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

What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

8653 messages,  Last post on Nov 27, 2009 at 6:22 PM

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

#7809 of 8653 Smart fourtwo vs Triumph Speed Triple by british_rover Jun 06, 2008 (1:49 pm)
I found this amusing...   smart fortwo VS. Triumph Street Triple I've started seeing a few smart fortwos out on the road recently. I applaud their drivers for getting a cheap vehicle that suits their needs. Really, I do.   All the same, they are inferior vehicles. I mean, we can see that in the first sentence of this post. Not only does their name not require capital letters (always suspect), but it's impossible to talk about them in the plural.   But let's get down to hard facts. The smart fortwo seats two people. It's got 7.8 cubic feet of storage space (12 if you cram it to the roof). It weighs 1808 pounds and has a 3 cylinder, 70 horsepower motor that makes 68 ft. lb. of torque. Air conditioning, power steering and any stereo system are all options you have to pay extra for. The base model is $11,590. It does 0 - 60 in 12.8 seconds, or, about enough time to hard boil an egg. Gas mileage is around 30 - 40 miles per gallon. Top speed is 90 mph.   It has a lot of safety features, including a "tridion safety cell" to "ensure crash compatibility with larger passenger cars."   Crash compatibility!? Great interrobang! Also, "safety cell?" Cell?? Good Lord, they aren't even bothering to pretend cages are something else...   Also, what's "tridion"? Sounds like unobtanium to me.   Moving on, let's talk about the Triumph Street Triple. It also has a 3 cylinder motor. However, this motor is only 675cc, makes 107 horsepower and 51 ft. lb. of torque. It weighs 367 pounds, costs only $8,299 and comes stock with air conditioning in winter and heat in the summer. Stereo not required. Storage space is whatever you can figure out between various pieces of luggage, but I'm betting a rider could get 7.8 cubic feet of storage on there. Gas mileage is about the same as the fortwo. Zero to 60 MPH is 3 - 4 seconds, or, about enough time to realize you can't stop smiling. Top speed is high enough that it's kind of irrelevant, in terms of commuting.   The fortwo doesn't take up much parking space, but a motorcycle takes up even less. Plus, motorcycles get to use the HOV lane. The fortwo does not.   Both are able to carry two passengers in relative comfort. Your chances of scoring with your date (regardless of your gender) is a lot higher if you show up on a Triumph, however. See, a motorcycle says "Mystery and a hint of danger," where a smart car says "cheap and no style."   So, I'd say, get the Triumph.*   Incidentally, Lady Luck's Vespa GTS gets better gas mileage and has a better 0 - 60 time than the forwto as well. Storage is at a premium, but the style-o-meter is off the scale.   *Learn to ride before you actually get the Triumph.   http://pizzacrusade.blogspot.com/2008/06/smart-fortwo-vs-triumph-street-triple.h- tml Replies to this message: snakeweasel (Jun 06, 2008 2:05 pm) british_rover (Jun 06, 2008 3:17 pm) snakeweasel (Jun 06, 2008 5:53 pm) lilengineerboy (Jun 06, 2008 4:25 pm) bumpy (Jun 06, 2008 5:34 pm)
#7810 of 8653 Re: Smart fourtwo vs Triumph Speed Triple [british_rover] by snakeweasel Jun 06, 2008 (2:05 pm)
Replying to: british_rover (Jun 06, 2008 1:49 pm) It does 0 - 60 in 12.8 seconds,   Time how fast traffic gets to only 40MPH on a typical commute and you will find it is about 20 seconds so a Smart is more than fast enough for what its designed for.   Both are able to carry two passengers in relative comfort.   Yeah try riding the Triumph in 10 degree weather with a strong wind and lots of snow, or when there is freezing rain (or any rain for that matter).   Your chances of scoring with your date (regardless of your gender) is a lot higher if you show up on a Triumph, however.   Most people I know will laugh at you if you showed up in a Triumph. Plus it will rarely draw a crowd. Replies to this message: british_rover (Jun 06, 2008 3:17 pm) snakeweasel (Jun 06, 2008 5:53 pm) lilengineerboy (Jun 06, 2008 4:25 pm)
