You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

8656 messages,  Last post on Nov 29, 2009 at 3:06 PM

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

#6461 of 8656 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [snakeweasel] by robertsmx Dec 06, 2007 (10:26 pm)
Replying to: snakeweasel (Dec 06, 2007 6:22 pm) To put mileage in perspective, in city (both ratings using fuel economy rating in UK) Honda Jazz (Fit): 41.5 mpg Smart TwoFour: 46.0 mpg   So, Smart has a little edge. But, does it make up for the compromises? Fit can replace a Civic, while the Smart basically replaces a motorcycle/scooter. Replies to this message: snakeweasel (Dec 07, 2007 5:08 am) robertsmx (Dec 07, 2007 7:59 am) snakeweasel (Dec 07, 2007 3:15 pm)
#6462 of 8656 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [dromedarius] by tiff_c Dec 06, 2007 (11:24 pm)
Replying to: dromedarius (Dec 06, 2007 11:33 am) The whole concept doesn't make sense to me. It's almost as expensive as a Fit or Yaris and doesn't have near the interior space w/little to no mileage improvements. If Honda or Toyota had made this car I can't imagine it being so limited.   Oh it does make sense in a very crowded city as it's cheaper to park on the street and the Smart is all about parking in small spaces and getting good economy doing it. The Fit and Yaris or Scion xD (aka Yaris 5 door) will fit into tight spaces as well but not nearly as well as the Smart. Smart is the car you buy for a good parking space and not much else which is why it's sales are slow. It needs better economy and be more fun to drive like a manual tranny with a diesel engine. The Smart should be getting 60mpg minimum in the City to make it worthwhile IMO.
#6463 of 8656 Might it be interesting to see how the by iluvmysephia1 Dec 06, 2007 (11:44 pm)
SmartForSomeone sells in Japan? I mean, it's cities are crowded and tight for space and the Smart is great for that. So, will they blindly follow their own manufacturers and buy the Yaris, Fit and Suzuki kei-size cars? Probably, but not definitely. Somebody follow that statistic for us in their spare time and I'll get back to you on it, OK?
#6464 of 8656 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [ttai] by lilengineerboy Dec 07, 2007 (4:29 am)
Replying to: ttai (Dec 06, 2007 8:51 pm) I actually like the Smart for it's cool, small fun size. It's kinda like a go kart with a roof.   I would say its more like a ATV or quad with a roof. I think there is a perception that a go-cart handles well, is low to the ground, and eh mid-engined. I think the Fiero/MR2 fit the bill better than the Smart, and the Fiero was originally designed for the same niche market.   I had a motorcycle so taking this thing on the freeway is no problem for me.   A motorcycle has the ability to maneuver out of trouble and can go from 0-60 in 1/3 the time of the Smart, leaving a lot of options to, as my driving instructor would say, "be somewhere else."
#6465 of 8656 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [ttai] by snakeweasel Dec 07, 2007 (5:03 am)
Replying to: ttai (Dec 06, 2007 8:51 pm) What kind of government creative accounting is this?   Its not governmental accounting its basic statistics. In cases like this you become very critical of extreme highs or lows in reporting something like this as abnormalities. People can misremember, calculate wrong, have wrong facts or just outright lie. When something lies way outside the norm, say like everyone reporting between 32 and 36 MPG and someone comes along and reports 42MPG you should look at the 42 with suspect.   Either way the Smart does really beat the Yaris by a long shot if it gets what the Canadian website claims.   $12K for a car that does everything I need it to do and gets above 40 city sounds like a winner in my book. Replies to this message: lilengineerboy (Dec 07, 2007 6:04 am) Mr_Shiftright (Dec 07, 2007 8:10 am) robertsmx (Dec 07, 2007 8:10 am) john500 (Dec 07, 2007 10:13 am) Mr_Shiftright (Dec 07, 2007 10:19 am) and 10 more... robertsmx (Dec 07, 2007 11:10 am) and 14 more... snakeweasel (Dec 07, 2007 3:17 pm)
#6466 of 8656 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [robertsmx] by snakeweasel Dec 07, 2007 (5:08 am)
Replying to: robertsmx (Dec 06, 2007 10:26 pm) Per the Canadian website the Smart uses 5.9 liters per 100 Kilometers resulting in about 40 MPG city   Per the EPA website the Fit gets 34 Highway.   big difference.   But we will see when we get the EPA estiments Replies to this message: robertsmx (Dec 07, 2007 7:59 am) snakeweasel (Dec 07, 2007 3:15 pm)
#6467 of 8656 Re: Interesting Discussion! [boaz47] by dgecho1 Dec 07, 2007 (5:48 am)
Replying to: boaz47 (Dec 06, 2007 4:17 pm) you're right! Buy the biggest, most bloated SUV possible...drive any way you want to...waste it if you want like there is not tomorrow..after all, we are AMERICANS..and, can do whatever we want! Replies to this message: boaz47 (Dec 07, 2007 8:07 am)
#6468 of 8656 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [snakeweasel] by lilengineerboy Dec 07, 2007 (6:04 am)
Replying to: snakeweasel (Dec 07, 2007 5:03 am) $12K for a car that does everything I need it to do and gets above 40 city sounds like a winner in my book.   I too think that would be great, unfortunately the Smart isn't that car for me. I think a 3-5 year old VW TDI would be a lot closer for me, especially since the hwy mileage is a bigger factor for me than city. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 07, 2007 8:10 am)
#6469 of 8656 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [snakeweasel] by dromedarius Dec 07, 2007 (7:17 am)
Replying to: snakeweasel (Dec 06, 2007 6:59 pm) You're comparing Canadian mileage figures for the smart to American mileage figures for the Fit and/or Yaris but isn't the Canadian gallon larger???     Replies to this message: snakeweasel (Dec 07, 2007 3:09 pm)
#6470 of 8656 No... by bumpy Dec 07, 2007 (7:48 am)
5.9 L/100 km is 39.875 miles per US gallon

You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?