Chinese Cars
 

"jim7856" wrote in message
...
Don White wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
m...
Eisboch wrote:
It occurred to me that GM, with 15 days left to come up with an
acceptable survival plan to qualify for more bailout funds from the
government, may simply be playing high stakes poker with the government
by leaking info that they plan to export Chinese built cars to the US.
In other words, "give us more money, President Obama, and we'll drop
the Chinese export/import plan."

Further convinces me to never, ever, buy a GM product. Let 'em go
belly-up for good.

Meanwhile, our neighbor is taking delivery next week of his new, "Smart
Car". He recently totaled his last car and Mrs.E. lent him the use of
her little VW Beetle until he got a replacement. I am sure I'll be
able to try out the Smart Car and I'll post my impressions of it.

Eisboch


Your neighbor totalled his last car and now he wants one of those little
boxes? My guess is they don't do so well in crash tests. Evolution in
action, as it were.

If someone wants a tiny car...why not try the Honda Fit.
On the various vehicle review TV programs..the testers seem to love the
little car... especially the 2009 version which is supposed to be a bit
roomier.
PersonallyI think any normal sized, middle-aged adult would be more
comfortable in something a bit bigger...like a RAV4.
Oversized 'mericans might want a Highlander or Honda Pilot
Some would and some wouldn't. The fit is really too small. We traded a
sporty car in on a CRV. My wife wasn't thrilled at first to make the trade
but she soon grew to like the CRV a lot. It's definately more comfortable
than the cars they are making today. We bought it to be towed not tow, so
it doesn't bother me that it would be a **** poor tow vehicle.

We just bought a new Venza. The Highlander had poor visibility. The rear
seat headrests block the directly behind view. The Rav4 is too small. The
Venza is rated for a 3500# tow capacity, and the only reason it is getting a
trailer hitch is to hold the bike rack. I tow with a 3/4 Ton Chevy diesel.
Older guy in town I am friends with just bought a Smart. Actually has
decent seating room. I fit and I am 6'4" and 230#. But for a small car, it
should get more than the 40 mpg they rate. The Venza is rated for 27
highway. I got 22.7 for a trip down I-5 to L.A. driving 85-90 a lot of the
way. So at normal 65 mph should get near the rated mileage.

Chinese Cars
 

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
m...


We just bought a new Venza. The Highlander had poor visibility. The rear
seat headrests block the directly behind view. The Rav4 is too small.
The Venza is rated for a 3500# tow capacity, and the only reason it is
getting a trailer hitch is to hold the bike rack. I tow with a 3/4 Ton
Chevy diesel. Older guy in town I am friends with just bought a Smart.
Actually has decent seating room. I fit and I am 6'4" and 230#. But for
a small car, it should get more than the 40 mpg they rate. The Venza is
rated for 27 highway. I got 22.7 for a trip down I-5 to L.A. driving
85-90 a lot of the way. So at normal 65 mph should get near the rated
mileage.


I don't know how accurate the on board computer is on this car, but the
Mustang GT I bought with a 5 speed manual transmission indicates just over
22 mpg average and just about 24 mpg when I reset it and measure highway
only.
It only has 800 miles on it and I haven't verified the numbers manually yet.

But that's with a 300 hp V8 engine. I don't drive crazy or particularly
fast, but I do get on it a bit once in a while when getting on the highway.

Eisboch

Chinese Cars
 

Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 14 May 2009 05:13:47 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:

I am sure I'll be able to try
out the Smart Car and I'll post my impressions of it.

Please tell us where the engine is. It's not immediately obvious when
you look at one close up.

Just think the size of a small two cylinder lawn mower engine and that
it could be anywhere. Hell, it could even be between the rear wheels for
all we know.

Chinese Cars
 

Eisboch wrote:

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
m...


We just bought a new Venza. The Highlander had poor visibility. The
rear seat headrests block the directly behind view. The Rav4 is too
small. The Venza is rated for a 3500# tow capacity, and the only
reason it is getting a trailer hitch is to hold the bike rack. I tow
with a 3/4 Ton Chevy diesel. Older guy in town I am friends with just
bought a Smart. Actually has decent seating room. I fit and I am 6'4"
and 230#. But for a small car, it should get more than the 40 mpg
they rate. The Venza is rated for 27 highway. I got 22.7 for a trip
down I-5 to L.A. driving 85-90 a lot of the way. So at normal 65 mph
should get near the rated mileage.


I don't know how accurate the on board computer is on this car, but the
Mustang GT I bought with a 5 speed manual transmission indicates just
over 22 mpg average and just about 24 mpg when I reset it and measure
highway only.
It only has 800 miles on it and I haven't verified the numbers manually
yet.

