What do You Consider to be a “Big Car?”

"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu) 07/02/2020 at 15:42 • Filed to: Thicc, silverado, Camaro, camero, Camaro 1LE

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The above vehicles, a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 Trail Boss and a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo 1LE, are both products of GM. Yet, the Camaro’s roofline ends before the (factory stock) half-ton pickup’s beltline even begins.

Among “car people” I’ve spoken with, the Camaro gets called a “big car” all the time. Yet, next to many far more popular vehicles on the road, the Camaro is actually quite small.

Where do you draw the line in describing cars? Any stories of people’s car-size-perceptions not lining up with yours? I’m curious about the range of opinions here in the diverse Oppo community.

atfsgeoff > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 15:47

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Anything that weighs 4,000 lbs or more. Very simple.

Jim Spanfeller > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 15:50

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It’s all arbitrary. People call my Thunderbird big, but back in the day it was a midsize car. And I’m sure that in the heyday of the microcar, some people called things like Beetles big.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 15:51

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While driving yesterday, I got behind a new Civic and the last Pontiac Grand Prix side by side at a red light. The Civic is bigger.

Tripper > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 15:52

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I go by weight:

0-2k lbs - Impressive

2-3k lbs - Sweet spot

3-4k lbs - Acceptable with power to match

4k+ lbs - Fatty fat fat fat fat fat fat

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 15:54

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I consider both a “big car,” though I generally put new trucks in the “WTF SERIOUSLY WHY?” category. I haven’t driven one, but I can’t imagine it is a relaxing experience knowing that you can’t see a lot of stuff that is around your car .

What makes a “big car” is weirdly subjective though. I consider my 2001 Discovery a “big car” but it is only a few inches larger than a 4-door wrangler, which I do not consider “big”.

lone_liberal > atfsgeoff 07/02/2020 at 15:54

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That’s a pretty solid rule of thumb but old cars mess it up. For instance, a ‘72 Impala is under that weight (with the base engine) but is a pretty big car.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 15:59

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Anything made past 2005.  Sitting in my Fiesta ST, I am often blown away how I still tower over NA Miatas or older sports cars.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 16:05

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Stopped at a barbecue joint in Kentucky once, happened to be in a borrowed Yukon XL (i.e. Suburban.). It was the smallest car in the lot.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 16:08

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Anything that make me have to lean over to touch the passenger door, while in the drivers seat lol 

RallyWrench > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 16:12

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If I can’t reach the passenger door handle or back seat while seated in the driver’s seat, it’s a big car.

Jb boin > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 16:13

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The Camaro is the same size (except the height) and weight as a 7 seater minivan, it’s de finitely a huge and heavy sportscar .

atfsgeoff > lone_liberal 07/02/2020 at 16:16

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Yeah it’s astonishing how light big cars used to be. A 1992 Crown Victoria only weighed 3760 lbs.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 16:16

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Cars vs. trucks. Can have a big car but still small compared to the gargantuan trucks on the road. Heck, my four-door Jag is a big car and it sits lower than some Mini I was next to at a stoplight yesterday. lol

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/02/2020 at 16:19

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Honestly, the visibility of of full size trucks is about as good as you can get these days.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 16:22

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For SUVs: Lager than a Jeep XJ? If yes than it’s too damn big.

For sedans: is it larger than a 1997 Honda Accord? If yes than it’s too damn big.

For Trucks 1500 or less : is it larger than a GMT400? If yes than it’s too damn big.

camaroboy68ss > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 16:30

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I think the 5th and 6th gen Camaro’s get considered “big” is the high belt line and the visibility issues that come with the car making people think its larger than it really is. I find at time I think my 17 camaro is larger, but its usually after spending a day or two driving my 68 Camaro.

Trucks have really bloated over the last decade. 5 years ago I was looking at buying a new Silverado std cab short box. My grandfather has an 06 in the same layout at that new truck just made it seem small. My current 68 C10 pickup doesn’t feel any smaller or bigger to that 06 Silverado, the inside of the cab is more open but thats not a surprise between a vintage truck and a newer model. 

404 - User No Longer Available > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 16:42

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Anything that blocks my view in front of me in my Solstice.

XJDano > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 16:47

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After driving a Chevy Metro for 10 years, all cars are big. Trucks now are ridiculous.     

