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Comment by david2ndaccount | Hacker News Reader

The problem is they don’t make full-sized cars anymore (the “land yachts”). To get a comfortable car, you need to buy a truck or essentially a truck (SUV).

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Interior layouts have come a long ways, especially with EV designs where the geometry isn't constrained as much. As a big guy, the actual space I'm sitting in is more roomy and comfortable on many subcompacts than full sized cars used to be. Since people have gotten taller, there's also more emphasis on leg room. I remember big 1970s cars where the drivers seat just wouldn't go back far enough for me, whereas even the smallest subcompact modern cars do.

They do, they just don't sell them in the US

https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/a1707441/who-really-benefi...

No, they don't. He's talking about traditional American body-on-frame sedans. The last one of those was the Ford Crown Vic, and it's been out of production for the better part of two decades.

There are not Audi A4s or Honda Civics.

"They" don't make many non-trucks at all, at least for general sale to consumers. Perhaps rental fleets still get some?

Ford stopped their Focus, which seemed to be one of the last 'us-based' sedans. My next car will probably be some Toyota or Honda camry/civic/accord/etc.

Ford still makes the Focus and other non-truck cars, they just don’t sell them in the U.S. anymore.

Figures...

Doesn't help folks in the US who just want small/light cars. :/. Such a shame. I routinely get north of 30mpg - careful driving, and long hauls get me north of 40mpg. That's with E85. Regular 87 octane I get more (35-44ish?)

The land yachts were only barely lighter than modern SUVs or trucks. The weight difference between Crown Vic and a new Ford F-150 is 2 extra passengers worth of weight. F-150 gets better gas mileage and lower emissions too.

My mid-size sedan is plenty comfortable...?

You may be underestimating the size of the average American these days...

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/04news/americans.htm#:~:t....

I fear that you (and others in this thread) may be underestimating the size of the driver/passenger seat of an American make's sedan (e.g. Ford, Chevy, etc... IOW, the same people who make these trucks.)

Certainly, having owned multiple Mazdas and Hondas, Japanese cars tend to be smaller.

So many big boned people these days

It seems like being fat is uncomfortable then, rather than cars designed for human bodies.

They do, but they're not as common. I can really only think of higher end vehicles - BMW 7/i7, Audi A7/A8, Lexus LS, etc, but I'm sure I'm missing some.

Some midsized cars of today have grown to the size a full-sized car from 25 years ago. For example, a BMW 3 series is roughly the size of a 5 series from 1998 (185.9" vs 188"). A 5 series from today is the size of the 7 series from 1998 (195.8" vs 196.2").

All your examples are mid sized cars smaller than Crown Vic / Mercury Grand Marquis. I own 2009 Grand Marquis and I don't want anything smaller and less reliable which means I want to have a V8, body on frame and normal transmission (not a CVT). So nowadays my only options are large SUVs

They may not have the extra requirements you added, but they're roughly the same size. BMW 7 series is slightly larger overall.

   2009 Grand Marquis: 212″ L x 78″ W x 56″ H
   2024 BMW 7/i7: 212″ L x 77″ W x 61″ H
   2024 Audi A8: 209″ L x 77″ W x 59″ H
   2024 Lexus LS: 206″ L x 75″ W x 58″ H

What would constitute a full-sized, comfortable car?

As others in this subthread have indicated, the sedans on the Ford panther platform (Crown Vic, Mercury Grand Marquis and Marauder, Lincoln Town Car) are in this category. I wouldn’t think twice about asking 4 adults to ride in my Crown Vic with me. I would definitely feel a little bad doing the same in some of the mid sized sedans that have been mentioned here.

I think Corollas and Civics (or maybe the higher end models) fit the bill for regular sized cars that are still sold. And I think those who want the land yatchs went for SUVs already

Why wouldn't a minivan fit this purpose?

Modern minivans are crossover SUVs with sliding doors.

How many crossover SUVs come with 3rd row seats? How many of those are comfortable for a average size adult? How many are easily accessible when parked in a tight space? None of these are issues with popular minivan models.

How? They are just as low as when I was a kid, and do not seem any bigger.

Look up the numbers!

Best selling minivan: Chrysler Pacifica... 203 inches long, 80 inches wide, 70 inches tall The larger version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, already one of the largest crossovers?

204 inches long, 78 inches wide, 71 tall.

The weight in either case is about the same, 4400-4900lbs depending on options.

It's not that minivans have gotten bigger... it's just that they were already HUGE, to the point where even SUVs are smaller.

But then you’d have to drive a minivan

Lol, this is true. I drive minivan and it's incredibly convenient but I often think of getting a third car just for non kid related events.

And?

The stigma attached to minivans.

Pretty sure the Camry, Accord, etc. are still available.

And the Current Corolla is the size of yesteryear's Camry, and the Current Camry is the size of yesteryear's Avalon, and they all grow so much I don't think anyone buys avalons anymore.

Actually, Toyota replaced the Avalon with the international model Crown for some reason.

Those are mid size

Maybe if you're over 6'5" and weigh over 300 pounds. By historical and international standards, they are huge.

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