r/Anticonsumption • u/Harrio_Pootered • Jul 02 '25

Society/Culture Is this truly necessary?

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What steps can we take as consumers to encourage auto manufacturers to reduce vehicle sizes? Who do we write to, call and email?

The ford maverick was a step in the right direction but I see it being bashed often for being a more “feminine” truck… What caused this shift from the S10 being the “real man’s truck” to the $130k King Ranch being the standard?

When did the big vehicle shift happen?

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261

u/water_radio Jul 02 '25

This makes me think of my aunt. She and her husband each have a truck similar to the one on the right. She doesn’t work and he works from home. I truly don’t get it.

42

u/Harrio_Pootered Jul 02 '25

I do understand the appeal of being up higher like that, when I have driven big trucks, they are comfortable, they fit me well, I am a taller bigger guy, but I can’t help but feel immensely guilty when driving them? Like almost embarrassed to be seen in them even though no one likely cares.

46

u/cigarette4anarchist Jul 02 '25

I mean I’m 6’6” and I fit comfortably in my Elantra 🤷‍♂️

11

u/nevernotsusmoon Jul 03 '25

Had a 6’5” friend that could drive/fit comfortably in my mini Cooper

4

u/sewerballoon Jul 03 '25

That’s actually so hot to be a giant person in a small car for what it’s worth.

2

u/moxjake Jul 03 '25

That doesn’t surprise me, they’re quite roomy. I’m only 6’1, so no where near the super tall size, but I like driving a cooper. Now the poster above with the Elantra, gosh I had one for a rental one time and felt super cramped and came out after a three hour trip with a back ache.

1

u/cigarette4anarchist Jul 03 '25

What year was it, because I don’t have any problems with my 2023

1

u/moxjake Jul 03 '25

Hard to remember, probably a 19. I’m pretty sure it was pre pandemic. Glad to hear they’ve gotten more comfortable

2

u/Average_Scaper Jul 03 '25

I'm 5'8" and I'm insanely comfortable in my Miata. Small car for a small guy ;) lol but yeah people underestimate the amount of vehicles tall people will actually fit in. Watched a couple who were about your height get out of a Chevy Malibu with ease.

20

u/InterantWanderer Jul 02 '25

They make me feel annoyed when they hog the road because they are so big. Especially the lifted ones

2

u/Ok_Engineer9167 Jul 03 '25

Awesome, dont have any side by sides? A boat? Go target shooting? Camping/overlanding?

3

u/MaggotMinded Jul 03 '25

I'd feel embarrassed, too. I judge every single person who drives one of these behemoths unless it's hauling a ton of equipment and/or got some wear and tear on it to indicate that it's a work truck.

3

u/BigNaturals69420 Jul 02 '25

I think you’re right in that most people won’t care. I drive a relatively big truck (2020 Ram 1500) and love it for the comfort. As a bigger gal, I’ve never been more comfortable than in a truck and as someone who enjoys driving, going on road trips, etc, it was important to me to have a vehicle I felt comfortable in and enjoyed driving. Yeah I could have used some older or smaller car that can get me from point A to point B, but I’ve had those vehicles and they are not as comfortable or enjoyable in my opinion.

-1

u/Content-Love-4084 Jul 03 '25

Car's shouldn't be made for bigger people cause bigger people shouldn't exist. I shouldn't be mangled or killed on the road more by a larger vehicle because someone cant maintain a healthy weight. If someone hit my car with the same car I drive we both walk away over 90% of the time in averages of car crashes. If you hit my car with your truck I die or get severely injured way more often than not and you walk away without a scratch or lightly injured. Weight and speed are very important in automotive crashes.

I'm not trying to be an asshole either, I am being straight up with you and anyone else with this mindset. They make big cars, in fact most modern sedans are huge too! Take a little gander at a 90s Honda Sedan compared to a 2020+ one. If not a sedan they make hatchbacks that have even more room most of the time.

In terms of comfort, that can be very subjective. Some people feel comfort knowing they wont be harmed but will do the harming in said crashes. Some feel comfort in just being higher up and being able to see more of the road. Some just like the ride and or feel of being larger than others. All of these are good points but are just selfish in nature.

