this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2023
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Cars - For Car Enthusiasts
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Bigger and heavier cars are a result of improved crash test ratings, so it's a worthy trade-off
Not so fast... if we were all driving sub 3000lb cars then we wouldn't need such beefy crash protection. The problem is when an 8000lb truck hits a 4000lb car, the car takes 2/3 of the impact force. If the truck was a reasonable sized 4500lb then the car could be reduced to 3000lb or less and be just as safe.
Also emissions would be less, and tires and brakes would last longer, and the car would likely just "last longer" since all the wear parts (ball joints, shocks, bushings, etc) would be either cheaper or last longer.
And the emissions requirements that are based on the footprint of the vehicle. So when a manufacturer has trouble meeting emissions standards they just have to make the car bigger and then its all good!