![]() |
|
|
|||||||
| Register | Home | Forum | Active Topics | Media Gallery | Mark Forums Read |
![]() |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
|
#16 (permalink) |
|
3.9 Liter V6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Drives: 2008 Ford Escape Limited
2006 Ford Focus ZX4
Posts: 933
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
Kei cars...bah humbug! What we need is the Ford Ka/Street Ka. The new one will be built along side the highly sucessful Fiat 500 in a JV. I would expect Ford to ensure that the redesigned model will be US compatible. I expect them to make an announcement soon, perhaps at the next big auto show...LA???
If customers want a high seating position, then they can opt for a non-commercial version of the Ford Transit-Connect. Also the upcoming 2010 Ford Fiesta, Saturn Merivia & Saturn Corsa are also great choices for eco-space-efficient green vehicles. |
|
|
|
| Sponsored Links | |
Advertisement |
|
|
|
#17 (permalink) | |
|
5.3 Liter LS4 V8
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: CT
Drives: 2005 chevy silverado 1500 5.3 EC LB Z-71
Posts: 3,078
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
Quote:
as for me, i plan on buying either an electric scooter or beater small car.
__________________
2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3 Z-71 EC LB 3" P.A. Body lift, 305/70/17 Nitto Terra Grapplers, 17x9 Pro Comp Extreme Alloy Wheels, Halo Projector headlights w/ HID conversion and LEDs, halo projector fog lights, Pace Edwards tonneau cover, Fire and Ice LED light bar, "Patriot" back window decal, JDM black chrome bumper lights w/ LED, Putco Crhome handle covers, Billet-grille emblem, iPOD jack... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
#18 (permalink) | |
|
GMI Staff Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SE Texas
Posts: 13,111
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
Quote:
As for Kei or A-Segment cars, I don't care where they come from, as long as they are somewhat boxy (making the most use of space) and not bubblish with a rounded cargo area, and I like the Ford Transit, too. ![]()
__________________
Last edited by Ming : 05-12-2008 at 09:52 PM. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
#19 (permalink) | |
|
3.5 Liter V6
Join Date: Jan 2006
Drives: '08 HHR SS
'07 SC'd Mustang GT
Posts: 289
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
Why not trust people to buy the cars that they want? I can understand engineering cars so that they do not create excessive danger to pedestrians or other vehicles, but if a car is flimsy and gets 150mpg, and weighs 500lbs -- I'm all for it if all I'm endangering is myself!
This safety argument has to stop. For God's sake -- our children are encased in large child seats until they are almost old enough to shave these days! And there will always be auto makers that pride themselves on safety -- like Volvo. People who are interested in safety will buy a Volvo. Those that don't, won't. Otherwise, this is the classic protect people from themselves argument, that led to prohibition and in the case of automobiles -- leads to bloated cars where every vehicle requires a safety cage with thick doors and an assortment of airbags. Driving up the cost of the vehicle and the weight while lowering the MPG. Quote:
__________________
![]() 2008 HHR SS 5 speed. 2008 Chrysler T&C, Signature Series. 2007 Mustang GT Vert, 475bhp Saleen SC. Previously: 2006 Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition 2005 Dodge SRT-4 2004 Cadillac CTS 1998 Honda Accord 1997 LS1 Corvette |
|
|
|
|
|
|
#20 (permalink) |
|
3.8 Liter V6
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 460
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
If Smart can meet the same standards as normal-sized cars, then there's no reason to change the requirements. People in the United States have a different expectation of safety when driving a passenger car than when driving a motorcycle. Lowering the bar for micro cars would only serve to reinforce the notion that all small cars are inherently unsafe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#21 (permalink) | |
|
3.5 Liter V6
Join Date: Jan 2006
Drives: '08 HHR SS
'07 SC'd Mustang GT
Posts: 289
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
Think about how much better gas mileage (and cheaper!) Smart would get if it didn't have to meet some inane safety standard.
How much better would it be if you could get a Smart type car for $5,000 that seats 4 and gets 60mpg instead of 41 (which is pretty low all things considered)? Quote:
__________________
![]() 2008 HHR SS 5 speed. 2008 Chrysler T&C, Signature Series. 2007 Mustang GT Vert, 475bhp Saleen SC. Previously: 2006 Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition 2005 Dodge SRT-4 2004 Cadillac CTS 1998 Honda Accord 1997 LS1 Corvette |
|
|
|
|
|
|
#22 (permalink) |
|
3.9 Liter V6
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Southern NJ
Drives: '05 Aveo LT Sedan
Posts: 953
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
Tiny cars such as the Smart car is perfectly fine, but should be regulated as to WHERE they are allowed to drive. Those cars should be limited to city driving only (NYC, Philly, etc.) where high speeds are not reached and the odds of getting hit by a Tahoe going 75mph doesn't exist.
I don't care what their crash ratings claim, those tiny cars won't stand a chance if in a real world accident with a fullsize car/SUV/truck.
__________________
Previoulsy Owned Light Blue 1982 Camaro Berlinetta Teal Green 1991 Camaro RS Teal Green 1995 Cavalier Coupe White 2000 Xtended Cab S10 Xtreme LS Silver 2002 Camaro Currently Own Silver 2005 Aveo LT Sedan Future Vehicle 2009 Camaro Z28 |
|
|
|
|
|
#23 (permalink) | |
|
3.6 Liter V6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Paradise, TX
Drives: 1997 Ford F150 (161k)
1998 Jeep Cherokee SE (152k
Posts: 1,113
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
Quote:
The reality is that the minitruck will do things that my big half ton F150 WON'T do. On top of that, it'll do those things while DOUBLING the fuel economy vs. the half ton truck. Nah, I guess I should be FORCED to pay OPEC, the oil companies, and speculators all the money that they want, so that I can maintain my rural property, and still keep a truck in the driveway. I don't care if YOU want one or not. If you don't want one, fine. Don't buy one. I want one, and I say YES, bring us KEI cars.
