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What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

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

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum.

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

Messages Page 618 of 985

#6165 of 9838 Re: Shifty [Mr_Shiftright] by nippononly

Nov 18, 2007 (11:25 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 17, 2007 5:35 pm)
I believe part of the problem may be that you are comparing a 2007 (the Mini) with a 2008 (the Smart). The change in the EPA rating system is skewing the discussion.
 
The Cooper is rated like 27/36 in the new system, and the Smart will probably be about 35/45, it seems. There is a lot of gas to be saved by going with the Smart.
 
I finally saw a Smart up close and personal this weekend, and I am beginning to join the Shifty camp. I am used to driving small hatchbacks, and I am used to the dilemma of EITHER carrying four passengers OR carrying large/lots of gear. That has never entailed a limit on my lifestyle in 25 years of driving. But in the Smart you don't get that choice. 1 passenger and small packages are the limit (maybe you could use the passenger seat to carry stuff, but nothing large would fit anywhere in the vehicle). Mainly I think the tiny cargo space would be my biggest problem with it. The passenger limitation would be no big deal if it were just my commute car, and I had my Matrix at home for instance.
 
But whatever, it has no manual option, so it's off my radar now anyway. I am curious to see how well the SMT works in normal driving, but I wouldn't buy one.

#6166 of 9838 Re: Shifty [nippononly] by snakeweasel

Nov 18, 2007 (12:49 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (Nov 18, 2007 11:25 am)
But whatever, it has no manual option,
 
Since it is mainly a commuter car for city driving do you really want a manual? As much as I like them I would never and I mean NEVER drive a manual for my daily commute.

#6167 of 9838 Re: Shifty [snakeweasel] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 18, 2007 (12:58 pm)

Replying to: snakeweasel (Nov 18, 2007 12:49 pm)
Yeah but there goes one more thing the Smart won't have---FUN. So without SPACE, without remarkable GAS MILEAGE, without BEAUTY, without FUN, and without THE LOWEST PRICE, we are left with.....SIZE.
 
So the market advantage of a Smart is really SIZE, that's about it.
 
Is that enough to sell a $15K car, if other $15K cars can give you fun, space, gas mileage, beauty (??) and a lower price? Or at least most of these?
 
This sounds like a hard row to hoe IMO

#6168 of 9838 Re: Shifty [Mr_Shiftright] by snakeweasel

Nov 18, 2007 (1:02 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 18, 2007 12:58 pm)
Have you driven the Smart? If not how can you say its not fun. Those I have talked to that have driven the car think its fun to drive.
 
The Smart does start under $12K which beats most cars and is supposed to have superior gas mileage and with a large percentage of cars being driven with only one person it in would fit the bill for a lot of people.
 
I will stand on my statement that it makes the perfect second commuter car.

#6169 of 9838 Re: Shifty [snakeweasel] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 18, 2007 (1:04 pm)

Replying to: snakeweasel (Nov 18, 2007 1:02 pm)
I never read a review that called it fun. I mean, with an automatic and those 0-60 times, you might need "additives" in your breakfast drink to make that fun.
 
But you know, some people are easily amused and I don't wish to be a snob about that. Fun is subjective....I just don't see the potential staring me in the face here.

#6170 of 9838 I bought the Italian Job on VHS by iluvmysephia1

Nov 18, 2007 (4:01 pm)

last week and watched it a couple of nights ago. I remember the Mini's large role in the film and wanted to watch the little buggy in action again. BTW-I am talking about the new world order 'Italian Job', not the one made in 1969.
 
Pretty impressive chase scenes and the little Mini scooted down extended long steps fairly well. Charlize Theron enjoyed driving her Mini immensely and, incidently, did most all of her Mini's driving scenes. And I must say, the director pushes these people pretty hard in this flick in their Mini's.
 
One factoid I saw in the little extended clip they give you after the credits roll. To do the underground scenes with the Mini's going after the loot and the armored truck, the City of L.A. denied them doing those scenes with internal-combustion engined Mini's. So, they had to get to work making electrical-powered Mini's to complete the scene! The Jerry-rigging worked well and they got their underground shots.
 
Comparing the old Mini from 1969 to this new one really favors the new Mini-Cooper. It appears this car is very well put together and it handles many parts well.

#6171 of 9838 Re: I bought the Italian Job on VHS [iluvmysephia1] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 18, 2007 (4:07 pm)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 18, 2007 4:01 pm)
The old MINI was brilliant in its day but wouldn't be tolerated by modern drivers. They wind up pretty high on the freeway and the transmissions blew up with alarming frequency.

#6172 of 9838 Re: Shifty [snakeweasel] by lilengineerboy

Nov 18, 2007 (4:25 pm)

Replying to: snakeweasel (Nov 18, 2007 1:02 pm)
The Smart does start under $12K
 
Sans AC and radio
 
supposed to have superior gas mileage
 
And we will wait and see, but for something that is as fast as a VW Microbus, it should get good mileage.
 
I will stand on my statement that it makes the perfect second commuter car.
 
...for a limited sub-group of the population. Hopefully for Smart, its enough to support their business case.

#6173 of 9838 Re: Shifty [Mr_Shiftright] by snakeweasel

Nov 18, 2007 (5:42 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 18, 2007 1:04 pm)
I mean, with an automatic and those 0-60 times,
 
How fast do you need to get to 60 in a normal commute?
 
How many times do you actually get to 60 in a normal commute?
 
I never read a review that called it fun.
 
I will take the word of someone who actually own the car thank you.

#6174 of 9838 Re: I bought the Italian Job on VHS [iluvmysephia1] by snakeweasel

Nov 18, 2007 (5:44 pm)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 18, 2007 4:01 pm)
Just remember that it is a movie and movies rarely accurately portray real life. IIRC they heavily modified those cars to be able to do what was done in that movie.

Messages Page 618 of 985

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