Bought a bike with the money. Weather conditions. Driving in Montana ain't like driving in Paris. Expendable income and easy car loans. A lot of people have the means. $20,000 for a big truck is nothing to some people. It's part of their body. Some guys: their truck is like their arm. Guys used to have horses. read more
Some American car buyers fail to use logic about fuel/weight ratios; think they need towing/hauling capacity for their commuter vehicle; are insecure; have too many kids; don't care about the environment; don't believe global warming; think science is nerdy; want to be safe by having the bigger vehicle than their neighbor, which is a self-defeating cycle; saw the famous person on TV drive it; are mental teenagers; are actual teenagers; etc. read more
The prius is actually increasing in popularity, which is small (and "ugly" by many people's standards), but so are gigantic pickup trucks with rearview mirrors so big they look like antlers, so I'm assuming that's what you're talking about. Most Americans don't drive these trucks. Some do, maybe even many, but not most. read more