__________________
1994 Safari Sarengeti 37' Diesel Pusher RV (92k) 1995 Daihatsu Hijet (89K Km's) 1997 Ford F150 (167k) 1998 Jeep Cherokee SE (RV Toad) (160k) 2008 Chevy Impala 2LT FFV with AFM (9k)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#24 (permalink) |
|
7.0 Liter LS7 V8
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Montréal, Québec
Posts: 7,967
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
Is there really any size car standard thing in the US? To my knowledge the only reason there are no Kei cars is because their manufacturers never bothered to just federalize them and sell them. Is there really a law that says "car must be more than so big"?
__________________
"I am nominated for letting down my trousers. It is good to integrate my hobby and my profession." -Otto Kuehnle |
|
|
|
|
|
#25 (permalink) | |
|
3.8 Liter V6
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 460
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
Quote:
Smart ForTwo weights about 1600 lbs. 1991 Geo Metro XFi (60 MPG!) weighs about 1700 lbs. 2003 Corbin Sparrow weighs about 1350 lbs. 2006 Honda Insight weighs about 1850 lbs. 2008 BMW 1200RT Touring Bike weighs about 600 lbs. 2008 Chevrolet Aveo weights about 2400 lbs. Stacks up pretty good - even against the Corbin Sparrow, which is 3-wheeled, single-passenger, electric microcar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbin_Sparrow These passed DOT tests, BTW. Like I said before, changing the current regulations would only serve to reinforce the notion that small cars are inherently unsafe and that the bar needs to be lowered for them. The IIHS crash test videos of non-conforming vehicles will be more than enough to scare most consumers away. I'm sure that insurance companies wouldn't treat them so kindly, either - negating any savings in gas versus a well-rated vehicle. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
#26 (permalink) |
|
3.8 Liter V6
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Drives: 2004 GTO
2006 HHR
Posts: 481
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
It's funny, Europe does not have all the saftey and emission requirements that we have and you can buy just about any class of car you want. Gas is what about $9.00 gallon, and you can buy a tiny scooter, or 50 hp POS car, or a top of the line mercedes. Point is that regulations limit you to seat belts, air bags and smog controls, all of which add cost, and weight to a car.
Maybe we just have to many regulations. Last edited by TORRED1 : 05-12-2008 at 09:26 PM. |
|
|
|
|
|
#27 (permalink) | |
|
3.9 Liter V6
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Des Moines, IA
Drives: 2001 Chrysler Concorde LXi
Can't beat $300 for
Posts: 992
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
Quote:
We don't need ridiculously small, unsafe cars in this country to take care of the energy crisis we're having. What we need to do is take better advantage of the resources we have, like making diesel from coal or natural gas. We need to innovate and get phev's out there, and get cellulosic ethanol working. We need to do better getting our goods from a to b, like using our train system to ship goods instead of semis. Those things would effectively change the game, so when there's a major cost increase in the price of oil, we have alternatives to go to, and we would force oil to compete with other resources.
__________________
-What megeebee said |
|
|
|
|
|
|
#28 (permalink) |
|
7.0 Liter LS7 V8
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Pacific Paradise, Australia
Drives: VZ Wagon and JSII sedan
Posts: 6,914
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
I'm curious as to how Kei cars are prohibited and the SMART is not. Which design requirements are being missed? That is probably the most important aspect to tackle. As for them not available because they aren't suitable, you buy them because of a requirement, just as you should any other car. I'm not aware of any "minimum monthly dirt" standards that have been applied to SUV's.
![]() Kei cars would do a great deal in reducing GMs Fleet average consumption so why in the world, would anyone here be against them being available? As Ming already said, Suzuki is JDMs biggest kei car producer and would be a great ally in helping GM meet its CAFE target. Could you imagine that? GM taking the first step and being ahead of its competitors? Preposterous! ![]()
__________________
You start a conversation you cant even finish it. You're talkin a lot, but you're not sayin anything. When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed. Say something once, why say it again? |
|
|
|
|
|
#29 (permalink) |
|
2.2 Liter ECOTEC
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 72
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
I *love* that Honda Acty with the DAMD kit to make it look like an old Dodge van. I've also seen a customized Subaru Sambar made up to look like an old Citroën delivery van.
[edit] Whilst I do love the quirkiness of DAMD's retro bodykits, I'm not really a fan of their front-facias that incorporate Chrysler 300 grilles and Cadillac Escalade grilles. They just look too weird. Last edited by DiRF : 05-12-2008 at 10:15 PM. |
|
|
|
|
|
#30 (permalink) | |
|
7.0 Liter LS7 V8
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Neanderthallande
Drives: 2007 KIA Spectra EX, black.
Posts: 8,554
|
Re: Time For a Smaller Car Standard?
Quote:
![]() Kudos to kodos.
__________________
"We're going to push through health care reform regardless of the views of the American people." --Sen. Jay Rockefeller (1994) "Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil." "Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive." --C. S. Lewis |
|
|
|
|
| Sponsored Links | |
Advertisement |
|
![]() |
|
| Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
|
|