Move over gas guzzlers, small cars are coming

usa today ^ | 1/8/06 | na

[Flavius]

USA Today articles are link only

[ArrogantBustard]

Wow!

"Move over", "Gas-Guzzler", AND "XXX are coming".

Three leftist buzzphrases in one headline! That has to be some sort of record. It's certainly a prime example of the socialists' propensity to put their mouths in gear before engaging their brains.

[MediaAnalyst]

"Small cars are useless in getting thru snow clogged streets."

Tell that to my 1983 Dodge Colt (Mitsubishi built) in Wisconsin. Much to the chagrin of the Midwest MSM and the UAW, its front wheel drive ran circles around all of my big 1970s era GMs that I had previously owned.

But if you're saying that the car couldn't clear 12" of fresh snow, you're right, I had to wait a few minutes for others (big trucks and snowplows) to pack it down or remove it - and I appreciated their effort and capabilities.

But, I generally didn't need to drive unused, unplowed, fire roads in the back woods right after a 12 inch snow storm - and if I did (which never happened), then yes, I guess I was just stuck.

But it was great blasting past all of those macho vehicles coming off red lights, while on packed snow and ice. You can't beat the front wheel drive of little Japanese cars for jumping off the line in slippery conditions.

[Vaquero]

???

well no. but who cares whats written. They are frigging great.

[brownsfan]

"Why are you blaming Mama B for what another poster said?"

Because she defended him. I made points good points. If you don't like it, don't read them.

Grow up? Commenting on people's disregard for others is childish? If that's childish in your eyes, I wish you'd become a bit less "mature".

I must not be your type of conservative.

[RayChuang88]

If those are your two dogs that's one of the few instances I wouldn't recommend the Honda Fit--they probably won't fit (pun intended) in the back even if you fold down the seatbacks. One yes, but not two....

[Yardstick]

Truck appears to have an afro.

[RayChuang88]

Forget the dog food... put down a nice fluffy pillow, and that's the dog's bed.

If you referring to the Refresh mode configuration for the Honda Fit as shown on this web page:

http://fitfreak.net/html_content/FIT_ultra_seats/Ultra%20seat%20page_translation.htm

...Throw over a beach blanket and it'll be perfect for a place to rest your dogs!

[SmoothTalker]

"Small cars are useless in getting thru snow clogged streets."

Not one with AWD. I live in the south where people can't drive in the snow. The funny thing to me is that whenever we have snow, the people who end up in ditches are generally the ones in 4WD's. Why? Because they aren't smart enough to understand that while 4WD or AWD will help you get up to speed better, it won't do anything to help you stop, or turn in the snow. So they end up going twice as fast as is safe and end up in a ditch. Very predictable.

[iPod Shuffle]

As "comfy" as this looks, I have never been able to fit comfortably in Honda. They definitely didn't have people taller than 6 feet in mind when they designed their fleet of cars.

[Joe 6-pack]

"If those are your two dogs..."

They are just the most visible layer of my personal security system. They also augment my vehicle stereo system, but only when I'm playing "Werewolves of London."

Prior to my divorce I had a Mazda Miata (and only the older of the two shepherds.) I had a little platform I built out of plywood and some carpet remnants that fit over the passenger seat and in the foot well creating a level surface from the base of the seat back to the glove compartment. My older dog could curl up comfortably there, or sit up and stick his nose in the breeze, just above the windshield header.

[GingisK]

Not everybody needs to haul 4X8 sheets, lots of people, and lumber all the time.

Just once is justification. Besides, I preefer comfort. That is not available in those itsy bitsy cars.

[eraser2005]

ANY car will last 29,000 miles nowadays with few or no problems, so long as it isn't a lemon.... Come back when that car is pushing 100,000 miles or 10 years old and then you can brag about reliability.... My 9 year old Taurus has never burned or leaked a drop of anything (other than burning gas, of course)....

[eraser2005]

"They are still incapable of safe and convenient portage of 4X8 sheets of plywood and other lumber. They cannot transport a family of four and their camping equipment at all, let alone comfortably."

True, they can't. But a mid-size sedan suffices 95+% of the time. And I can fit 8 12' sections of crown molding in my Taurus. And for those rare instances when I need to carry large lumber that doesn't fit (I can carry a few 2x4s, or even a 3x8 foot sheet of plywood, though it sticks out the back of the trunk a bit), I can always rent a truck at Home Depot or Lowes for $19.95 for the first 75 minutes, gas and insurance included. That's plenty of time to get home and back. And since the Taurus gets 2-2.5 times the mpg of a full-size truck, the money I save driving to and from work more than pays for that $19.95 2-3 times per year. Oh, and the Taurus cost about half what an F-150 crew cab would have.... AND it is a VERY safe vehicle.

[eraser2005]

But mid-size to large sedans are EVERY bit as safe as SUVs... and they can save you 50% of your gas bill had you been driving an SUV.

[dalereed]

You don't need an SUV or truck to crush that POS, just step on it!

[AppyPappy]

Small cars are useless in getting thru snow clogged streets.

Tell that to my Subaru

[scripter]

I will drive one when they pry my cold dead hands from my Full size Ram 4x4...

My thoughts exactly. And I drive the same truck (diesel).

[Ditter]

I knew this was coming, that is the reason I bought a new Tahoe last fall. I want to drive a big thing as long as I can. I get 15.5 mpg in town and 20 mpg on the highway. That's OK with me, I don't drive that much anyway.

[eraser2005]

I remember a snowstorm in Detroit a few years ago. The scene would have been tragic, but thankfully no one was hurt, so it was somewhat funny. The reporter was standing with a highway overpass in the background. Along comes a little midsize sedan, slowly making its way down the highway. No problem. And another. Then comes an SUV at breakneck speed, spinning out, and rolling down the embankment. Driver gets out unharmed(thanks to the 4 feet of snow). Another small car - no problem. Wait, here comes another large SUV rolling down the embankment. And another. And another.

By the end of the newscasts, there were a dozen or so SUVs that had rolled down the embankment, yet not a single car.

SUVs WILL get you through the snow. They will NOT allow you to go any faster than in a comparable vehicle. You still need just as far to brake (or even more than a standard car), and your turning ability is generally worse than a car.

[GingisK]

...Taurus...

Camping? Cub Scouts?

Small car pimps need to realize that this is a lifestyle thing.

I port 4X8 sheets of plywood and lumber frequently. Furniture making is a serious hobby, as is metal working, camping, canoeing, etc. I also have chilren.

I'm happy you like small cars and can utilize them. I am also happy that you have that choice. Now, try really hard not to interfere with my freedom of choice that is driven by different criteria.