Generation W-Base Length Width
1976-1981 93.7 162.0 ??
1982-1985 100.7 164.0 ??
1986-1989 102.4 179.7 67.4
1990-1993 107.1 185.2 67.1
1994-1997 106.9 185.6 70.1
1998-2002 106.9 189.4 70.3
2003-2007 107.9 189.5 71.6
2008-Now 110.2 194.1 72.7

So if you have a 2003-2007 model and you’re ready to trade in, are you going to get a new, bloated Accord or look at the Civic, which has a wheelbase of 106.3, length of 176.7, and a width of 69.0 (similar wheelbase, width, and seating capacity as previous gen accords)?

It isn’t just the upsizing that the manufacturers are doing – it’s the combination of a consistent upsizing in the same product line AND the economy taking a dump, which is causing people to re-evaluate their needs. I.E. I don’t think the difference would be so pronounced but for the fact that both events are in play.

Also, the refresh cycle isn’t annual – it takes place over 3-10 years for some people. That spans 1-2 generations in cars. The Accord, for example, grew exponentially from the last gen to this one.

2 observations: 1) “Bathtub” is a connotation reserved for small cars – miata, mini, etc “like driving in your bathtub”, if it is used at all.

2) “How do you Amercians park your “mid-size” huge bathtubs”? We aren’t as densely laid out and parking spaces are larger as they accommodate VERY large vehicles, all the way down to compact/mid-size sedans.

I will admit coming from a couple week trip in Europe last week that our cars seem bigger, but we have the space and gas is cheap (in comparison to Europe).

Also…

While small cars outsell large cars in Europe, every person I spoke with on the subject preferred a larger car, but admitted they couldn’t afford the gas / cost. Just because there are fewer, doesn’t mean the desire isn’t there.

Buy a Acura, Lexus Or Infinity

Sorry, 3 series is still MUCH smaller than the 5 series from a decade ago

Current 3 sedan wb=108.7 and length = 178.20

1999 5 series wb= 113.7 and length = 191.1

Not only that the current 3 series sedan is still 1/2″ shorter than a Toyota Corolla, though the 3 has a longer wheel base.

The 3 is a very compact car. The 1 looks like a large roller skate.

I don’t really pay attention, I park my motorcycle anywhere I flipping want to.

Here in Brazil (and also in Europe and Asia) cars like my A3 (as well as Civics and Corollas) are called mid-size.

Cars like Ford Fusion are considered large and usually dubbed as “bathtubs”. The Camry and the new Accord are so big that nobody wants them.

Even though the Fusion has a bigger dealer network and costs the same as the less powerful and less equipped Civic, the Honda car sells about 20 times more (being the best sold sedan) just because it´s possible to park it in the streets. I´d like to understand: HOW DO YOU AMERICANS PARK YOUR “MID-SIZE” HUGE BATHTUBS?

da growth of da 3 mite explain sum stuff

I can’t a4d the S-Class

who in yourope wood bi a Lexus ?
they R smarter’n us.

lot of stupid people in cali, so sno wonder Lexus duz well tghere

da p[rius is good as a stus siympbol abnd nuthin’ else!
care about da evo? gert a dieselm VW!!

da taurus us better than da Carmry irt accord,m but not a NMercedes.

I luve da A8

Lexus LS is just oover-overpriced toyota. da regular totatas R aklready overpriced.

Hyundai can’t even get a luxury brand together, but they decide NOW is the time to bring Equus to The States?

Who’s in charge of their product planning?
Captain Crunch?
DrFill

RaineMan got a point. However, I was having conversation with “luxury concierge” in NYC (yes this business does well n NYC) and she told me that people under 400K income are hurt and not seeking her services (high end tickets, restaurant reservations etc), however recession have done little to families with over 500K income (except Madoff). Maybe there is point her about conspicuous consumption: even well to do folks got squeezed a bit, if they were not top flight.

if car sizes haven’t changed between ’08 and ’09 significantly, yet the size of cars being bought has changed significantly, then it’s not the model bloat that is driving the change in buying habits…

I would have to agree that it is a combination that the cars have grown in size from what they first where and the economy. i think it more that people like midsized cars then any other in america and that is what the 3 series and C class are now, before they were not and there more expensive then they used to, so people may see them as more upscalle.

Now back on topic to the article: I find it hard to believe that people who could afford an S-class but are getting an E-class b/c they don’t want to be seen with “having luxury”. More like, the economy took a sh*t and now people who once thought money grew on trees are coming back to reality and making a little “smarter” decisions. The only exception to my theory would be the liberal Hollywood type who could afford a Mercedes but drives a Prius instead as an eco-status symbol. But lets not dwell on that…

Pick any car with a long history – it is likely larger than its ancestor, sometimes by a wide margin.

Today’s Civic is larger than the Accord in the 1980′s ever was.

Same with the Corolla – larger than the Camry (and Corona) of yesteryear.

Perhaps the steam has run out of the proverbial up-sizing train, while at the same time, the economy has taken a dump. It’s no wonder people have stopped scaling up the chain – the manufacturers have done it for us.

fact is, this is about people choosing a 3 series over a 5 series, not a honda over a ford…

stick to the topic, please…

The reason for these numbers is simply because the rich are hurting just like everyone else. Believe it or not but sometimes the sh*t does flow uphill.

The current 3-series is the same size as the previous generation 5-series.

People aren’t getting smaller cars, the cars are actually growing and people are just buying a new one that is the same size as whatever they just got rid of.