I am German and use a credit card in the US like you use an EC card. I think it's a cultural thing. When I grew up it simply was inconceivable to buy things like Christmas presents on credit. I have never bought a car on credit either. In the US getting a loan is just much more accepted. Even people who could easily save up for a car still buy it on credit. And they buy two sizes bigger than I do (we have plenty of young engineers driving cars like a BMW 328i).