[Arragonis]

Just a quick tap, taking my non-towing Prius on a 500 mile round trip with all the family and luggage in it today...

Originally Posted by Ken Fry

I agree. We've learned what works and the value of crash simulations.

So why should someone selling one to someone else not have to do this ?

Originally Posted by Ken Fry

In the US, the cars most promoted are the most profitable ones. The manufacturers have little interest in small, efficient vehicles, because they are not as profitable as big luxurious vehicles. Nor, as demonstrated by sales numbers, is there widespread consumer interest in efficient cars. This was also the situation here in 1960. The VW Beetle (and especially its ad campaigns) changed the thinking of many people, eventually including Detroit. Gaining broad market acceptance for a three-wheeler will be every bit as difficult as introducing the VW was in 1960.

But they did - Metro etc. Plus of course the Yaris, Fiesta, Aveo, FIAT 500, Mini etc. etc.

Originally Posted by Ken Fry

Of course, stools are not cars. Three legged stools can tip over. Four legged stools can tip over.

So we agree, stools are not cars ?

Originally Posted by Ken Fry

It sustains higher cornering forces, according to road tests. The T-Rex is not a GT car.

Thats not handling, thats cornering G.

Originally Posted by Ken Fry

Yes, it is much like a Prius in that sense. People who routinely tow boats need a bigger vehicle than a Prius. Strange as it may seem, though, many people are quite happy with the Prius, even if their neighbors have Ford Expeditions. In the US we have a category of vehicles that ride on only two wheels, and they sell remarkably well, too. We've found that no single vehicle meets the needs of all people.

I'm going to combine this with below

Originally Posted by Ken Fry

This is not at all the case in the US. Many people have 2 or more vehicles in the family. We have almost the worst public transportation system in the world, so we drive everywhere. There is a strong market in all sorts of two-seaters, with the Mazda Miata, The Nissan 370Z, the Chevy Corvette, etc all being popular.

So these are a plaything then ? What about people in cities who don't have space for > 1 car.

Originally Posted by Ken Fry

While I think such cars are sensible, I am in a very small minority. 30,000 units a year is considered pretty good for our smallest cars, vs 300,000 a year (per model) for things like Honda Accords and Toyoya Camries. The pickup trucks have often sold 800,000 - 900,000 per major model.

The pickup is a US thing TBH, they sell some crew-cab Japanese Diesel ones (with silly names) here, but nobody buys one for home use. We manage just fine with Superminis.