Have today’s vehicles really gotten so big??

d15b7 · 07-30-2022, 02:46 PM

It was a nice day today and I hadn’t taken it out in a while, so I decided to take the Sonnet to the grocery store to pick up a few things. (I’d parked it pretty far out away from most cars. Or so I thought!). Came back to it and just had to snap this pic. It looks like a toy surrounded by modern SUVs (the Prelude was a nice sight and was pretty clean too). Felt like I was in a toy when I pulled outta there haha

David Gordon · 07-30-2022, 03:02 PM

Look at the garages on all the old houses, small!

Joshinator99 · 07-30-2022, 09:04 PM

First of all, it’s Sonett (not Sonnet)!

I had a ‘72 Sonett and it is a *completely* different animal than the Camaro. The 72 HP V4 engine (not a typo) is a unique item too. Really cool that you have one!

F1rob · 07-30-2022, 09:36 PM

Yes, today's cars are much bigger than the old ones. Took a photo of my ZL1 next to my 69 Pace Car the other day, and it was crazy how much smaller the 69 was. This photo doesn't quite show it, but the ZL1 is a MUCH bigger car....

JBones81 · 07-31-2022, 12:38 AM

LOL we were just noticing this today. We went to a child's bday party. We took the Tesla. When we left the pool parking lot, we noticed that we were literally the only non truck or SUV in the entire lot. I know that it was all families there, so they tend to have bigger vehicles, but still...I recall my parents always having 2dr cars (a T-bird, for example) or 4 door sedans (ford taurus, lexus es) and we got by just fine. Those cars probably got 25-30mpg back then, and gas was like $1.30/gal. Now we spend 60k on a nice truck or suv, get 12-18mpg at $5/gal. A major portion of most people's income must be going to their vehicles.

2SS Capt · 07-31-2022, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F1rob

Yes, today's cars are much bigger than the old ones. Took a photo of my ZL1 next to my 69 Pace Car the other day, and it was crazy how much smaller the 69 was. This photo doesn't quite show it, but the ZL1 is a MUCH bigger car....

And that ZL1 would leave both of them WAAAAAY back in the dust...

LT4Greg · 07-31-2022, 01:22 AM

I know the feeling when I drive my ‘70 VW Beetle on the roads that it seems so small which it is compared to my ZL1 and 2005 Silverado 1500 regular cab truck!

arpad_m · 07-31-2022, 08:07 AM

Haha, even bucket seats are wider these days, anyone's guess why

People, especially women, feel safer in large boat SUVs and trucks, especially when they ride higher, it's a fact of life.

As to the gas price comment, inflation since then has been spectacular, which dampens the difference a bit, but yeah, these guzzlers are no joke nevertheless. One thing I have noticed, though, is that driving style makes a huge difference, too. On that note, I've been trying to, hm, coerce wifey into driving her SUV somewhat more economically, and her average fuel economy has gone up >1 mpg in the past year or so, at least according to the computer.

Many, many people pull away from stoplights at 3-4k rpm, are afraid to let the car accelerate downhill, then push the pedal going uphill, of course their mpgs will suck big time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by F1rob

Yes, today's cars are much bigger than the old ones. Took a photo of my ZL1 next to my 69 Pace Car the other day, and it was crazy how much smaller the 69 was. This photo doesn't quite show it, but the ZL1 is a MUCH bigger car....

The ZL1 is also much safer, you can basically drive it into anything at 35-40 mph and suffer zero injury at all. Don't ask me how I know (sigh).

mariojas · 07-31-2022, 11:12 AM

My Charger feels so big, like a lower SUV - seriously, what you get from same platform size SUV? inches above your head? What for?

The most weirdest is Ford Ecosport...

ariZona28 · 07-31-2022, 11:57 AM

I always considered my '71 Cutlass to be "big". The Z/28 is obviously much bigger.

LT4Greg · 07-31-2022, 12:02 PM

Your Cutlass was a midsize car in its day but larger than some of the full-size cars in the 80s and 90s with the exception of SUVs. I bet it’s fun to drive though and would bring back memories to us older folks on here!

The Maverick · 07-31-2022, 12:56 PM

2016 RS next to a 74 Ranchero (Torino front end identical).

Here's an interesting article comparing dimensions across the generations of the Camaro:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1...u-might-think/

I thought I also saw a blueprint-style image posted online that had each generation outlined in one image - my surprising takeaway from that was how the overall dimensions of the fourth gen were a lot closer to the third gen than I had thought.

Joshinator99 · 07-31-2022, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Maverick

2016 RS next to a 74 Ranchero (Torino front end identical).

Here's an interesting article comparing dimensions across the generations of the Camaro:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1...u-might-think/

I thought I also saw a blueprint-style image posted online that had each generation outlined in one image - my surprising takeaway from that was how the overall dimensions of the fourth gen were a lot closer to the third gen than I had thought.

Given that the floor pan setup was one of the only things reused between the third and fourth gen F-bodies, the dimensions being similar makes sense.

ariZona28 · 07-31-2022, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LT4Greg

Your Cutlass was a midsize car in its day but larger than some of the full-size cars in the 80s and 90s with the exception of SUVs. I bet it’s fun to drive though and would bring back memories to us older folks on here!

Yes, it's still a LOT of fun to thunder about in the Olds! Not nearly as quick or agile as the Z but I just tell people "It's a different kind of fast".

