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Automakers adjust to obese drivers
The State ^ | July 13, 2005 | Royal Ford

Posted on 08/10/2005 11:37:05 PM PDT by beaversmom

Automakers are struggling with how to deal with a growing segment of buyers: obese Americans.

Like airlines, hospitals, and clothing and furniture makers, auto companies are adjusting to an ever more obese American population. With little fanfare, carmakers are incorporating engineering and designs that efficiently, comfortably, and safely take the obese into account.

That’s one reason the Honda Accord sold in the United States is 2 inches wider than the similar model Honda sells in Europe and Japan.

It’s one reason seats in some General Motors models have longer rails to slide on, allowing more space between the driver and the steering wheel and the airbag inside it.

It’s one reason adjustable pedals, marketed as a way to move short drivers away from airbags to ensure their safe operation, also allow drivers with large midsections to move well back from the steering wheel.

And it’s one reason a Japanese manufacturer is developing inflatable seat belts that could cushion the impact of bones swathed in a soft, fat body with a taut seat belt during a collision.

Much of the engineering and design changes are happening below the radar. An auto industry adage proclaims that “you can’t sell an old man’s car to an old man,” and it is also accepted that a car billed as built for the obese would turn away many buyers.

But the minute a vehicle is branded as being for a group such as the obese, “you’ve limited your audience,” said Sam Locricchio, manager of communications for group design at Chrysler Corp. “Those who aren’t that, or who are but don’t want to be called that, aren’t going to buy it.”


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: automakers; obesity
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1 posted on 08/10/2005 11:37:05 PM PDT by beaversmom
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To: beaversmom

This is pretty pathetic.


2 posted on 08/10/2005 11:54:15 PM PDT by Utmost Certainty
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To: beaversmom
I hated being overweight. I'm down to 180 lbs from my all time high of 215 lbs 6/30 of last year. When I had to go out a buy a pair of 38" pants for work, that was it.

My weight loss, for the most part, has been deliberate and gradual, but I had a wicked flu a few weeks ago and lost 7 lbs in 6 days. That wasn't fun.

Got below 175 for the first time in 5 years and could fit into my old 34" pants.

Only problem was, I was too weak to walk, LOL!

3 posted on 08/10/2005 11:59:09 PM PDT by benjaminjjones
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To: staytrue

Even the car-makers are super-sizing, i.e., making fatmobiles.

Are they doing this in league with big (really big!) fast food and with size-adjusting big (really big!) clothing makers? Is there a vast fat conspiracy?

So, why has big government forced the toilet-makers to swim against the tide and down size toilet capacity? Without getting graphic, the increase in size of Americans means toilet capacity needs to increase.

Instead of increasing capacity, the Clinton bureacracy passed rules around ten years back limiting new home toilets to 1.6 gallons per flush, instead of the old 3.5 gallons per flush. It clearly is time for President Bush and Congress to flush big government out of America's bathrooms and wipe the 1.6 gallon rule off the books. Keep one hand on a plunger and the other hand free to write your Congressman. When toilets are outlawed, only outlaws will have toilets.


4 posted on 08/11/2005 12:03:04 AM PDT by BillF (Fight terrorists in Iraq & elsewhere, instead of waiting for them to come to America!)
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To: Utmost Certainty

True, this is one more reason why I support mandatory military service, we could cut this fat in half within 10 years, easily. People need to have respect for more than just their mental being, but their physical well being also. One peculiar thing I noticed whil I was overseas: Here in the U.S. our soda comes in 12 oz cans, in Kuwait and many other place it is 100 mL (think Red Bull). One small example, but indicitive of a culture of excess and obesity. If anyone reads this and gets mad, I have a perfect way to vent your frustration, come run about 6 or 7 miles with me, you'll feel better after.


5 posted on 08/11/2005 12:04:41 AM PDT by SMPRFIFRCRCN
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To: SMPRFIFRCRCN
Here in the U.S. our soda comes in 12 oz cans

What about the 44oz Super Big Gulp?

To be fair, the 8oz soda cans are making a comeback at Walmart and other stores.

6 posted on 08/11/2005 12:16:43 AM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: SMPRFIFRCRCN
General Motors models have longer rails to slide on, allowing more space between the driver and the steering wheel and the airbag inside it...

