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

What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

8684 messages,  Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 9:12 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

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

#7842 of 8684 Re: Fits are UP [thegreatoz] by andre1969 Jun 28, 2008 (9:09 am)
Replying to: thegreatoz (Jun 28, 2008 8:29 am) Urban sprawl...thanks for the definition and description in relation to these crazy gas prices. Am I correct in assuming there's a difference between urban sprawl and "the suburbs"? Or are they the same, with just different names?   I always looked at a suburb as a place where people live, but it's not necessarily a self-sustaining city. For the most part, just residential areas, and some commercial areas like gas stations, grocery stores, maybe a mall or two, but by and large, its residents have to go elsewhere to find work.   When suburbs started popping up, they tended to be out a bit from the cities, where public transportation usually didn't go, or was limited. But as more and more land gets developed, and new suburbs pop up, they sort of all just run together, and that becomes urban sprawl. Just nothing but suburb after suburb, with very little open space to separate them.   There's another term popping up, called the "Exurbs", which I think is a suburb, but one that's way out on the fringe, and requires a long commute to find work. It's these Exurbs that are going to suffer the most. People are going to avoid them like a plague, and they might even be too far out for the gangs and other low-lifes to move into. They might just become ghost towns. Or heck, put up a wall around them and turn them into prison camps!
#7843 of 8684 Re: Fits are UP [nippononly] by lilengineerboy Jun 28, 2008 (2:51 pm)
Replying to: nippononly (Jun 26, 2008 10:54 pm) And graduate is right - around town the Fit will do better regardless of transmission. And around town is where most people do most of their driving...   According to gas buddy, my commute in the Accord (all highway) nets ~32-33 mpg (at slightly but not excessively extra-legal speeds) while the same commute in the Legacy wagon nets 29-30. Adding more city to the mix drops things considerably, with the Accord at 27-28 and the Subaru at 26-27. I think all city in the Legacy would be brutal.
#7844 of 8684 Re: Fits are UP [thegreatoz] by snakeweasel Jun 28, 2008 (4:06 pm)
Replying to: thegreatoz (Jun 28, 2008 8:29 am) I saw a news story on line that said the high gas prices will result in the "end of suburban living.   I seriously doubt it, I live in the suburbs and work in them too. Its a 21 mile round trip. The vast majority of the people I know also work in the suburbs and have similar commutes (some longer some shorter).   The few people I know that work in the city take the train to and from work.   I also work with a few people that live in the city and commute to the burbs.   The high gas prices will not mean the end of the suburbs by any means.
#7845 of 8684 10k since January by steve_ HOST Jun 28, 2008 (10:41 pm)
smart USA Delivers Its 10,000th fortwo Since January   Is it really a subcompact if you can fit 13 people in one?   Replies to this message: nippononly (Jun 28, 2008 10:47 pm) thegraduate (Jun 29, 2008 7:17 am) podred (Jun 29, 2008 11:19 am) ateixeira (Jun 30, 2008 8:57 am) podred (Jun 30, 2008 2:02 pm)
#7846 of 8684 Re: 10k since January [steve_] by nippononly Jun 28, 2008 (10:47 pm)
Replying to: steve_ (Jun 28, 2008 10:41 pm) And they said Smart wouldn't sell any! Replies to this message: thegraduate (Jun 29, 2008 7:17 am)
#7847 of 8684 Re: 10k since January [nippononly] by thegraduate Jun 29, 2008 (7:17 am)
Replying to: nippononly (Jun 28, 2008 10:47 pm) If they only sell one for every thirteen people who want them, they're in trouble!
#7848 of 8684 Re: 10k since January [steve_] by podred Jun 29, 2008 (11:19 am)
Replying to: steve_ (Jun 28, 2008 10:41 pm) Is it really a subcompact if you can fit 13 people in one?   EPA's new size classifications allows 12 in a subcompact, your off by just one... Replies to this message: ateixeira (Jun 30, 2008 8:57 am) podred (Jun 30, 2008 2:02 pm)
#7849 of 8684 Re: 10k since January [podred] by ateixeira Jun 30, 2008 (8:57 am)
Replying to: podred (Jun 29, 2008 11:19 am) Bet they could squeeze 30 in a convertible if limbs can stick out. Replies to this message: podred (Jun 30, 2008 2:02 pm)
#7850 of 8684 CR roasts the smart by texases Jun 30, 2008 (9:08 am)
This month's issue has this to say:   "A car like this should be fun and zippy. Sadly, the Smart is neither. The ride is harsh, and broken urban pavement, this car's natural habitat, pummels occupants mercilessly. The transmission shifts strangely, with pauses and heaves between gears. Handling is not so responsive, and it takes a lot of wheel winding to coax the Smart through corners. The slow, noisy engine makes it necessary to plan ahead when merging into traffic, although once on the highway it can keep up the pace." Replies to this message: ateixeira (Jun 30, 2008 9:14 am)
#7851 of 8684 Re: CR roasts the smart [texases] by ateixeira Jun 30, 2008 (9:14 am)
Replying to: texases (Jun 30, 2008 9:08 am) I think it's good that they stick to their guns and list all the criticisms, to be honest. I think a lot of other media have sort of given it a pass because of the trend towards small cars.   The Today Show had a Smart as an example of the cheapest cars to operate in terms of fuel costs, and never once mentioned it requires premium fuel.

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