Is there a car like Smart Roaster or S660 in US?

[HarryLui]

Excluding MR2, Miata, Fiero, other are there modern cars like Smart Roadster and S660 sold in us?

 

[Crono]

Off the top of my head: Nissan 370Z, Audi TT, BMW Z4, Lotus Elise, Lotus Exige, Fiat 124 Spider

There are more if you include cars no longer in production (Honda S2000, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, BMW Z3, etc)

 

[HarryLui]

Those cars you listed are way too heavy.
A Fiat 124 is at 2,436 lbs. Even a 2011 Lotus Elise is at 2,010 lbs.

Smart Roadster is 1,742 lbs.
Honda S660 is 1,830 lbs.

 

[NutBucket]

No, because it's already a niche market and making the car even smaller won't help sales.

 

[XavierMace]

Most of those glorified golf carts won't meet US safety standards and honestly they are too slow for most people to even want to consider driving on US streets. The S660's 0-60 time of 14 seconds makes it quite a bit slower than a Prius or a Smart.

 

[tweakmonkey]

60s Honda S600, gray market jdm (Honda Beat, Mazda Autozam), lotus Elan or Europa. Closest modern car is a lotus Elise. Honda Insight was super light too but not as cool as a Smart Roadster and bigger than most the others you mentioned. Otherwise it's kit cars and stuff like an Atom or BAC mono. It's a bummer but a big part is due to crash testing and market research those cars just wouldn't sell and would be hard to have the same safety standards.

Slow and small can be way more fun than big and fast. oh well.

 

[Crono]

Those cars you listed are way too heavy.
A Fiat 124 is at 2,436 lbs. Even a 2011 Lotus Elise is at 2,010 lbs.

Smart Roadster is 1,742 lbs.
Honda S660 is 1,830 lbs.

You didn't specify weight. Power-to-weight is a more meaningful metric, anyway, unless you are looking for a vehicle you can benchpress.

 

[tweakmonkey]

No amount of power overcomes the feeling of weight in a car.

 

[HarryLui]

Honda Insight was super light

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/5881765021.html

A decent 120hp 4 cylinder engine in that 1800lbs body would be fun. Though, only issue would be OBDII emission...

 

[XavierMace]

Slow and small can be way more fun than big and fast. oh well.

The car in question would need a power upgrade just to reach slow. Despite it's low weight, it's still 26lbs per HP. For comparison:

Under $25,000 – pounds per horsepower

1. 2014 Ford Mustang V6 ($22,510) – 11.479
2. 2014 Chevrolet Camaro V6 ($23,555) – 11.514
3. 2014 Ford Focus ST ($23,625) – 12.790
4. 2014 Ford Fiesta ST ($21,400) – 13.807
5. 2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec ($21,300) – 13.930
6. 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI 4-Door ($24,995) – 14.152
7. 2014 Mini Cooper S Hardtop ($24,100) – 14.603
8. 2014 Honda Civic Si ($22,790) – 14.644
9. 2014 Mazda MX-5 Miata ($23,790) – 14.850
10. 2015 Volkswagen Jetta GLI ($24,535) – 14.910

My first car was a Suzuki Swift (aka Geo Metro). At 1,850lbs and 55hp with the 1.0l I3 engine, that's just about a dead match for the S660. There was nothing even remotely fun about that car. Unless pissing off everybody stuck behind you is your definition of fun. That said, I guess Harry, that's still a car to add to your list.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/5885332356.html

 

[HarryLui]

My first car was a Suzuki Swift (aka Geo Metro). At 1,850lbs and 55hp with the 1.0l I3 engine, that's just about a dead match for the S660. There was nothing even remotely fun about that car. Unless pissing off everybody stuck behind you is your definition of fun. That said, I guess Harry, that's still a car to add to your list.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/5885332356.html

Considering the prior owners, I'd take an Insight over a Swift or Metro any day.

 

[tweakmonkey]

Power to weight is only fun for acceleration. For everything else less weight is more enjoyable. Why do you think people still drive Porsche 914s and old 60s roadsters? They're slow as dirt and a hoot to drive. Go drive some twisty roads with a V6 Mustang and a 914, and see which is better.

