Saturday, 25 July 2009
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Little cars for everyone
Cars these days seem to be shrinking in size. Wasn't it only a few years ago when giant, over the top, gas guzzling cars were the in thing? How the tables have turned! When can society find a happy medium?
I suppose small cars are popping up all over the place because gas prices are a killer. I don't know squat about cars, but isn't it generally true that small cars use less gas? Or they're more gas efficient? As a chick, I'm down to drive any small car. Throw me in a Yaris and I'll be happy. I think small cars are cute, and the fact that they're great on gas make it practical in times like these.
For men however, I imagine that it's quite different. What grown man wants to bring home his lady friend in a SmartCar? I've never heard a guy bragging about his killer Mini Cooper. Just the idea of a big guy trying to squish his way into such a small space makes me think of clown cars at the circus. I've always thought of men wanting really powerful cars. 0 to 60 in four seconds! Maybe I'm just playing up stereotypes here, but I'm used to the idea of a guy owning a big macho car to go with his big macho ways.
So will this economic downturn force the manliness out of men? I shudder at the thought.
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About the Author
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- From: Stephanie
- Name: Stephanie
- About Me: I like Girl Scout cookies. Who in their right mind can deny a Thanks-A-Lot or Thin Mint? Surely not me.
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Comments (28)
I'm still sticking with my tC. No economic downturn will turn down my car preferences! >:(
I got a bright yellow Yaris when someone smashed my extra-large Buick. It's fabulous.
Whenever I see a smartcar there's always some huge guy driving it. Funny.
@NoHeroesForTomorrow@xanga - dang does everyone have the tc?
I'm actually just thinking about grabbing a typical Toyota Camry. The 2010's don't look that bad.
if that's what's popping up all over the place then get ready; they're going to be rolling over all over the place too.
Ughhh, I hate mini cars.
I get so excited when i see little cars like that! They are so cute, especially that one : )
the smaller the better when it comes to cars :)
i love my 2door honda civic.
although my 6'1" boyfriend doesn't when he has to ride in it... very cramped for him.
I miss muscle cars =(
@jupiter312@xanga - Ditto. These tiny cars just seem unsafe. Not to mention they're not practical.
@BunnyParfait@xanga - Yeah, at least with a big, heavy car you know that there's some steel protecting you instead of a plastic hood that crumples immediately upon impact. My dad accidentally backed our car (a 2002 LeSabre) into his truck (a '68 F250). The trunk was demolished; the truck didn't even have a dent.
@jupiter312@xanga - LOL Nice XD
Ugh. I hate small cars. I'm currently arguing with my parents against getting a new small car with the cash for clunkers deal they have going now. They want me to spend all my savings to get ugly little new car and I want to get a new Jeep Patriot. I can only hope I win the argument or else I'm not going to be driving much until I turn 18 in January and can sell the mini car. (I'm one of the pickiest people ever when it comes to cars)
I have a Chevy Aveo, and I love it. But I like small cars, AND big trucks.
I've only seen guys driving mini coopers. I've never seen a girl drive one yet.
Real men shouldn't rely on the size of their car to prove that they are manly.
omg!
its really cute! but how safe is it?
@wasabiii123@xanga - Its more than likely not that safe. Little thing compared to the other normal sized things out on the road.
@jupiter312@xanga - My dad did the same thing with his chevy, he backed up into another newer car and crushed the door but the steel bumper... well you know... nothing on it.
@C0ll33Ncorps@xanga - Thats so true... I see that all the time.
@Piercingsounds@xanga - Yeah, they really need to start making steel bumpers again. The one on our LeSabre has some kind of styrofoam under a thin layer of plastic. The plastic comes off so easily. I bumped into a guard rail (in a parking lot, so I was going about 2 mph) and some of the clips that were holding it on popped out of place.
The new small cars are a joke. Oversized golf carts. Something that small gives you NO safety in a crash. Physics says it can't. Over 25 years ago, Volkswagen came out with the diesel "Rabbit" that got 54 mpg. Google it. With all the technology, the hybrids and other hype, they still cannot turn out a car that gets as good mileage as the Rabbit. My 1959 Volvo was rated at over 26 mpg new. That is 50 year old technology, in what is considered today a medium sized car.
My son's first car is a 79 Camaro. Full sized. I want some steel wrapped around him if someone hits him. Not to mention it looks nice. Same with my other sons first car...76 El Camino...looks great too... I like my 81 Chevy crew cab longbox pickup. Land Yacht. But if I am in a wreck, I have a better chance than some skeezix in his "Smart Car"...and when it splits in two, there will be battery acid everywhere..real "smart"...
People are resurrecting full sized cars from the junkyards and rebuilding them. The car buying public do not want to drive bread boxes, roller skates, and golf carts. Most people hate the emission control crap and restrictions. Why do you think the sale of SUV's took off so much in the 90's? They were not under the mileage caps the EPA forced on all of us. And the Hummer was the new status symbol of the wealthy. No matter it gets about 8 mpg..if you can afford it, why not? Not all of us buy into the carbon footprint hoodwink...
@wasabiii123@xanga - My wife's Honda could drive over that thing.
You really couldn't pay me enough to drive a Yaris, Aveo, or a ForTwo. For one thing, the gas mileage isn't really anything to write home about; certainly it isn't worth what you're giving up in power. My "midsize" Fusion gets 30MPG (non-hybrid, by the way - just good, old-fashioned octane) highway, AND has been an IIHS Top Safety pick for going on three years now. Minicars are just excessive. Sure, they're great for some people, but there's that whole "physics" thing; you know, the one that says, pit your Smart up against a C-Class and your Yaris up against a Camry, and you're a bug on the Camry's windshield.
OK my current car is a 91 Cavalier, got it for free as when gas was super high last year , my old employer kept me broke and my truck was using too much gas, so I got a Buell Blast motorcycle, when winter came around , fellow co worker gave me the Cav so I could stillafford to drive after changing jobs and not ride in winter(yes I drove till just after Thanksgiving on my bike.
This car comes in at around 2500+ pounds, my project car comes in at around 3000(77 Monza 2+2) and another car I am getting will be a early 80s 2dr Caprice with a big block chevy.
2006 Blast 60mpg
1991 Cavalier 31mpg with air on or off(too bad,,, a smart car gets only 30mpg)
1977 Monza figure average of 20mpg.
1980 Caprice figure in the range of 15 to 18
1978 C10 on air ride,,,12 to 17
im still macho and saving on gas. i just baugt a motorcycle instead of one of those gay little cars. smaller gas tank but hey it will take me 65 miles a gallon
I drove my little camry into a brick wall hard enough to knock a substantial amount of it over, and my car only needed a new bumper. Unnecessarily big cars just seem to say "I like wasting money, I don't care about the environment, and If I hit you, you might be in trouble but I'll be okay and that's all that matters!" Gas prices are only going to go up over the long term and I will be very surprised if in 30 years there are any gas guzzlers still on the road. Plus a zippy little roadster-like convertible seems far more manly to me than a soccer-mom-esque bulky SUV.