The reason American buy huge cars is because gas was so cheap for so long in this country that there was very little incentive to buy small cars. Also, large SUVs had become a status symbol in American suburbia. These trends were starting to change when gas prices increased, but we’ll have to wait and see if things swing back towards huge cars with the current cheaper gas.
Basically, we need a higher gas tax, as Ray mentioned in a recent show, to deincentivize buying huge vehicles.
What is a “mimi-bike?” Is that a bike with hideous make-up and a huge floral dress?
Having lived in Texas, I can remember summers where people were warned to stay inside because of all the pollutants in the air. I won’t miss those so-called good old days. Frankly, with family in Houston, I am glad someone is working to clean up the air.
C.S.A. if you miss the freedom from EPA regulation that led to respiratory illness and lung cancer, you can always move to China. Their lack of environmental regulations should make you quite happy…and quite sick.
Many Americans drive big trucks for the same reason they need Viagra. It’s called erectile dysfunction. It is caused by drinking lots of beer, living an inactive lifestyle, and consuming a high calorie diet.
Basically, we need a higher gas tax, as Ray mentioned in a recent show, to deincentivize buying huge vehicles.
Thats a dumb idea. We pay to much tax on everything as it is! Are you not tired of paying to much tax? Increased fuel tax will do nothing but make you poorer and the gov. richer. Increased fuel tax will not keep people from buying vehicles that are to large for their needs. That will only come from a change of heart of the person paying the bill. Peoples behavior canot be regulated by the goverment i.e., higher taxes.
Also, what about the person who has to have the big pickup? He would pay a higher tax for no reason.
I understand that you were using an example but by the same token most Americans do not have gas guzzling V8’s and most do not drive like there is no tommorrow.
You may not be aware that Corvette has almost no peers on the American Le Mans Series circuit. They race GT1 while Porsche, Ford, Dodge, BMW, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Panoz all race GT2. If the others were fast enough, they might graduate to the senior circuit and race with the Big Boy in GT1. But Corvette decided to meet them in GT2 by producing a lower powered version of the C6R. Corvette will continue to own GT1, since no one dares compete with them.
americans have fragile egos and compensate with aggressive driving habits and buying way more car than they need.
Ride a bicycle you lazy bum. 
stop burning gasoline and start burning some calories and fat off your body. 
http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/BYO/Default.aspx
128i and 135i coupe and convertible are available in the US
Don’t forget most vehicles that get below a certain MPG already pays a gas guzzler tax before the car even drives off the lot
That’s a really shallow and ignorant thing to say ( ignorance is simply not having knowledge ). Fragile egos are from people from all countries, races, etc. and you are implying that only Americans have fragile egos and it manifests itself into their driving habits and/or vehicle choices. It is a load of pure crap. May I ask what country are you from and what habits have your countrymen devoloped from human shallowness, or do your kinsmen have no faults?
You are are not being realistic so cut us some slack, do not believe everything you read in print or watch in the news programs about Americans.
i’m from milwaukee, wisconsin. and as far as ignorance goes… well, i don’t know people in other country’s driving habits, so i guess i’m guilty as charged. my answer, however, is strictly from a sociological and cultural stand point… as was the question. it goes a lot deeper ,(the opposite of shallow mind you), than our choice of vehicles and driving habits.
[i] A big gas guzzling V8 isn’t any faster than a sporty four cylinder car. The legitimate reasons for a big V8 car are:
-RV camping. A V8 makes a great tow vehicle for a large camper trailer.
-Boating. If you have a large boat, you can’t tow it with a little four-banger.
-Big Families. If you have five or six kids, you probably need a vehicle that can haul them all and pull a trailer with all their stuff in it.
-Hauling. If I had a need to regularly haul a lot of cargo on a regular basis, a big V8 would make life a lot easier.
[/i]
[b] That covers about 15%, the other 85% is covered by:
-Big Ego
-Inferiority Complex
[/b] .
Cars; only cars. Truck owners do not pay the guzzler tax. That’s why minivans are registered as trucks.
Thank you, Dr. Phil.
hey the man asked.
and btw… dr. phil isn’t even a doctor. nor am i.
The problem is not with the Americans but Car companies.
No Car company makes a car that really gets world saving fuel milage
Even with all he technology of today cars are about the same as 20 years ago.
in fact a 1977 VW rabbit had a EPA milage of 48-mpg
And the most sad thing is the 1994 Geo metro EPA rating was 43/51 that is better then the 2009 Prius.
In fact not one car in 1994 was a hybrid and 14 models got over 35 mpg highway. and these are not fancy cars some even only had 3 speed auto.
In 2009 only 8 models get better then 35 mpg.
Check for your self if you don’t believe me.
Hybrid vehicles with all their complicated dual drive systems do not get all that great milage ratings in actual every day use.
In fact if driven as many americans drive (over 65 mph on the highway) for more then 30 miles they get no better milage then a most normal vehicles. (if not worse since they are not designed to get great milage Unless the engine is off and they run on the electric motor for most the trip at top highway speeds they need that gas engine.
Do the research and you see that Hybrids even using the optimum fuel ratings that manufacturers list it is not all that much to brag about when you actually look at the complexity of the vehicles.
The only reason they seem to have such good milage is because that most of the other cars get such bad milage.
If you search for cars with a combined milage of over 35 mpg the list of cars is very short and even at combined 30 mpg the list is under 10 models.
When you consider that in 1977 VW could build a car that got 48 mpg and that more 1994 car models got better then 30 mpg then 2009 models I do not see all that technology has got us very far.
And as for hybrid SUVs they don’t get much better milage then the non hybrids on the highway.
Yukon Hybrid 21/22
Yukon non hybrid V8 14/20
Now 20 vs 22 is not a huge save the world difference.
And a High output 4 cylinder turbo like that in a WRX STI (291HP) burns almost much fuel as that big Yukon V8 SUV
EPA rating of a WRX is 19/26 and that is optimum driving. not with a young spiky haired street racer that typically buys these factory made rally cars behind the wheel.
thank you! thank you! thank you! it’s about time someone called out hybrid cars for the “greenwashing” that they are! hybrid vehicles, marketed as “green”, is just a way to make consumers feel not so guilty about… well, consuming. too bad it’s working! (the marketing anyway) the technology is out there to do far better than the prius. now that detriot’s big three are taking a beating, lets hope the won’t be pushed around by the oil companies. (check out the flick “who killed the electric car”) kudos to you and your post mfournier!
Because… you can drive across England in about 20 minutes, however this is a BIG country, and to get to work I have to drive 50 miles each way and get there on time.
First off:
Big gas guzzlin’ V8’s for the most part are pretty much a mark of ignorance in my view.
Need to tow yer boat? Storage at the marina is cheaper.
Need to haul that motor home? Think of the cost. You could be stayn’ at 4 star hotels!
Big Family? VW Van worked back when they made 'em.
Need to go fast? There are other ways, a formula one car has less than 150cid!
Heavy vehicle? If your beloved pickup truck doesn’t have a plow on the front, ladders in the back or is otherwise unburdened it should be stopped, inspected and crushed on the side of the road by a mobile recycling rig if it shows no signs of having served as work vehicle. Commercial registration should also apply to these vehicles with a rebate available only on business tax returns.
SUV? Fine as emergency response vehicles in snowy latitudes otherwise they are really not needed by soccer moms talking on cell phones while oblivious to responsible driving etiquette.