[Exploder]

I know, the thread title raises eyebrows. But let me explain.

This is not necessarily my opinion, but there has always been criticism of Americans' car tastes, including disliking station wagons and hatchbacks even though they get very good fuel economy for their utility, only like to drive oversized SUVs and pickup trucks, and looking down on diesel vehicles, which also get fuel economy (but that is somewhat redeemed by the fact Americans generally like hybrids). This contributes to the image that Americans are wasteful in their driving habits. To be fair, however, there are plenty of people in the Middle East and China that have such habits too.

On the other hand Europeans embrace the usefulness of small cars and station wagons readily as well as diesel, so it makes them look like they have 'better' car tastes as they are less wasteful in this sense.

What do you think? Is it true or not?

Here's a possible explanation I came up with: Is it a matter of circumstances? Is it because Europe traditionally has way higher gas prices and smaller, cramped roads than the US and most of the world? Do you think if Europe had similar or lower prices than the US, they would switch to bigger vehicles as well?

 

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

I think the main reason Europe has small and efficient vehicle fleet is because of high fuel prices. I don't think that will ever change since fuel prices in Europe have been double that of the USA going back nearly 100 years. In addition most European countries have punitive taxes on larger cars (usually engines over 2 litres displacement, sometimes on cars that are larger than x metres etc)

But there have always been plenty of huge super-thirsty ultraexpensive cars in Europe, think Mercedes S class and Range Rovers and Bentleys and etc etc. But they aren't for "common people"

Also in many older towns the roads are quite narrow and driving a big car is a liability.

I'd rather have a small hatchback than something like a Suburban any day as a regular car...

 

[MonteCarloSS86]

Is it because Europe traditionally has way higher gas prices and smaller, cramped roads than the US and most of the world? Do you think if Europe had similar or lower prices than the US, they would switch to bigger vehicles as well?

Yes, if fuel prices in the US eventually rise to match or exceed the fuel prices in Europe you can expect Americans to eventually replace their ultra-large SUV's and trucks with smaller, more fuel-efficient cars and hatchbacks and whatnot.

It's just a matter of circumstances.

 

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

Yes, if fuel prices in the US eventually rise to match or exceed the fuel prices in Europe you can expect Americans to eventually replace their ultra-large SUV's and trucks with smaller, more fuel-efficient cars and hatchbacks and whatnot.

It's just a matter of circumstances.

I don't know if you'll ever see something like that. US prices today are more than European prices were a few years ago, but Euro prices are still double US price.

 

[MonteCarloSS86]

I don't know if you'll ever see something like that. US prices today are more than European prices were a few years ago, but Euro prices are still double US price.

I'm talking about if US prices were to exceed European prices for a number of years. It wouldn't be an instant change but I do think that the vehicles you see in the US would change to meet the new ultra-high fuel costs.

 

[goblue]

I wouldn't say better tastes per-say, but there are differences for sure.

-High fuel costs
-Higher speeds on roads
-Narrower roads with more curves
-Better public transit for short, and more importantly long distance travel

Then, there are cultural differences

- We tend to have a propensity to wanting capability we will never/rarely use.
- We have a real hatred of minivans by many people, and to a lesser extent station wagons, and this stems from the whole soccer mom culture, and our tremendous lust to emulate those who we perceive have money and success. Those individuals chose SUVs.

What does this mean? Just what we would all expect.

The 2 SUV/Truck family is over
Crossovers are here to stay - and they combat the minivan stigma, and look like SUVs
Wagons will return as gas prices climb further
Public transit will expand - slowly as people with money will buy VOLT and Prius. The poor will just suffer.
New interest in long distance rail as jet fuel becomes ridiculously priced - and there is no good solution to this.
SUVs / Trucks will continue to sell to those that need it, or can afford it augmented by technology - diesel / hybrid


This is a bold prediction, but I believe city transit will basically stay the same. We have technologies on the way to solve this issue. What will drive those increases is traffic - which is hard to do since that means the public solution has to be faster than driving. Cost wise, the VOLT will solve the gas issue for short distances.

What will change is rail. Planes cannot run electrically, or on nuclear. One is too heavy, one is a potential dirty bomb. Trains can run electrically, and that means they can run on anything. Jet fuel will continue to climb. Through discrete controls, its also possible that train cars will run individually point to point with minimal stops on an automated network. The individual cars may not carry many people, no drivers, and are secured to the track, so terrorism is not a major concern, meaning neither is security - a huge plus.