#7811 of 8653 Re: Smart fourtwo vs Triumph Speed Triple [snakeweasel] by british_rover Jun 06, 2008 (3:17 pm)
Replying to: snakeweasel (Jun 06, 2008 2:05 pm) I know you are a big Smart car fan but that article was really more tongue in cheek and you took it a bit too seriously.   As for your last comment you must not know many motorcycle fans as Hinckley Triumph has been making some of the best motorcycles on the market now for more then a decade. Ever since John Bloor brought Triumph back from the dead in the early 90s they have made top notch quality products. Replies to this message: snakeweasel (Jun 06, 2008 5:53 pm)
#7812 of 8653 Re: An economical & green Suburban [hudsonthedog] by explorerx4 Jun 06, 2008 (3:23 pm)
Replying to: hudsonthedog (Jun 06, 2008 9:04 am) try the same trip in a snow storm. actually, don't.
#7813 of 8653 Re: Smart fourtwo vs Triumph Speed Triple [snakeweasel] by lilengineerboy Jun 06, 2008 (4:25 pm)
Replying to: snakeweasel (Jun 06, 2008 2:05 pm) Time how fast traffic gets to only 40MPH on a typical commute and you will find it is about 20 seconds so a Smart is more than fast enough for what its designed for.   Man, commuting with traffic must suck. I would rather live closer to work and have a car I enjoy driving.   Yeah try riding the Triumph in 10 degree weather with a strong wind and lots of snow, or when there is freezing rain (or any rain for that matter).   Lets have someone in the For2 try the same thing and report back. The Edmunds videos show how much trouble it has with crosswinds.   Most people I know will laugh at you if you showed up in a Triumph. Plus it will rarely draw a crowd.   Not those in the know. And if they aren't in the know, the probably aren't worth dating anyway
#7814 of 8653 Re: Smart fourtwo vs Triumph Speed Triple [british_rover] by bumpy Jun 06, 2008 (5:34 pm)
Replying to: british_rover (Jun 06, 2008 1:49 pm) So, I'd say, get the Triumph.*   Yeah, except for that whole pesky not having a motorcycle license thing. At any rate, I prefer the best of both worlds.
#7815 of 8653 Re: Smart fourtwo vs Triumph Speed Triple [british_rover] by snakeweasel Jun 06, 2008 (5:53 pm)
Replying to: british_rover (Jun 06, 2008 3:17 pm) that article was really more tongue in cheek   So was my response.   As for your last comment you must not know many motorcycle fans   I know plenty, triumph is not high on their list.
#7816 of 8653 Man no postings in more then a week... by british_rover Jun 21, 2008 (10:29 am)
what is going on in here.   Oh I gotta question that I figure someone in here can answer. Where can you find the raw EPA numbers for a vehicle? I don't mean the 2007 and under numbers I mean the 1985 and under numbers that they use for the CAFE ratings. Replies to this message: bristol2 (Jun 21, 2008 11:40 am) british_rover (Jun 21, 2008 11:47 am) guss (Jun 23, 2008 9:33 am) and 1 more... andre1969 (Jun 22, 2008 2:44 pm)
#7817 of 8653 Re: Man no postings in more then a week... [british_rover] by bristol2 Jun 21, 2008 (11:40 am)
Replying to: british_rover (Jun 21, 2008 10:29 am) Maybe with sales of small cars up 30-40% everyone's figured out that there is nothing 'wrong' with these new subcompacts? Replies to this message: british_rover (Jun 21, 2008 11:47 am) guss (Jun 23, 2008 9:33 am) british_rover (Jun 23, 2008 10:45 am)
#7818 of 8653 Re: Man no postings in more then a week... [bristol2] by british_rover Jun 21, 2008 (11:47 am)
Replying to: bristol2 (Jun 21, 2008 11:40 am) Yeah maybe that is the case.   The reason I am trying to figure out what the raw EPA numbers are is because I assume that is what they use to figure out the tax credits on Hybrids and the new Clean diesel cars. Right now the TDI Jetta isn't on the tax credit list but I assume it will be once they update it sometime next quarter for the 2009 MY vehicles. I am just trying to see if I can get a round guess of what the tax credit will be now. Replies to this message: guss (Jun 23, 2008 9:33 am) british_rover (Jun 23, 2008 10:45 am)

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