We need ultra light four wheeled cars

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I need another vehicle like I need a hole in my head though.

You and me both.

I would like to get rid of a Cobalt, 1 of the 2 Insights and a Subaru 360
To justify America’s least reliable hybrid the $9999 BMW I3 IRex
Sadly even though some say it’s “fixed” on 2015 and later i3’s
It doesn’t look like they are ownable outside warranty though

And good lord is it hard selling a car on Craig’s around here, get more from Carmax

[rmay635703]

Here is a lightweight car

https://www.sae.org/news/2018/10/gor...20&bid=2296564

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

And good lord is it hard selling a car on Craig’s around here, get more from Carmax

I need to sell a car, and I really took a lose on the last one. I'd heard about Carmax, and I just learned that USAA buys vehicles as well.

Do you know what the process is like? Do they pay more than wholesale prices?

Originally Posted by hersbird

More and more I am starting to long for the essence of simplicity in a car. All of this expense and complexity for what seems like minimal returns. I wonder where the sweet spot was.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

And good lord is it hard selling a car on Craig’s around here, get more from Carmax

My last car purchase was facilitated by OfferUp. I've had nothing but fantastic CL experiences, but I think people are moving on since apps like OfferUp make it easier to list things and communicate. No fees, at least for now. That's something CL used to have over everyone else.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Do you know what the process is like? Do they pay more than wholesale prices?

Easy and painless, they pay what they figure it will sell for at their auction

This means spot price which may be higher or lower than wholesale , it really varies with the local demand for said car though.

Easy enough that it’s worth getting a carmax offer as a sales tactic if you do try to sell outright.


Around here I’ve never been offered near wholesale outright so it’s always a win.

[hayden55]

The big problem with this is that Americans do not want small cars especially when gas is much cheaper now than we forecasted five years ago. FiatChrysler (not THE Fiat but Chrysler) then Ford then Chevy all recently killed every single car they offered except for a couple performance models in favor of retooling their lineups to be almost entirely SUVs.
For some reason the american population thinks you need to sit up higher in your vehicle to feel safe and comfy. *facepalms*

[Natalya]

And yet I see 2018-2019 Accords everywhere I look. I think the big 3 just gave up. They figured they couldn't compete with Honda, Toyota, Mercedes, and BMW in the sedan market. The modern Accord is basically a luxury mid-size sedan at an affordable price with decent fuel economy. And they look nice. Ford could have kept the Fusion going, I think that's a great car, but I guess the margin there was too small.

Going back to light chassis...

I can't like imagine driving something other than my 2000 Insight. The car weighs nothing, is super aerodynamic, and with only a few mods and a dead hybrid battery I'm still doing over 75 mpg IN THE RAIN. I don't think I ever want to go back to a steel bodied car. I'm even looking to sell my G2 Insight. The G2 is a good car, I can get over 50 mpg, and it's more utilitarian than the G1 of course, but it's not fun to drive like the G1.

It's too bad aluminum body manufacturing is so expensive. The CR-Z would have been a wonderful vehicle if it was made out of aluminum and the 6th gear was a taller.

But with modern cars, I am really excited about the collision avoidance technology they have. It's kind-of weird to drive with those features, but I feel much safer knowing that many of the newer vehicles around me simply are not able to crash into me because of automatic braking and lane keeping assist. I have no at-fault accidents ever, but I've been run into 4 times. Each of those situations wouldn't have happened if those cars had been equipped with the new technology. Although, one accident was I got rear-ended by a motorcycle, IDK how one would program a motorbike to not crash. ( The guy lived, but he had to take a ride in an ambulance. )

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by hersbird

More and more I am starting to long for the essence of simplicity in a car. All of this expense and complexity for what seems like minimal returns. I wonder where the sweet spot was.

I forgot to mention: Real economy cars don't have doors.... or door pillars, hinges, latches and locks; all of which suffer wear and tear.

I hadn't thought about the modern safety features making vintage cars safer to drive.

I thought there was an aluminum monocoque chassis for the Myers Manx, but maybe not. How about an aluminum tube frame. Any bicycle frame shop could knock one out:


http://www.superstreetonline.com/fea...rs-manx-buggy/

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by hayden55

For some reason the american population thinks you need to sit up higher in your vehicle to feel safe and comfy. *facepalms*

Well, not only in America. Lots of those mini SUVs are appearing in Brazil by now too. Yesterday I was talking about it with my dad, after we saw a Citroën Berlingo and how it seems to be a much smarter design than mini SUVs such as the Peugeot 2008 or the Chevrolet Trax.

[hayden55]

Honestly if you look around you in Arkansas and look at new cars driving around you that were purchased in the last couple years you will be hard pressed to find cars. Its all trucks, SUVs, and CUVs. There are probably more chargers, mustangs, and camaros then a lot of other small cars around here combined. lol
Japanese for sure have a lock on the small market that is sedans here and probably in most places in the USA but there isn't many!

This is without consideration for the used car market.

http://www.autonews.com/article/2018...-year-low-pace