10-07-2012, 10:45 AM
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#41 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
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If you drive it - bring a ScanGauge! (I'm sure it doesn't have a factory gauge.)
I've seen 3 now: red, black, radioactive green. They don't look as dorky in person as they do in photos.
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10-07-2012, 11:05 AM
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#42 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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He is not really one to write much about it but he is a serious gearhead. I will mention the Scangauge and I bet he will buy one. I wish my motorcycles had OBD ports. He just got done wiring up some factory fog lights last night. Hopefully the dealer will know how to activate them without charging him a fortune in computer time.
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10-07-2012, 11:13 AM
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#43 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
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You could use an MPGuino on your bike(s), assuming fuel injection.
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10-07-2012, 11:35 AM
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#44 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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I have one sitting in the box of accessories and lighting waiting to go on the CBR250R someday.
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10-07-2012, 12:00 PM
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#45 (permalink)
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Ultimate Fail
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I was in Toronto recently and saw three of them in a matter of a week. One was at the CNE show parked right next to a ZL-1 Camaro.
What struck me was just how tall the Spark was. The car seemed to tower over the ZL-1.
Despite being so tall, the car was very narrow and rode high on tiny wheels. Very cartoonish looking.
I noticed the way that the car were marketed. Behind the ZL-1 there was a banner with 'mr. cool ' black guy with dark shades. Behind the Spark was a banner with some teenage girls.
I realize this is just the market segment that the cars are built for, but it made me wonder if auto makers will ever build a car like this but that isn't marketed as a sissy mobile.
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10-08-2012, 02:52 PM
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#46 (permalink)
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5 Gears of Fury
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cd
I realize this is just the market segment that the cars are built for, but it made me wonder if auto makers will ever build a car like this but that isn't marketed as a sissy mobile.
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Good looking young people sell products. So we will always be seeing young people in the marketing for entry level vehicles. After all if you are 40 and have $40k to spend on a car, GM wants you spending all of it on the Camaro, not doing something crazy like "saving" some of it lol. One thing I am surprised I haven't seen yet is marketing to seniors for vehicles in this price range. Think about the size of the population base that has hit retirement, they are down sizing their houses etc, and want to get into a new car so they have a warranty etc, and don't have to worry about repairs for a while. A car like the Sonic would be good for them, but you never see any kind of advertising to that market segment. My parents have a 2007 Taurus with 80k KMs (50k miles), and they want to get a new car because "It's getting old and we don't want to get stuck somewhere" - man if that's not a population base to advertise new cars towards, I don't know what is!
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10-09-2012, 11:37 AM
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#47 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
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Quote:
Originally Posted by War_Wagon
One thing I am surprised I haven't seen yet is marketing to seniors for vehicles in this price range.
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I think marketers view that approach as the kiss of death for the younger demographic. I once read a good quote on the subject...
"You can sell an old man a young man's car, but you can't sell a young man an old man's car." |
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10-09-2012, 01:35 PM
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#48 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
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This is a good article about the Spark selling more than GM had expected. Of the Spark buyers, 54% are "conquest buyers", meaning they are switching from a different car brand. Interestingly, only 30% of Spark buyers were under 35 years old, so it is appealing to older folks as well.
Rise Of The Tiny Car? Chevy Spark Sales Exceed Expectations - Gas 2
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10-09-2012, 03:16 PM
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#49 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
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Here's the first YouTube "review" I've seen:
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10-10-2012, 08:13 PM
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#50 (permalink)
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It's all about Diesel
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It doesn't seem to be a bad option as a daily commuter, as long as there's no need to haul the entire family at the time. Almost like a motorcycle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by niky
Maybe they were taking it off the Indian sites? Some Indian sites quote 16 km/l highway for this... which is just one km/l higher than my combined driving cycle result... which is kind of weird. They also quote the same 16 km/l for the 1.0, and from feedback from owners, the 1.0 Spark is well able to hit 20-25 km/l on the highway.
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There's also a 3-cyl 1.0L turbodiesel available for the Spark back there in India.
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