I think Americans are taller folk. A bunch of six footers in a five foot two world.
7 posted on 08/11/2005 12:17:45 AM PDT by carumba
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To: FreedomCalls

Thank you for illustrating my point. Honestly, my soda intake is limited to about 3 or 4 per month. My vice is energy drinks (somehow I think I gain more from these). But the basic premise remains: due to my service in the USMC I have learned how to take care of my body and live a healthy life. I try every day to help my friends understand what they are doing to their greatest gift.


8 posted on 08/11/2005 12:25:29 AM PDT by SMPRFIFRCRCN
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To: beaversmom

At a certain point of fatness, does the airbag become unnecessary?


9 posted on 08/11/2005 12:27:08 AM PDT by The Red Zone (Florida, the sun-shame state, and Illinois the chicken injun.)
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To: beaversmom
Oh Crap! I can hear it now, "Honey, ohhhh Honeeeeey! Does this car make me look fat?"

We're doomed. DOOMED, I TELL YOU!

10 posted on 08/11/2005 12:29:17 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (God save us from the fury of the do-gooders!)
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To: The Red Zone

yes, the fatbag takes over


11 posted on 08/11/2005 12:29:26 AM PDT by SMPRFIFRCRCN
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To: carumba
Americans are fat. There is no denying it. Spend a couple of months trapped in a submarine and come back to the real world and walk into a shopping mall. You won't believe your eyes. Most people are used to it because they see it all the time. But when you come out of an environment where everyone is healthy and reasonable close to their natural body weight, seeing those who are grossly unhealthy is a shock.
12 posted on 08/11/2005 12:33:02 AM PDT by burzum
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To: beaversmom
Being fat is bad for ones health. OK, got it.
A nation of people worried about the shape of everyone around them is healthy?
This nanny neighborism and the number of people on mood enhancers should tell us that mental health is a far more serious problem in this country.
13 posted on 08/11/2005 12:34:31 AM PDT by gnarledmaw (I traded freedom for security and all I got were these damned shackles.)
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To: The Red Zone

I actually once knew someone who said, after a post collision trip to the ER, "The doctor said that I was my own airbag!"


14 posted on 08/11/2005 12:35:57 AM PDT by sheik yerbouty ( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)
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To: gnarledmaw

ok, so you do understand that the libs (and many of our non-dem libs) are all about paying for the problems of the obese. Until healthcare is fixed you're damn right I'm concerned about fattys. As far as mental health is concerned, obviusly there are problems. An aquaintence of mine has been represnting several individuals involved with the whole Ritalin issue. His name is John DeCamp and he has found evidence that many of the drugs prescribed today are involved in some ofthe worst school shootings in our country.


15 posted on 08/11/2005 12:41:24 AM PDT by SMPRFIFRCRCN
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To: benjaminjjones
"I hated being overweight. I'm down to 180 lbs... 215"

Interesting story.. but how tall are you? 215 lbs is no problem if you are 6 foot or taller... 180 is a real problem if you are 3.5 foot tall....
16 posted on 08/11/2005 12:51:26 AM PDT by JSteff
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To: benjaminjjones
"I hated being overweight. I'm down to 180 lbs... 215"

Interesting story.. but how tall are you? 215 lbs is no problem if you are 6 foot or taller... 180 is a real problem if you are 3.5 foot tall....
17 posted on 08/11/2005 12:51:26 AM PDT by JSteff
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To: BillF
What we needed is a little pee flush and a big poo flush, now all people do is just flush 3 times anyway or you can do like we do and keep a garden hose hooked up to the bathroom sink for those really epic turds.

What we REALLY need is a congresscritter flush.
I flushed Teddy the Swimmer and all I got was this big plumbers bill.

18 posted on 08/11/2005 1:10:11 AM PDT by this_ol_patriot (What's good for the goose and all that.)
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To: beaversmom

Well I'd venture to say that the average American is significantly taller than the average Japanese for example.

Comparing apples to oranges.

I'm nearly 6'-3" and head room is a definite problem in some cars along with how far back the seat will go. There are plenty of people taller where the problem is only worse.


19 posted on 08/11/2005 1:25:54 AM PDT by DB (©)
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To: SMPRFIFRCRCN

The shooters are nuts and the nuts get the Drugs of Choice.


20 posted on 08/11/2005 1:36:22 AM PDT by The Red Zone (Florida, the sun-shame state, and Illinois the chicken injun.)
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