interesting newsbit

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

There's a carpenter/handyman around here who drives an Aveo. His previous car was a Metro.

My father is in the furniture touch up business... He drives a 5 speed Element now (big deciding factor came from the seats -- they're great if you have back problems and need extra support) - he used to drive an old Mercedes 240D (NA Diesel)

He's in yacht yards all the time... and the foreign crews are always amazed to see an American with a stick shift (it's actually quite funny to watch).

[Hockey4mnhs]

morningasser you sound like my dad lol. He loves to save his money and he laughs at people who drive 50+grand cars.

[kickflipjr]

Originally Posted by Erdrick

Just saw this on yahoo.com Should be interesting if Nissan were to bring over one of their smaller super economy cars to the U.S.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070418...n_070418204150


Now I will be pondering what car they are talking about. Or perhaps, they are planning on making a totally new model for the U.S. Either way, things could start to get interesting!

Thats not news. VW is planing on making the 1L car! now thats news.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...TOKEN=77809329

[rh77]

Originally Posted by KPS

My father worked much of his life as a frame carpenter / subcontractor. During that period he usually drove a small wagon or hatchback, for his tools. Materials for any serious work don't fit in a pickup anyway; lumberyards deliver.

Going to the hardware store or lumber yard is no problem with the Integra. So far, it has hauled mulch, lumber, ~400 pounds of paver bricks, and has been an essential part of moving, more than once. With all seats folded (inlcuding the front passenger) the utility is great. I really don't see the need for a pickup or SUV for the average household -- you can rent one for a day cheaper than owning one for 5 years, or just have smaller vehicle with some cargo capacity.

If there's a need for truck, I can see having one around for the farm, towing heavy loads for work/business or the extra ground clearance for traversing rough terrain regularly -- which is the key word.

I've noticed that folks have the opinion that "if the situation should arise" or "I go fishing once or twice a year" they need a large 4X4. The answer is simply to rent one for those occasions. It's much cheaper, more efficient, and safer. If it's necessary to own one, the best possible option is to use it as only when needed.

RH77

[basjoos]

Originally Posted by kickflipjr

Thats not news. VW is planing on making the 1L car! now thats news.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...TOKEN=77809329

I think I would perfer the Aptera typ-1 over the VW 1L car, since the Aptera gets better mileage, has better aero, more interior space, and is physically larger than the VW (easier to spot in traffic)

[Erdrick]

To all: Yeah, being in construction almost demands that you have a pickup. Not at all out of necessity, but more because you will get teased if you don't. Thing is, the guys doing the teasing just drive their trucks because of their small self-esteem or small dicks. Probably a little bit of both.

kickflipjr: I hope I am wrong, but to me that reads like "hello, I am the failed project who will never see the light of day." Or something to that effect... like I said though, I hope I am wrong. In the mean time, I will put my faith in Nissan to deliver.

Americans are brainwashed consumers who are in a continual rat race until the day they die. I am glad that I realized this before buying some of the stupid things that I wanted when I was younger.

On a side note, has anyone calculated the costs of ownership of a car? I have been thinking about getting a new Yaris (still hate the name, Vitz is WAY better), but even this works out to about $8/day if I were to keep it for 10 years. That is of course assuming no residual value. So it should probably be closer to $6.50-$7.00/day...

[MorningGaser]

Originally Posted by Erdrick

To all: Yeah, being in construction almost demands that you have a pickup. Not at all out of necessity, but more because you will get teased if you don't. Thing is, the guys doing the teasing just drive their trucks because of their small self-esteem or small dicks. Probably a little bit of both.

kickflipjr: I hope I am wrong, but to me that reads like "hello, I am the failed project who will never see the light of day." Or something to that effect... like I said though, I hope I am wrong. In the mean time, I will put my faith in Nissan to deliver.

Americans are brainwashed consumers who are in a continual rat race until the day they die. I am glad that I realized this before buying some of the stupid things that I wanted when I was younger.

On a side note, has anyone calculated the costs of ownership of a car? I have been thinking about getting a new Yaris (still hate the name, Vitz is WAY better), but even this works out to about $8/day if I were to keep it for 10 years. That is of course assuming no residual value. So it should probably be closer to $6.50-$7.00/day...

Get the Yaris!!! I got mine with most of the features, power mirrors, windows, CD, AC, A/T, etc, etc the liftback for $13,100! Great Value, and the MPG is BETTER then EPA numbers...I routinely get 44.5 with mixed driving....

[JanGeo]

Yeah my Scion xB is considered a wagon by the DMV but it really is a van? well I guess a van is setup without rear seats? SUV's are usually higher up off the ground NO? Suburban Utility Vehicle = SUV

[BeeUU]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

Yeah my Scion xB is considered a wagon by the DMV but it really is a van?

Are 15 passenger vans considered a wagon or van?

Originally Posted by JanGeo

SUV's are usually higher up off the ground NO? Suburban Utility Vehicle = SUV

True, but the shape is the same. It is a station wagon on a truck platform. That is my story and I am sticking to it.....

The AMC Eagle was higher off the ground, too. That was before the SUV label thought. AMC was always a bit ahead of its time, too bad it could not survive.

Would the Dodge Magnum have flopped if it was called a station wagon?

[rh77]

Originally Posted by BeeUU

Are 15 passenger vans considered a wagon or van?

Depends on who is defining it. If it has a flat load-floor, it usually is classified by the EPA as a "Truck" and is exempt from "Car" CAFE standards. That's how the PT cruiser ended up tricking the system with a loophole. The PT convertible is not, however. Also depends on the GVWR.

The AMC Eagle was higher off the ground, too. That was before the SUV label thought. AMC was always a bit ahead of its time, too bad it could not survive.

AMC took too many risks, too early. Otherwise, maybe we'd have a "Big-4" today. Although they started figuring things out with FE in their smaller cars (Gremlin, Pacer). Their Jeep brand had to have helped. Too bad the company got eaten-up by Chrysler instead.

Would the Dodge Magnum have flopped if it was called a station wagon?

You still can't use the word "Wagon" in marketing these days. A stigma is still associated. IMO, just looking at the Magnum says "flop" -- it doesn't need any help.

RH77