It’s not just humans who have been getting Fat & Bloated in recent times:
I know, I know: the Kraut Minis are bloated because of all the Gummint-mandated safety regs — just another reason to get among them with machetes (the regulations, I mean, not the Gummint bureaucrats perish the thought).
I for one am quite happy with cars being more comfortable, more safe, and more reliable in general than the old ones.
Sure they looked nice, but they were cramped, uncomfortable, loud, unreliable, and merely looking at a road sign would give you a whiplash almost.
I definitely agree. A coworker bought a 1970-something TR6 and drives it as his everyday ride. He took me for a spin one day and all I could think of was how uncomfortable it was. His car is in remarkably good shape, and not in the “good shape for an old beater” meaning. Still, getting in was an exercise in contortionism, it was loud & drafty, the ride was rough, and in any kind of serious accident you’d have to be hosed out of what was left of the car. No thank you. I want my car to be utilitarian: get me to and from points A & B safely and comfortably.
“— just another reason to get among them with machetes (the regulations, I mean, not the Gummint bureaucrats perish the thought).”
Bullshit.