1,675 lbs car

[HarryLui]

I think I'm ready for my midlife crisis car now.
Honda Beat, mid engine and RWD, .66L, 3 cylinders revving to 8500rpm.

http://www.duncanimports.com/used/Honda/1991-Honda-Beat-27e97dfe0a0e08be39b6c18be06adb3c.htm

Yes, it's tiny, that's the beauty of it.

 

[sandorski]

wow

How short does a person need to be to live with it?

 

[Yuriman]

wow

How short does a person need to be to live with it?

It fits normal sized people. My local dealer has one with low miles for sale for about $4,000 and I had the opportunity to take it around the block. I was seriously tempted. Handling is fantastic, and while it isn't fast, it's not slow either. I think I'll build a 200HP 1900lb car instead though.

 

[FelixDeCat]

.6 L, 3 cyl? Woud that "Beat" anything?

A 10 year old Hyundai Accent is light weight and has a 1.6 litre engine. Unfortunately, its not a convertible.

 

[snoopy7548]

Looks like a Power Wheels car sitting next to that truck!

 

[Fenixgoon]

get a lotus replica kit car with a motorcycle engine in it. there was a guy selling one with a 2004 R1 engine in it for like $9000. I seriously considered buying it, because good god would that be fun as all hell. decided to follow through on my ridiculous audi s6 (...my overhaul is still underway )

example: https://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=19472&sid=d45cbf21d83ae324ce5eeba7f69c6e39

 

[Yuriman]

.6 L, 3 cyl? Woud that "Beat" anything?

A 10 year old Hyundai Accent is light weight and has a 1.6 litre engine. Unfortunately, its not a convertible.

Regulations in Japan limit them. It has something like a 9000rpm redline though and ~100hp/L.

 

[Insomniator]

Never heard of these before and it looks awesome. Get it!

 

[FelixDeCat]

Never heard of these before and it looks awesome. Get it!

I'm partial to convertibles (had 3 Miatas), and it would be fun to try this car out.

 

[Yuriman]

Tons of neat 90's cars are now available from Japan. Check out the Suzuki Cappuccino and Mazda Autozam:

 

[Tormac]

I used to daily a Lotus Elise, until I got married, got a step son thrown in on the deal, and found that I needed a four door car with back seats.

I still miss the Lotus, lightweight cars feel great to drive. There is no way to replicate that zippy feel of a light weight mid engine car with a heavier one. I have never heard of a “Beat”. Must be a jdm kei car. As long as you are ok driving a car that small in your local area’s traffic, it sounds like a fun little car.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I used to daily a Lotus Elise, until I got married, got a step son thrown in on the deal, and found that I needed a four door car with back seats.

I still miss the Lotus, lightweight cars feel great to drive. There is no way to replicate that zippy feel of a light weight mid engine car with a heavier one. I have never heard of a “Beat”. Must be a jdm kei car. As long as you are ok driving a car that small in your local area’s traffic, it sounds like a fun little car.

The Lotus Elise is one of the best drivers cars I’ve ever driven. Totally impractical though. Not easy to get in and out of, tiny fuel tank, tiny trunk and it only seats two. They hold their value well too.

I wish I had room for one. I’d love to have one as a third car.

 

[PeterScott]

I think I'm ready for my midlife crisis car now.
Honda Beat, mid engine and RWD, .66L, 3 cylinders revving to 8500rpm.

http://www.duncanimports.com/used/Honda/1991-Honda-Beat-27e97dfe0a0e08be39b6c18be06adb3c.htm

Yes, it's tiny, that's the beauty of it.

Why not just get a reliable, easy to service, safer and more practical Miata. You know a car with the steering wheel on the correct side.

IMO getting a 25 year old, Kei Car in North America, is just novelty for the sake of novelty. Novelty wears off fast.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I love kei cars like the Beat & the Cappuccino. I'm tall & fat and will never fit comfortably in one.
I couldn't fit in my brothers MR2 spyder, and I don't think I could fit in a miata unless the top was down.

MightyCarMods has done a number of episodes and even a couple of full length movies about little JDM "nuggets".

As far as people recommending a miata, realize that these key cars weigh around 700-800 pounds less than even a miata .... (though most people who shop for those things will settle for a more "rational" or at least easier to live with Miata.. or a used mr2 if they can find a good one)

 

[PeterScott]

I love kei cars like the Beat & the Cappuccino. I'm tall & fat and will never fit comfortably in one.
I couldn't fit in my brothers MR2 spyder, and I don't think I could fit in a miata unless the top was down.

MightyCarMods has done a number of episodes and even a couple of full length movies about little JDM "nuggets".

As far as people recommending a miata, realize that these key cars weigh around 700-800 pounds less than even a miata .... (though most people who shop for those things will settle for a more "rational" or at least easier to live with Miata.. or a used mr2 if they can find a good one)

You like the "idea" of Kei cars, but admit that you could probably never deal with the "reality" of driving one.

This is the perfect support of my novelty argument.

