Why did the small car die back in the early '90s?

[Astroman]

I owned a '87 Chevy Astro van before my Yaris. Sure, it was a great hauler, seated up to 8, had a 27gal tank, could tow more than any other van in its class, but I never sat more than 6 people in it at one time. When I went over 75mph, I got 8mpg. At 55mph, I got 22mpg. It was a GREAT rig when I needed to haul things like furniture, my yamaha scooter, anything over 4ft long, etc. But more often, I drove it with just me, not hauling anything. Most of the time I owned the van it never had the seats in. My daily commute is 3.2 miles to work, times 4 (work, home for lunch, back to work, back home) and that was too much vehicle for just that. My girlfriend has a taurus wagon and it has a roof rack. Since I got rid of the van anytime we have needed to haul anything long, or say like a couch, we can either fit it with the seats down or strap it on top. And even though it gets maybe 16-24mpg, it is WAY better on gas than my van ever was. Sure, little cars are not the best rigs for towing, mud bogging, penis envy, seeing over the top of everyone else, hauling your entire extended family on a month long camping trip, but they are perfect for couples, singles, anyone who drives a lot in town, 3 people on a week long camping trip (I did it, you can too!). I commute a lot, about 1500-2500 miles each month. 99.5% of the year my yaris fits my needs. Getting to work, shopping, visiting family 2 hours away, trips to california, hauling around a few friends, my gas & insurance budget, the list goes on. I would love to have a old truck for hauling or towing, but not as a daily driver. My mom bought a '72 chevy C20 for just that. She wanted a old, 4x4 truck to be able to haul & tow. She puts about 2,000 miles a year on it hauling hay, wood, furniture, manure, gravel, dirt, trailer. It's her work truck. It's a tool. A small car is a tool that works for 4 or less people, grocery shopping, environmental impact, fuel economy, etc. Vehicles are tools, they are machines. If you live up in the mountains and you need a 4x4 in the winter so be it, you have to do what you have to do. If you have a 4-wheeler or snowmobile, need to haul manure or gravel so be it. If you need to haul a lot of people get a damn van, they do have them as well in front/rear/all/4 wheel drive. And believe me, there is more room inside a van than a SUV. My 2 cent rant.

[static808]

Originally Posted by Astroman

And believe me, there is more room inside a van than a SUV. My 2 cent rant.

nice post. its one of the big reasons why we got our van. we find it funny when kids being picked up at school have to pole vault into their moms' huge SUVs. i agree with mudbug that the utility purposes of large vehicles are very underappreciated, but i live in SoCal. i guarantee you that 95% of large vehicle (SUV, large Pick-up) owners out there DO NOT need the size of their vehicle. how much lumber is that 17 year old blonde going to carry from home to school in her chevy tahoe?? NONE. how much manure is that 25 year old stock broker going to transport from his work in century city to his condo in venice beach with that ford f-250?? NONE. when you look in the carppol lanes, what do you see here?? a shit load of civic hybrids and priuses with their carpool access stickers draped all over their bumpers and fenders. where are all of the SUVs and trucks?? stuck in traffic, since all of the drivers are riding by themselves, completely alone, carrying no cargo whatsoever. how do i know that?? yuppies in business suits, teenagers on cell phones, and metrosexuals fixing their hair using the rear view mirror DONT HAUL CRAP. but i totally give mad respect for the 5% of truck owners out there in SoCal that actually USE their vehicles. guess that's my rant for the day. sorry if i offended anyone, but if you're a single person who drives a big-ass vehicle and DOESNT need it, my apology doesnt apply to you...

--B