An Insight is plenty fast enough to keep up with traffic. And top speed is over 100 mph...the real issue is it's FWD.

S660 is mid engine rwd and would be infinitely more fun to drive than a Swift other than for commuting.

 

[Yuriman]

There's a shop in Tampa, FL that specializes in Honda K20 (and K20 turbo) swaps into Insights. I want to say I think it costs about $20,000, but you can get an 1800lb car with a stiff aluminum frame and 250-500hp to the wheels, which can still get 45-60mpg. They even have AWD options.

EDIT: http://www.lhtperformance.net/documents/lht_k-sight.html

 

[XavierMace]

Power to weight is only fun for acceleration. For everything else less weight is more enjoyable. Why do you think people still drive Porsche 914s and old 60s roadsters? They're slow as dirt and a hoot to drive. Go drive some twisty roads with a V6 Mustang and a 914, and see which is better.

Unless you're driving downhill only and just coasting, you're going to be accelerating probably pretty frequently.

"Other people do this" is hardly proof of something. Nor is driving old cars exclusive to roadsters. If what other people do is proof of what you should be driving, apparently I need an SUV to commute to work.

I've done twisty roads in JLee's MR2 as a passenger, and as a driver in a BRZ (repeatedly), IS300, and a 135i (repeatedly). At no point in time did I go "man I wish my car only had 80hp", regardless of what it weighs. I would put money on the BRZ trouncing a 914. But if you want to bring a 914 out to educate me, I'll be happy to ride in it.

 

[XavierMace]

Considering the prior owners, I'd take an Insight over a Swift or Metro any day.

Wasn't sure what your plan was. I figured if you're looking at gutting it and swapping the engine, cheaper is better. Are you getting rid of the Omni or just looking for something else to play with?

 

[HarryLui]

Wasn't sure what your plan was. I figured if you're looking at gutting it and swapping the engine, cheaper is better. Are you getting rid of the Omni or just looking for something else to play with?

Neither for now, just looking for ideas.

 

[tweakmonkey]

Unless you're driving downhill only and just coasting, you're going to be accelerating probably pretty frequently.

"Other people do this" is hardly proof of something. Nor is driving old cars exclusive to roadsters. If what other people do is proof of what you should be driving, apparently I need an SUV to commute to work.

I've done twisty roads in JLee's MR2 as a passenger, and as a driver in a BRZ (repeatedly), IS300, and a 135i (repeatedly). At no point in time did I go "man I wish my car only had 80hp", regardless of what it weighs. I would put money on the BRZ trouncing a 914. But if you want to bring a 914 out to educate me, I'll be happy to ride in it.

I'd hope a Brz would run circles around a 914.

Of course you don't want less power, but by the same logic nobody says "I wish my car weighed 600 lbs more", and super powerful / heavy bad handling cars are basically zero fun on twisty roads, where a Miata is even a heavenly experience.

You are welcome to drive whatever you want and vice versa. I'm saying I could give a damn about power to weight if it means I'm driving something like a v6 mustang instead of a lightweight tossable roadster. People drive small cars for a reason and it's usually not power.

To each his own - power and curb weight are apples and oranges. Adding power doesn't remove weight and the experience you get from a lightweight car can't be duplicated by doing it.

 

[HarryLui]

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/5861164611.html

I Like.

 

[BurnItDwn]

What you want is the holy grail of slow, the 2CV... too bad they are extremely rare in the states and it's impossible to find parts.

 

[Crono]

Weight obsessed OP needs to get a BMW Isetta. 370kg (~770 lbs).

 

[tweakmonkey]

Too bad they're like $50,000 now

 

[agent00f]

Neither for now, just looking for ideas.

Motorcycle sidecar.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Here is a 2nd gen Honda Acty microtruck for sale in the USA.
http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-honda-acty-mini-kei-truck/

Weighs around 1600ish pounds I believe.

 

[tweakmonkey]

Well, that looks awful...

 

[Yuriman]

I really dig it. I'd love to have one of those.