Just came back from a trip to Mexico and I saw all sorts of small hatchbacks I had never seen in the U.S. Do carmakers really believe there is no market for these cars in the U.S.

Kia's going for less than 10K are flying off the shelves!!

Ford Ka



Volkswagen Lupo



It's a different story with Renault and Peugeot coz those carmakers aren't even in the US, but I saw ton of these and would own one in a second ...

Renault Clio



Peugeot 206RC

 

>>Do carmakers really believe there is no market for these cars in the U.S.
>>
I think you've nailed it! Such a pity, too. I'd love to see the current trend reversed so that more options for small cars exist here.

 

The U.S. will be getting the Polo once the new Golf and new Jetta (mark V platform) are on the market here. That is mainly due to the Golf and the Jetta (aka Bora) getting larger with each new generation. As it is the MK4 Jetta is already as large as the B4 Passat.

 

US safety regulations are as much to blame as the market miscalculations on the part of the automakers. That's one reason why the MINI got to be so big and heavy! Unfortunately now, with so many lumbering 6,000 beasts on the road, it only reinforces the arguments of those who say that very small cars aren't safe enough for American roads. We don't even know what a small car is here anymore - the Toyota Corolla is referred to as a subcompact!

 

Welcome Back!

I've driven the turbocharged clio and peugot 205 while in England....bloody fast cars!

no market. they're too small....too efficient...heck, people probably think they're unsafe too

 

IMHO, If U want to get squashed in a small car because it's "unsafe" thats your own agenda... Bring on the Smart cars :smile: I've driven a 206 and a Lupo, wasn't impressed by the Lupo, but the 206 was quite nice. When I was in Denmark for 1 month, I got one of these- even "family" cars have better dynamics. The Malibu we have here is much sloppier... When I got back and fired up my Olds Intrigue (After sitting for 4 months), felt like I put wheels on my couch and hit the highway

 

Opel is an European division of GM and shares many parts and designs with its overseas cousins. :smile:

 

That Opel Vectra is the European version of our current 2004 Chevy malibu. Both share same platforms and powertrains but there are several cosmetic differences.


This weekend I saw in person the new 2005 Chevy Cobalt (Cavalier's replacement) and it is a VERY nice looking car (Has VW/Audi cues to the styling). I can tell the Cobalt is based on the European Opel Astra. very refined, very weel made, very attractive. It was about time to retire the 23 year old J-body Cavalier from the market place.

 

You guys can keep the Clio, Ill take one of these if they ever would come here

 

I saw one of these in person in Westwood, during the premier of Swordfish. John Travolta drove up in it.

 

TVRs are awesome machines.....they are hand made and cost half an arm and 3/4 of a leg, plus they have this humongous 460 CID motor (so basically in the UK you pretty much have to be filthy rich to have one.... On the original question, basically the Federal Safety Rules, including the 5 MPH bumpers preclude the small cars from being sold here. Of course if $3.00 a gallon gas is around the corner, then, us the people will probably make it happen. Nothing like the marketplace to tell companies what to sell.......Fiat UNOs, Fiat Cinquecentos, all sort of competition for the MINIs from Renault in particular.

 

>>You guys can keep the Clio, Ill take one of these if they ever would come here :smile:

Peace,
D

 

ahhh. Tvr. Did you see the new 400? It's a beauty! I saw a TVR 350 for sale on a forum for 14999 british pound. That's only $26000 usd, but you'd have to get it here, and it would never pass the safety inspections as mentioned. I'm a big fan of MG as well. I own a 73' midget, and if MG brought the "TF" here or the express, I'd have one. I was in Ireland last year and saw the same thing that was mentioned in the first post. All kinds of cool little cars. I was fortunate enought to get to drive a TF while I was there, and the quality of the cars are just so much better. I also saw a ton of MINI MkI and MkII's

 

oh yeah, the 350 was actually a speed six, and it was wrecked.

 

I wanna see this in the US!

Toyota Vitz



Vitz

 

>>I wanna see this in the US!
>>
>>Toyota Vitz
>>

preferably in that hot pink color too