How is Corbin Motors reputation?

[skemlawn]

I was looking into getting a new car, probably an electric or hybrid gas/electric car.

Check out the Sparrow at Corbin Motors.

That little car would be just about perfect for me. I just don't know anything about the company.

 

[bobtist]

To each his own.

 

[skemlawn]

haha pr|ck

 

[The Stigenator]

honda has one called the "city" or something in that line. I have seen them around. might be cheaper.. I cant justify 15K for a battery operated one.

 

[Pastore]

think about how much it would cost to get repairs done to it.....

 

[RGN]

It's kinda ugly.

 

[bobtist]

Kinda'? Ok...

 

[perry]

Lenux Square, here in Atlanta, has battery charging stations for cars. Perty cool. Looked to be free -- free gas!!!

 

[Rastus]

You live in Montana and are considering getting one of those things? You must not get out much.

 

[RGN]

Dude, you live in Montana? You NEED a pickup truck!!!


oh, I looked at that thing again, and I changed my mind. now its very superdooper extra ugly.

 

[Viperoni]

$15,000 is NUTS!

 

[bobtist]

Get a dirtbike. 1/30th the cost, very economical on gas, more fun, has about the same payload capacity, looks cooler.

 

[JACKHAMMER]

If you are seriously considering one of these, look into the diesel VWs - they push 50npg w/ the TDI engine and are very reliable.

 

[skemlawn]

I've always been a "bit" unconventional in my thinking. Currently I own a 1972 Saab 96. I've always liked things out of the norm. I want an electric car and I want one on my budget. It would cost around $5 to $9 thousand to convert my Saab 96 from gas to electric, plus I would have to do it myself. I know very little about mechanics. I'm not even sure there is a kit to hook the darn thing up to my transmission.

No I don't get out much I don't have any friends that are left in town. I go to the store and work. That's all I need a car for. In the winter a motorcycle/bike is outta the question. I've thought about it.

Reparis shouldn't be all that expensive. It's just an oversized DC motor ($1000) that would probably outlive the car itself. The belt is only $30, which needs replacing every 100,000 miles. Most of the parts are of the "off the shelf" variety. Every 4-6 years you need batteies, about 3-4 thousand worth (which I probably spend in gas in the same period of time). It registers and insures as a motorcycle (cheaper). The tires are tires you can pick up at any tire place. No tune ups, no oil change, no gas, just plug it in and go.

Their is also the Insight, don't know what to think about it.

I guess I just want to know what there reputation as a manufacturer is like.

 

[LuluLaFu]

no friends left in town? that must TOTALLY suck.

 

[Tominator]

Notice they do not talk about a heater or defroster.:disgust: It would be about as bad as it could get in bad weather. Couldn't see where you were going even if the pos could get enough traction.

Now, in a warmer climate and used only for short trips, you MIGHT have an argument for one. We won't talk about resale value.....as I doubt there is any!

 

[MajesticMoose]

hmm how long would it take for me to role that thing?? 5 maybe 10 minutes

Go check out the insight, they aren't too bad.

Moose

 

[iamwiz82]

i saw those at the detroit auto show, and was amazed how SMALL they are. It would be cramped for one person, trust me, but they do have quite a few varieties.

 

[skemlawn]

It DOES have a heater in it, just no AC. They are thinking of putting AC into the 02 model.

I like small places.

A newer model mustang is nearly equal as far as roll overs are concerned according to Corbin. Look at the section called STABILITY.

Alright, I have ONE freind in town Lulu, and she is a creul mistress Guess I should have said, "my friend lives in the sticks and I hate to drive out there because of the giant nasty ogre name OLAF" Did you look at the car LuLu? It's no pimpin' green Grand Am, nor is it a sexy Saab 96, but you would still love me if you saw me in it wouldn't you?

I can't think of a single reason NOT to get it, expect it *IS* a little outta my price range.

 

[Ornery]

Good luck with your car skemlawn, but your post reminded me of the kid that got ripped off by the car dealer. He made a web site to bash the dealer. It was a riot! Anybody still got a link to it?

 

[skemlawn]

I didn't say that I was going to buy it. I posted because I wanted to know about the reputation of the manufacturer. I still know nothing about the company. I have downloaded and watched all the movies off their site, commercials, interviews, all of it. Still I know nothing about the company.

I know Corbin also makes seats for Hotrods and motorcycles, and saddlebags.

Perhaps you all know of a car/EV forum that could better answer my question about their relibility as a company.

And why did you BOLD my name ornery? It makes me a little nervous.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I bet 4 guys could pick that up, toss it in the back of a pcikup, adn be out of sight in 3 minutes

 

[skemlawn]

it's curb wieght is 1350 lbs, maybe 6 people

 

[Ornery]

Chill there skemlawn, it's SOP to bold names. Man, I was hoping somebody had that link. Funniest thing I'd ever seen. The kid was getting hits like crazy too. His page was featured on another site and it really took off.

The gist of the story was that the dealer threw some options on a 1999 model car and told him it was the 2000 model. Charged him about $6,000 more than it should have cost. Anyway, the site he put together and running dialog with the dealer were priceless. I hope it's still around...

 

[Zenmervolt]

Have seen Corbins at the Detroit International Auto Show for the last two years. I was not impressed with the build quality of those "cars" at all. The bodies were very flimsy, and for $15,000 I can get a loaded 2-3 year old Civic EX. Plus, three wheeled vehicles have inherent stability issues, which can lead to some very disturbing "surprises" while cornering. Also, with only one tiny tire driving the "car", I imagine that there would be very poor traction in the winter. Finally, a Geo Metro can take out a Corbin, just imagine what a full size vehicle would do to it in even a minor collision. If you want a good, well-build hybrid get a Honda Insight. The Insight is life size and actually has some luggage space. Insights have also been reported to get over 70 miles per gallon on the freeway when driven frugally.

Zenmervolt

EDIT: From Corbin: <<In our rollover testing, we were pulling .88 Gs before the Sparrow would slide or come up (one-G would be sideways force equal to that of gravity). This number is very much in line with the average small/midsize car sold today. We've read magazine reports that place a recent model Ford Mustang at .86 Gs before it would slide.>>

Maybe so, but there is still an inherent difference in the physics of a 3-wheeler, there are no two ways around that. Also, when a 4-wheeled vehicle lifts one wheel (usually the inside front tire, and actually a common trait at high G loads) there is a wheel daigonal from it to prevent a rollover. In a 3-wheel design this is not available, and a 3-wheeler will prefer tipping to a lateral drift. Finally, G's pulled on a skidpad are a terrible way to measure lateral stability, a much more accurate test is a slalom course which subjects the vehicle to rapid directional changes. Rapidly altering the direction of travel (&quot;swerving&quot upsets a car much more than a run around a skidpad, and I doubt that the Sparrow is equal to anything short of Semis and delivery trucks in that regard. In short, though it may be able to handle a continuous G load that is applied slowly, I have serious doubts about its ability to resist rolling when rapid changes in direction are necessary. Again I say, look at the Honda Insight.