Also CAFE standards, which is why small cars basically aren't sold anymore. - ThreadSky

johnbrownstan.bsky.social • 72 days ago

Also CAFE standards, which is why small cars basically aren't sold anymore.

I like George, but you can't talk about the American obsession with trucks without mentioning decades of marketing that have connected them to masculinity, "independence," and "freedom."

People don't drive pristine $80,000 SUVs because of their towing capacity. They have become status symbols.

Comments

gravelinfluencer.bsky.social•72 days ago

Yes, excellent point. The regulation, or poor regulation, has contributed hugely to this. @davidzipper.bsky.social gave one of the best explanations I've read on this in this interview.

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2025/02/12/suv-health-hazard

thequeso.bsky.social•72 days ago

and why there isn't a robust line of small trucks like the Ranger.

Don't forget the tax write-off for vehicles in excess of 5500 pounds

strayarc.bsky.social•72 days ago

Ford Maverick?

johnbrownstan.bsky.social•72 days ago

Of course nobody would ever own a vehicle that big unless they were running a business. We can just take that as given and never worry about it ever again.

thequeso.bsky.social•72 days ago

what even is a "business" really?

jspell-art.bsky.social•71 days ago

Or a dozen LLCs to skirt their taxes.

johnbrownstan.bsky.social•72 days ago

I know it's not a popular opinion these days but actually it's really important that regulations be well thought-out. The different gas mileage requirements on cars versus trucks made trucks vastly more attractive to manufacturers.

pygmalion55.bsky.social•72 days ago

Yeah everything got turned into an SUV which counts as a truck

pygmalion55.bsky.social•72 days ago

Also the stupid auto-stop feature that can't be permanently turned off.

ohbeerinspector.bsky.social•72 days ago

Repealing CAFE standards would be such an easy win for Republicans if they weren't all insane now.

johnbrownstan.bsky.social•72 days ago

We don't even have to repeal them, we just have to repeal the 2011/2012 revision that got us into this mess.

johnbrownstan.bsky.social•72 days ago

You can get mad at them for it I guess. Or you can just take as given that manufacturers are going to try to maximize their profits and write regulations that take that into account.

horseknuckler.bsky.social•72 days ago

i just want a small electric hatchback with a 150 mile range

johnbrownstan.bsky.social•72 days ago

I mean those are easy to find

johnbrownstan.bsky.social•72 days ago

What I want is an electric 7-seat minivan. Only two options so far are the Rivian R1S (which is more of an SUV) and the new Volkwagen id buzz. Both are expensive.

horseknuckler.bsky.social•72 days ago

I'm actually surprised there ISN'T a decent EV minivan option by now. That seems like a no brainer. Big empty cube, fill with seats, battery underneath, et voila, minivan

horseknuckler.bsky.social•72 days ago

Well okay, what I *really* want is an EV honda fit hatchback.

johnbrownstan.bsky.social•72 days ago

Isn't that like 80% of the EV market? Almost every EV looks like that.

potatolicious.bsky.social•72 days ago

And tax codes! IRS allows deductions for business use vehicles… but only if they’re over 6,000lbs GVW. This has had massive distortions on the market.

readingcabbage.bsky.social•72 days ago

How much of SUVs being status symbols is *because* manufacturers made them status symbols due to things like CAFE standards?

johnbrownstan.bsky.social•72 days ago

The bad CAFE standards are the 2011/2012 updates. SUVs were status symbols before that.

jacksontech.bsky.social•72 days ago

It’s unfathomable why we offer CAFE exemptions for the least efficient vehicles.

jspell-art.bsky.social•71 days ago

It's male vanity.

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply