• New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.

Smart Car to US...Finally!

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
If I had saved the Datsun B-210 I bought in '75 because of the gas crunch, I could get 38 mpg on the highway again. ('course, I hated that the 1100 cc engine is punier than many bikes these days:tongue2: Passing on a two lane road was taking your life in your hand - no f-in way to give it the gas if you needed to pass)
 
Upvote 0
Gatorubet;1163547; said:
If I had saved the Datsun B-210 I bought in '75 because of the gas crunch, I could get 38 mpg on the highway again. ('course, I hated that the 1100 cc engine is punier than many bikes these days:tongue2: Passing on a two lane road was taking your life in your hand - no f-in way to give it the gas if you needed to pass)
Click to expand...

1100 CCs? that's on Geo Metro level isn't it?
 
Upvote 0
I can say positively that with gas at $4 per Gal I am getting a car with as many mpg as I can get, or maybe even a three wheel cycle for driving to work and back. I never thought I would say this but if the US car makers can't supply what I want then I will , for the first time ever, buy a foriegn made car.
 
Upvote 0
75datsunb210.jpg



Funny, but we forgot why we bought those back in '75. :shake:

I had a blue coup (naturally :biggrin:) just like the one in the picture.
 
Upvote 0
Best Buckeye;1163553; said:
I can say positively that with gas at $4 per Gal I am getting a car with as many mpg as I can get, or maybe even a three wheel cycle for driving to work and back. I never thought I would say this but if the US car makers can't supply what I want then I will , for the first time ever, buy a foriegn made car.
Click to expand...

The problem is, even imports aren't giving us what we really need, either. Japanese cars are getting bigger and bigger with each model year to accommodate American tastes. Have you seen a 2008 Camry vs. a 1998 Camry? Heck, a 1995 Honda Civic HX gets around 37-38 MPG. A 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid gets... 40 MPG.

FWIW, I'm the exact opposite of you; I nor anyone in my family has ever owned a domestic.
 
Upvote 0
DaytonBuck;1163548; said:
1100 CCs? that's on Geo Metro level isn't it?
Click to expand...

My Harley motorcycle is a 1340. Wow that's little.

I looked through the Consumer Reports auto section, and literally found very few vehicles, total, that I could drive. I'm reasonably tall, so can't drive vehicles like a Camry or Accord (although Nissan's are larger). Some of the vehicles I saw may not be big enough, but I've never been in one to know for sure.

The list, as best I can remember it, of vehicles that I thought (hoped) would be roomy enough, and also got a minimum of 20 MPG:

Lincoln MKZ (I think - the sedan, not the SUV) (never been inside it)
Ford version of Lincoln MKZ (never been inside it, and I hate Ford)
Honda CRV (haven't been in the new one)
Toyota Rav4 (I think, also haven't been inside it)
Nissan Maxima (although I won't drive this one because the turning radius is horrid)
Nissa Murrano (never been inside it)
Hyundai Azera (never been inside it)
Toyota Avalon (never been inside it)
 
Upvote 0
FKAGobucks877;1163667; said:
My Harley motorcycle is a 1340. Wow that's little.

I looked through the Consumer Reports auto section, and literally found very few vehicles, total, that I could drive. I'm reasonably tall, so can't drive vehicles like a Camry or Accord (although Nissan's are larger). Some of the vehicles I saw may not be big enough, but I've never been in one to know for sure.

The list, as best I can remember it, of vehicles that I thought (hoped) would be roomy enough, and also got a minimum of 20 MPG:

Lincoln MKZ (I think - the sedan, not the SUV) (never been inside it)
Ford version of Lincoln MKZ (never been inside it, and I hate Ford)
Honda CRV (haven't been in the new one)
Toyota Rav4 (I think, also haven't been inside it)
Nissan Maxima (although I won't drive this one because the turning radius is horrid)
Nissa Murrano (never been inside it)
Hyundai Azera (never been inside it)
Toyota Avalon (never been inside it)
Click to expand...

The newest hatchback vehicles (Aveo, Fit, Aerio, etc) have plenty of headroom and get solid gas mileage, too.
 
Upvote 0
National news is reporting a big move to smaller, fuel efficient cars.
Great time to buy a Hummer or Yukon! Many people are hunting for older small cars and putting a couple thousand in them. Those older cars just are not very safe so you spend your money and you take your chances.

A word on crash safety and older cars. Older cars are designed to crumble and absorb impact. Newer cars have a much stiffer structure and use things like airbags and interior structures to absorb impact. So you have a bad situation when an older car hits a comparable sized newer vehicle.
In my mind your better off, safety wise with a newer, stiffer car.

Word is Ford is working overtime on Focus production which usually translates into worse quality. Not good.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
rocketman;1163660; said:
The problem is, even imports aren't giving us what we really need, either. Japanese cars are getting bigger and bigger with each model year to accommodate American tastes. Have you seen a 2008 Camry vs. a 1998 Camry? Heck, a 1995 Honda Civic HX gets around 37-38 MPG. A 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid gets... 40 MPG.
Click to expand...

Very true, but a couple of points...

1. EPA mileage ratings today aren't directly comparable to the older ones. They recently changed how they measure (the older ratings were far more "optimistic").

Edit: Checking the EPA's page it looks like they've recalculated the other ratings to standarize them with the new ones.

1995 Civic (1.5l 5-spd) - City 35, Highway 41, Combined 38 (Old: 42, 46, 44)
1995 Civic HB VX (1.5l 5-spd) - City 39, Highway 50, Combined 43 (Old: 47, 56, 51)

2007 (& 08) Civic Hybrid (auto trans only) -City 40, Highway 45, Combined 42 (old: 49, 51, 50)
2008 Civic (1.8l 5-spd) - City 26, Highway 34, Combined 29

Anyone know what the HB VX was?

2. Japanese manufacturers are doing the same thing others have in the past. When a popular model starts getting "generation bloat" they've introduced smaller, cheaper models to fill the former niche.

So instead of Civics & Corollas...look for Fits & Yaris.

2008 Honda Fit (1.5l 5-spd) - City 27, Highway 34, Combined 30

Hmm, interesting. The Fit isn't really any better than the new Civic.

Taosman;1163679; said:
Word is Ford is working overtime on Escort production which usually translates into worse quality. Not good.
Click to expand...

Word is Ford stopped producing the Escort five years ago.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Muck;1163795; said:
Anyone know what the HB VX was?
Click to expand...
94civicvx1wv0.jpg


[scene from Deety's car sellin' days]

So you're interested in an Accord... here's a great one. It has...

That's the price??? I can't afford that!!!

How about a Civic? This one comes standard with air and...

What??? I can't afford that, either! I'm only approved for $7,000!

Well, did you know that Honda makes a hatchback? It's right over...

You've got to be kidding. I'll stick with the Chevette.

[/scene]
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top