07-30-2022, 02:46 PM	#1
d15b7 Drives: 2020 Camaro ZL1 1 LE Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: MD Posts: 93	Have today’s vehicles really gotten so big?? It was a nice day today and I hadn’t taken it out in a while, so I decided to take the Sonnet to the grocery store to pick up a few things. (I’d parked it pretty far out away from most cars. Or so I thought!). Came back to it and just had to snap this pic. It looks like a toy surrounded by modern SUVs (the Prelude was a nice sight and was pretty clean too). Felt like I was in a toy when I pulled outta there haha Attached Images

07-30-2022, 03:02 PM	#2
David Gordon Drives: 2018 Grandsport Corvette Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Granbury Posts: 270	Look at the garages on all the old houses, small! __________________ 2022 Orange ZL1 4/07/22 7-01-22 Past 2018 Gransport 2018 GT Premium 2009 ZO6 2008 Z-51 Vette 2001 Stroked/ blown C-5 2001 SS 1998 SS vert. Garage 2020 Range Rover V-8 2021 Ford F-150 Platinum Powerboost

07-30-2022, 09:04 PM	#3
Joshinator99 Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Petersham MA Posts: 4,751	First of all, it’s Sonett (not Sonnet)! I had a ‘72 Sonett and it is a completely different animal than the Camaro. The 72 HP V4 engine (not a typo) is a unique item too. Really cool that you have one! __________________ 2017 Chevy Camaro 2SS A8 Whipple 3.0, Mast Black Label heads, Fore triple in-tank pumps, 112mm TB, LPE +52% injectors, LPE BB HPFP, 15” conversion *1059 WHP/944 WTQ, 9.48@150*

07-30-2022, 09:36 PM	#4
F1rob Drives: 20 ZL1 Conv, 69 Pace Car, 69 Vette Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 19	Yes, today's cars are much bigger than the old ones. Took a photo of my ZL1 next to my 69 Pace Car the other day, and it was crazy how much smaller the 69 was. This photo doesn't quite show it, but the ZL1 is a MUCH bigger car.... Attached Images __________________ *Current* 2020 ZL1 Conv 6M 1969 SS/RS Conv Pace Car 350/350 1969 Corvette Conv 427 Tri Power 4M 2020 Cadillac CT5 2020 Explorer ST 2009 G8 GT *Recent Past* 2000 Camaro SS Conv 6M 2005 C6 Conv 4A 1998 C5 Conv 4A

07-31-2022, 12:38 AM	#5
JBones81 Drives: 22 ZL1, 18 RS3, 22 M3P Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Walnut Creek, CA Posts: 936 View My Garage	LOL we were just noticing this today. We went to a child's bday party. We took the Tesla. When we left the pool parking lot, we noticed that we were literally the only non truck or SUV in the entire lot. I know that it was all families there, so they tend to have bigger vehicles, but still...I recall my parents always having 2dr cars (a T-bird, for example) or 4 door sedans (ford taurus, lexus es) and we got by just fine. Those cars probably got 25-30mpg back then, and gas was like $1.30/gal. Now we spend 60k on a nice truck or suv, get 12-18mpg at $5/gal. A major portion of most people's income must be going to their vehicles. __________________ 2022 ZL1 - M6, Wrapped, Tinted, Rotofab intake, MBRP AxleBack, Lots of BMR rear suspension components 2022 Tesla Model 3 Performance 2018 Audi RS3 - Many mods & e85 Instagram - @JBsCars

07-31-2022, 01:22 AM	#7
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,813	I know the feeling when I drive my ‘70 VW Beetle on the roads that it seems so small which it is compared to my ZL1 and 2005 Silverado 1500 regular cab truck! __________________ ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.

07-31-2022, 11:12 AM	#9
mariojas Drives: 2022 ZL1 M6 & 2023 Stinger GT AWD Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Detroit Metro, MI Posts: 452	My Charger feels so big, like a lower SUV - seriously, what you get from same platform size SUV? inches above your head? What for? The most weirdest is Ford Ecosport... __________________ 2023 Kia Stinger GT AWD - as a family car... 2022 ZL1, M6 as daddy's ass mover Charger sold! Better to sell, than waiting to be stolen...

07-31-2022, 11:57 AM	#10
ariZona28 Give speed a chance Drives: 2015 Camaro 2LS, 2015 Camaro Z/28 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 2,228	I always considered my '71 Cutlass to be "big". The Z/28 is obviously much bigger. Attached Images __________________ 2LS: a TREMENDOUS machine. Z/28: it's a BIT MORE POWERFUL, of course.

07-31-2022, 12:02 PM	#11
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,813	Your Cutlass was a midsize car in its day but larger than some of the full-size cars in the 80s and 90s with the exception of SUVs. I bet it’s fun to drive though and would bring back memories to us older folks on here! __________________ ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.

07-31-2022, 12:56 PM	#12
The Maverick Somewhere in the Kalahari Drives: 2021/18 (de-fresh) 3LT RS Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: California Posts: 651	2016 RS next to a 74 Ranchero (Torino front end identical). Here's an interesting article comparing dimensions across the generations of the Camaro: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1...u-might-think/ I thought I also saw a blueprint-style image posted online that had each generation outlined in one image - my surprising takeaway from that was how the overall dimensions of the fourth gen were a lot closer to the third gen than I had thought. Attached Images

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