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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 521 of 984

#5198 of 9838 Re: 2007 Cobalt [Mr_Shiftright] by boaz47

Oct 01, 2007 (6:12 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 30, 2007 6:43 pm)
No, I was talking about road races like Atlanta. I have been to the drag races and I realize they have very little to do with a street car. All I was saying is there are performance parts for the Cobalt that seem to indicate there is reason to expect they can be made to handle better than a sub compact. And if they are running ahead of a Mini Cooper they have to be more sporty than a Toyota, one would think. Still I haven't driven one.

#5199 of 9838 Fit handles 5 by texases

Oct 01, 2007 (7:03 am)

From today's Fit blog, sounds like it's a decent people hauler:
 
This past weekend was the last weekend of the Los Angeles County fair, so a few friends and I decided to take our 2007 Honda Fit and drive the hour out to the fair grounds. By a few friends I mean myself plus four full size, adult passengers. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a tight fit, however the Fit handled it just fine. What surprised me even more was that when merging onto the highway the Fit seemed to be unaffected by the full load. I guess this little car has more to offer than I thought.

#5200 of 9838 Re: Fit handles 5 [texases] by tiff_c

Oct 01, 2007 (7:46 am)

Replying to: texases (Oct 01, 2007 7:03 am)
It's a decent car as long as you don't need to go up any steep hills with 4 people. I always bring 4 people to test drive a new car. My wife wanted one so we brought our kids along. My son is a brute and looks like a linebacker, guess he gets that from his mom
Anyway we drover it up a pretty decent sized hill in town and I mean a paved street where the radio tower is and you have to shift it down low to get up that street. it was mostly in 2nd gear and 3rd just wasn't going to happen. The street isn't even a mile long but it's a great test for a cars power. For most stuff in the city it's ok although I didn't drive one in the winter. My kids whined about it being small for 3 of them in the back, the youngest is 19 so they are adults. If you are in a place like Florida it'd be great as it's mostly flat but lots of hills will kill the economy in any vehicle and the Fit is no exception. My wife is no power fiend but it's not enough juice for our area and with snow I have no idea how it would work out.

#5201 of 9838 Re: Fit handles 5 [tiff_c] by boaz47

Oct 01, 2007 (8:35 am)

Replying to: tiff_c (Oct 01, 2007 7:46 am)
I do pretty much what you do when testing a vehicle. I don't always load it down with people but I will take one or two extra people with me and insist that I get to test drive the vehicle to my house. I live right at the 5000 foot level so the climb from the bottom of the hill is at least 3000 feet in 16 miles. At the bottom of the mountain I turn on the air and try to keep up with the commuters coming home. If the car over heats or gets passed by a big SUV driven by a mom and loaded down with kids I look for a different car.

#5202 of 9838 Re: Fit handles 5 [tiff_c] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 01, 2007 (8:52 am)

Replying to: tiff_c (Oct 01, 2007 7:46 am)
I don't have any trouble in San Francisco though. The only time I find power inadequate is trying to pass trucks over 60 mph on Highway 1 (two lanes only)...that's a bit of a knuckle-tightener.
 
The Cobalt handled okay. You give me enough money, I'll beat a MINI with a Yugo.

#5203 of 9838 A Fit... by andre1969

Oct 01, 2007 (9:01 am)

only has about 50.6" of shoulder room in back, so I can't imagine three adults being comfortable back there for very long.

#5204 of 9838 Re: A Fit... [andre1969] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 01, 2007 (9:08 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Oct 01, 2007 9:01 am)
Not three, no. Two in the back, I do that on occasion and nobody complains. The xA has about the same shoulder room as the Fit.
 
These little cars are FINE for 4 people for commutes. But not 5 for anything more than short hops.

#5205 of 9838 Re: A Fit... [andre1969] by robertsmx

Oct 01, 2007 (9:12 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Oct 01, 2007 9:01 am)
That will be too much to expect from a subcompact. Not even "American" midsizers are good for three in the back.

#5206 of 9838 Re: A Fit... [robertsmx] by andre1969

Oct 01, 2007 (9:22 am)

Replying to: robertsmx (Oct 01, 2007 9:12 am)
That will be too much to expect from a subcompact. Not even "American" midsizers are good for three in the back.
 
Exactly. That's why I find the earlier comment about how that poster's Fit would "fit" 5 adults. I'm presuming that meant 3 in the back seat, unless they put the 5th adult back in the cargo area!
 
Unless I'm reading the original post wrong? But according to the way I was taught English, the statement "This past weekend was the last weekend of the Los Angeles County fair, so a few friends and I decided to take our 2007 Honda Fit and drive the hour out to the fair grounds. By a few friends I mean myself plus four full size, adult passengers." means 5 people total...the driver plus four passengers.
 
As for comfort, or at least my perception of it, I doubt if there's ANY car made today that's really designed to hold three people across. Maybe something like a Benz S-class or BMW 7-series? I know those back seats are designed to be the ultimate luxury for 2 people, but even they might not suffice for 3 across.
 
I think you'd really need a full-sized pickup or SUV or a not-so-mini-anymore-van to really get good 3 across seating.

#5207 of 9838 Re: A Fit... [robertsmx] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 01, 2007 (9:23 am)

Replying to: robertsmx (Oct 01, 2007 9:12 am)
I was thinking about what would make these little subcompacts "perfect".
 
In the case of mine (Scion xA), two inches more legroom (not sure where that's coming from though ) and a taller 5th gear and I'd never sell it I don't think. The small 1.5 engine I can work around by paying attention to shifting.

Messages Page 521 of 984

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