UK car crash expert says cars sold in Europe are so much safer than in the U.S.

  • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    I drive a car smaller than a corvette in the Midwest. It’s weird driving and looking up at the trunk of a family sedan. But I hate having trucks behind me at stoplights. On the road is fine because I’m much faster, quicker and more agile. But at stop lights I’m just rolling the dice hoping that fucker in the Chevy 2500 trail boss is paying enough attention that I don’t die.

    • Bags@piefed.social
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      2 days ago

      I drive a BRZ, lowered an inch and a half, and I’m tall enough that the seat needs to be as low as it will go so I don’t bump my head on the roof. Stopped at lights, I can look over at regular non-lifted pickup trucks and think “Huh, that guy’s asscheeks are at the same level as my eyeballs”.

      I’ve gotten over the feeling of being small while driving amongst traffic, but the stark differences while stopped close to other vehicles is hard to ignore.

      I really wish I could buy the new Suzuki Jimny. I saw one in person for the first time on a trip a few months back, and it’s so perfect.

      • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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        23 hours ago

        Have you checked the new mx-5s? I’m 6’4" and fit comfortably in my '19. And guess what? It’s even better with the top down. 😘

        • Bags@piefed.social
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          22 hours ago

          My original choice was between the BRZ and an MX-5… I don’t have another car, so I needed just the tiny bit more practicality of the trunk and back-seat space. I HAVE in fact taken 4 people in it, though it’s only a last resort kind of thing… It was really tough, because I fucking love convertibles. If I had a more reasonable car, or even the space to park a more reasonable car when I was looking into it originally (I live in an apartment in a downtown metro with only 1 parking space), I’d have 100% gotten a convertible miat.

          And I’m only 5’10", but I think I just have a long torso. My seat is all the way down, and there isn’t enough head clearance for me to wear a helmet, which just saves me from the temptation to beat on it at autocross or something, so honestly a positive.

          • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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            22 hours ago

            Ugh, that entire post felt personal lol. I’m also mostly torso. My entire life, my mother characterized the men in my family as “bulldogs” because of our short legs and big chests.

            Also me and my friends drunkenly fit 9 people in a Hyundai sonata, so 4 in a BRZ seems sadly reasonable.

            Thankfully I rent a house that used to be a “college rental” so I have a 3 car garage, and neither car takes up a big footprint.

            That being said though, there’s nothing like top-down driving in a lightweight car. I seriously can’t oversell that car enough. I’ve owned several corvettes, the 04 GTO (better than the vettes, honestly) a WRX STI, a CTS-V (first Gen, meh) and I’ve driven everything from the f type and gtr to the C7 ZR1. The MX-5 is my favorite car I’ve ever driven, followed by my old GTO. The reason being that they were both so supremely communicative and manageable. I’m a combat veteran and have flown into questionable situations in helicopters and felt more safe than in the C7 ZR1. I haven’t driven any C8 Corvette yet, let alone the special ones, but holy fuck that car scared the ever living shit out of me.