We officially drive pigs!

[JL8Jeff]

The average weight of a U.S.-made vehicle has increased by 500 pounds over the last 10 years to 4,142 pounds, according to the latest data from the Environmental Protection Agency. The average weight of current vehicles is now the heaviest since the EPA began measuring weight in 1975.

This from MSNBC today. How insane is that! 4,142 lbs is the average weight! But then again, I think the average American has gained 500 lbs in the last 10 years as well!

[Tsar]

wow i guess US is home of the fattest cars and people

[WayFast84]

are suv's included?

[firehawk1120]

SUV's are the reason for the boom in avg. weight...

[BigAls87Z28]

Well, the goverment is burnign the candle at both ends.
On one hand, they want cars to be safer which means heavier metal, more structre, more saftey airbags and sensors.
BUT, they want gas economy to increase and cars to go farther on less.
But you need a big engine to now move this mass of car...and because its heavy, that big engine will consume more gas.
Now, how do you satisify both saftey and fuel economy? Well, more technology! Aluminum suspension and body pannels, light weight components, higher technology in engine and transmission, more hybrid use....and guess what THAT adds!! MONEY!! More money spent on engineering, designing and building a car, means they get to pass the cost down to the consumer. So your 4000lb compact car that gets 50mpg cost you 38 grand. And now you have a VW.

[Tru2Chevy]

Well said Al....

- Justin

[Tsar]

WOW...

Originally Posted by WayFast84

are suv's included?

[BonzoHansen]

Al has the idea. I was thinking of this last week. There was an article about crash tests. Cars overall are better than they were, but now they think that very few cars are any good at dealing with rear end collisions. So now they are going to focus on that. Yippee, more weight.

Miles of wires, all the added creature comforts, sound deadener, airbags, yikes. Bigger heavier wheels, wider tires. The automakers can’t make enough aluminum parts to lighten things up. Carbon fiber is just too expensive at this point.

My biggest complaint with the GTO (past its Grand Am looks) was its 4000 lb+ weight.

[Tru2Chevy]

GTO was only 38XX, IIRC.

I don't have to worry...my cars are 15 and almost 20 years old.....

- Justin

[BonzoHansen]

I remember C&D reporting almost 4100 lbs as tested.

[Tru2Chevy]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

I remember C&D reporting almost 4100 lbs as tested.

Quick Google search showed curb weight in the mid 3700's.

- Justin

[BigAls87Z28]

GTO is under 3800lbs curb weight. With fuel and driver...2 tons.
When talking to the Camaro engineers about VE and Zeta, they were looking at any possible way of shaving weight, by removing a few threads off bolts, and less paint on parts that dont need to be seen. Aluminum is becoming a big part of car's suspension components, such as control arms. I know my Maxx has 2 BIG aluminum control arms (you can ususaly see them under the car when you are behind one). Its more expensive, but its gotta happen. My Maxx comes in at a heavy 3400lbs or so.

[Savage_Messiah]

WEIGHT REDUCTION FTW!!!!!!!!!!!11111111!!!!!!!!!1!!ONE

[WayFast84]

Originally Posted by Savage_Messiah

WEIGHT REDUCTION FTW!!!!!!!!!!!11111111!!!!!!!!!1!!ONE

Werd

heres an idea for weight reduction

Get rid of 6 out of 8 of the back seats Freaking inside of an expidition is bigger then my room

[Tsar]

Originally Posted by WayFast84

Werd

heres an idea for weight reduction

Get rid of 6 out of 8 of the back seats Freaking inside of an expidition is bigger then my room

best way to make your room appear to be bigger, is to lose some weight.

[Savage_Messiah]

BWAHAHAHAHAH, that was good

[WayFast84]

WHile that might be true, You could still try to fit and expidition in my room and have the front bumper stick out of it..

[JL8Jeff]

The added safety stuff adds some weight but the real answer is the size of the vehicles. Look at how many mini pickups and mini SUV's have turned into behemoths or are extinct and replaced by much larger vehicles. The 4Runner went from a 3700 lb mini SUV to a 4300 full size SUV. The Tacoma is now much larger than the original mini pickup. You can't get a true mini pickup or SUV from any manufacturer now. Full size trucks and SUV's are status symbols and Americans won't give them up at any cost!

[BonzoHansen]

Jeff, I just read where SUV sales are down.

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

GTO is under 3800lbs curb weight. With fuel and driver...2 tons.

that might be what I read.

[GP99GT]

GP = 3380 with me in it....so 3230 without

[su_maverick]

I still think we are retarded for the amount of SUVs on the roads. And do you know who is driving them? 5'2" women with 2 kids driving an Excursion. And it isnt just American cars, look at the Accords and Camrys.
In the late 80's they were tiny and had perfectly fine headroom and back seats. Now look how big the suckers got.

[qwikz28]

not all SUVs are heavy. my saturn is ~3500 and my sis' lexus is ~3900. both seat 5 comfortably. the new GT500 is 3900+ for comparison sake.

a few interesting auto weights i know off the top of my head cause i need a life:

Volkwagen Toureg (including Audi and Porsche siblings) 5600+
Toyota Yaris- ~2200
4th gen fbody- ~3300
Current Lancer Evo ~2900
Hummer H1 6000+
My old 92 V6 Camry ~3000
3rd gen DSM ~3100

[BonzoHansen]

Originally Posted by su_maverick

I still think we are retarded for the amount of SUVs on the roads. And do you know who is driving them? 5'2" women with 2 kids driving an Excursion. And it isnt just American cars, look at the Accords and Camrys.
In the late 80's they were tiny and had perfectly fine headroom and back seats. Now look how big the suckers got.

But that is a marketing move. Those cars have been gradually upsized and new small cars have been introduced..

[baddest434]

Originally Posted by Tsar

best way to make your room appear to be bigger, is to lose some weight.

dude i pissed my pants when i read that

ps my car only weighs in @2995

[su_maverick]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

But that is a marketing move. Those cars have been gradually upsized and new small cars have been introduced..

yeah but for the longest time the civic was outgrowing itself too and there was no introduction below it. Im waiting for Americans to be driving the land yachts again. Its sick