by "FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
Published 02/22/2017 at 22:54
by "FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
Published 02/22/2017 at 22:54
Tags: THE FATTENING
STARS: 8
I’m working on a new series of posts about automotive weight gain over the last 20 years, for vehicles sold in the USA. In the beginning, the focus will be on raw numbers rather than reasons why or if HP increased to keep up. First post will be mainstream compact sedans nameplates that have been in constant production since at least 1997. I hope to have it up Friday, but each one of these graphics is taking me entirely too long to put together, so it might slip into next week. I enjoy it, though, because I enjoy tinkering with graphs and pictures of cars. Surprisingly (to me anyway), there were only 6 non-premium compact sedan names going back that far. Once we get a few of these together, we can start to look at how different classes compare and focus on specific models for further scrutiny.
"Berang" (berang)
02/22/2017 at 23:02, STARS: 5
Keep track of overall dimensions too.
A lot of these “cars are getting too heavy!” blokes like to compare by model name, and completely ignore that some models have gotten much larger than they used to be, instead of comparing different models of similar dimensions which would be much more informative.
For instance comparing a 1997 Honda Civic to a 2017 civic is pretty much completely pointless. Compare a 1997 Civic to a 2017 Fit, and you have a much more useful comparison.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
02/22/2017 at 23:07, STARS: 1
Sounds very interesting! Complex subject, though. Looking forward to it.
"TheBimmerGuyWhoNowOwnsAChevy" (thebimmerguy)
02/22/2017 at 23:14, STARS: 0
“We need lighter cars for better economy!” *Safety laws storms in and makes cars heavier for “the greater good”* k
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
02/22/2017 at 23:16, STARS: 1
I thought about that, and I do want to at least keep track of the dimensions. But I don’t think it’s pointless to compare a 1997 Civic to a 2017 Civic. It grew to the point that Honda decided there was room under it to market the Fit. But the whole time, they’ve pitched it as a compact and then the Fit came along as a subcompact. There were other subcompacts smaller than the Civic in 1997, but Honda didn’t market one of their own in the US. I think perhaps comparing weights of cars with similar footprints 20 years later needs to be its own post. 1997 Sentra vs. 2017 Versa, 1997 Corolla vs 2017 Yaris, 1997 Accord vs. 2017 Civc etc.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
02/22/2017 at 23:19, STARS: 1
That looks like a solid graph of my weight gain post college.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
02/22/2017 at 23:19, STARS: 0
The surprising thing I’ve found so far is that several of these actually dropped in weight with redesigns in the mid-2000's right as safety standards were tightening. Although VW did it by cheating and dropping their complex and heavy independent rear suspension for a basic rear axle. Then people complained and they upgraded the suspension and gained a 100 lbs back.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
02/22/2017 at 23:20, STARS: 1
Indeed. Every time I think about it, I think of another way to frame it, but I can’t cover everything. We can argue about it in the comments.
"Nibby" (nibby68)
02/22/2017 at 23:23, STARS: 1
Any supercharged engines?
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
02/22/2017 at 23:30, STARS: 1
Oh oh, could you also do gear ratios please! Or perhaps I’ll do that on my own since I want it fairly in depth. Including the wheel size and such. I suspect the wheel size greatly attributes to modern economy cars feeling slower than they are.
Yeah I should probably do that myself.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
02/22/2017 at 23:37, STARS: 1
Yeah if I went that in depth I’d never get it done. I did write a draft post with a graph of the wheel size of all the cars I have owned but never finished it. I should probably go dig that up and post it. I also have a list of every 2.oT on the market right now sitting in the drafts that just needs a few images to be ready to post that I should also just finish and get out there.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
02/22/2017 at 23:39, STARS: 1
I’m looking forward to it, too! And yes, it will be great fodder for discussion in the comments, no matter which way you go with it—
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
02/22/2017 at 23:47, STARS: 1
I have a question: why are they getting uglier too?
"Berang" (berang)
02/23/2017 at 00:06, STARS: 1
Comparing different years of the same model doesn’t really tell us anything other than the company decided to apply a model name to a bigger model. If the dimensions don’t factor into it, there’s really nothing to learn about vehicle weight in it.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
02/23/2017 at 01:01, STARS: 0
Stand next to an NC and ND Miata and tell me that they’re getting uglier... Go on, I’ll wait.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
02/23/2017 at 01:17, STARS: 0
Let’s see how it turns out and see what else we can do from there. I actually am interested in what comes along with each generation getting bigger. When someone says “the Civic has gotten so fat,” I think: has it really? Sure it might be bigger, but that doesn’t have to mean heavier. In some cases in recent years nameplates have grown dimensionally but gone down in weight. I do think it will be interesting to look at dimensions, though. The difficulty is that the market is so scattered. My fear is that we’ll end up comparing cars that don’t really have much in common except that they are the same dimensions but from 2 different eras. So many choices. I wonder if footprint area or interior passenger volume makes more sense to compare? Or both?
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
02/23/2017 at 01:35, STARS: 1
Unpopular opinion time: I prefer the original pre-facelift NC to the ND. Way simpler and more elegant.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
02/23/2017 at 02:38, STARS: 1
That’s an admittedly great angle. I still think of the NC as the red-headed stepsister, all bulbous and bloated... Especially with those giant wheels!
"Atomic Buffalo" (atomicbuffalo)
02/23/2017 at 06:25, STARS: 0
Change in interior dimensions over time is what I’m most interested in. That is, after all, the useful space.
The Civic used to be a subcompact. I think NHTSA classifies cars by an interior volume calculation.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
02/24/2017 at 11:33, STARS: 1
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/model-bloat-vs-power-1975-present-1748681785
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
02/24/2017 at 11:36, STARS: 0
I will definitely add a link in my post.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
02/24/2017 at 11:41, STARS: 0
just a good reference for you!
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
02/24/2017 at 11:44, STARS: 0
Thank you! I have a graduate degree, so citing your references is pretty drilled into the way I think in general.