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What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

9838 messages,  Last post on Feb 07, 2013 at 10:28 PM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, smart fortwo, MINI Cooper

Messages Page 216 of 985

#2147 of 9838 nippon... by iluvmysephia1

Sep 07, 2006 (1:28 pm)

the 2007 Hyundai Tiburon incorporates some minor cosmetic changes only.
 
The Tiburon for 2008 (or is it 2009? There's been some conflicting reports coming out that are confusing data at least)is going to be new from the ground up. It is bigger and very, very rounded up front. It is an interesting looking design, though I think I like the current Tibby's design more.
 
Design differences can grow on you, though. So, yeah, I'm gonna be watching for '07 Tibby's to scan the small, new body changes and the really interesting '08 Hyundai Tiburon.
 
nippon, are ya close to getting a '07 Toyota Yaris LB with your preferences installed? Toyota does need to tweak that car a little for America. Cruise control not offered being one of them, eh?
 
Yeah, this new 2007 Suzuki SX4 has grabbed my attention. If indeed it is going to retail for only $15,00 that car, my buddies, is an absolute bargain. I am going to drink some fine Taster's Choice and go to town on the net looking up whatever I can get my mouse on about this nice looking new offering from Japan's Suzuki. I think Suzuki is getting smarter and smarter with every passing automotive day. I've never been interested in actually spending hard-earned pesos on a Suzuki before. My Spanish is going to be honed ever-more living here 70 miles north of the Mexico-US border.
 
Ci? BTW-those of you living near where I am, in SE Arizona, be very careful to not drink and drive around the border, or anywhere in Arizona. The Border Patrol means business. We wondered about that and recently received information that they are not just given the autonomy to check your citizenship but will branch out into checking your DUI status as well. They are going to work with the Arizona State Patrol to stop DUI'ers. So just take heed and be careful. Of course, it's better to just take a room and sleep it off. Be wary, not of being caught but of driving under the influence. With American's sleep patterns so messed up mixing alcohol into the picture is very, very dangerous.

#2148 of 9838 Re: I don't think there's much wrong [iluvmysephia1] by nortsr1

Sep 07, 2006 (1:38 pm)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Sep 07, 2006 1:08 pm)
Why not just go to edmunds.com They have it under New cars.

#2149 of 9838 nortsr1.. by iluvmysephia1

Sep 07, 2006 (1:45 pm)

thank you, I'll do just that. It just occurred to me at Border's yesterday that $15,000 for a rig that you can pop into 4WD, AWD or gas-saving 2WD makes some serious sense. It looks cool, too. Especially with that cinnamon-ish red in the magazine, similar to our 2001 Kia Sportage 4x4's Pepper Red, as Kia calls it.
 
Suzuki is an attractive automaker to me because, like Kia, they are not complacent and are trying very, very hard to win our business. The domestics learned this too late. I think this new SX4 is spot on for them and I want to learn everything, from cupholders to stereo's for blasting out The Guess Who.
 
"It's great to be alive."
 From the Drive-By Trucker's new song and album 'It's Great to be Alive'

#2150 of 9838 Re: nippon... [iluvmysephia1] by snakeweasel

Sep 07, 2006 (1:48 pm)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Sep 07, 2006 1:28 pm)
The Tiburon for 2008 ....
 
Pray tell is there any news on the convertible?

#2151 of 9838 snake... by iluvmysephia1

Sep 07, 2006 (1:53 pm)

you bring up a good question. I know that Hyundai was contracting with Karman of Germany on a convertible coupe of their current Tibby. I think that was axed by Hyundai 3/4-stream somewhere. I really don't have the skivvy on that because my Tiburon research is kind of rusty. I have left off of Tibby-Eclipse, etc. research almost entirely and concentrated solely on the beloved subcompact and crossover hatchwagons.
 
Anybody know about the convertible Tiburon's fate?

#2152 of 9838 Re: snake... [iluvmysephia1] by snakeweasel

Sep 07, 2006 (1:57 pm)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Sep 07, 2006 1:53 pm)
Actually I think its in some pigeon hole some place.
 
Which is sad because Hyundai needs a good rag top. As well as a good pickup truck.

#2153 of 9838 Re: the ?: what's wrong.. [andre1969] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 07, 2006 (1:58 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Sep 07, 2006 8:27 am)
Yep, the incentives for Prius are still in place...the buyer gets a tax break, gets to run in the commuter lanes (this is a BIG deal) and gets a car with remarkably low emissions (the smug alert). This isn't rumor---these are real incentives and that's why people are buying these cars....as well as for MPG of course. Smugness doesn't account for 1/4 million sales, only in cartoons.
 
Smart has no economic incentives, so that's why it won't sell very well. People act in their own interests. Being hard-nosed about it, the economist would say: "what would motivate someone to buy one"?
 
In other words, why would someone give up so much for so little in return. Where's the payoff for them? Performance? Nope. Big $$ in gas? Nope. Tax break? Nope. Commuter lane pass? Nope. Parking privileges? Nope. Utility? Nope. Finger-pointing from strangers? Yep.
 
