Yeah, people in the Western world have been getting taller (and fatter) over the past century or so, mostly as a result of improved diet — or a fuller diet, so to speak — and as a result, the widthwise expansion is seen as A Very Bad Thing by the Perpetual Scolds who bedevil our society.
I don’t know whether this growth is a good thing or a bad thing — I mean, the skeletal look is deemed attractive by the fashion designers and homosexuals [some overlap] and by the very rich, who despite looking like they’re starving, are of course in no danger thereof.
However, in doing some research for a future post, I came across this pic of Range Rovers, as introduced and what they look like today:
…and it triggered an immediate flashback to my earlier post on bloat, in which I took aim at pretty much everything.
Am I the only one who thinks that the Range Rover on the left is almost dainty — a word which could never be applied to any Range Rover of any generation — and subsequently more attractive?
I know, I know: the modern Rover is drenched with wondrous technology and (mostly government-mandated) safety devices compared to its predecessor — and I leave it to you to decide how desirable / necessary those additions are — but seriously?
Have we humans — or, to be more specific, the target demographic for Range Rovers — got so much fatter that we now need a double-wide to accommodate our Lizzo-like asses?
RRII looks like it has less ground clearance, less room for wheel travel, low profile tires making wheels more subject to getting bent on rough terrain, and less all around visibility than than the earlier RR.
IOW, RRII is not a genuine utility vehicle, but rather a status symbol for high maintenance bitches and metrosexual pseudo men with their three-day stubble when they go profiling to Starbucks for their overpriced burnt water.
A large part is govt regs, true enough. Crash standards, air bags, etc. Also consumer choice – after all we all want our center console, with storage bin and 15 cupholders. The older vehicle is true to the statement that there are no seatbelts, we die like men. I’ve seen the same in pickups too. My 12 year old 1500 series is easily bigger than a 30 year old 3500 series, and can most likely carry and tow more too. I traded in an 89 Chevy for a 2013 Ram, both 1500 series, and for several months I was nervous as hell cause the 2013 was just so much bigger in every regard. Took a while to get used to it.
I think the old yankee stadium lost seats when they remodeled decades ago. The old seats were more narrow and did not accommodate the modern fan. Too many nachos with cheese whiz and hotdogs I guess.
The one on the left looks sleek and easily identifiable.
The one on the right looks like everything else out there – boring, blah.
One thing to note, modern cars are always going to be heavier and beefier than the classics. Look at how small and thin doors were back then. Today’s doors are 2-3 times as thick because they contain electronics, sensors, side impact airbags, additional bracing, crumple zones, sound proofing, etc. etc.
Its .gov manadate, its also to keep a captive audience. All the computerized shit on modern vehicles are there to create an impossibly high bar of entry for someone trying to repair their own vehicle.
And it will be eventually used to control how far you can drive, how often you can drive, etc. to restrict your mobility. The day will come when in addition to Fuel you are going to be expected to pay a monthly “mileage” (or Kilometerage for the yurpeen’s) subscription, and it will be tiered. You’ll be able to drive the first 50miles free, then you have to buy an additional 100Mileage block. If you need to drive 151 miles, you’ll need to purchase 250Mile block.
Any unexpected overages will be billed extortionately to force you into the tiered block.
I used to think people would rebel, but there are still assholes wearing masks.
Size Matter’s, mine is bigger than yours…
The size of the vehicles gets larger, but the engines shrink in size and increase in complexity.
Right now I drive a 4 cylinder (NO TURBO, Naturally aspirated). Toyota Rav4. Good enough
Someday I want to get a decent used, truck, something like a Tacoma or a Tundra, V6 or V8, none of this small little turbo 4 cylinder fucking horseshit.
Size matters to some, but also, can’t forget the “motion of the ocean”. This whole new world of electric engines or small ass turbo garbage in a vehicle loaded with electronic trash gizmos, is complete fuckery.
Ditto ghostsniper’s take on contemporary design homogeny. The newer model pictured reminds me the aesthetic sameness I see in every plastic fantastic semi auto manufactured over the last 20 years. One thing that jumps out at me: better ground clearance built into the older Rover than the new one. I’ll go with utility over computerized gadgetry. Says the old man shouting at clouds.
Old Rover is a rover. New rover is a fucking Chelsea Tractor. I see ’em all over the Northshore region of greater Chicago. Fucking worthless progressive yuppies.
The unanswered question is which came first fatter people or fatter vehicles?.