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Thread: Article: Subcompact car sales collapsing in Canada... except for Nissan

  1. #31
    Senior Member AlphaMicra's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
    "Crossovers" are THE hot segment.

    Ironically: many of them are basically jacked up sub/compact hatchbacks. With worse aero, worse fuel economy, worse handling, worse safety (more prone to rollovers) than the sub/compacts they're based on.

    The only advantage is they're easy for old people to get in & out of.
    Actually, there are other reasons. My "Other" car is a crossover; the Pontiac Torrent. Here are the reasons I can think of:

    -Better visibility over snowbanks. Typically this time of year, the snow banks are starting to pile up, and it doesn't take too many snowstorms before the banks are blocking your visibility as you pull up to a stop sign. The Micra is better than many cars in this respect, but it has nothing on the Torrent, which provides clear visibility over even the highest snowbank.

    -Safer in a side impact collision. The doors are the weakest part of a car in a collision, and that is what bumpers hit in a side impact. The situation has improved somewhat with stronger B pillars and side impact beams, but a crossover raises the rockers closer to bumper level, and rockers are the strongest part of the side of the car. This also improves things in front or rear collisions with trucks and vans where their bumpers pass over the bumper of a traditional car.

    -Improved back seat comfort. This is provided in part by a more upright seating position, and in part because of a higher, flatter roof line. Of course, we all know the Micra does well for the type of car that it is.

    -Greater versatility. Crossovers are essentially hatchbacks, and we all know how incredibly versatile that design is. Most also incorporate some sort of roof rack system which, for me, has come in very handy. I could get roof racks for a car, but they're not always going to be on the car when I need them.

    -Higher ground clearance. This makes oil changes easier. It also means I can drive onto construction sites and unassumed roads with less worry, and when there's debris or a dead skunk in the middle of the road, I can "Straddle" it and not worry about hitting it with my car.

    -The fuel economy penalty is not that significant. In the case of the Torrent vs. a Pontiac G6, perhaps 1.5L/100km difference. Modern crossovers are doing even better.

    -Better road presence. Even with its acceptable performance and ability to get out of the way, one can't help but feel intimidated by an aggressive driver in a larger vehicle or truck. Then there's the fact that a car can disappear in a sea of large trucks. In my experience, driving a crossover is a more relaxed experience.



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  2. #32
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    I think CUV's are a moot point, they are still pretty small for the most part. I'm talking about the fact almost HALF of the vehicles sold in the US last year were light trucks ( realistically, full size pickups, or a few Tacomas, etc.)
    It's like an arms race to create safer vehicles by making them bigger, which makes them unsafe to smaller vehicles, which then get bigger.
    So much of car culture is based on what the vehicle "can" do as opposed to what it is actually used for.
    Case in point, my sister in law wanting to borrow our truck (Mazda b2300). I asked why, don't you have a new f150?
    "Yes, but we don't want to get the bed dirty"

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  4. #33
    Senior Member micrapolis's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by woofer2609 View Post
    I think CUV's are a moot point, they are still pretty small for the most part. I'm talking about the fact almost HALF of the vehicles sold in the US last year were light trucks ( realistically, full size pickups, or a few Tacomas, etc.)
    It's like an arms race to create safer vehicles by making them bigger, which makes them unsafe to smaller vehicles, which then get bigger.
    So much of car culture is based on what the vehicle "can" do as opposed to what it is actually used for.
    Case in point, my sister in law wanting to borrow our truck (Mazda b2300). I asked why, don't you have a new f150?
    "Yes, but we don't want to get the bed dirty"
    lmao i would've burst out laughing if i was there.

    and it bears mentioning, modern pickups are no longer just utilitarian, but also loaded with creature comforts...and for a huge part of rural america and the south, they've become the new luxury vehicles, all about that image image image. Like what German luxury cars are in the middle east or Russia.

    AWD is another thing: not even people care about winter tires, and they just get AWD. the best part? they get it even in parts of the US where truly cold winters or snows are not really a thing.

    and these same people complain about gas prices!

  5. #34
    Administrator MetroMPG's Avatar
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    Nissan USA ain't Nissan Canada, but the trend continues below the 49th in January:

    Sales of trucks, crossovers and SUVs surged 18 percent, led by the Murano’s 46 percent gain. Car sales dropped 7 percent.
    From: http://www.autonews.com/article/2016...9-monthly-gain

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  6. #35
    Senior Member Pete's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
    "Crossovers" are THE hot segment.

    Ironically: many of them are basically jacked up sub/compact hatchbacks. With worse aero, worse fuel economy, worse handling, worse safety (more prone to rollovers) than the sub/compacts they're based on.

    The only advantage is they're easy for old people to get in & out of.
    Yeah but they come with things like six speed manual tranny and turbos

  7. #36
    Administrator MetroMPG's Avatar
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    Can't fight the tide!


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