Car: Inexpensive, Cheap, and/or both?

[Dr T]

"World's cheapest car" from India may be coming to the U.S. It costs $2500, will still need to have it's emissions and crash tests changed to meet U.S. standards, but I want to know if any of you would want to by that car? See the article here: World's cheapest car coming to US - MSN Money

[pam]

I'm always worried that you get what you pay for.

[Guest Alana]

I always buy used and pay cash. For $2500 I could literally get much more car. I shop for months to find exactly what I want and over time it seems I've had much less car problems than those around me and never have the stress of payments. I wouldn't drive that car if I had a choice:P I like my $3000 minivan that all my friends who just bought new vans are jealous of because it looks new and has a lot more extras than their do.

[Hemidakota]

Buy used versus anything that is not the same size of a Smart, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris...all of which were tested against other med size vehicles vice a static wall, did poorly with minor or moderate injuries. A group of us in the past tried in telling a static wall is not the best way of testing automobiles safety since most are designed with crumble zones. Two vehicles hitting each other will result differently than a stationary wall. :)

[FunkyTown]

To be fair though, Hemi: When was the last time you saw one of these tiny cars in a ditch or in an accident? Those guys drive much better.

[john doe]

Yeah, I always envision what it would look like if a Smart Car got sandwiched between two semis. No thanks, I'll stick with something a little more substantial.

[Dravin]

Yeah, I always envision what it would look like if a Smart Car got sandwiched between two semis. No thanks, I'll stick with something a little more substantial.

I'm not sure being in a mid-sized (or even full sized) would help you much, though I suppose it depends on various factors such as speed and the like (really low speeds). I'm thinking of the Mythbusters episode where they slammed two semis going (IIRC) 55mph into a compact sandwiching it, a Hummer (original) wouldn't have saved you from that mess.

Now more (common?) accidents would make a difference, but some are so extreme unless your car is made of titanium it just don't matter what you're driving. :)

[Gab84]

Here it will cost around 5,000 €. But if you want a reliable, small car I'd go with a FIAT 500 or Citroen C2 or Renault Clio. But obviously they cost more than 5,000€

[john doe]

I'm not sure being in a mid-sized (or even full sized) would help you much, though I suppose it depends on various factors such as speed and the like (really low speeds). I'm thinking of the Mythbusters episode where they slammed two semis going (IIRC) 55mph into a compact sandwiching it, a Hummer (original) wouldn't have saved you from that mess.

Now more (common?) accidents would make a difference, but some are so extreme unless your car is made of titanium it just don't matter what you're driving. :)

Some. That would be the key word. And while Mythbusters is entertaining to watch, the way they go about testing ideas is silly and unrealistic. I don't know why they claim to be testing a theory but then go in a completely different direction in order to prove or disprove it.

[havejoy]

Is it possible that some have been imported already? I've been seeing a tiny car around town for the last few weeks and it looks like the one pictured here.

[Dravin]

Some. That would be the key word.

Yeah, I just personally consider getting squashed between two Semis to be one of those some. :) I acknowledge your point, generally he with the bigger car gets the win.

And while Mythbusters is entertaining to watch, the way they go about testing ideas is silly and unrealistic. I don't know why they claim to be testing a theory but then go in a completely different direction in order to prove or disprove it.

Oh, they're certainly in the entertainment business, its just they did smash two Semis head on into each other at close to freeway speeds and the results were catastrophic, heck I disagreed with their retest of that particular myth as they took fused to mean a literal fusing of the metal as opposed to the more reasonable (in my mind) tangled together and not easily separated interpertation to the usage of the word, but we did get to see what happens to a compact between two semis, my Dad's Ford Explorer (admittedly not the biggest SUV you can get) wouldn't have saved you. :)

Edited June 9, 2009 by Dravin

[pam]

Is it possible that some have been imported already? I've been seeing a tiny car around town for the last few weeks and it looks like the one pictured here.

Are you sure that's not the Smart Car you are seeing?

[Moksha]

For those of you with nine or more kids, This new Nano would be impractical.

[john doe]

For those of you with nine or more kids, This new Nano would be impractical.

Unless you're a clown family, in which case it would make perfect sense.

[Guest Alana]

To be fair though, Hemi: When was the last time you saw one of these tiny cars in a ditch or in an accident? Those guys drive much better.

Better or slower? The reason they never get in accidents is because the car behind them is the one getting read ended:P

[john doe]

My boss bought a Smart Car. I drove it and was not impressed. The biggest complaint I have is they purposely built a 'hiccup' into it right when it should be shifting. It just feels wrong, and cheap. Plus, as I said before, I would hate to be in any kind of accident in it, there's almost no occupant protection.

[Dr T]

Is the "smart car" anything like a smart phone?

[Canuck Mormon]

My boss bought a Smart Car. I drove it and was not impressed. The biggest complaint I have is they purposely built a 'hiccup' into it right when it should be shifting. It just feels wrong, and cheap. Plus, as I said before, I would hate to be in any kind of accident in it, there's almost no occupant protection.

If you look on Youtube (can't access it at work) there is a show called "Top Gear" from England that smashed a smart car into a barrier at 70 MPH. You should check out that footage. It's not as bad as you think.

The Fiat 500 is supposed to be here by the end of next year, as well as the Ford Ka, and the Chevrolet Spark, but these will have better equipment than the Nano. Plus, by the time they get it certified for use, it will cost a lot more.

[Traveler]

I always buy used and pay cash. For $2500 I could literally get much more car. I shop for months to find exactly what I want and over time it seems I've had much less car problems than those around me and never have the stress of payments. I wouldn't drive that car if I had a choice:P I like my $3000 minivan that all my friends who just bought new vans are jealous of because it looks new and has a lot more extras than their do.

I buy new take good care and drive the car or whatever forever. My bicycle had 80,000 miles on it when I replaced it. There was one exception - I bought a VW bus early in my marriage for $600 and drove it for 15 years before replacing it with a new Suburban. We still have the Suburban that is now 16 years old.

The Traveler

[Dr T]

That's awesome Traveler :) I grew up in a classic Suburban-we too it everywhere (trips)

[Traveler]

That's awesome Traveler :) I grew up in a classic Suburban-we too it everywhere (trips)

Our Suburban did cost more than our first house but I am impressed that you grew up in a Suburban. -- I thought of some other humor but decided that this was enough.

The Traveler

[pam]

My boss bought a Smart Car. I drove it and was not impressed. The biggest complaint I have is they purposely built a 'hiccup' into it right when it should be shifting. It just feels wrong, and cheap. Plus, as I said before, I would hate to be in any kind of accident in it, there's almost no occupant protection.

Well if I were as tall as you and tried to get into a Smart Car..I'd be unimpressed too.