Quote:
Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr
But the Nano has non-assisted drum brakes all-around, non-assisted steering, a 4-speed transmission, only 2 cylinders instead of 3, its tyres are smaller, it has only 3 bolts for each wheel, many of its body panels are glued instead of welded (and also thinner), among other cost-cutting measures.
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Although those are all excellent selling points and I would likely buy one (reminds me of my 900lb subaru 360 I used as a daily driver when I was unemployed)
Unfortunately for those of us who would enjoy the raw simplicy of such a transport fixture our government would have a fit, such an apparatus would need to be brought in under LSV or NEV laws or modded into a 3 wheeler.
I have always believed a market for sub 45mph extremely high fuel economy gas or electric devices existed and likewise I own a couple that fit into that category. AKA Slow, manual steering and manual brakes with a manual transmission.
The trouble is that the government places a variety of unnecessary restrictions even on the LSV and NEV vehicles (AKA can't drive over 25mph on a 25mph road unless an ordinance is passed to specifically allow them on other roads, bleh) Of coarse my antiques are excempt from such laws.
Also non-us LSVs must be electric only, they won't certify gassers unless a government agency wants them or if a US company manufactures them.
I would love to see the Nano come over, even if only available as an LSV, too bad the free market is a farce.
I think we should have the freedom to buy and drive what we will so long as the vehicle meets a very basic set of legal requirements (like the police walkaround) AKA Lights, belts, etc. The free market can decide if such a vehicle that would rate abysmally in crash tests would sell or not and to who. Likewise if the government is afraid of said vehicle being safe, require the driver who wants it to get a better certification of some sort to be licensed to drive such a vehicle with a MT, MB and MS.
In the end the driver is what makes the car safe.
Also I disagree with the price increase because of tarriff. Generally it is not the tarriffs that increase the cost of foreign cars, in fact many JDM cars are actually cheaper here in the US than in their home country.
The price increase would be due to the car being completely and utterly redesigned, gaining 2000lbs of weight to meet percieved US requirements (sort of like the fiat 500 when it came over, again)
Anyway I personally wish I could buy the Nano, just as it is, would make an interesting around town runabout. Just as I wish the Elio would be sold just as it is ASAP. Heck offer a blasted kit if nothing else, but at least get something boots to the ground, otherwise I think they are going to be another fail.
Ah well.
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Waiting "forever and a day" or getting on a waiting list is the usual way I suppose; but after seeing at least 10 interesting 3-wheel vehicles come and go since that Zap lawsuit in 2002 (yes - in Santa Cruz) many people seem to realise age stops for no one and drive Nanos or that NC 3-wheeler or something here/now. Those rental 3-wheelers [Auto Cruz] failed and closed- I suspect one reason was that they had no reverse gear.
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