Small / economy car deathwatch: we've passed "peak econobox" again

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Making an upgraded version of this...


Or this...



And have it road-legal in most jurisdiction may not be so hard at all, because of the safety requirements not being as stricter as for a car.


As far as emissions go, I'm sure this could be addressed even for ancient projects such as a VW Beetle, but it would be too expensive to even try improving structural rigidity and adding some modern safety features to sell only a handful. Yet nowadays most of the so-called compact cars are noticeably wider and longer than a Beetle. I notice it when I see some houses with garages which might've been built when the Beetle was the best-seller here...

[freebeard]

I guess I need to get out more.

I thought I'd heard there was a spike in used car prices a year or two ago. I was just offered $500-700 for the XFi on a trade-in. That's half what I paid for it in 2010 dollars (U.S. Inflation Calculator says 147%).

I've heard that gas prices were down. I just paid $7.07 a gallon. Clear premium, but still....

edit:
I presume a private sale might fetch 2 or 3 times a trade-in, but that's still only what an average VW Beetle would get in 1980s dollars.

Next up is the Westfalia utility trailer. I have a source and a buyer for the Cellastro elastomeric snubbers it uses for springing (and any bearings, etc.). The frame, swing arms and wheels are all powder coated and ready for reassembly.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I've heard that gas prices were down. I just paid $7.07 a gallon. Clear premium, but still....

Gas prices are likely to decrease.

I thought my petrol station was price gouging on clear premium by setting it a buck more than their E10 premium.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I guess I need to get out more.

Yes

Originally Posted by freebeard

I thought I'd heard there was a spike in used car prices a year or two ago. I was just offered $500-700 for the XFi on a trade-in. That's half what I paid for it in 2010 dollars (U.S. Inflation Calculator says 147%).

Any dealer is going to send that Metro straight to auction where it will most likely go straight to the crusher. KBB says about $1400 private party for a 1992 XFi which sounds about right. It will likely take a bit though as again - while it is the holy grail to the right buyer - to most buyers it is an just a cheap old hatch with a manual transmission that most people can't drive.

Originally Posted by freebeard

I've heard that gas prices were down. I just paid $7.07 a gallon. Clear premium, but still....

Why would you pay that? Premium is $4.45 at the moment near me.

[/QUOTE]

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by JSH

KBB says about $1400 private party for a 1992 XFi which sounds about right. It will likely take a bit though as again - while it is the holy grail to the right buyer - to most buyers it is an just a cheap old hatch with a manual transmission that most people can't drive.

I would be interested whenever my Toyota Avalon is too expensive to repair or replace. But at this rate, that may be another decade or more from now.

[freebeard]

Yes

Thanks. Permission accepted.

KBB says about $1400 private party for a 1992 XFi which sounds about right.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by DuckDuckGo

Search Assist

The trade-in value of a 1990 Geo Metro typically ranges from about $723 for one in "Clean" condition to around $2,435 if sold privately, depending on factors like mileage and condition. For a more accurate appraisal, you can use tools like the Edmunds appraisal tool. Edmunds

I suggested it would go straight to wholesale and they agreed.

Why would you pay that? Premium is $4.45 at the moment near me.

I had driven 15 miles to get it. There's another source 15 miles upriver, I should compare. It's for the Superbeetle.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by freebeard

It's for the Superbeetle.

You haven't changed the hoses and carb rubbers for modern ones that are ethanol-proof?

[Logic]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Making an upgraded version of this...


Or this...



And have it road-legal in most jurisdiction may not be so hard at all, because of the safety requirements not being as stricter as for a car.

You don't have to imagine far to imagine what happens when you try to brake and swerve with 1 front wheel.

There is likely video.
Top Gear had a great time over exaggerating (IIRC) the obvious to picture issue, in a Reliant Robin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

But problem it is!
Imagine the robin without the front corners! Rolling in the direction you were trying to avoid!
The forces just DON'T line up well!
(And 80% of your braking comes from the front wheels)
IMHO; 'Illegal' for me..

I do like 2 front wheels; one back Tadpole trikes:
Legality...
The shape fits for aero..!
Less RR and diff/driveline drag.

Weight (you included) low and up front almost between the wheels, if its not a tilting/ leaning design!

Leaning is nice!
All the forces just work together now. Leading to;
The relaxed/intuitive motorbike one gets from leaning.
You wont be rolling over and can go tandem as the weight can go anywhere.
Like high up. (see and be seen!)
Better traction!

[freebeard]

You haven't changed the hoses and carb rubbers for modern ones that are ethanol-proof?

Have not.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Have not.

I would think that would be a great start to ecomodding that Super Beetle.

When I redid mine, it eliminated all the smell of gas fumes from the cab.