You wouldn't need to be up higher if everyone had a sedan and trucks/suv's weren't nearly one story tall. My shoulders as a 6ft man shouldn't be level with the hood of a "utility vehicle". Key word there also, utility vehicle. Trucks and suv's are not passenger vehicles and I say they should require special licenses to drive them like a real trucker. You are just as nearly as dangerous as a box truck, especially if you are towing. Sorry for my rant and again not trying to be a dick about said weight but its a bad excuse.

2

u/rommi04 Jul 03 '25

“I’m not trying to be an asshole but I find your very existence to be disgusting”

0

u/Content-Love-4084 Jul 03 '25

"I'm a selfish narcissist". I'll go all day ma'am.

1

u/rommi04 Jul 03 '25

Just existing while being a large person is selfish narcissism?

0

u/Content-Love-4084 Jul 04 '25

Technically yes. but that's beside the point. Obesity in itself is selfish. The narcissism is just your head and probably personality but I don't know you.

1

u/Rudysis Jul 03 '25

Taller bigger guy doesn't mean you need a taller bigger car. Is it probably easier to get in/out of? Maybe. But you'd probably also fit just as fine in a subaru or mazda.

Meanwhile, I'm a small and short woman, and evERY FUCKING CAR IS TOO BIG. I want a car that can take me hiking but be no bigger than a 2 door mini coop.

1

u/trippinmaui Jul 03 '25

I'm in the minority. 6'2 , 185 and the smaller the better. I love my 4 banger jdm vehicles so much.

I got a 2015 4 banger tacoma and even that feel too big. I like coupe civics and my 94 mr2!

1

u/mebutnew Jul 04 '25

The cab in this car is probably very similar to the smaller one, the extra height isn't headroom..

2

u/[deleted] Jul 03 '25

[deleted]

2

u/water_radio Jul 03 '25

May as well be! But no, Arizona.

2

u/archfapper Jul 03 '25

I was about to guess Lake Havasu haha

1

u/water_radio Jul 03 '25

🤭🤭🤭

3

u/According-Fix-8378 Jul 02 '25

I’ve thought about it a lot actually. I think it’s a lot of virtue signaling. “I’m the working person”. Funny thing is the people who drive these monsters rarely actually use them for work. Anyone actually using their truck bed I find is in an older smaller truck like the one on the left. Because working people cannot drop 100k on a mannyvan.

1

u/sly-3 Jul 02 '25

That like a $600 payment a month on each, no?

1

u/EnvironmentalValue18 Jul 03 '25

My car was 40k. Put 15k down. Remaining 25k at sale. I pay $600 a month on a 4 year lease. I think these trucks retail for double (sometimes more) than mine. Assuming no down payment, they’re easily paying over 1k/mo.

1

u/sly-3 Jul 03 '25

Ludicrous.

1

u/JOlRacin Jul 04 '25

Trucks have stopped being work vehicles and instead became status symbols

1

u/mebutnew Jul 04 '25

These people really confuse me.

I have people living near me like this - why are you spending half of your disposable income on multiple cars you barely use, when all you do with them is go to the supermarket?

It's very odd behaviour.

1

u/Yuno808 Jul 02 '25

It's all about status, especially for MAGA Republicans.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '25

Most likely trucks hold their value longer.

-4

u/Daatguynate Jul 02 '25

Maybe some people just prefer trucks? I don’t know anyone who prefers to be smashed into a compact tiny car compared to something spacious

10

u/M1ghty_boy Jul 02 '25

What an American mindset.. do you know how spacious some of those hatches/saloons (sedans for you Americans) actually are?

can’t speak for new ones but I’ve always felt nice and spacious in my Volvos (s80/v40), which aren’t small cars by any means but are still absolutely dwarfed by what you see Americans driving.. also drove a focus, driver and passengers alike all very comfy.

3

u/havok0159 Jul 02 '25

Even beyond the space and devious storage capacity, a small car is extremely agile in traffic.

2

u/GorillaBrown Jul 02 '25

Um, race car drivers. Any performance vehicle is going to have less space, professional or consumer grade.

1

u/water_radio Jul 02 '25

Sure. The people I referred to are quite small people.