By explanation fads and trends come and go, and seem to affect all walks of life, including the automobile industry. Should you examine car culture since the start of the new millenium, you will find a number of interesting changes have taken place. If you took a test drive, back in 2002, of a plain-Jane Nissan Altima, you were probably surprised at the speed being greater than expected. The appearance of the 240 horsepower engine hearalded in speeds a lot higher than what the 90's had made us accustomed to. It wouldn't end there either, because today the Volkswagen Passat, a family car, comes with 280 horsepower under the bonnet. Camaros are being left for dead by smaller Mitsubishis that cost $30,000. A Dodge Viper using its 500-horsepower is now equally as simple a car. Basically there are no longer any vehicles that don't have serious power. It appears as if bigger is regarded as better with cars, because every new release is bigger than the previous one. The current Honda Civics are bigger than the older Accords, and the new Toyota Rav4 is longer than its predecessor by all of 14 inches. No one seems to want to get the same car or less, but still have to pay more money. People want much larger and better cars when they're going to be paying more. There is a disadvantage to bigger,obviously, and that's heavier, but car makers will keep on going bigger if that's what the public are looking for. It seems driving slower vehicles is not a suitable option, despite car owners in America wanting to spend less on gas. They are still more than willing to pay a premium price, and wait in line to get a hybrid from Toyota Prius. All this, having the same dealership having plenty of Corollas left unsold. Interest in hybrids is so tremendous that all auto manufacturers are rushing to follow suit, even to the extent that Nissan will use the system developed by their competitor, Toyota, to bring out their Altima hybrid. Vehicles with pizzaz, that's what modern day buyers want, not the flat, insipid styling popular in the 90s. There's virtually no car these days that doesn't come equipped with power steering, power windows and locks, an impressive-sounding stereo and 6 airbags. All of these cost money, which probably is the reason for the $28,000 price tag of the average new car. Yet sales of SUV's are generally drying up, which could indicate a return to saner days, with smaller cars, and perhaps simpler. The biggest decrease in sales has been within the bigger SUVs, so maybe it was just a fad whose time has come to an end. Buyers seem to have changed to smaller cars, with the Ford Explorer and Expedition out in the cold while the little cars are getting more and more of the action, even the Neon and Sentra. Car manufacturers must proceed with the times and move away from the stereotype of big and fast. Hybrids are definitely the new thing, and it's going to be interesting to follow them over the longer term. 10 years from right now we can take a look back at all the crazy stuff that took place between now and then. Check out this leading quality UK alloy wheels provider to get detailed info on wheels and tyres
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