Honda Car Forum

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 15:23:26 GMT, "Taylor"
<taylor_m@NOSPAMntlworld.com> wrote:

>Hey there...
>
>I was just wondering; being British, why Americans don't seem to have the
>same fad as we do with smaller vehicles? Such as super-minis, Vauxhall Corsa
>for example, Nissan Micra, Toyota Yarris, and so on...
>
>The reason I'm asking is that most teenagers over here tend to drive
>super-minis, not only because of driving inexperience, but also because
>insurance on cars with bigger than 1.4L engines is extremely high. I was in
>Boston recently and was surprised that basically everybody drives a 'big'
>car so it would seem, even if they live on their own. I was told this was
>just how it was; seems a bit strange considering the environmental issues
>concerned, etc.
>
>Ah well back to work ;-)
>

Well, the first answer is that, until now, micro cars were generally
unavailable in the US. I don't think there has been a car with <1.4L
since the 1970s. Fit and Yarris are coming later this year.

As for insurance, the insurance companies are crooked in America. The
rate for liability insurance is priced exactly the same whether you
drive a Civic or a Suburban. At least that is true for me in my
state. I am 48 but I don't think age would make a difference in that.
I have checked with ~6 insurance companies and the price for the two
vehicles is always the same to the penny, even though the prices vary
between companies.

I can't do that, Dave wrote:
> Chrysler also makes one but can't think of the model name, (might be
> the Neon GS) but I am pretty sure it is a Mitsubishi.

neon R/T. turbocharged, and faster than fast.

merlotbrougham@hotmail.com wrote:
> Taylor wrote:
>> Hey there...
>>
>> I was just wondering;
>
> Lots of thoughts here. First one is because Jay-Z doesn't drive a small
> car. Trying to avoid generalizations, but lots of kids here today feel
> that if they "pass" high school, they're entitled to a new whip. An SUV
> with 20's. Another thought: American roads, streets, and parking spaces

20s? hellz no! 22s minimum!

> are comparatively large and we're not faced with the limited space of
> old city centers in European cities. Gas has always been cheap here as
> well. Also, older larger American sedans have really cheap purchase
> prices. Very affordable to buy for youngsters.
>
> All generalizations of course. I'm a high school teacher and tomorrow
> I'll ask what they think of some micro cars. Already know the answer.

(gay!)

> Sigh.
>

dimndsonmywndshld@yahoo.com wrote:
> Taylor wrote:
>> Hey there...
>>
>> I was just wondering; being British, why Americans don't seem to have the
>> same fad as we do with smaller vehicles? Such as super-minis, Vauxhall Corsa
>> for example, Nissan Micra, Toyota Yarris, and so on...
>
> Ever seen the aftermath of a super-mini vs. full-sized pickup truck
> collision?

ive seen the mini cooper crash tests, and the smart car tests. i also
saw the same test applied to an F150, whose cabin folded like a wet
noodle. trucks arent designed to car standards, and they flip over
easier as well.

>> The reason I'm asking is that most teenagers over here tend to drive
>> super-minis, not only because of driving inexperience, but also because
>> insurance on cars with bigger than 1.4L engines is extremely high.
>
> Insurance here doesn't work that way. My kids found their insurance is
> cheapest for new mid-sized sedans like the Honda Accord or used mid to
> large sized sedans like the Buick LeSabre. Insurance premiums for the
> smallest cars was considerably higher due to higher claims.

small 4 door hatches often qualify as "wagons" getting the lowest rates.

zonie wrote:
> Fuel is still a resonable price here in the states compared to yours,
> someday , maybe that will change. Here in Arizona, when a 16 yo. gets
> their license they can drive any size or hp car or light truck they want
> to. I know that this is not the policy in some other countries. As far as
> the environment, most Americans do not consider the environment when they
> purchase their cars and trucks , they feel they need to buy big to be
> "safe" .

i dont think its even a matter of safety. its a matter of "look how much
money i spent!" or appears that i have to spend. or something.

my sister got a lincoln aviator (fancy ford explorer) for $28k, used,
with 5000 miles on it. MSRP on a new one is $41000. yes- it depreciated
$2.60 for each mile driven.

that would make my civic worth about NEGATIVE $126,000.

SoCalMike wrote:

> the yaris is going to be sold in america this spring. it replaces the
> toyota echo, which had the same drivetrain, but was a tall, narrow,
> skinny-tired, tippy looking thing. i saw one at the LA auto show, and
> liked it. i REALLY wish it came with an optional sunroof

The Yaris already went on sale here in Canada in the fall. We are also
getting a Yaris sedan for 2007, but I don't know if the U.S will get this
as well. The sedan actually looks good for an econo-box.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/060119-2.htm

On 25 Jan 2006 17:51:25 GMT, "TeGGeR®" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote:

>We've got a big country here. Everything is very spread out.

Including our waist lines.

SoCalMike wrote:
> dimndsonmywndshld@yahoo.com wrote:
> >
> >
> > Ever seen the aftermath of a super-mini vs. full-sized pickup truck
> > collision?
>
> ive seen the mini cooper crash tests, and the smart car tests. i also
> saw the same test applied to an F150, whose cabin folded like a wet
> noodle. trucks arent designed to car standards, and they flip over
> easier as well.

Yeah, I've seen those crash tests (car into barrier). When a vehicle
with twice the mass crashes into another vehicle, the vehicle with less
mass suffers FAR greater damage. F=Ma and all that physics... Last
year, in my county, an idiot teenager in a Ford Expedition crashed into
a nice sturdy compact car and tore it in half, killing all inside it.
The kid in the Expedition, just a Ford F150 station wagon, walked away.

>
> >> Insurance premiums for the
> > smallest cars was considerably higher due to higher claims.
>
> small 4 door hatches often qualify as "wagons" getting the lowest rates.

I get those rates but not my kids, at least in my state.

LOL! Exactly.

One kid (18yrs old 6'4" ~250lb kid) laughed and said "Nah, nobody'd
roll that. They'd laugh at you and push the car over at the stop sign."
sigh again