is yet to be a car posted in here I'd consider big. TG and I have medium sized cars. And there actually cheaper to insure. If I got a GTI my rates would go up, but thanks to some discounts I can get only very little. Another funny thing about this thread is, I don't think I've ever seen a Puegot, Seat, Alfa Romeo, Fiat or Renualt on the streets here, which seem rather common over there

Funny indeed. Those cars you and Top Gun drive are considered 'anti-social cars' here because they're so big. If someone drives such a monster here everybody will look at you like "what the fuck are you driving? what do you need that for?", unless it's a classy oldtimer or something. You can't even properly park them here.

MA-point taken about those cars, but the trucks and SUV's aren't.

This dealership is about 5 minutes from my house, have a look through their site. http://www.arlington...m/web/inventory
Here's a sampling if your to lazy...

Dave^-No I don't think we could survive without our vehicles. There is not a train station or bus stop anywhere where I live, but I live in a rural area. I'd guess less than 10% of Americans drive during the average workday. I couldn't Imagine living without a vehicle! When I was younger I wanted to live in Down town Chicago or Seattle or some place, and not spend any money at all on my own car. But it just couldn't work. And now, there's nothing I'd rather spend money on but cars. And driving is easily the highlight of my day.

While I agree with the sentiment that America cannot survive without cars, it surely is not a good thing that we've ended up like this. Liampie is right when he says we need good planning and that it's a bit too late now. All America can do to change is to invest in public transport infrastructure in the cities' cores and slowly expand those transportation options into the vast urban sprawl that has developed. Unless we have a 'flight to the cities' paradigm shift opposing the flight to the suburbs that led us to where we are today, there's really little we can do to rid the presence of automobiles in America.

What's wrong with automobiles?

They are still massive for first cars compared to my little 107. That was my point. If I wanted to drive any of the cars you guys have my insurance would be well into the £3000 mark, just for the insurance.

It is interesting how the whole 'big car' thing translates over the atlantic.

Austin, you know what they say about people with a big car, right?

They are still massive for first cars compared to my little 107. That was my point. If I wanted to drive any of the cars you guys have my insurance would be well into the £3000 mark, just for the insurance.

It is interesting how the whole 'big car' thing translates over the atlantic.

I've had this conversation with many Americans. They all bring up this "weight" argument. As in, if they get in an accident, they want some weight behind their car so they don't die. You know, not realizing that the guy in the other car is thinking the same damn thing and has negated any side effects of their strategy and made it more dangerous for everyone in the car and in the area. It's kind of like asking a gun owner why they need a gun (because they need to protect themselves from other gun owners.).

Luckily the rising gas prices are making these things go away slowly.

that is awful logic.
"why do you have a big car?"
"so the person i crash into dies."

It's more that you don't die than it is about inflicting more damage to the other guy. Vehicles are heavier because they're built more sturdily (steel chassis/body frame vs fabricated sheet metal). Although a good amount of people, at least here in the US, have bigger vehicles solely as a sign of stature. Or, as chorkles pointed out, to compensate for other shortcomings. It's hilarious to see a short, bald guy climb down from his monster truck.

Ahh, somehow I knew this would devolve into something about Europe v. American transportation patterns. Many Americans would love some sort of public transit (mainly in the form of light rail or commuter rail, people hate buses for whatever reason), but car manufacturers have and will continue to be heavily influential in government. In my city and many across the US, streetcars (trams) used to exist, but automobile companies convinced (bribed?) cities to change services over to buses. And you better bet if any city is proposing some sort of rail transit, they will be facing lobbyists from the automobile industry trying to prevent it. The problem is not with the American people, it's systematic and nearly irreversible. I do believe public transit is becoming more fashionable though (thanks, hipsters), and I'm convinced that one day even my city will have light rail. The gentrification of city centres will help lead the way, but hopefully it won't mean marginalising the lower class again.

We have a 04 F150 4x4. We use it primarily for towing our trailer in the summer for camping and for when the weather turns to shit in the winter.





My daily driver though is a 98 VW Passat

SSSAmmy, that made me lol. I might steal that someday.

For the record, I don't like driving big vehicles. IE trucks. I mean yea, the fact you sit higher and have the ability to get offroad is confidence inspiring, no doubt. But the fuel trade offs, practicality, and driveability arent as great.

Europeans- What do people who live in the country who do farm work or what not drive out there? I kinda get the Impression that nobody drives even an F-150, which is the second best selling vehicle here in America.

A Volkswagen passat station wagon ):

Austin, if I'm not mistaken, the Ford F-series is the most selling vehicle in the world. I'm gonna take my temp. test soon, lol.

DISCLAIMER: Blame Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear if this statement doesn't hold true.

Bought one of these in October and loving it so far. Sits high enough like an SUV but drives like a sedan.