But that's with a 300 hp V8 engine. I don't drive crazy or
particularly fast, but I do get on it a bit once in a while when getting
on the highway.

If you are not going to drive the 'Stang the way it is meant to be
driven, I'll stop by in June and give it a good work out.

Chinese Cars
 

"BAR" wrote in message
...


If you are not going to drive the 'Stang the way it is meant to be driven,
I'll stop by in June and give it a good work out.



That's if I still have it. It's a fun car, but I don't drive it much.
I've had it for three months and it has 800 miles on it. I use my truck
most of the time.

I bought it mainly because it was the only way I could get rid of the limo I
had without giving it away.

I took the limo back to the dealer where I bought it, figuring they would be
more receptive to taking it in trade. They were, so I looked around at what
they had in stock, and came home with the Mustang.

I am probably going to sell it. It will be much easier to sell than the
limo was.

That said though, I have to admit I am impressed with it. It handles well,
sounds good, looks good and has all the power I'd ever need. I just don't
have much use for it.

Eisboch

Chinese Cars
 

Eisboch wrote:

"BAR" wrote in message
...


If you are not going to drive the 'Stang the way it is meant to be
driven, I'll stop by in June and give it a good work out.



That's if I still have it. It's a fun car, but I don't drive it much.
I've had it for three months and it has 800 miles on it. I use my
truck most of the time.

I bought it mainly because it was the only way I could get rid of the
limo I had without giving it away.

I took the limo back to the dealer where I bought it, figuring they
would be more receptive to taking it in trade. They were, so I looked
around at what they had in stock, and came home with the Mustang.

I am probably going to sell it. It will be much easier to sell than the
limo was.

That said though, I have to admit I am impressed with it. It handles
well, sounds good, looks good and has all the power I'd ever need. I
just don't have much use for it.

Eisboch


Manly men will be driving the new MV Agusta F4 RR 312 1078.

Chinese Cars
 

On Thu, 14 May 2009 11:59:54 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:

The problem with the Smart Car is that the passenger cab and chassis
is too rigid - it's like a roll cage in a Sprint Cup car,

What is a Sprint Cup car? I have a couple of sprint cars, but they
don't have roll cages, the frame is a cage.

Casady

Chinese Cars
 

On Thu, 14 May 2009 11:59:54 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:

The single thing he said he would remember forever was getting smacked
in the face with the driver's side air bag then smacking his face
against the steering wheel.

Not something I would want to test.

Note that race cars do not have air bags. The shoulder harnesses keep
the helmet off the wheel.

Casady

Chinese Cars
 

"HK" wrote in message
m...
Eisboch wrote:

"BAR" wrote in message
...


If you are not going to drive the 'Stang the way it is meant to be
driven, I'll stop by in June and give it a good work out.



That's if I still have it. It's a fun car, but I don't drive it much.
I've had it for three months and it has 800 miles on it. I use my truck
most of the time.

I bought it mainly because it was the only way I could get rid of the
limo I had without giving it away.

I took the limo back to the dealer where I bought it, figuring they would
be more receptive to taking it in trade. They were, so I looked around
at what they had in stock, and came home with the Mustang.

I am probably going to sell it. It will be much easier to sell than the
limo was.

That said though, I have to admit I am impressed with it. It handles
well, sounds good, looks good and has all the power I'd ever need. I
just don't have much use for it.

Eisboch


Manly men will be driving the new MV Agusta F4 RR 312 1078.



Not even worth putting on my list of future desires.

Eisboch

Chinese Cars
 

Eisboch wrote:

"HK" wrote in message
m...
Eisboch wrote:

"BAR" wrote in message
...


If you are not going to drive the 'Stang the way it is meant to be
driven, I'll stop by in June and give it a good work out.



That's if I still have it. It's a fun car, but I don't drive it
much. I've had it for three months and it has 800 miles on it. I
use my truck most of the time.

I bought it mainly because it was the only way I could get rid of the
limo I had without giving it away.

I took the limo back to the dealer where I bought it, figuring they
would be more receptive to taking it in trade. They were, so I
looked around at what they had in stock, and came home with the Mustang.

I am probably going to sell it. It will be much easier to sell than
the limo was.

That said though, I have to admit I am impressed with it. It handles
well, sounds good, looks good and has all the power I'd ever need.
I just don't have much use for it.

Eisboch


Manly men will be driving the new MV Agusta F4 RR 312 1078.



Not even worth putting on my list of future desires.

Eisboch

What? No room for a 190 mph motorcycle that makes great sounds?