My How You Have Grown

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Ecky

My Insight came with two speakers from the factory, which sounded like something out of the 1800's.

Strange, 'cause my Insight (also a 2000) sounds perfectly fine with the OEM speakers. Though I think mine has four: two in the doors, two in the bulkhead behind the seats. Of course most of what I listen to is out of the 1800s, if not earlier centuries.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Strange, 'cause my Insight (also a 2000) sounds perfectly fine with the OEM speakers. Though I think mine has four: two in the doors, two in the bulkhead behind the seats. Of course most of what I listen to is out of the 1800s, if not earlier centuries.

If yours has 4, it's not factory. Rear speakers were only an option for 2004 and later.

[niky]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Which wouldn't be a bad thing, if there was a welterweight available. But there isn't.

Nor do I think the boxer comparison is really apt, since what they're doing is getting the welterweight to qualify in the middleweight class by upping his body fat.

You do have a welterweight.

It's called the Honda Fit.

Going back to the Civic-Accord comparison:

1997 Civic:
89.9 cu.ft passenger volume,
0-60 mph: 10.8s

2017 Fit:
95.7 cu.ft passenger volume,
0-60 mph: 10.2s

Now, won't argue as to which is prettier... however...

New cars are big because people want big. But you can still buy small cars if you really want to.

You just can't buy them with the same nameplates.

[jcp123]

Small isn't everything. I came up as a classic car enthusiast, so a lot of the standard stuff baffles me. It's a lot of things waiting to break and cost me. Not to mention the latest wave of using screens for everything - not only does it look entirely weird, I don't know how you're supposed to use this stuff while driving. There aren't many modern cars I'd want just based on the superfluous feature crap alone.

We aren't going back to small light cars with superior visibility. Neither the market nor regulators will bear it. I was lucky enough to catch the tail end of the cars at which my patience for modern stuff ends, at the tail of its roadworthy lifespan. I'll probably be going back to classic cars after my Civic ends its stint with me, whenever that is.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by jcp123

Small isn't everything. I came up as a classic car enthusiast, so a lot of the standard stuff baffles me. It's a lot of things waiting to break and cost me. Not to mention the latest wave of using screens for everything - not only does it look entirely weird, I don't know how you're supposed to use this stuff while driving. There aren't many modern cars I'd want just based on the superfluous feature crap alone.

I can relate to that. I've been used to no-frills subcompacts basically since I was born, and when I was just 1 year-old I already enjoyed picking a screwdriver to disassemble some random body panels of a VW Beetle that my dad owned by then

When it comes to screens and all those gadgets, I also prefer analog interfaces instead of a touchscreen or other digital input devices that would most likely require me to keep looking at them instead of the road ahead.

We aren't going back to small light cars with superior visibility. Neither the market nor regulators will bear it.

The lack of really compact yet functional cars is increasing my interest around tricycles, since their classification as a motorcycle is a viable way to circumvent some regulations. Nowadays many jurisdictions are requiring improvements such as ABS brakes to be fitted to new motorcycles too, but that's not nearly as over-complicated as throwing too many airbags that might eventually turn into an actual death trap. I guess there is no need to mention the Takata crisis

I was lucky enough to catch the tail end of the cars at which my patience for modern stuff ends, at the tail of its roadworthy lifespan.

I actually believe some modern features are not so bad at all, such as ABS brakes and stability controls. The problem is when people start treating those devices like an aid to overcome their actual lack of ability (or willfulness) to drive responsibly.

I'll probably be going back to classic cars after my Civic ends its stint with me, whenever that is.

Recently my dad told me he would like to buy a VW Beetle. I'd rather get a Kombi, or even a Brasília, but I can't deny it wouldn't be a bad idea at all, considering the easier servicing on them compared to modern penalty boxes and some vehicles newer than a Beetle that are however becoming old. Well, it's always easier to do some makeshift repair in a carburettor than in an EFI module...

[Jez77]

I'm bucking the trend with one of the smallest cars available on Ozzie roads.
It has all the features the moden driver needs too, ABS, airbags, AC etc.
It's a little scary driving it with all these big 4x4s all around.
I wish more people could see the sense in driving smaller cars.

[freebeard]

Sweet. Whatizzit?

I can relate to that. I've been used to no-frills subcompacts basically since I was born, and when I was just 1 year-old I already enjoyed picking a screwdriver to disassemble some random body panels of a VW Beetle that my dad owned by then
....
The lack of really compact yet functional cars is increasing my interest around tricycles, since their classification as a motorcycle is a viable way to circumvent some regulations.

I drove a Type I, II or III exclusively between 1967 and last year. I broke that string with a 1979 Dasher Diesel. I like the modern conveniences like intermittent wipers and a clock in the dashboard.

I've been watching Youtube videos about tricycles, your Slingshots and T-Rexes and Vanderwalls. None of them compare with the Arcimoto FUV.

[Xist]

American football players rely on their protections as they smash into each other as hard as possible. Rugby players wear very little protection and try to not injure anyone.

People who wear back braces are more likely to injure themselves.

I cannot find the link that I shared, but people had similar concerns with seatbelts and airbags, but supposedly they have only made things better.

People overestimate the effectiveness of systems designed to keep themselves safe. I imagine people actually complain about the idea of self-driving cars on their iPhones while driving.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Xist

American football players rely on their protections as they smash into each other as hard as possible.

And still suffer high rates of brain damage.

Rugby players wear very little protection and try to not injure anyone.

Not what I've heard about rugby.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by niky

You do have a welterweight.

It's called the Honda Fit.

Nope. Problem is that you're comparing the Fit with the '97 Civic, well after it started bulking up. Look at the numbers (per Wikipedia):

Gen 1 (1972-1979): 1500 lbs
Gen 2 (1979-1983): 1587-1841 lbs
Gen 3 (1983-1987): 1819 lbs
Gen 4 (1987-1991): 1933-2374 lbs
Gen 5 (1992-1995): 2094-2575 lbs
Gen 6 (1996-2000): 2222-2560 lbs
Gen 7 (2001-2005): 2405-2744 lbs
Gen 8 (2005-2011): 2600-2755 lbs
Gen 9 (2011-2016): 2595-2800 lbs (non-hybrid)
Gen 10 (2016-): 2738-3003 lbs.

So weight has doubled over the production history. Now where would the Fit fit? At 2390 lbs, yes, it's right there with the '97 Civic, but that was already bulked up by 50%.

New cars are big because people want big. But you can still buy small cars if you really want to.

Where? Unless you have the money for something like a Lotus, of course.