Is it possible to design an Americans "Peoples Car" ie 9K or under?

[nerp]

I think engineering, development and labor has a lot to do with cost. Add materials, transport, marketing and a tiny profit and $9,000 is a tall order. I suppose it could be done but the American consumer has shown time and time again that certain amenities lacking in a car makes that car a really tough sell. Good luck selling in any quantity a car with no power steering, wind up windows, poor crash ratings, crap radio, tiny engine, etc. Most people are financing their cars for many years so they're willing to pay up for A/C and power windows and locks. I think automakers have tried to sell very cheap cars but they just can't make enough money to justify the expense. Look at how many billions it costs just to develop a standard sedan that costs $19,000.

 

[shabby]

http://www.nissan.ca/buildyournissan/modelLine/build/2015/MIC

$9998 cad or $8000 usd, not sure why it isn't available in the US.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://www.nissan.ca/buildyournissan/modelLine/build/2015/MIC

$9998 cad or $8000 usd, not sure why it isn't available in the US.

It just went on sale in Canada in 2014:

On January 9, 2014, Nissan Canada Inc. announced they are bringing the subcompact Micra back to the Canadian market after 21 years of absence.

Looks like under 8,000 copies were sold in Canada in 2014.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/glob...the-tiny-price-a-big-bargain/article18776746/

Not that good, mileage not that good.

 

[waffleironhead]

These little cheap cars just do not sell. Look at the first wave of Kia Rio and Hyundai accent.

 

[desy]

Exactly the bug was a sh1t car, we had one, awful in winter, compromise on everything
but in the 70's it made a cheap second car.
Nobody wants to own the cheapest car on the block

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Nobody wants to own the cheapest car on the block

Nissan sells alot of Versa's, around 10K per month. For comparison the Corolla sells more than double that per month while VW sells half as many Golfs. While the Versa is considered a subcompact I'd say the hatch version is pretty close in size to a golf. If I had to commute here in NJ I'd probably own one.

I am a nobody though..... and prefer it that way. ()

 

[desy]

Hey I owned a 07 Versa hatch, compact car size for sub money
Just got a Focus hatch as that seems to be the size the wife wants to drive and gave up our Altima for it

 

[WhipperSnapper]

We have two in my family, they are great! We came from Saturns, same idea but a step up in quality. Both the CVT & 5-speed auto are excellent :thumbsup:

Are you saying that the Chevy Spark has decent build quality? When I think of the Spark (basically made by Daewoo) I can't help but think that it has Aveo genes, and as far as I know, Aveo's weren't too far off from Yugos in their build quality.

 

[michal1980]

Are you saying that the Chevy Spark has decent build quality? When I think of the Spark (basically made by Daewoo) I can't help but think that it has Aveo genes, and as far as I know, Aveo's weren't too far off from Yugos in their build quality.

Its a lot better.

Its also one of the safest mini cars on the market, even does good in the small offset test.

 

[cbrsurfr]

Mitsubishi Mirage can be had for around 10K. Sticker is 12-15K. No one is buying them.

 

[Oric]

Volkswagen was a successful people's car because it delivered a good set of facilities for the buck. It was not the cheapest nor had the least option set but was an overall contender. Similar to the modern D segment of cars.

 

[Pulsar]

You also have requirements being added, like the now mandatory back up warning system.

Strap a whoopie cushion to the back bumper. When your car farts - stop.

We're getting to the point though where the mandated stuff is beginning to interfere with driving. Not being able to turn off traction control for instance. For anyone who lives in a snowy / icy environment, traction control can get you killed and stuck in the snow when it decides to take over throttle control and make your wheels go 2 mph.

Now we've got auto-braking systems that the government is talking about mandating too. At some point someone needs to make a point that the person driving needs to be the one making the decisions - not a computer system.

Anyway no. There's no way you can make a decent car for under 9k.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

I'm surprised no one stated the obvious. If the car companies simply took a monopoly interest in the gasoline supply market, they could use the profits from the gas your car HAS to have to subsidize the price of the car. We could see prices as low as $3000!













Per gallon.

 

[LTC8K6]

IIRC, the profit on gasoline is actually slim?

 

[angminas]

IIRC, the profit on gasoline is actually slim?

For the gas stations, yes. For the petroleum companies, no.

 

[LTC8K6]

For the gas stations, yes. For the petroleum companies, no.

I meant for the oil companies. Gas stations actually break even or lose money, I think. That's why you can't find a gas station without a convenience store, I believe.

http://www.forbes.com/2011/05/10/oil-company-earnings.html

Industry profit margins are cyclical too. But on average, between 2006 and 2010, the largest oil companies averaged a profit margin of around 6.5%. This pales in comparison to profit margins in just about every other industry. The pharmaceutical industry, for example, routinely averages a profit margin of about 16%. The soft drink market is even more lucrative.

At the gas tank integrated oil companies make about 7 cents per gallon. Meanwhile, the government extracts more than 48 cents, on average, per gallon. That’s right: Uncle Sam takes nearly seven times more out of drivers’ wallets via taxation than “Big Oil.”

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I meant for the oil companies. Gas stations actually break even or lose money, I think. That's why you can't find a gas station without a convenience store, I believe.

http://www.forbes.com/2011/05/10/oil-company-earnings.html

i know someone that owns several gas stations. he explained to me a couple years ago that stations make 10 cents/gallon sold, before his costs, next-to-highway gouging, et cetera, and that he was just ok at the old 5 cents/gallon but at 10...times are good. afaik, every oil company gives every owner the same 10/gallon.

the convenience stores are the gravy on his prime rib.

 

[SparkyJJO]

For the gas stations, yes. For the petroleum companies, no.

They make less than 10 cents per gallon profit. Averages about 6.5% profit margin, so yes the profit margins are pretty crappy compared to most industries. They just make a lot of money from sheer volume.

Now, on the other hand, the government makes at least 5x that much in gas taxes. So, who's really getting rich off oil again?

 

[inachu]

Tall people can not fit inside tiny cars.

I tried the 4 door minicooper and the minicooper salesman saw how much pain I was in trying to fit.

 

[shabby]

Tall people can not fit inside tiny cars.

I tried the 4 door minicooper and the minicooper salesman saw how much pain I was in trying to fit.

No pain no gain.