When I was small, I get to read so many news items - particularly that Americans drive large cars, and gas guzzlers.  In Asia, since we don’t have the intricate highways or even very wide streets, and may more often use other means of transportation like ships, and trains, ( or motorcycles), it was always important that we don’t overspend on gas, specially as most parts of Asia, the price of gas is also heavily taxed and hardly affordable. So we normally drive small cars.

It has been suggested that a lot of money would be saved and greenhouse gas pollution would be solved if only Americans will drive smaller cars.

When I had the ocassion to visit the  United States, I understood why and now regard such simplistic generalized solutions as unworkable.  Americans spend a lot of time in their cars so it has to be comfortable.  They usually drive fast on freeways, and I can understand it is not too safe to be rammed by big cars and trucks at 65 mph if you are driving a small car.  But mostly, I think one of the things I gather is that if your speed is a 65 mph or 70 mph, a small car with 1300 cc or 1500 cc displacement will be strained, and overworked, and thus, is hardly more economical than a V6 car with the appropriate horsepower and displacement.  The overworked car will not last long, nor will it provide the proper ride comfort.

In short, gas efficiency is relative, and if you are driving normally long distances at fast speeds, you have to look for the car which has the appropriate horsepower  to deliver what you need.

Sometimes, trying to save on the wrong things may be a ‘penny wise and pound foolish ‘ decision.  At most times, it is still appropriate to get ( whether it is a car , an appliance, or an employee) the resource that has enough horsepower to deliver what you want to accomplish with some oomph to spare.