"pj" <pj4380@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message news:47ABEDB8.5040300@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Typically car buyers purchase what they can afford. First question
> usually asked by a car salesperson is, "how much a month are you going
to
> pay?"
>
Which has nothing to do with the discussion to this point. People already
have the option to buy a lot of available cars that are 1/2 the price of
what they currently drive, get higher gas mileage, yet they continue to
buy
Accords, Camry's, trucks, SUV, and whatever. There is simply more to the
equation than buying the smallest, most sardine can-like vehicle on the
road
purely in the name of fuel economy.
> We will ratchet down buyer expectations as the cost increases. In
> addition to energy savings, benefits will include lower unsprung weight,
> translating into less damage to roads and bridges. And, highway noise
> levels will decrease.
Sounds good on paper (to you at least), but what a crock. The difference
in
wear to roads between the average mid sized sedan and one of these wonder
cars is negligible. The noise levels won't be any different. Well -
maybe
they will be louder with these miracle cars, as the sounds of sheet metal
and plastic grenading and the sobs of the dying souls, overwhelms the
sounds
of the typical mid-sized sedans driving by.
>
> Yea verily-- the m***** will go with the flow.
> If you want a muscle car, those will be available too, they will be
> labeled, "ex****t only" and you'll pay a hefty premium to bring them back
> into the country.
Too bad the flow won't be these cheap throw away caskets on wheels. They
may be fine for city use, and maybe even for the 3 mile jaunt to the
grocery
store (as long as you don't buy anything more than a gallon on milk), but
for the normal driving needs of the average American, these things are not
the solution.
>
> Regrettably, Mercedes was the first to put a toe in the water with the
> Smartcar. Shame we didn't have the guts to do it.
>
Regrettably?? It's not a novel concept. There have been urban cars
forever. Besides the marketing hype that Mercedes threw at this thing,
there's nothing unique in this car. Manufacturers all over the world have
built this type of concept for decades.
--
-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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