What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

Replying to: andre1969 (May 15, 2008 3:29 pm)

If the report on mileage was an isolated example you might have a point. But it seems to be closer to what several different reports are saying. This is as least the second or third report of that kind of mileage for the Smart. remember this little car has been selling in the red even in Europe where fuel mileage is close to the most consideration.
 
Nippon
I did drive the insight up our mountain at the time. A missionary friend of mine was living here and commuting to Palmdale from Arrowhead. Yes he got the 70 MPG going to Palmdale. He got a bit less coming home. But one night he allowed me to drive it from San Bernardino to Crestline. With the two of us and the climb we got passed by a Sammy. Having been the owner of several Sammies I was pretty surprised. But then it was only 1000 CCs and it had been on the freeway for several miles running at freeway speeds before he picked me up in Berdoo. You may be right and I should have bit the bullet and I now wish I had but then fuel wasn't more than 2 bucks a gallon and the Focus seemed so much more practical and it still got better than 30 MPG. Still I might keep my eye out for a used Insight. Living in the flatlands it makes a big difference as a in town car. I just don't think I will ever accept a sub compact as a road car or a highway cruiser. Only time will tell.
 
My wife and I have talked it over and we will not be buying anything until we see if they deliver on the promised plug in hybrids or EVs by 2010. But I have been riding a bicycle a lot more now that we moved. You wouldn't like it however, 21 speeds but no clutch.

Replies to this message:
• nippononly (May 15, 2008 8:27 pm)

Replying to: boaz47 (May 15, 2008 7:50 pm)

"You wouldn't like it however, 21 speeds but no clutch."
 
Well, now that's just a design flaw, plain and simple!
 
One of the great things about the Insight: you could get one with a clutch.
 
I still have high hopes for the 2010 CRZ hybrid: 50 mpg combined and a clutch to go with it.

Replying to: snakeweasel (May 15, 2008 2:12 pm)

Replies to this message:
• snakeweasel (May 16, 2008 4:14 am)
• thegraduate (May 16, 2008 6:12 am)
  • bpizzuti (May 16, 2008 9:19 am)
    • thegraduate (May 16, 2008 10:12 am) and 3 more...
  • andeet (May 16, 2008 11:59 pm)

Replying to: andeet (May 15, 2008 10:45 pm)

Replying to: andeet (May 15, 2008 10:45 pm)

I still rather spend the extra $4.00s to the tank knowing my car can out run a semi-truck that can't move to the middle lane when I'm getting onto a interstate.
 
Others will let the truck go by and slide in behind the semi, if their car can't accelerate that quick, or if they simply don't want to wind-out the engine and use their gas.
 
I've done both (although I tend to drive conservatively 90% of the time), so I'm not harping on ya.

Replies to this message:
• bpizzuti (May 16, 2008 9:19 am)
  • thegraduate (May 16, 2008 10:12 am)
    • andre1969 (May 16, 2008 11:27 am) and 2 more...
• andeet (May 16, 2008 11:59 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (May 16, 2008 6:12 am)

Others will let the truck go by and slide in behind the semi, if their car can't accelerate that quick, or if they simply don't want to wind-out the engine and use their gas.
 
This strategy has the additional benefit of allowing one to draft the truck, significantly increasing their MPGs.

Replies to this message:
• thegraduate (May 16, 2008 10:12 am)
  • andre1969 (May 16, 2008 11:27 am)
    • thegraduate (May 16, 2008 11:35 am)
    • nippononly (May 16, 2008 6:53 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (May 16, 2008 9:19 am)

Replies to this message:
• andre1969 (May 16, 2008 11:27 am)
  • thegraduate (May 16, 2008 11:35 am)
  • nippononly (May 16, 2008 6:53 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (May 16, 2008 10:12 am)

Replies to this message:
• thegraduate (May 16, 2008 11:35 am)
• nippononly (May 16, 2008 6:53 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 16, 2008 11:27 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 16, 2008 11:27 am)

Of course, if you're that bad at gauging the traffic flow and planning ahead, there's always something called the emergency lane too!