So local or state or federal governments would have to offer incentives.... and maybe extraordinary gas prices in some future time, might offer incentives, but otherwise, for right here right now, MB should just pack up its Smart factory and cut their losses, and try unloading them in Europe, where they make more sense with $6 a gallon for gas and citywide traffic crushes that most Americans can't even visualize.

#2154 of 9838 Re: the ?: what's wrong.. [Mr_Shiftright] by snakeweasel

Sep 07, 2006 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 07, 2006 1:58 pm)
the buyer gets a tax break,
 
Only for a short while, then they start disappearing.
 
Smugness doesn't account for 1/4 million sales
 
How long did it take to get to the 1/4 million mark? 10 years?
 
Smart has no economic incentives,
 
Yes it does, it has better gas mileage and it doesn't have costly components that could break. Plus the Smart goes for 6,775 UK pounds, that translates to 12,800 USD, if it costs that when it gets here it would be thousands less than the Prius even with a tax rebate.
 
Its costs less, costs less to run and most likely be less expensive to maintain. Thats a strong economic incentive to me.
 
so that's why it won't sell very well.
 
Yeah 3/4 of a million over the past 7 or 8 years is very bad.
 
Being hard-nosed about it, the economist would say: "what would motivate someone to buy one"?
 
Ok since I have a degree in Economics I will answer that, if it is less expensive to acquire, run and maintain (which it looks like it could very well be on all three accounts) and it fits your needs thats motivation enough.
 
Where's the payoff for them?
 
Thousands of extra $'s in your pocket.
 
Let me ask you this, you have a choice between two cars, both will fit your needs for what you will be driving it for both will cost the same to maintain and insure.
 
Car 'A' costs you a total of $21,000 and gets 45 MPG.
 
Car 'B' Costs you $13,000 and gets 50 MPG.
 
What car do you get?
 
If you say car 'A' (and you are) I have a wonderful deal for you (but please, cash only as checks can cause trouble in deals like this). As there is no real economic incentive for car 'A'.

#2155 of 9838 Can I answer... by andre1969

Sep 07, 2006 (2:31 pm)

Car 'C', the one that gets 14 mpg but is paid for in full, cheap to fix and insure, and scoffs at accidents that would total lesser cars?
 
Also, where would something like a Yaris fit in there? Maybe $15K and 35 mpg in mixed driving?
 
Getting back to car 'A' and 'B' provided they both meet your needs, car 'B' would be the no-brainer. However, it's deeper than that. I'm sure there are a lot of people who would say that car 'B' does not meet their needs. Sure, most of those "needs" are really wants, but try telling that to the people who "need" something.

#2156 of 9838 Re: the ?: what's wrong.. [snakeweasel] by carsgalore74

Sep 07, 2006 (2:35 pm)

Replying to: snakeweasel (Sep 07, 2006 2:17 pm)
the buyer gets a tax break,
  
Only for a short while, then they start disappearing. Wrong snakeweasel, they only BEGIN to DECREASE in 3Q of this year for Prius, and will be in effect for some time after that...
  
Smugness doesn't account for 1/4 million sales
  
How long did it take to get to the 1/4 million mark? 10 years? Wrong again, the first hybrids were sold in the US about 6 years ago, and the current generation of Prius has only been out for two years and is now outselling BRANDS that have been in the US for much longer
  
Smart has no economic incentives,
  
Yes it does, it has better gas mileage and it doesn't have costly components that could break. Plus the Smart goes for 6,775 UK pounds, that translates to 12,800 USD, if it costs that when it gets here it would be thousands less than the Prius even with a tax rebate. Snake, did you do ANY research on this? The US version will be priced significantly higher due to modifications to meet US safety standards, so your budget is off, also Prius has been one of the most reliable cars in it's segment and the Hybrid powertrain is warrantied for 8 years...
  
Its costs less, costs less to run and most likely be less expensive to maintain. Thats a strong economic incentive to me.
  
so that's why it won't sell very well.
  
Yeah 3/4 of a million over the past 7 or 8 years is very bad.
  
Being hard-nosed about it, the economist would say: "what would motivate someone to buy one"?
  
Ok since I have a degree in Economics I will answer that, if it is less expensive to acquire, run and maintain (which it looks like it could very well be on all three accounts) and it fits your needs thats motivation enough.
  
Where's the payoff for them?
  
Thousands of extra $'s in your pocket.
  
Let me ask you this, you have a choice between two cars, both will fit your needs for what you will be driving it for both will cost the same to maintain and insure.
  
Car 'A' costs you a total of $21,000 and gets 45 MPG.
  
Car 'B' Costs you $13,000 and gets 50 MPG.
  
What car do you get?
  
If you say car 'A' (and you are) I have a wonderful deal for you (but please, cash only as checks can cause trouble in deals like this). As there is no real economic incentive for car 'A'. Again, you base this on a price that is incorrect, and you base your gas mileage off the Euro version, the US version geared to run at higher speeds that we require will likely get significantly less, and will also be a speed bump for 400hp Escalades getting on the freeway unlike a Civic Hybrid or Prius. Besides, for your extra $$ you get a car that can actually carry several adults AND a set of golf clubs with luggage.

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