Quote:
Originally Posted by Unforgiven
Come on, a vehicle like the Toyota Yaris - at first glance at the size and layout, in my mind it should be able to compete with Geo Metro's on the FE side of things... but nope, not even close.
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"Should"? Perhaps if you said that "it ought to be engineered to be able to". But I don't think you can make much of a case that a car with all of the features of the Yaris should be able to get Geo Metro FE. Check some of the more interesting differences between the two.
Yaris: 1.5 liter 4-cylinder; 106 hp and 103 lb·ft
Metro: 1.0 liter 3-cylinder; 49 HP (early XFi model)
Yaris: 2300 lb curb weight
Metro: 1620 lb curb weight
Yaris: • Child Seat Lower Anchorage • Adjustable Upper Belt - Front • Pretensioner
• Energy Management Feature [AKA "lots of well-designed crumple zones"] • Rear Center Lap/Shoulder Belt • Advanced Air Bag Features • Side Airbag - Front • Head Airbag - Front • Rear Seat Head Restraint • Trunk Release • Tire Pressure Monitor
Metro: Some crumple zones; possibly rear-seat headrests
The Yaris is a more luxurious-feeling car than the Metro. It is faster. It has lots more "features" of all kinds, from safety to comfort to... Its suspension pickup points won't rust away within 10 years.
In every way (except one!) that "most" consumers care about, the Yaris is an infinitely "better" car than the Metro was. We are the exception, in that we care about that one way (the fuel economy) much more than most consumers do. Until enough people start putting FE above elbow room, or cupholders, or six-layer crash protection, or the need to get to 60 MPH before that guy in the next lane, chances are slim that we'll see anything like the Metro again.
-soD