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The Disposable Car? - READ ONLY

83 messages,  Last post on Dec 07, 2007 at 4:35 PM

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What is this discussion about? Geo Metro, Automotive News

Messages Page 9 of 9

#74 of 83 Re: Instead of making the whole thing disposeable... [corvairbob] by andys120

Dec 04, 2007 (2:14 pm)

Replying to: corvairbob (Dec 02, 2007 5:02 am)
First of all the correct name is Smart Four Two, it is considerably more expensive $11,590 , than Shifty's suggested $8500.

#75 of 83 Re: Instead of making the whole thing disposeable... [andys120] by steve_ HOST

Dec 04, 2007 (2:34 pm)

Replying to: andys120 (Dec 04, 2007 2:14 pm)
SmartUSA.com calls it a smart fortwo. No caps and fortwo is one word..
 
At least they didn't name it the iSmart.

#76 of 83 Re: Instead of making the whole thing disposeable... [steve_] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 04, 2007 (3:32 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Dec 04, 2007 2:34 pm)
That would be interesting though, if you could build cars where you can swap out the drivetrain at the dealer, or the entire front suspension at say 80K, or the rear, or a complete interior every 5-7 years, just to 'freshen it up'. Like propane bottles.

#77 of 83 Re: Instead of making the whole thing disposeable... [Mr_Shiftright] by andre1969

Dec 04, 2007 (7:22 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 04, 2007 3:32 pm)
That would be interesting though, if you could build cars where you can swap out the drivetrain at the dealer, or the entire front suspension at say 80K, or the rear, or a complete interior every 5-7 years, just to 'freshen it up'. Like propane bottles.
 
Weren't the old VW Bugs sort of like that, with regards to the engine, at least? Something like 6 bolts and it comes right out?
 
It seems to me that some of that stuff shouldn't be TOO hard to make modular. For example, starting in 1974, Chrysler started making its intermediate cars with isolated sub-frames, and the full-sized cars followed suit for 1979, being based on those older intermediates. I'd imagine that once unitization caught on, it became much more common. So basically, just take out four bolts, disconnect a few hoses and wires and the steering, and you could just lift the body off and the suspension, engine/tranny, and subframe would be there all in one nifty little module.
 
It's a real pain though, when the big rubber bushings that separate the subframe from the body start to deteriorate, and the subrame starts to shift around. It's real fun when two bushings fail diagonal from each other...makes for a real interesting rocking/seasick sort of motion!

#78 of 83 Re: Instead of making the whole thing disposeable... [andre1969] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 04, 2007 (7:28 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Dec 04, 2007 7:22 pm)
That'd be GREAT wouldn't it. You drive in, and they attack your car with the air gun, and bang, bam! You have a new front end, with fresh bushings, steering rack, calipers, brakes, rotors, tie rods, struts---all rebuilt.

#79 of 83 Re: Instead of making the whole thing disposeable... [Mr_Shiftright] by andre1969

Dec 04, 2007 (8:00 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 04, 2007 7:28 pm)
Seems to me that it wouldn't be THAT hard to do. Heck, if they mounted the radiator on the sub-frame, rather than the upper structure of the car, that part could get swapped out too. And I'm sure they could find a way to make more of the HVAC integrated into the part that drops off, too. Heck, in my DeSoto, '67 Catalina, and '76 LeMans, a great deal of the heater componentry is accessible from under the hood, rather than under the dash, so would it be THAT hard to just make it drop with the sub-frame as well?

#80 of 83 Re: Instead of making the whole thing disposeable... [Mr_Shiftright] by steve_ HOST

Dec 04, 2007 (8:15 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 04, 2007 7:28 pm)
bang, bam! You have a new front end, with fresh bushings, steering rack,
 
Who cares about that stuff. I want to drive in and leave with a new interior and new paint and maybe make my hatch a wagon this time.

#81 of 83 I had an epiphany.. by andys120

Dec 07, 2007 (1:17 pm)

while I was cruising along in my MIL's golf cart. If someone is going to be successful at developing a cheap disposable car it will have to be battery powered with modular construction. If you could develop a disposable battery pack that would last five or so years and replace any damaged body or suspension parts easily you'd be most of the way to a disposable car that would be ideal for local commuting, shopping etc.
 
With electric power there is minimal upkeep in the mechanical sense as electric motors require little maintainence.
 
In the FutureWorld every family would have one or two of these and rent or buy a larger vehicle for family trips or long distance commutes (which will become rare in a world of high cost fuel).
 
.
.

#82 of 83 Re: I had an epiphany.. [andys120] by volvomax

Dec 07, 2007 (1:57 pm)

Replying to: andys120 (Dec 07, 2007 1:17 pm)
Yeah, that will never happen.
First of all,electric cars are an evolutionary dead end.
By the time the battery issue is solved, fuel cell cars will have overtaken pure electrics.
Next, in order to have a useable electric car, it must be very lightweight.
Lightweight materials strong enough for passenger car use are quite expensive and that is unlikley to change.

#83 of 83 disposable car by deskman

Dec 07, 2007 (4:35 pm)

anything american mainstream made since 1976 because they sux.
 
anything asian because of RUST
 
anything german because they break $$$$$$ except porsche 911's,porsche 911's break but people will fix them.

Messages Page 9 of 9

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