Micro cars fair poorly against mid size sedans? - Page 3

Weasel · #21 04-15-2009, 01:30 AM

I still like how people will spend $15,000 on a car that gets a few more miles per gallon to try to save money... Something tells me the money saved on gas doesn't quite offset the vehicles cost, and in some most insurance on an additional vehicle. But they drive the other car less which is what really matters...

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Best4x4xFAR · #22 04-15-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravenheart

I dont particularly like micro cars but in fairness this test (40 mph frontal) is the least likely crash type, so people considering one of these car should take this with a grain of salt.

If you only drive on divided highways, you may be correct, but I believe that this is a very common type of crash on the majority of the nation's two lane secondary roads, many of which are posted at speeds of 40-45 mph and higher.

ravenheart · #23 04-15-2009, 10:38 AM

Did some quick searching - in 2005 only 2% of all crashes were head-on. Certainly good enough odds for me to ignore the doom-mongering going on.

alpac · #24 04-15-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegasX5

smart cars are stupid. I have never understood their role in the US. Economically, they hardly make sense.

Think about it this way - a smart car gets about 34 miles per gallon mixed driving (I've actually heard its FAR less because of the high load on the engine keeping up with traffic) and costs about $18,000 or so. About a year ago, they were selling around here for roughly $25k FYI.

The basic Toyota Camry invoices MSRP is ~$18,500 with an invoice in the mid $17k range and gets about 27 miles per gallon (many report higher as well). It's bigger, nicer, safer, holds more people, holds more stuff, better looking, more reliable, better warranty, has better resale value, more practical, etc etc. If you can pick up a Camry for roughly the same, if not even less $ than a smart, what advantage does the smart have besides the possibility to occassionally get a couple more miles per gallon (under the right conditions of course!)?

.....

I recently was looking to buy a car (to be used as a third car) that I would use as my basic daily driving mostly in town. I looked at micro cars (Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, etc...). I ended buying a used but very nice 2005 Honda Accord 2.4l manual with low mileage. For about the price of a brand new Honda Fit I got a nice and comfortable sedan which still makes 27mpg average (get 32mpg on highway driving at 75/80mph).

statdoc · #25 04-16-2009, 12:30 PM

Yeah, those head-on collisions will never happen with a Smart Car.

E61Silver · #26 04-16-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weasel56

I still like how people will spend $15,000 on a car that gets a few more miles per gallon to try to save money... Something tells me the money saved on gas doesn't quite offset the vehicles cost, and in some most insurance on an additional vehicle. But they drive the other car less which is what really matters...

Is a MINI a Micro car?

Krunk Man · #27 04-16-2009, 12:33 PM

i dont think they made it.

E61Silver · #28 04-16-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krunk Man

i dont think they made it.

Yes not sure if you drove a midsize car it would of been different?

Krunk Man · #29 04-16-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x54.4blue

Yes not sure if you drove a midsize car it would of been different?

At least it would be instant in the smart.

Best4x4xFAR · #30 04-16-2009, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x54.4blue

Yes not sure if you drove a midsize car it would of been different?

I doubt the outcome would have been different. And seeing the second photo makes me think that may not be a SMART?

My whole point is that size matters, and while not much short of another similar size truck will protect you well in a collision with a semi, the reality is that most of the vehicles on the road are significantly larger and heavier than these 'micro' cars and that even though they may test well in a barrier test, physics still apply, and their level of protection against large vehicles is really pretty poor.

Here are the rather dramatic videos..

C300 vs SMART

Camry vs. Yaris

Accord vs. Fit

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