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

What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

8678 messages,  Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 8:55 AM

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

#6498 of 8678 Re: The fact is that I bought the car [dromedarius] by tiff_c Dec 07, 2007 (1:21 pm)
Replying to: dromedarius (Dec 07, 2007 12:50 pm) Personally, I don't understand why so many people are so concerned about vehicle comfort. Granted, some people have long commutes, but most of us spend very little time in a car relative to everything else we do. Conversely I never hear people complain about how uncomfortable their chair at work is.   My back is screwed up, too much heavy lifting, more than a few falls and not much they can do about it. So of course I need a comfortable car. I travel extensively for my work and no way do i want to drive 5 + hours in an uncomfortable car. I don't need a huge SUV but really great seats are a priority. I really need AWD as some of the areas I travel don't get great snow maintainance. But you can't have everything. Spend about 1.5 million miles driving over the years and seat comfort is going to be waaaaaay up on your list believe me. If I just drove 5K miles a year it might not matter so much. My Miata was comfortable and did well in the snow. But too impractical for the driving I did. Highway cruisers are not city cars like your Geo which was a rebadged Suzuki I believe, not a bad car if it fits you and you are happy with it. I like a performance car and I also need a comfortable seat. No Civics for me thank you.   As far as my work chair goes I bought my own and took out the monstrosity they wanted me to use. I either drive a desk or a car, both need to be comfortable. If you screw up your back severely you'll understand. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Dec 07, 2007 1:31 pm) tiff_c (Dec 07, 2007 1:41 pm)
#6499 of 8678 Re: The fact is that I bought the car [thegraduate] by tiff_c Dec 07, 2007 (1:25 pm)
Replying to: thegraduate (Dec 07, 2007 12:45 pm) Thanks tiff, I had left it out by mistake. I was looking at the sidebar of this discussion and saw the Versa, Yaris and Fit, and forgot about the xD.   No sweat, there are so many cars available out there now . I just would like to see the ability to put at least a Recaro seat for the driver and not screw up the airbags. Be easier to justify a few cars I might like to buy if I could get a Recaro seat and not void any warranties or change the safety.
#6500 of 8678 Re: The fact is that I bought the car [tiff_c] by ateixeira Dec 07, 2007 (1:31 pm)
Replying to: tiff_c (Dec 07, 2007 1:21 pm) That is a funny point. How much time do we really spend in our cars? At most 2 hours a day?   Yes we spend 8 hours in the office. How many of us went out and bought an uber-expensive executive office chair?   The auto industry has done a GREAT job marketing all this stuff, convincing us we need it.   Another example: do you have keyless entry in your home? I have a 6CD changer in my car, yet a single CD player at home. I spend a lot more time at home, however.   It's all brilliant marketing. Replies to this message: tiff_c (Dec 07, 2007 1:41 pm)
#6501 of 8678 Re: The fact is that I bought the car [dromedarius] by andre1969 Dec 07, 2007 (1:34 pm)
Replying to: dromedarius (Dec 07, 2007 12:50 pm) Personally, I don't understand why so many people are so concerned about vehicle comfort. Granted, some people have long commutes, but most of us spend very little time in a car relative to everything else we do. Conversely I never hear people complain about how uncomfortable their chair at work is.   That's because in my chair at work, I can adequately stretch my legs out if I need to. I can also get up and walk around, stretch, etc. I can push the keyboard to the computer to a comfortable distance from me. I can raise or lower the chair as I need to fit under the desk.   It also kinda helps that my company bought me a $560 or so ergonomic chair.   My uncle's Corolla starts to annoy me after about 10 minutes worth of driving. My legs cramp up, it gives poor thigh support, and I find myself leaning inward because of the way the roof slopes in.   Now truth be told, I probably could deal with this car for most of my driving needs. I'm close enough to work that 10 minutes is actually a long commute! But still, why subject myself to that kind of torture when I don't really need to? Replies to this message: ateixeira (Dec 07, 2007 1:36 pm) snakeweasel (Dec 07, 2007 3:32 pm)
#6502 of 8678 Re: The fact is that I bought the car [andre1969] by ateixeira Dec 07, 2007 (1:36 pm)
Replying to: andre1969 (Dec 07, 2007 1:34 pm) Here at work, we found out if you call the health folks you can get one of those bad boys for free (they pay). The next day a bunch of us called complaining about sore backs!   I still have a "low budget" chair, though. Replies to this message: snakeweasel (Dec 07, 2007 3:32 pm)
