Why 20" wheels

A friend of mine is after me to buy a new car** and she found the Buick Cascada. I've wanted a Buick for a long time, because I like GM cars, but the Chevy I-forget-the-model-name was so cheap. Bucket seats but not even a center console. And I've avoided Ford and rice-burners. And the Cadillac seemed showy, so that left a Buick. And the Skylark was beautful (And my Buick was okay too. I forget its model name. Centurion?)

But the Cascada comes standard with 20" wheels, and they say that like it's a good thing. Well if you're in the Gran Prix races, I'm sure it's a good thing, but I like a comfortable ride. They don't even mention smaller optional wheels (although I'm sure I could get them if I pay someone to go to the Chevy dealer and get them there.

(It also has "sport-tuned suspension" I don't want that either, but I suspect it's not like a violin that you can retune to something else.

It also comes with a black top, no other choice given. Don't these designers ever drive the cars they design? It's like the charge-card email notifications all over again. (I had two convertibles with black tops. When the second one needed a new top, I changed to green, to match the turquoise car, which was imo primarily green, and it was much better. Since then I've had tan, a rather light version of tan.)

I suppose if I order the card before it's built, I can get a tan top, and they probably "won't charge me much extra", but any negotiation on the price will be over.

I've never bought a new car, but the idea was to get what I wanted, not what I don't want. For $35,000 dollars, which I gather is not much these days, but they don't offer to let me spend more and get what I want.

**and indeed it will be possible to get a 7-year old car like I like, but v. hard I think to get a 3, 4, or 5 year old car, because they stopped making Sebrings, Solara convertibles, and maybe only Mustangs are left.

Any other new or late model American convertibles bigger than a Miata for sale these days?? At least as big as a mustang.

Reply to
Micky
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On Mon 08 May 2017 01:31:03a, Micky told us...

So far you haven't really asked a atruly relevnant question. You should probably research various dealers yourself. It just might provide more insight. Or, if you're really serious aboaut buying a car, you could always consult a broker. They are generally impartial and have a wealth of inforomation.

Reply to
Wayne Boatwright

Ever notice women love to spend money? What's next? A new kitchen?

Reply to
wtf

Cut a bunch. Consumer Reports has an auto issue. Look through the magazine racks of your grocery store, Walmart, etc. Some of the car magazine publishers had an issue showing all of the model year's new buggies. A number of the "foreign" models are built in the U.S.A. if that's an issue.

Reply to
Dean Hoffman

On 05/08/2017 3:31 AM, Micky wrote: ...

Camaro

And on the subject topic, the 20" rims will make for a better ride than the smaller. The only one I would strongly recommend to avoid is the

19" and only because they're so much less common that tires are in ordinately expensive. I didn't think about it when bought the Enclave some years ago is how happen to now know...
Reply to
dpb

Bigger wheel are as much for appearance as anything else. Remember when they went to 14' for a while back in 1958? Made the car lower. The larger diameter will give you more miles on he tires as it travels further each revolution.

As for ride, most tires today have low aspect ratio. Good for cornering, not so much for soft ride.

Not many convertibles to choose from thee days. Maybe they got better, but I no longer drive Buicks after the last one fell apart. It was a

2001 LeSabre Limited loaded with espensive problems, as all my GM cars had. I buy quality cars by Hyundia now including a Korea made Genesis. Love driving it.
Reply to
Ed Pawlowski

Improvements in suspension design have allowed for lower profile tires with larger diameter rims - up to a point. As Pawlowski stated, those 20+" WAGON WHEELS are cosmetic, nothing more than libido boosters or for cruising the beach parking lot on a Friday evening.

Reply to
thekmanrocks

There are several reasons for larger diameter wheels, none of which is styling.

  1. Larger diameter wheels allow larger diameter brake rotors that will result in a greater mechanical advantage. This results in increased stopping power.
  2. Larger diameter wheels, for a given rolling radius, reduces the vehicle's un-sprung weight which will allow the tire to remain on the road, where it's suppose to be, improving safety and handling.
  3. Larger diameter wheels in conjunction with lower profile tires will improve handling as well.

