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Very small new car - maybe?
04-10-2014, 07:12 PM
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#1
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,169
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Very small new car - maybe?
Here's something that might help future folks balance their FIRE budget a bit easier. Then again, I think I would rather work another six months and buy a Prius. But, I have seen several such vehicles in Europe so they are not just pie-in-the-sky.
Elio three-wheeler claims 672 miles on one tank of fuel - Autoweek
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Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
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04-10-2014, 07:24 PM
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#2
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Harrogate, UK
Posts: 921
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Read something about this car online somewhere. Sounds like it would make a good commuting car....but not much room inside. We currently have a Subaru Forester.....which works great for us. But.....we wouldn't have bought the Forester if we drove very much (only one car). I had a Honda Jazz (Fit in the US) while I was in the UK.....liked it. Living in Europe for 20+ years made me enjoy the small cars a lot. The Jazz you could stick a lot of stuff in.
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04-10-2014, 07:54 PM
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#3
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,169
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IMHO, many of these cars find their usefulness not in fuel economy, but in being able to find a parking space in congested cities.
__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
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04-10-2014, 08:08 PM
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#4
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bossier City
Posts: 2,183
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The company (Elio) is supposed to build those cars here where I live, Shreveport/Bossier City, LA. They were/are planning to use the abandoned former GM plant, but my wife told me this afternoon that some other big company has announced it wants to occupy that same facility, and will need most or all of it. Elio only needs a part of the plant so the city is talking about relocating them someplace else. I don't know how far along they are in production...I don't think I've seen any of them running around here yet.
*
Ok, I see now that the first Elio is due off the line in a couple of months. I'm not thinking it would be my cup of tea, but I'm all for anything that employs folks and adds to the economy.
__________________
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
-John F. Kennedy
“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?” - Edgar Bergen
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04-10-2014, 08:30 PM
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#5
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Northern Ohio
Posts: 3,182
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuckanut
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If we're going to talk range...
The Mercedes E 250 diesel out does this "car" by far. It has the same 21 gal fuel tank as the gas powered E 350, but get an EPA Highway 45 mpg.
In real life the best I've yet pushed it was 723 miles before refueling with 19.0 gal of diesel yielding 38.1 mpg. Mostly highway driving at ~80 mph on a trip.
Certainly not helpful in stretching a budget, but definitely a fine way to tour the country enjoying FIRE!
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04-10-2014, 10:53 PM
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#6
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,085
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuckanut
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And when one gets nailed by an F150 how far will this beercan travel on no gas at all?
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"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
- George Orwell
Ezekiel 23:20
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04-11-2014, 05:16 AM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 6,499
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Um, not the right shape for use as wheelchuck for my suburban. I'll pass.
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There must be moderation in everything, including moderation.
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04-11-2014, 07:45 AM
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#8
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Administrator
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: N. Yorkshire
Posts: 34,050
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Our son bought a Toyota Scion iQ 2 years ago and loves it. (It's his only car) It is a little larger than a Smart car but not much. He only has a 1 mile commute to work and rarely leaves the town we live in. He picked me up to go play tennis the other day and I noticed that he still only has about 4k miles on the clock.
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Retired in Jan, 2010 at 55, moved to England in May 2016
Enough private pension and SS income to cover all needs
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04-11-2014, 07:56 AM
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#9
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lawn chair in Texas
Posts: 14,183
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brewer12345
And when one gets nailed by an F150 how far will this beercan travel on no gas at all?
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Around here, an F150 is a small vehicle.
Luckily, my Prius has not had a run-in with one yet, but I drive assuming everyone WILL do something stupid, eventually...
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Have Funds, Will Retire
...not doing anything of true substance...
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04-11-2014, 08:06 AM
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#10
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
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I like cute little cars, but only when driving in Europe. Here, as earlier posters have noted, I have to mingle with jerks and jerkettes in their gargantuan SUVs and trucks who overspeed and run red lights.
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"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
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04-11-2014, 08:14 AM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,003
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NW-Bound
Here, as earlier posters have noted, I have to mingle with jerks and jerkettes in their gargantuan SUVs and trucks who overspeed and run red lights.
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Plus ginormous lumbering RV's driven by old geezers who aren't in a hurry and impede the flow of traffic...
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Numbers is hard
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04-11-2014, 08:18 AM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
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Just drive around them, for crying out loud...
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
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04-11-2014, 09:45 AM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,169
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__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
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04-11-2014, 09:47 AM
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#15
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Colorado Mountains
Posts: 3,165
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My junior high art teacher had an Isetta. He found it in some vary strange places from time to time. This isn't really something new.
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04-11-2014, 09:47 AM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,183
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Seems like an awesome idea!!
The biggest drawback seems to be the tandem seating for a couple.
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04-11-2014, 10:12 AM
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#17
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 4,353
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I think it is a terrible idea and you are asking to be killed. You cannot defeat physics. Any collision with another vehicle will crumple this up like a squashed can. Especially as the mass difference is greater, such as with a full size truck or SUV. Although many minivans and sedans are in the 4000-5000 lbs range.
I know someone will argue crumple zones, and they do help. I'll drive a bigger vehicle and take the hit on extra fuel costs for the benefits of increased room, ride comfort and safety. Life is about risk, you decide what you are comfortable with.
However, we live in a free country (for the most part....) and everyone can make their personal choice for transportation. So if this car gets you excited, go ahead and buy one.
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The problem isn't artificial intelligence, it's natural stupidity.
You can't spend yourself to prosperity.
Semi-Retired 7/1/16: working part-time (60%) for now [4/24/17 changed to 80%]
Retired Aug 2, 2017; age 53
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04-11-2014, 10:40 AM
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#18
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,472
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I find that even in retirement I don't put many miles on my V-6 Venza at all. My spending on gasoline is almost trivial. Consequently I find that better gas mileage on a tiny car doesn't appeal to me much.
Still, some of these small cars are pretty cute and sure would be easy to park. Whatever car I buy next, large or small, will be BOTTOM of the line. So many cars these days are "nanny cars" that are loaded up with electronics and do everything for you, and I don't like that.
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Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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04-11-2014, 10:56 AM
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#19
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 945
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You know I used to ride motorcycles and scooters for fun when I was younger. (not so much now at 72 ) Now that gas prices are up, I often look at people on bikes sometimes (usually scooters) and wonder if they are riding them out of necessity as cheap transportation or mainly for pleasure.
If the former, I then think to myself. Well, they will certainly get you far on little gas, but what about your grocery shopping when it is nasty outside. Seems like they should be able to build something enclosed from the elements and a little room to put your groceries for not such an outrageous price. And so, here it is. Agreed not the safest form of transportation, but probably better than a motorcycle, and does serve a purpose.
Would be ideal for the elderly in those "enclosed" residential retirement areas that have all amenities within the community. (like the Villages in Florida) that have grocery stores, banks, theaters, etc. all withing the community. Also area like NYC might be a good option.
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04-11-2014, 11:59 AM
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#20
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Portland
Posts: 4,946
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 38Chevy454
I think it is a terrible idea and you are asking to be killed. You cannot defeat physics. Any collision with another vehicle will crumple this up like a squashed can. Especially as the mass difference is greater, such as with a full size truck or SUV. Although many minivans and sedans are in the 4000-5000 lbs range.
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Note that no matter what size personal vehicle one drives, there is always something bigger on the road. Sometimes much bigger.
SUVs can be in non-survivable collisions as well.
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