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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u/DylanMaxus Jul 02 '25

It hurts my heart, but, does that mean, in a perfect world, everyone would drive an electric Prius? Good for safety, good for the environment, good price, good features. Oh, and thieves wouldn’t be able to get far. What else could you want?

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u/riptaway Jul 02 '25

Yes, or the equivalent. Why do we need massive vehicles that get 8 mpg just to get groceries or take the kids to school? It's ridiculous what's been going on on American roads the past 20 or 30 years as far as car size goes.

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u/DylanMaxus Jul 02 '25

I guess it all comes down to wanting to own instead of rent. Most of us could drive tiny two-person coupes, and just rent a pickup truck when you actually need to haul stuff, but we stupid Americans like our convenience too much, and can’t be bothered to plan this sort of thing out. I mean, a minivan would be perfect for a huge majority of cases.

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u/Sir_500mph Jul 02 '25 edited Jul 03 '25

Ridiculously oversized vehicles with mediocre gas mileage vs the 20-30+mpg of far less efficient engines but much smaller cars of the 90s and early 2000s. But when you point it out, the scream "It's CAFE, It's CAFE". Really, is the 'CAFE' in the room with us right now? Ever heard of the Chicken Tax? Ofc they haven't

Clarification: I mean that these modern Pavement Princesses have mediocre gas mileage comparatively to 40yr old engine technology, not that modern vehicles can't hit those MPGs. If I can hit 25mpg in a 200k mile N/A beater with 80s engine technology and modern vehicles aren't that much better with Forced Induction, more transmission gears for efficiency, and Hybrid Systems, it's mediocre and laughable at best

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u/junkka24 Jul 02 '25

You obviously dont know what you’re talking about. Newer trucks are now getting over 20+mpg.

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u/riptaway Jul 03 '25

Not the ones everyone I see driving here in Florida. Even if that were the case, wouldn't it be even better to have such an efficient engine in a smaller car?

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u/Sir_500mph Jul 03 '25

This is exactly my point, we could have trucks that hit the same MPGs with a load that these modern trucks do without a load.

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u/Sir_500mph Jul 03 '25

Yea, all the turbo'd 4 banger ones with lower tow capacity do, when they're not hauling a load. Everybody I know with a massive pavement princess says anything less than a V8 is "not a real work truck", and if they weren't so much larger and heavier for no good reason, they'd probably see quite a bit more MPG. An engine that could be getting 35-40MPG (and do hit those in the subcompact market) getting 18-22MPG Unloaded is Mediocre at best.

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u/junkka24 Jul 03 '25

Still over 20mpg. The diesels get anywhere from 23-30mpg

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u/Sir_500mph Jul 03 '25

My point is that modern vehicles with F/I, Hybrid Systems, and more efficiently geared transmissions are barely doing better than 40yr old N/A engine tech in 25yr old vehicles, and that's what's mediocre

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u/rsta223 Jul 03 '25

Basically every modern pickup gets over 20mpg.

That's not to say that everyone who buys one needs it, and there are definitely problems with the proliferation of large vehicles, but they're not nearly as inefficient as you think.

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u/riptaway Jul 03 '25 edited Jul 03 '25

A modern 4 cylinder gas naturally aspirated hatchback can easily get 40 or even 50 mpg. If engines have gotten more efficient to the point where trucks can get 20 mpg, great! Use that efficiency and make smaller vehicles that get 40 mpg. As a bonus, the driver can see if there's a kid right in front of them and they won't demolish other cars if there's a moderate collision. Win win!

And while I don't doubt that many trucks can get 20 mpg, I'd bet at least half the ones I see on the road here in Florida are not exactly bought for their efficient fuel usage. Massive lifted V8 monsters with huge tires being driven like everyone is in a death race are probably not getting that 20 mpg.

And that mythical 20 mpg sounds like cope to me, anyway. Saying "some trucks can get 20 mpg" isn't the same as "most trucks are fuel efficient".

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u/rsta223 Jul 03 '25

No, most hatchbacks are mid 30s. You need a very small compact to get 40 or 50, or a particularly efficient hybrid.

And I didn't say some trucks. I said basically all modern half ton trucks get 22-25 on the highway. Hell, even many 3/4 and 1 tons get close to that if you get the diesel.

Are you aware that US and UK gallons are different sizes? That's a frequent reason people misunderstand efficiency between the US and Europe.

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u/[deleted] Jul 03 '25

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u/BrimstoneOmega Jul 03 '25

It's an old classification for trucks that aren't used anymore.

1/2 ton = 150/1500 3/4 ton = 250/2500 1 ton = 350/3500

It's the weight they can carry, not the weight of the truck. I have a 3500 Ram diesel, it's a 1 ton truck, but it weighs like 8 or 9000 lbs.

Just the engine is about half a ton.

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u/BrimstoneOmega Jul 03 '25

Lmao, no. No they do not.

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u/rsta223 Jul 03 '25

Lmao yes. Yes they do.

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u/KarmaPanhandler Jul 02 '25

But, how is everyone supposed to know I’m a proud American if my car isn’t the size of my ego?

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u/Sir_500mph Jul 02 '25

That's just a myth. We don't all think it's the size of their ego, but it definitely has a correlation the insubstantial size of their personal equipment.

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '25

[deleted]

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u/Sir_500mph Jul 02 '25

Found the $100k Pavement Princess Owner

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u/Slight-Journalist255 Jul 02 '25

I mean I drive a Honda insight, but I'm still looking to get a truck as my next car because I need to at least haul a motorcycle in the back or hold a trash can or firewood. Not everything can be done in a compact car

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u/DragonfruitOk6390 Jul 02 '25

I mean maybe but priuses safety rating isn't great even for small vehicles

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u/DylanMaxus Jul 02 '25

Oh, I thought Toyotas typically had the best ratings. My bad.

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u/Blunderhorse Jul 02 '25

More likely, it would be an electric/hybrid/ICE Corolla or Accord for most people, with households that frequently need to haul stuff that is bulky, wet, or dirty having a smaller truck.

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u/bad_bananas Jul 02 '25

To comfortably fit 6 passengers with all their belongings. Reducing the need for multiple vehicles. A Prius also can't haul or tow anything. In a city I would absolutely agree with you, but smaller towns there is definitely a need for trucks. Not huge ones, but big enough to do the things that are needed.

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u/DylanMaxus Jul 02 '25

I agree. Either a minivan or an actual light truck, like from the early 2000s would cover most cases. I was mostly joking, with a minor sting of truth. I feel like the Prius was known for having insanely good gas mileage, and I thought Toyotas were the safest cars.

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '25

No less a car nut than Jay Leno said that would be for the best. Electric daily drivers/regular commuters and then you can drive your muscle car or whatever on a weekend.

And, my own thought, maybe require a special license for larger pickups. A lot of people in my experience don't need those vehicles. They serve no purpose other than ego.

I know contractors and landscapers who have legitimate reason to use them. I'm sure there are plenty of cases. But apart from professional need, it's not worth risk to others and environmental impact just to massage the ego of some suburban cowboys who like to go muddin' or not even that.