Styling is nothing more than an offshoot of the above.

Reply to
Gordon Shumway

On 05/08/2017 7:12 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote: ...

...

The reversion to larger diameter wheels most recently is primarily owing to the EPA-mandated fleet mileage rules--lower rpm.

Early vintage autos followed the precedent of the carriage at the time--wheels were big on them so the trend followed albeit 23-26" or so was probably about the middle range. The 30" Model-T clincher tires were on 23" rims; the dimensions were the tire OD, not the rim. Roughly mid-20s was the advent of pneumatic tire similar to what we now know; rims went to 20-21" with wide profile and they could be run at 35 psi or so whereas the clincher tire needed about 65 psi to keep it mounted. Needless to say that didn't lead to a cushiony ride.

In 30s, 'til after WWII pretty similar range altho 19-20 probably about most common. By 1950, 15" was pretty-much de facto standard, the 14" on some the lighter/smaller (for what was "small" back then, anywya :) ) was prevalent by mid-50s; the '55 Ford had in HS was 14", the folks' Chrysler New Yorker was 15. That pretty-much remained the way it was until the tiny car phase hit and there were things running around with as small as 12 and 13"...

Then the mileage standards hit and the trend has been reverse direction since...

Reply to
dpb

Agree

I don't see why it would necessarily have to be true that for a given rolling radius, larger diameter wheels reduce the un-sprung weight. For starters, there are all kinds of wheel styles and I would think the weight will vary among them. Plus, I don't think Micky is talking about a "given rolling radius", sounds like he just wants smaller wheels.

I'd say for many cars, probably most, styling, having the wheels look cool, is more important to the customer than all the above. They paint brake calipers for example, I don't suppose that has anything to do with performance either.

Reply to
trader_4

Seems to me the choice of gear ratio in the tranny would give you whatever final ratio you want with any size wheel.

Reply to
trader_4

The larger diameter wheel will have a considerably greater area of space between its' spokes than a smaller diameter wheel. Therefore, as we all know, air weighs less than an equal volume of wheel or tire.

We're never sure what Mickey is talking about.

Whatever.

Reply to
Gordon Shumway

Agreed. Wheel diameter had nothing to do with the tree-hugger CAFE requirements.

Reply to
Gordon Shumway

Unless on some high performance car (and even then it is doubtful) just about everything on a car is made for looks. The average car buyer does not have any idea about the handling or other advantages of the tire size.

Reply to
Ralph Mowery

Buying a Cascada in North America you are buying an orphan - parts will be special order only in most cases, and virtually unavailable on the used market. In Europe the Astra J is a common car - as a Ope; or Vauxhall - and down under as a Holden. In North America it is a rarity.

If you want a GM convertible, SERIOUSLY look at the Camaro. However, I would buy a Mustang over a Camaro in a heartbeat. The 'stang with a V6 would make a decent car, not expensive to maintain, not expensive to insure, or to feed. It also maintains it's value.

Reply to
clare

My 16 inch tires on my Pickup are bigger 'round than most 20 inch car tires. Those low profile tires ride lake crap - and are much more expensive - not to mention they only come in "performance" tires that don't stand up worth crap.

Reply to
clare

How much braking does the average driver require at legal road speeds?

That depends how heavy the rim design is. A lot of the big rim low profile tire combinations are every bit as heavy as a lot of smaller rim taller tire combinations for the same rolling diameter.

Not in most cases. In most cases the big wheels are just more "bling"

Reply to
clare

Even 10 inch on the Mini - and 8 on the King Midget.

But thatb does not explain the insanely low profile tires. 80 profile 15 inch tires can ve taller than 50 profile 20s.

Reply to
clare

Your statement may be true, but that doesn't change the fact that the trend to larger wheels and brakes was born on the race track.

Reply to
Gordon Shumway

That depends. Imagine you are traveling at 60 mph and you suddenly see an obstacle 150 feet in front of you. Your reaction time decreases that distance to 125 feet and your car takes 130 feet to stop... do you really need greater stopping power?

True. Styling has no weight requirements.

Again, whatever.

Reply to
Gordon Shumway

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