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by Scoundreller 1192 days ago
Not just tiny cars, but somehow base US engines on the same car will be bigger than euro versions.

I never understood that since Euro driving generally has higher highway speed limits, predictable or non-existent speeding enforcement, more stop-and-go (when city driving) and more hills (ok, that can be subjective but very true for me).
2 comments
xeromal 1192 days ago
Just like gun calibers, many Americans, myself included, still have a bit of bias from the hot rod culture of the 50s. Most are used to go to work and the mall but they like to "what if". We like things that go boom
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pandaman 1192 days ago
Gas prices and taxes on the engine's displacement lead to the euro cars having smaller engines.
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Scoundreller 1192 days ago
US drivers cover about twice the distance per capita, so at half the fuel cost, it’s a wash:

https://internationalcomparisons.org/environmental/transport...

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pandaman 1192 days ago
Per-capita number counts everyone, not just drivers, I imagine. More people drive in the US so it's natural per-capita travel will be more. The "wash" part makes no sense to me. Somebody shopping for a car when gas is 8 dollars will consider fuel economy more than when gas is 3 dollars regardless of per-capita travel distance. I am willing to bet that the vast majority of car shoppers cannot even estimate this distance for their country.
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