#6503 of 8678 Re: The fact is that I bought the car [ateixeira] by tiff_c Dec 07, 2007 (1:41 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 07, 2007 1:31 pm) That is a funny point. How much time do we really spend in our cars? At most 2 hours a day?   I envy them! I really do! Somedays it's 8 hours of driving total, 4+ hours then figure out why some piece of machinery that was custom made is now all wonky. The 4+ hours drive back. Then of course it has to be fixed poste haste and so often I have to get the part back up there since it's always critical. I slept in my office more than most I'll wager.   Yes we spend 8 hours in the office. How many of us went out and bought an uber-expensive executive office chair?   Mine was pretty darn expensive but it beats 6 months of therapy in a swimming pool which I do not have time for.   Another example: do you have keyless entry in your home? I have a 6CD changer in my car, yet a single CD player at home. I spend a lot more time at home, however.   Meet George Jetson.... His boy Elroy.... Jane his wife! I rarely listen to the radio or CD's. i like peace and quiet when I drive, only if I am super tired do I put of stuff to keep me awake.   I do agree it's really a great marketing ploy but a great Nav system pays for itself. I used to use Maps Rand McNally but too much hassle after a while. I still keep road maps as a backup but some gizmos are worthwhile. If you drive a lot those little map lights allow the driver to drive with less distraction while the passenger fiddles with something. Most stuff is a waste like climate control. I don't even have A/C in my house
#6504 of 8678 In my opinion... by andre1969 Dec 07, 2007 (1:46 pm)
there's comfort, and then there's marketing. The difference is that when a commerical tells you it's comfortable, then it's marketing. If your ass tells you it feels comfortable, then it it's comfortable!
#6505 of 8678 Re: Interesting Discussion! [boaz47] by robertsmx Dec 07, 2007 (1:58 pm)
Replying to: boaz47 (Dec 07, 2007 12:56 pm) it would be a heck of a lot easier for me to get 2mpg gallon better average in a 3/4 ton truck than it would for a Fit to find another 2MPG average.   Not quite. If things were that easy, trucks would be more fuel efficient than they are. Based on my experiences, I find it virtually impossible to exceed 15 mpg in a Dodge Ram (14-15 mpg is the norm). And it is not that I enjoy driving those things so much that I drive without regard to fuel economy. For most part, I end up driving them at 55-60 mph when I would be cruising past 70 mph in my cars. Yet... Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 07, 2007 2:25 pm) andre1969 (Dec 07, 2007 3:02 pm)
#6506 of 8678 Re: Interesting Discussion! [robertsmx] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Dec 07, 2007 (2:25 pm)
Replying to: robertsmx (Dec 07, 2007 1:58 pm) Engineers would sell their grandmothers into slavery to get an extra 2 mpg out of a big V8 truck without massive expense or without too much compromise in noise, drivability, etc.   I'd say if you could improve a big V8's mileage by 3 to 5% doing simple easy stuff that would be an accomplishment to brag about. But a 10-15% jump in mileage? You'd have to get kind of radical, and you'd have spent more than the gas savings justify.   The 2007 cars are REALLY well-dialed in for power and economy. Some guy in his garage is not going to dramatically improve that with snakey air filters and magic potions, or even $600 exhaust systems. Replies to this message: andre1969 (Dec 07, 2007 3:02 pm)
#6507 of 8678 Apparently to some people here my Lancer GTS for by iluvmysephia1 Dec 07, 2007 (2:26 pm)
2008 is insufficient and lacking. Did I mention bodystyling? Of course I did, I just listed in really clear fashion why my Lancer GTS is the best car on the market for me. At the top of that list is the great new bodystyle.   A great Warranty is nice and so is a dependable powertrain and comfortable interior, sunroof and 650-watt Rockford Fosgate 6 CD-changer with subwoofer in the trunk. Did I mention a comfortable interior and nice stereo and great looking new Lancer bodystyle. Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift-control knob?   Driver interactive information center, headrest whiplash protection, skads of airbags (including driver's knee airbag), ABS w/EBD for the brakes and a 10 year and 100,000 mile Warranty.   Mitsubishi has built in years of rally racing experience in this design and it points towards upcoming features in the new EVO X due out in 2008. Did I forget to mention great new bodystyle? Oh, I forgot, that's merely subjective.   Every Toyota and Honda and Subaru owner needs to remember those frontline defenses because their bodydesign departments are merely afterthoughts of their collective corporations. Aren't they? With Toyota's Scion an exception is made because with those rigs Scion went for an individual design look to appeal to the younger generation. With the xA and tC they did a great job.   But, oh, those compact, midsize and larger Honda's and Toyota's. Middle of the road looks aren't quite good enough for those of us who really care about how our vehicles look like.   So, for a guy like me Big Megalo Mart car manufacturers like Honda and Toyota miss the mark. By a lot. Replies to this message: robertsmx (Dec 07, 2007 2:47 pm)

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