[Big Dave]

You hit on the major case against small cars: "...the thing's too small. My knees hit the steering wheel." In my case, my head hits the roof and my knees hit the dash. We won't even go into what my belly runs into...

Let's face it. Lance Armstrong is an anomaly in the US. Americans are taller and fatter than the people these little cars are designed for. When just getting in and out take five minutes of gymnastics, the car is disqualified, even if it got 100 MPG.

This is why I say more progress can be made taking roomy 20 MPG cars and making them 30-35 MPG. This is what my ecomodding is all about.

I think a lot of cars, if equipped with a stick shift, righteous gearing, a little aero clean-up, and a diesel not choked down by Tier II, could give you over 35 MPG. I'd love to try one of GM's new 4.5 liter V-8 diesels in a GTO with its T-56 six-speed.