The US Wants to Close an ‘SUV Loophole’ That Supersized Cars

https://www.wired.com/story/the-us-wants-to-close-the-suv-loophole-that-supersized-cars/

Oh thank goodness. Now there might actually be a chance at us getting another actually small Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger or Suzuki Samurai or something before I die. These freedom-squashing regulations that have been forcing bigger and bigger vehicles on us have been ticking me off. I've never felt more oppressed in my life. I had to get this Ron Jeremy Complex 4Runner that parks like a jumbo frank in a standard sized bun.

Spoiler

 

It this could actually lead to some smaller 4×4's coming to the market, I'm cool with that.

 

I'd also like them to close the tax loophole that allows people to buy things like TRX's and Raptors, put subtle business logos on them, and then claim them as a business expense on their taxes.

I see quite a few of those around in my area, and you know they're doing zero work.

 

More government regulation. Awesome.

 

I am seriously pro this. I'm not even joking. I want this. Give me a Suzuki Samurai for the current millennium!

 

I've only got one thing to say about the regulation that got us to this point of gargantuan monster trucks that make the old land yacht cruisers look like that car Steve Urkel drove in Family Matters. To quote Hulk Hogan, "You had it and it only takes you so far."

 

Bicycles would be better. Smaller, cleaner, easier to park, and cheaper to replace.

 

How about a Jimny? Those things look awesome!

 

That is what the Samurai used to be known as outside the US and continues to be known as in its subsequent generations. They could call it "I Smell Buffalo Farts" and I'd still drive it.

 

Maybe, maybe not, but smaller cars and trucks would make it easier to share the road with bicycles!

 

Good, hopefully this means the next 4runner will be closer in size to a 3rd gen. Crossing my fingers this leads to a comeback in regular cab and compact trucks. I was worried they'd never fix it.

Funny, today I was reading an ABC article about how automakers are lobbying the Australian government for regulations (they don't have any fuel standards), and their transportation department said word for word the same thing the EPA did when they created the SUV loophole, "government could pursue a tougher approach on passenger vehicles and light SUVs, allowing breathing room for commercial vehicles which were more difficult to make more efficient".

 

The 2010 regulations mentioned in the article are why Toyota did away with the regular cab Tacomas (like mine). I would love if Toyota could bring them back, I'd snap one up in a heartbeat as long as it had a manual transmission.