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  #1  
Old 07-21-2008, 10:30 PM
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Our Automotive Future?

Motor Trend Article: How Europe Lives with $10/Gal

Small is beautiful, eh?

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Old 07-21-2008, 10:41 PM
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Those are what we need here... I am going to park my car for a while, I think, once I get new bike, and start driving it once it is too cold to ride. I saw many Smarts when i was in Seattle over the weekend. It is crazy with what people are doing to them
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Old 07-21-2008, 10:43 PM
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The fuel mileage is great, but until everyone starts driving them, I'd be afraid of getting squished like a bug in any kind of accident... Think what would happen say, if my nearly 5000lb 300SD hit one of those cars..even worse with a Hummer or semi...
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Old 07-21-2008, 11:59 PM
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Videos

Somewhere...Of a Smart being crash tested into a WALL at 70 MPH
Passenger cabin intact, little damage.Tough little bugger!
Didn't look like ANY flex at all.

'Human occupants would have been killed by the "3rd impact"
(Internal Organs turned to mush from impact with Bony structure of body)

[1st impact is vehicle vs Obstruction]
[2nd impact is outer covering of human body vs inside of automobile]
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Old 07-22-2008, 12:05 AM
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Originally Posted by 300SD81 View Post
The fuel mileage is great, but until everyone starts driving them, I'd be afraid of getting squished like a bug in any kind of accident... Think what would happen say, if my nearly 5000lb 300SD hit one of those cars..even worse with a Hummer or semi...
I see comments like that a lot. When I told the guys at crownvic.net that I'd sold my Town Car in favor of a W123, I got a few dire warnings of the danger of driving around in a "little" Mercedes. The thing to remember is, there are plenty of folks riding around on motorcycles, and you can't get any less crash protection than that.

I really wish you could buy a (preferrably manual transmission) diesel C-class in this country.
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Old 07-22-2008, 12:13 AM
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Exactly, the problem is that humans aren't rugged enough. We could learn a thing or two from insects. You can drop a bug off a skyscraper and it will be just fine when it lands.

Anywho...I'd love to have a very small MB (A-Class...B-Class...C-class) with the 220cdi 4cylinder in it....we had one in Europe 6 years ago on our trip and got nearly 40mpg!!! In a wagon! And its not slow either, it'd squash our ancient diesels in a speed contest.
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Old 07-22-2008, 12:16 AM
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Europe also has smaller roads, smaller back routes, and smaller parking places in the towns/cities. We don't have those issues. I'm not that crazy about small cars like those (I like them, but I don't want to drive one), but I might buy the Cooper Diesel if they ever bring it over. I liked the idea of the BMW 335d that's coming in October, but as usual we Americans get screwed b/c it'll only be in sedan form - I'd want wagon.
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Old 07-22-2008, 11:42 AM
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Europe also has smaller roads, smaller back routes, and smaller parking places in the towns/cities...
...and smaller metropolitan areas. When your commutes are 10 miles or less, and a drive to your rural vacation home elsewhere in the country is akin to driving across the state of Vermont, it's palatable.

Want to go elsewhere in Europe? Take the train.
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Old 07-22-2008, 12:12 PM
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Our automotive future? Be a long time coming. Half the country couldn't fit behind he wheel of those cars.
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Old 07-22-2008, 12:36 PM
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That would be awesome if they brought a Cooper diesel over!
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Old 07-22-2008, 12:55 PM
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In Arizona, they're advertising 0% financing for two years on Cadillac Escalade's. They can't give those damned things away right now! I sure as hell wouldn't buy one... $150.00 a fill-up with gas!
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  #12  
Old 07-22-2008, 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by 300SD81 View Post
The fuel mileage is great, but until everyone starts driving them, I'd be afraid of getting squished like a bug in any kind of accident... Think what would happen say, if my nearly 5000lb 300SD hit one of those cars..even worse with a Hummer or semi...
Your SD isn't 5000 lbs, more like 3800. Either way, you'd be surprised at the safety of these newer cars. Crumple zones and air bag technology have improved immensely since the 80's.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dynalow
Our automotive future? Be a long time coming. Half the country couldn't fit behind he wheel of those cars.
I'd imagine the front seats to be quite roomy in these small cars, though I'm not sure about the backseat. One of my co-workers is like 6'5'' and 300 lbs but he drives a Jetta just like mine.
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Last edited by DieselAddict; 07-22-2008 at 01:15 PM.
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  #13  
Old 07-22-2008, 01:04 PM
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Originally Posted by DieselAddict View Post
Your SD isn't 5000 lbs, more like 3800. Either way, you'd be surprised at the safety of these newer cars. Crumple zones and air bag technology have improved immensely since the 80's.


I'd imagine the front seats to be quite roomy in these small cars, though I'm not sure about the backseat. One of my co-workers is like 6'5'' and 300 lbs but he drives a Jetta just like mine.
If he's 300 lbs, I'd imagine he's wider than the seat, no?. How comfortable can that be? And what about room in these cars if there is a Mrs. Moby Dick sitting along side you?
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Old 07-22-2008, 01:08 PM
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That would be awesome if they brought a Cooper diesel over!
I'd be a pretty happy guy with a diesel Clubman.
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  #15  
Old 07-22-2008, 01:16 PM
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If he's 300 lbs, I'd imagine he's wider than the seat, no?. How comfortable can that be? And what about room in these cars if there is a Mrs. Moby Dick sitting along side you?
Probably not very comfortable as the seat is just wide enough for me and I'm about 200 lbs. But the point I was making is that he can fit in there and the front is pretty roomy for such a small car.

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