Sure there may be some fringe of Kei fanatics that would put up with the multitude of drawbacks and stick with it long term.

But I would argue that most, you and the OP included, are simply in love with the "idea" of a Kei car, but the reality of owning one would soon wear thin. It's a novelty experience, with a huge amount of drawbacks, and the novelty will fade quickly and the drawback will always be there.

Through ownership of two Miata's I have never once thought. "Gee, I wish this was even smaller and less practical", though I have thought the opposite often.

I would argue that a Miata has about 90%+ of the benefit of a Kei Car, but less than 10% of the negatives.

Almost anyone considering a Kei car should spend some time living with a Miata, to see if they still think the want something a lot smaller, and more impractical.

 

[BurnItDwn]

You like the "idea" of Kei cars, but admit that you could probably never deal with the "reality" of driving one.

This is the perfect support of my novelty argument.

Sure there may be some fringe of Kei fanatics that would put up with the multitude of drawbacks and stick with it long term.

But I would argue that most, you and the OP included, are simply in love with the "idea" of a Kei car, but the reality of owning one would soon wear thin. It's a novelty experience, with a huge amount of drawbacks, and the novelty will fade quickly and the drawback will always be there.

Through ownership of two Miata's I have never once thought. "Gee, I wish this was even smaller and less practical", though I have thought the opposite often.

I would argue that a Miata has about 90%+ of the benefit of a Kei Car, but less than 10% of the negatives.

Almost anyone considering a Kei car should spend some time living with a Miata, to see if they still think the want something a lot smaller, and more impractical.

yes. Or, anybody who wants a Kei car should think of getting one for a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th car, and not for a DD.

 

[HarryLui]

Why not just get a reliable, easy to service, safer and more practical Miata. You know a car with the steering wheel on the correct side.

IMO getting a 25 year old, Kei Car in North America, is just novelty for the sake of novelty. Novelty wears off fast.

I don't want a Miata, just like I don't want a MR2, Fiero, Fiat, Mini, Midget etc.

Miata doesn't excite me, neither does those mentioned above. No, answer is NOT always Miata.

You like the "idea" of Kei cars, but admit that you could probably never deal with the "reality" of driving one.

This is the perfect support of my novelty argument.

Sure there may be some fringe of Kei fanatics that would put up with the multitude of drawbacks and stick with it long term.

But I would argue that most, you and the OP included, are simply in love with the "idea" of a Kei car, but the reality of owning one would soon wear thin. It's a novelty experience, with a huge amount of drawbacks, and the novelty will fade quickly and the drawback will always be there.

Through ownership of two Miata's I have never once thought. "Gee, I wish this was even smaller and less practical", though I have thought the opposite often.

I would argue that a Miata has about 90%+ of the benefit of a Kei Car, but less than 10% of the negatives.

Almost anyone considering a Kei car should spend some time living with a Miata, to see if they still think the want something a lot smaller, and more impractical.

Reality like what?
Slow? Small? Toy like? Steering wheel on wrong side? Hard to find parts? More expensive to buy and maintain? Am I missing any other drawbacks?

I daily drive an Honda Insight that does 0-60 in 16 seconds. I know what small is and I know what slow is.

 

[Yuriman]

Yeah I'm with Harry. I'm one of those weird people who would be absolutely fine with the compromises one of these has. As far as I'm concerned, the smaller the better.

My Hondas:

I really do sometimes sit in my Insight and think, "This car really could be 10-20% smaller and still fit me just fine."

 

[PeterScott]

I don't want a Miata, just like I don't want a MR2, Fiero, Fiat, Mini, Midget etc.

Miata doesn't excite me, neither does those mentioned above. No, answer is NOT always Miata.



Reality like what?
Slow? Small? Toy like? Steering wheel on wrong side? Hard to find parts? More expensive to buy and maintain? Am I missing any other drawbacks?

I daily drive an Honda Insight that does 0-60 in 16 seconds. I know what small is and I know what slow is.

You could add, no trunk, 25+ years old with no safety features (NO ABS, no Airbags) and beer-can in a crash.

But by all means if you have thought this though. Go for it!

Your first post made it sound like an impulse/whim without any real thoughts about the downsides.

 

[HarryLui]

My other car is a 85 Dodge Omni that makes 367whp and ran the 1/4 mile at the 117mph trap speed.

Massive lane changing torque steer, no ABs, no airbags, the steering wheel is designed to collapse instead of the steering column, etc.

 

[Tormac]

HarryLui, is that an Omni GHL that you have?

 

[HarryLui]

HarryLui, is that an Omni GHL that you have?

Yes, I have an Omni GLH.

 

[XavierMace]

And people always ask what it's doing in the photo. LOL.

 

[HarryLui]

And people always ask what it's doing in the photo. LOL.

Represent the 80's!

 

[XavierMace]

They need to repave that drive one of these days so it's fun again. At least the drive up South Mountain is properly maintained.

I think you've gotten a bigger intercooler since that picture, haven't you?