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

What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

8569 messages,  Last post on Nov 11, 2009 at 3:28 PM

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

#6534 of 8569 Re: grad... [tiff_c] by andeet Dec 08, 2007 (4:52 am)
Replying to: tiff_c (Dec 07, 2007 9:01 pm) As ex '06 Scion xA owner..I was getting 39-40 mpg. I was driving close to 45 miles one way to work and I only had to fill up once week. It was good little car but being young...I wanted something more better & something more youthful so I went with a '07 Scion tC. Now I fill up about twice or even three times driving around & commuting to work. Scion are just as good as Toyota's...I've done some stupid things with both cars and they seem they want to start up the next day. In fact this week, I accidently left on one of my dome lights on during work....I hit the keyless remote: car unlocked. Lights were still on. Went to start the car: Car started and ran for second then died. I was amazed that my battery wasn't totally dead.   My other siblings (which is quite funny: Our Dad likes only GM. But my oldest sister and my older brother likes only Mitsubishi's. While my second older sister and I likes our Toyota's.) My brother just got '08 Lancer. Nice car if you like the "fun stuff" (accessories,) 1.5 liter engine stinks (Remember I'm used to my 2.4 161hp VVT-i), 18in alloys stink in the winter (he had very scary spin in the car's first snow storm), his front hood has rock chip that already is rusting? My tC is pushing 62k miles and I have some rock chips but they yet to become rust like his. I heard from Scion fan sites that Mitsu's are famous for terrible paint.   Sorry Mitsubisi owners (I used to own '00 Galant)...I guess Toyota made me into Toyota Buyer Monster Replies to this message: lilengineerboy (Dec 08, 2007 6:53 am) andeet (Dec 09, 2007 6:30 am) lilengineerboy (Dec 09, 2007 7:56 am) tiff_c (Dec 08, 2007 1:28 pm)
#6535 of 8569 Re: grad... [andeet] by lilengineerboy Dec 08, 2007 (6:53 am)
Replying to: andeet (Dec 08, 2007 4:52 am) In fact this week, I accidentally left on one of my dome lights on during work....I hit the keyless remote: car unlocked. Lights were still on. Went to start the car: Car started and ran for second then died. I was amazed that my battery wasn't totally dead.   So you left a 8w bulb on for 8 hrs and it did or did not kill the car? That has much more to do with the age of the battery than anything to do with the car at all, and it sounds like it still died?   My brother just got '08 Lancer. Nice car if you like the "fun stuff" (accessories,) 1.5 liter engine stinks (Remember I'm used to my 2.4 161hp VVT-i),   I thought you had to get the 2.0l 150 hp Lancer GTS to get the 18" wheels. Anyway, I am impressed you could notice the 2 tenths of a second difference from 0-60. I was wondering if you also noticed the Scions' 60' additional stopping distance, or the lower skidpad and cornering numbers.   Also, if you are into sporty looking coupes, perhaps it would be better to compare the Eclipse as opposed to sedan.   I think while the Mitsu and Scion are both trying to look sporty, the Civic actually is somewhat sporty.   I heard from Scion fan sites that Mitsu's are famous for terrible paint.    Makes you wonder what they say about the Scion on the Mitsu sites, no?   Sorry Mitsubisi owners (I used to own '00 Galant).   My '89 Mitsubishi Galant(car of the year at the time) was around the 180 or 190k mark when I got the '96 Contour SE MTX in '98. The biggest repair it had was a clutch replacement for $450. And that old Galant gave 2k towards the Contour's 10k price. Replies to this message: andeet (Dec 09, 2007 6:30 am) lilengineerboy (Dec 09, 2007 7:56 am)
#6536 of 8569 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [Mr_Shiftright] by snakeweasel Dec 08, 2007 (7:56 am)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 07, 2007 5:30 pm) I didn't see any link to report fuel mileage to the EPA on their site.   Its a link on the main page titled something like "see MPG from drivers like you"   If you price out both of them with comparable equipment, that is base Smart with AC & power steering, vs. Base Fit with those items standard, I regret to say that the Honda comes out to be $128 more,   The base Smart with radio, A/C and power steering comes in at around a grand less than the fit and it has stability control and traction control which I believe the standard Fit does not have.   Seems for a second commuter car the Smart would be a better car than a Fit. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 08, 2007 8:15 am) snakeweasel (Dec 08, 2007 8:29 am) Mr_Shiftright (Dec 08, 2007 8:43 am) and 2 more...
#6537 of 8569 Brand loyality by boaz47 Dec 08, 2007 (8:11 am)