 

[throwback]

Europeans certainly have different tastes. As others have mentioned I think the combination of taxes on engine displacement and gas, has made smaller more effecient cars popular in Europe. As our gas prices rise, more effecient cars are selling better, no surprise there. I don't see this trend changing as world wide demand for gas will continue to push our gas prices higher.

 

[Butz]

It isn't a matter of taste, it is a matter of convenience.

The bigger the better, that is a general rule with everything in life, applies to cars as it applies to everything else.

 

[Htay7500]

europe has soooo many different cars that I'd take a peak at. mostly those from france.

 

[2b2]

fueltaxes & different travel needs = smaller vehicles, no doubt
but
for the style aspect, imho everyone over there thinks they have better taste... including:
the designers!
so ^they^ try harder

since the customers are buying from a more carefully styled group of vehicles
they have no choice but to have better styled cars in general

grossly simplified & all imho of course

 

[Bravada]

In general, we do.

But this has little to do with fuel prices, preference for small cars etc. Taste is something else.

 

[mgescuro]

I wouldn't say "better tastes."
European cars have been adapted for high speed roads, tight city roads, smaller roads, a lack of parking, higher gas prices, tougher/stranger safety regulations, etc.

American cars have evolved to accommodate the longer stretches of interstate, rougher roads, vast parking, large suburbs, low gas prices.

But for the past 30+ years or so, as America has gotten a bigger taste for "better driving" European cars, Americans are beginning to gravitate towards these cars. Now these same customers are demanding "better driving" and "better styled" and "better overall" cars from domestic manufacturers.
I think there's a belief amongst domestic manufacturers that this is all a bunch of ****, and they're going to build their cars their own way.

 

[Hitman1970]

In general, we do.

But this has little to do with fuel prices, preference for small cars etc. Taste is something else.

I'll remember that the next time I see a Bon Jovi edition VW Polo.

 

[powervette]

at some point YES, I am the best example. I would never buy a Prius.

 

[EldoFan]

I wouldn't say "better tastes."
European cars have been adapted for high speed roads, tight city roads, smaller roads, a lack of parking, higher gas prices, tougher/stranger safety regulations, etc.

American cars have evolved to accommodate the longer stretches of interstate, rougher roads, vast parking, large suburbs, low gas prices.

But for the past 30+ years or so, as America has gotten a bigger taste for "better driving" European cars, Americans are beginning to gravitate towards these cars. Now these same customers are demanding "better driving" and "better styled" and "better overall" cars from domestic manufacturers.
I think there's a belief amongst domestic manufacturers that this is all a bunch of ****, and they're going to build their cars their own way.

I agree.......something as subjective as 'taste' is difficult to compare when your automobiles have evolved in vastly different ways & in vastly different environments/cultures.

 

[Bravada]

I'll remember that the next time I see a Bon Jovi edition VW Polo.

Just for the record, it was a Golf III... Where would you see a Polo anyway?

 

[baloo]

Well, the basic characteristics of the cars are strongly influenced by the market circumstances.

As for style...it's not really possible to say which is better or worse because that's obviously very subjective. However, it's safe to say that American tastes are a lot more conservative.

 

[Ttple]

I think Europeans enjoy better driving dynamics while Americans enjoy raw power.

 

[Hitman1970]

Just for the record, it was a Golf III... Where would you see a Polo anyway?

Deutschland 1998-2001.

 

[cawimmer430]

Most people think fuel prices have always been expensive in Europe: not quite true. Our fuel prices were only saw an increase in price beginning in the mid 1970s. Afterwards various governments began introducing engine capacity, power output and emission taxes.

In the 1935 Germany you could buy a liter of gasoline for about 42 Pfennigs and diesel for 24 Pfennigs (12 Pf. if you had a taxi license): cheap.

Nowadays in Germany we have something called the Ökosteuer, which is a 75% revenue tax on a liter of gasoline. This is one reason why fuel prices in Germany are insane.


The European taste in cars is also different because of what we learn in driving schools. I remember that when I went to driving school they told us from day one that our future car purchases should be sensible. If you're going to live and do most of your driving in the city you don't need a 300-hp SUV but an economical little compact / subcompact for example. Little things like that make people aware of what they really need.

Most Europeans tend to also think "realistically", even in the luxury market. This means for example that someone who wants a Mercedes S-Class is going to go for an S320 CDI / S350 instead of an S500 and above. Same car, just a weaker but more efficient engine that comes with more or less the same options and standard features.