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

What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

8564 messages,  Last post on Oct 23, 2009 at 10:37 AM

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

#6507 of 8564 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)
#6508 of 8564 Re: Apparently to some people here my Lancer GTS for [iluvmysephia1] by robertsmx Dec 07, 2007 (2:47 pm)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Dec 07, 2007 2:26 pm) The problem for companies like Mitsubishi might be that folks who buy cars only for looks are also the kind who will jump the boat (or ship, as the case may be) at the very first opportunity. The buyer may not care, but that is where customer loyalty comes into play.   But, I don't find what is so great about Lancer in terms of styling. The advantage it may hold is in seeing far fewer of them on the roads. "Familiarity breeds contempt" applies.
#6509 of 8564 I guess some people just have a better sense by iluvmysephia1 Dec 07, 2007 (2:59 pm)
of styling. To give this blank statement reason like "Oh, but styling is so subjective" just flat out stinks of jealousy and contempt. And that is just what it is. Anyone who gives the Mitsubishi Lancer GTS for 2008 a good, thorough look knows what I'm talking about.   And I'm developing in to a true Mitsubishi fan, too, not just a fair weather fan. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 07, 2007 3:12 pm) lilengineerboy (Dec 07, 2007 7:01 pm) tiff_c (Dec 07, 2007 8:49 pm)
#6510 of 8564 Re: Interesting Discussion! [Mr_Shiftright] by andre1969 Dec 07, 2007 (3:02 pm)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 07, 2007 2:25 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.   Well, depending on how aggressive your driving habits are in the first place, you might be able to change them and see a 10-15% jump, or even more, in your own real world fuel economy. For instance, the last time I did one of my runs up to Pennsylvania for a car show, in October, I drove my '85 Silverado, just for the hell of it. It was EPA-rated at 14/16 under the old EPA system, and something like 12/15 with the new, downgraded numbers. I've been able to hit 16 mpg in the past by driving fairly gently, in mostly highway driving. On that trip to PA though, I figured I'd try to hypermile a bit, and actually got it up to 18! So that's about a 12.5% improvement. Basically, I just kept it at around the speed limit, sometimes a bit below, averaging 55-65 mph with an extremely rare jaunt up to 70. Normally on that run, I'd average 65-75, with a rare jaunt up to 80.   Also, in local driving, I'd usually get around 12-13 mpg with that truck. When I'd let my roommate borrow it, it was more like 10.   Still, there's nothing really magical going on here. It's just easing up on the gas pedal, trying to pay attention far enough ahead so I can coast to a slowdown instead of having to jam on the brakes, trying to avoid fast starts, etc.   However, I dunno if it's any easier to beat the EPA estimates in a smaller vehicle versus a bigger one. Probably too many factors other than simply size/mass.
#6511 of 8564 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [dromedarius] by snakeweasel Dec 07, 2007 (3:09 pm)
Replying to: dromedarius (Dec 07, 2007 7:17 am) No, I didn't report the Canadian MPG I reported the Canadian liters used per 100 kilometers and converted it to US MPG.
#6512 of 8564 Re: I guess some people just have a better sense [iluvmysephia1] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Dec 07, 2007 (3:12 pm)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Dec 07, 2007 2:59 pm) Apparently beauty is not subjective. Scientific studies suggest that the human brain is programmed to prefer symmetry and certain ratios and proportions. Replies to this message: lilengineerboy (Dec 07, 2007 7:01 pm)
#6513 of 8564 Re: Interesting Discussion! [dromedarius] by snakeweasel Dec 07, 2007 (3:12 pm)
Replying to: dromedarius (Dec 07, 2007 7:54 am) I completely agree w/you regarding the smart; I can't see it being a practical purchase for 99.5% of the US population.   I will disagree with you on that one, there is a very large segment of two car families where one car is primarily used for commuting and that car rarely, if ever, has more than 2 people in it. For those families a Smart would be the perfect second car. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 07, 2007 3:15 pm) snakeweasel (Dec 07, 2007 3:37 pm)
#6514 of 8564 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [robertsmx] by snakeweasel Dec 07, 2007 (3:15 pm)
Replying to: robertsmx (Dec 07, 2007 7:59 am) Once we get into high mileage cars, practicality becomes far more important than saving 10% on fuel economy,   Is it practical for two people to own two large cars? Is it practical for a small family to own two large cars when one is only used for commuting? There is a large segment of the two car family world that does not need a very large second car.   Now as the primary car no its not practical, but as a second commuter its a very good and practical car.
#6515 of 8564 Re: Interesting Discussion! [snakeweasel] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Dec 07, 2007 (3:15 pm)
Replying to: snakeweasel (Dec 07, 2007 3:12 pm) So why wouldn't the Honda Fit be the perfect car for that family? With a Smart they are condemned to never carrying anything, which even a 2-person family certainly does every now and then.   I think if you put a SMART and a Fit side by side with gas mileages taped to their windows, for the same price, and asked small families to choose, I think the Smart would lose 9 out of 10 times. Either price, or "danger" or "looks" will come into play. Replies to this message: snakeweasel (Dec 07, 2007 3:37 pm)
#6516 of 8564 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [robertsmx] by snakeweasel Dec 07, 2007 (3:17 pm)
Replying to: robertsmx (Dec 07, 2007 8:10 am) Have you ever shared your numbers to EPA's website? Calling those who do liars is the last thing that comes to my mind.   I am not calling anyone liars but I have to tend to seriously question a few who report numbers much higher than everyone else.

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