Is a strange thing. It reminds me of people that are into sports. I see the reasoning but for the most part it has never caught me. I do have prejudices however I know. I have never forgiven VW for the three examples they produced and I happened to buy. It may not have been the cars themselves as much as their sales and service but they have more than likely lost me forever. And sales and service is about people more than about the machine or product.   Still getting back on track we can see that there is no universal consensus as to the correct size vehicle. Most consumers prefer something in the Accord Camry size and that is unlikely to change over the next ten years. I am sure as a society we will prefer that they work harder on improving the fuel mileage to our favorite sized vehicles to us switching to smaller less comfortable vehicles. Yes, sub compacts may be practical and the Smart may even be practical to some but US consumers are more interested in comfort, and a bit more power. That is why the xD has more power than the xA and the xB got more power as well. Us consumers also like their SUVs and trucks and that isn't likely to change either. Trucks and SUVs may have to change but they have changed some already. For the last few years trucks have simply been getting bigger it may be time they got smaller as SUVs seem to be getting. But that is a far cry from switching to sub compacts.
#6538 of 8569 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [snakeweasel] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Dec 08, 2007 (8:15 am)
Replying to: snakeweasel (Dec 08, 2007 7:56 am) Where are you getting these numbers? The base SMART doesn't have AC or power steering, you have to add for that. That's where you are $1,000 short I think. I see both AC and "electric power steering" as options on the list.   The SMART sounds like it needs traction control badly in snow, from what I've read, so that's a good thing for it to include. Replies to this message: snakeweasel (Dec 08, 2007 8:29 am) Mr_Shiftright (Dec 08, 2007 8:43 am) robertsmx (Dec 08, 2007 12:01 pm) texases (Dec 08, 2007 12:01 pm)
#6539 of 8569 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [Mr_Shiftright] by snakeweasel Dec 08, 2007 (8:29 am)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 08, 2007 8:15 am) Where are you getting these numbers?   Edmunds, Base Smart is about $11,500 A/C, radio and power steering add about $1500 to it making about 13K. The Fit starts at just under $14K, you do the math. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 08, 2007 8:43 am) robertsmx (Dec 08, 2007 12:01 pm) texases (Dec 08, 2007 12:01 pm)
#6540 of 8569 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [snakeweasel] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Dec 08, 2007 (8:43 am)
Replying to: snakeweasel (Dec 08, 2007 8:29 am) I just did it again and this time *carefully* matched up all options.   SMART with AC power steering and radio is $13815   FIT with same options (plus more features that are standard) is $14316   So we are $500 difference for a faster, bigger, more freeway capable subcompact car with a great reputation and dealers all over the world.   No contest IMO. Replies to this message: robertsmx (Dec 08, 2007 12:01 pm) texases (Dec 08, 2007 12:01 pm)
#6541 of 8569 Fit versus Smart [Mr_Shiftright] by robertsmx Dec 08, 2007 (12:01 pm)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 08, 2007 8:43 am) Yep. Getting a smaller car for the sake of it wouldn't be smart. Fit (and like) is a car that can be a lot more than pure commuter cars. Fit is fit enough to be a first car for many, and makes for a good second car as well, given the versatility of the package.   While we are drawing similarities (second car, fuel economy, size, price etc), the more I think about it, the more contrast I see between Fit and Smart. Smart fails badly in the utility aspect, while I would get Fit over even an Accord for that reason alone!
#6542 of 8569 Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [Mr_Shiftright] by texases Dec 08, 2007 (12:01 pm)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 08, 2007 8:43 am) Also, there may be enough 'new thing' demand to see ADM on Smarts for a while, so the $500 differential may actually be $0, or -$500.
#6543 of 8569 Re: grad... [andeet] by tiff_c Dec 08, 2007 (1:28 pm)
Replying to: andeet (Dec 08, 2007 4:52 am) As ex '06 Scion xA owner..I was getting 39-40 mpg. I was driving close to 45 miles one way to work and I only had to fill up once week. It was good little car but being young...I wanted something more better & something more youthful so I went with a '07 Scion tC. Now I fill up about twice or even three times driving around & commuting to work. Scion are just as good as Toyota's...I've done some stupid things with both cars and they seem they want to start up the next day. In fact this week, I accidently left on one of my dome lights on during work....I hit the keyless remote: car unlocked. Lights were still on. Went to start the car: Car started and ran for second then died. I was amazed that my battery wasn't totally dead.   This is all part of the buyers happy experience, a satisfied customer is what the companies strive for "true believers" in their products. My wife likes the Scion xD. I think she'd be better off with a Civic but she really wants a MINI (unlikely to get one) But it's great when you can really enjoy what you own. For me I buy cars for the long haul. My friend gets bored quickly with cars once they are out of warranty or sooner he trades them in. we all have brands we like and brands we hate. I have brands I will never buy again, others maybe and some of course. Mitsubishi has come a long way but they still have work to do to make a full comeback. Glad you enjoy your tC,

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