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

What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

8674 messages,  Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 11:23 PM

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

#7919 of 8674 Re: Civic vs Corolla [nippononly] by ateixeira Aug 01, 2008 (9:31 am)
Replying to: nippononly (Jul 31, 2008 3:44 pm) Sorry, again, it wasn't targeted at you, in fact I mentioned that. Yours was just the last post on the subject.   It's not even limited to comments I've heard in this thread. It's just this overall sentiment towards Toyota from enthusiasts, that comfort and quiet are seemingly bad things. Not so, if that is what a buyer is looking for.   I think when "Camry" is used as an adjective, it's almost always condescending. Yet it's the best selling car in America, so Toyota is just giving people what they want.   If a Camry could talk, it would reponse like so....   Sure, I'm soft and isolated, and don't handle like a sports car, but 2/3rds of Americans are overweight and need the room and enjoy the comfort, and could not fit in the Recaro seats of an EVO X if their life depended on it. And my cup holders are better so there.     Replies to this message: irismg (Aug 02, 2008 11:58 am) lilengineerboy (Aug 02, 2008 12:49 pm) irismg (Aug 02, 2008 1:06 pm) and 4 more... ateixeira (Aug 04, 2008 6:05 am)
#7923 of 8674 So much for the 'good old days' by texases Aug 01, 2008 (12:02 pm)
I came across an archive article on the C/D web site where they tried to 'hypermile' a '74 Pinto. Amazing numbers: Base car at steady 70 mph: 14.6 mpg (honest!) Max with all add on (radial tires, aero ads, 2 blade fan): 18.1 mpg   Makes a 35 mpg Fit look pretty good.... Replies to this message: andre1969 (Aug 01, 2008 6:44 pm)
#7925 of 8674 re: [lemmer] by ateixeira Aug 01, 2008 (12:54 pm)
Agreed, but what I'm saying is that I think folks like C&D don't realize that it is indeed subjective.   And when they evaluate minivans, maybe spend less time at the track, and more time car-pooling, carrying people and their stuff, which is what vans do.   They even complained that the 3rd row was hard to fold, and gushed over the Dodge's power folding ones - yet Toyota offered them first!   Most cases of beer! In all configurations. Game Over for me. LOL   Any how, rant over, back to subcompacts. Hopefully a few more people will understand that some people intentionally choose ride over handling.
#7926 of 8674 Re: So much for the 'good old days' [texases] by andre1969 Aug 01, 2008 (6:44 pm)
Replying to: texases (Aug 01, 2008 12:02 pm) That's really pretty sad when you consider I could get 22-23 mpg out of a '69 Dart slant six, doing 70-75 mph with the a/c going full blast, and a few passengers in the car.   Now sure, cars got worse in the 70's, but I've been able to get about 17.4 out of my '76 LeMans, 350-4bbl, and 18 out of my '79 New Yorker, 360-2bbl.   I have heard thought, that 1974 was about the worst year ever for fuel economy. All that rudimentary smog crap really hurt fuel economy, and when the catalytic converter came out for 1975, it actually improved things alot.
#7927 of 8674 Re: Civic vs Corolla [ateixeira] by irismg Aug 02, 2008 (11:58 am)
Replying to: ateixeira (Aug 01, 2008 9:31 am) I think your comments were well put, actually. I personally think "fun to drive" is overrated. Another condescending term is "appliance". My Corolla, and my rental Yaris, for that matter, are plain-jane, and I like them that way. I live in an apartment complex, and I don't want a car that says, "hey, look at me, I've got something to steal inside". So long as it's not ugly, the more people think my car is boring, the better! Replies to this message: lilengineerboy (Aug 02, 2008 12:49 pm) irismg (Aug 02, 2008 1:06 pm) lilengineerboy (Aug 02, 2008 7:50 pm) and 3 more... ateixeira (Aug 04, 2008 6:05 am)
#7928 of 8674 Re: Civic vs Corolla [irismg] by lilengineerboy Aug 02, 2008 (12:49 pm)
Replying to: irismg (Aug 02, 2008 11:58 am) I think your comments were well put, actually. I personally think "fun to drive" is overrated. Another condescending term is "appliance". My Corolla, and my rental Yaris, for that matter, are plain-jane, and I like them that way. I live in an apartment complex, and I don't want a car that says, "hey, look at me, I've got something to steal inside". So long as it's not ugly, the more people think my car is boring, the better!   I personally feel that if I am going to spend time driving, it might as well be enjoyable. I am not talking about styling, I am talking about driving experience.   I don't understand your reference about stealing something out of one car more than another or what you feel would draw attention to one car more than the others. If you are getting your needs met, I think you made the right decision for your situation. Replies to this message: irismg (Aug 02, 2008 1:06 pm) lilengineerboy (Aug 02, 2008 7:50 pm) irismg (Aug 03, 2008 8:10 am) and 2 more...

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