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

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

With a body-on-frame layout, such as in a Beetle, there is a long way before either the body or the chassis become unrepairable, and even longer before both do so.

[some_other_dave]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Who knows to which extent it would be impossible to find another position for a radiator. Maybe sideways like it was fitted to the original Mini, or in some older Volkswagens once converted from air-cooled to water-cooled.

In some cars in the 30s-50s, the radiator was placed behind the motor but still in the engine bay. Most of the ones I can think of (some SAAB, some DKW, FIAT Topolino) used "thermo-siphon" cooling, relying on the warmer coolant to rise up out of the engine to the radiator, whose top was higher than the engine. The coolant would descend through the radiator as it cooled, and then keep descending into the engine, whose low point was lower than the radiator.

The early Porsche Boxsters also had the radiators in the front corners of the car, with appropriate inlet and outlet venting.

I also know of a VW-Porsche 914 that was converted to Subaru 4-cylinder power which had the radiator wedged between the front of the engine and the firewall, which was just behind the passenger compartment. It supposedly worked OK.

-soD

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by some_other_dave

In some cars in the 30s-50s, the radiator was placed behind the motor but still in the engine bay. Most of the ones I can think of (some SAAB, some DKW, FIAT Topolino) used "thermo-siphon" cooling, relying on the warmer coolant to rise up out of the engine to the radiator, whose top was higher than the engine. The coolant would descend through the radiator as it cooled, and then keep descending into the engine, whose low point was lower than the radiator.

DKW cars used to be made in Brazil, and I have already seen many with this feature. There are some repowered with Volkswagen and Ford engines too, and even though a water pump is usually provided with the adaptation they still keep the radiator behind the engine sometimes.

I also know of a VW-Porsche 914 that was converted to Subaru 4-cylinder power which had the radiator wedged between the front of the engine and the firewall, which was just behind the passenger compartment. It supposedly worked OK.

The same approach was applied to the Renault 4CV and the Dauphine/Gordini. Not so sure about its suitability to anything with a higher performance...

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

[some_other_dave]

Those Twingos are just so danged cute!!

-soD

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by some_other_dave

Those Twingos are just so danged cute!!

It's a little wider than the Renault Kwid currently available in my country, which in turn is slightly longer. Had the early Twingo been available in a 4-door option too, I wouldn't be surprised if it soldiered on for longer in some countries such as Colombia where it was available until 2012. On a sidenote, I remember one guy who attended the same high school I attended telling me his father had an early Renault Mégane and a Twingo which they favored for its suitability to the inner-city traffic and ease to find a parking spot. About its looks, the guy used to describe it as some sort of "Opel Corsa B with Down syndrome".

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

There were times when compact cars were really compact. Nowadays a car which would cater to the same segment of this one has now roughly the same size of cars which 20 years ago were slotted 2 classes above it.

[Piotrsko]

Yup the 72 corolla dad bought could fit two to a parking space end to end

[JSH]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

There were times when compact cars were really compact. Nowadays a car which would cater to the same segment of this one has now roughly the same size of cars which 20 years ago were slotted 2 classes above it.

A 1984 Honda Accord was a subcompact car with 97 cu ft of of internal volume. That 1.8L 100 hp engine managed to get 25 mpg.

A 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid is a large car with 123 cu ft of internal volume. The 2.0L 210 hp engine manages to get 48 mpg

The Accord has grown 3 class sizes in 30 years.

[Fat Charlie]

That's why I love my 2013 Fit. It's a 1989 Accord hatchback, but with better mileage and a better radio.