Spanfeller is a twat > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 17:07

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Anything larger than a 3er is a large car, anything smaller is a small car. But I think the size of cars depends on the wheelbase and width since those are the characteristics that dictate how easy it is to park.

Aremmes > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 17:46

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My XC90 is a big car, and at ~5,000 lbs it weighs like one. My wife’s Mazda3 is for all intensive porpoises a small car, but it’s almost as long and wide as the XC90.

I do see the Camaro as a large car, but only relative to other cars with similar purpose. It doesn't help that its proportions make it look larger than it really is.

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 17:49

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>3400lbs is big for me.

The heaviest car I’ve owned is 2 859 Lbs.  

Raw dimensions would also be an obvious measurement, but usually they correlate very closely with weight anyways. 

Mid Engine > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 18:26

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When you’re driving a Cay ma n EVERY vehicle is enormous, can’t see shit. 

ranwhenparked > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 18:34

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I have a 2014 Camaro, its a midsize car, not a big car by any stretch - 190 inches long, which is over 2 inches shorter than a Camry or Accord, so comfortably in the intermediate class. The current Camaro is very slightly smaller.

As far as what I’d consider big, I’d say anything over 210 inches is certainly big. About 198-209 inches would be on the larger side. 

GLiddy > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 18:35

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To me, big is a rating of passenger capacity. If it doesn’t take 5 adults in 2 rows, then its not a big car. In the old days, it was 6 adults in 2 rows, but the front bench seat is dead now. Still, its a sliding scale. My 64 Chevy II is a 4 door with bench seating for 6. It wasn’t big for its time, because it was smaller on the outside. Safety has now become a priority and so I think the passenger capacity is a better measurement now than it used to be.  Then again maybe not.  My Corolla theoretically seats 5 adults, but all of them would whine constantly if I said we were all taking a trip to Disneyworld in it.  Maybe its like the definition of pornography; I know it when I see it.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 18:44

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I used to have an E34; for some reason that car perfectly defined mid size for me- I have a hard time imagining why you’d need a bigger car unless you needed 7 seats.

That car was about 185” x 69” x 55”

I would have serious reservations about buying anything too much bigger than that due to size and my perception that the car was “too big” and I acknowledge that’s a pretty limited definition. 

Maxima Speed > atfsgeoff 07/02/2020 at 19:02

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Anything 3,000 lbs or more. :P

for Michigan > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 19:11

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I think the Mustang is a good measure. Mustang II through SN95 were not big cars . The S197 and S550 are both big cars. The SN95 was actually pretty much the same size as the original M ustang, while the last two are in the ballpark of the 69-73 big boi s .

Tim > atfsgeoff 07/02/2020 at 19:14

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EV's are going to weigh more than a similar sized vehicle so a weight rule doesn't work. This is all subjective to a variety of factors. Big in the city may not be big to someone in a rural area for example. This is really a stupid topic as big means something different to everyone.

Urambo Tauro > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 07/02/2020 at 19:15

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For Trucks 1500 or less: is it larger than a GMT400? If yes than it’s too damn big.

Couldn’t agree more ! There’s a 2018 Co lorado at work, and I couldn’t help but notice that it’s taller than my GMT400 C2500 . Not only is it t aller when it comes to cab entry and egress ; the bed rails are taller too. I can’t even reach over into the bed and it just ruins the whole point of a “small” truck.

Urambo Tauro > for Michigan 07/02/2020 at 20:05

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I often feel that the S197 and newer Mustangs are basically just Thunderbirds in disguise.

Urambo Tauro > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2020 at 20:13

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This is a very good question that I find very difficult to put m y finger on an answer. For me it’s one of those you-know-it-when-you -see-it kind of things. Every time I try to draw a hard line somewhere, it fits well for some cars yet feels wrong when applied towards others. But even if I never decide on a precise definition, some of the more egregious examples will continue to stand out.

ihm96 > Tripper 07/03/2020 at 09:13

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I think this is the best categorization

for Michigan > Urambo Tauro 07/03/2020 at 19:21

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Agreed. The Personal Luxury Coupe didn’t die, it’s just pretending to be a pony car.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/04/2020 at 06:40

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Surprised you don’t consider a 4 door Wrangler big, considering your fleet. How much longer is a Gladiator? 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > way2blu does a rev update 07/04/2020 at 06:42

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My “small” truck is big. My 4-door  M3 is at the upper limit of small, by modern definitions.