Why does the government not permit the tiny cars you see overseas (question gas related)???

[episodic]

Why can't we buy the tiny little cars you see overseas and even in Canada here in the USA?

If the reason is for 'crash' safety - then what about motorcycles?

Why do we allow motorcycles at all if we can't drive in a small car?

I'd rather take my chances and save some serious change - honestly. I'd be just as screwed on a motorcycle as I would in a tiny car getting hit. Why is one legal and the other not?

 

[EvilYoda]

DC's importing the Smart cars and they should be on sale, what, end of this year or '07?

 

[aswedc]

Uh, I don't think they're not allowed. We don't want to buy them.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: episodic
Why can't we buy the tiny little cars you see overseas and even in Canada here in the USA?

If the reason is for 'crash' safety - then what about motorcycles?

Why do we allow motorcycles at all if we can't drive in a small car?

I'd rather take my chances and save some serious change - honestly. I'd be just as screwed on a motorcycle as I would in a tiny car getting hit. Why is one legal and the other not?

In Canada we can import them......... they just have to be 15 years old

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: episodic
Why can't we buy the tiny little cars you see overseas and even in Canada here in the USA?

If the reason is for 'crash' safety - then what about motorcycles?

Why do we allow motorcycles at all if we can't drive in a small car?

I'd rather take my chances and save some serious change - honestly. I'd be just as screwed on a motorcycle as I would in a tiny car getting hit. Why is one legal and the other not?

In Canada we can import them......... they just have to be 15 years old

Cheers,
Aquaman

Who cares about canada.

 

[imported_wicka]

Because it's America, and we like stuff that is exceedingly masculine. Motorcycles are; pansy cars that just become obstacles in the road are not. It's not your job to block me from driving 95 in a 30.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: episodic
Why can't we buy the tiny little cars you see overseas and even in Canada here in the USA?

If the reason is for 'crash' safety - then what about motorcycles?

Why do we allow motorcycles at all if we can't drive in a small car?

I'd rather take my chances and save some serious change - honestly. I'd be just as screwed on a motorcycle as I would in a tiny car getting hit. Why is one legal and the other not?

In Canada we can import them......... they just have to be 15 years old

Cheers,
Aquaman

Who cares about canada.

Hey...... when the USA runs out of stuff like water & oil......... you'll care

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[bootymac]

Motorcycles and cars are different. I think both have different safety requirements.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: episodic
Why can't we buy the tiny little cars you see overseas and even in Canada here in the USA?

If the reason is for 'crash' safety - then what about motorcycles?

Why do we allow motorcycles at all if we can't drive in a small car?

I'd rather take my chances and save some serious change - honestly. I'd be just as screwed on a motorcycle as I would in a tiny car getting hit. Why is one legal and the other not?

The government doesn't permit them?

Anyhow, are cars like the Chevy Aveo and all the Kia Rios and Hyundai Accents selling in huge numbers?

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: DainBramaged

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: episodic
Why can't we buy the tiny little cars you see overseas and even in Canada here in the USA?

If the reason is for 'crash' safety - then what about motorcycles?

Why do we allow motorcycles at all if we can't drive in a small car?

I'd rather take my chances and save some serious change - honestly. I'd be just as screwed on a motorcycle as I would in a tiny car getting hit. Why is one legal and the other not?

In Canada we can import them......... they just have to be 15 years old

Cheers,
Aquaman

Who cares about canada.

Hey...... when the USA runs out of stuff like water & oil......... you'll care

Cheers,
Aquaman

how are we going to run out of water?

and if we need oil and you have it we'll just annex you anyway.

as far as the government allowing them vs motorcycles, with one you know you are basically asking to get killed. a car i guess is supposed to give you reasonable feeling of safety. a motorcycle has no such illusions.

 

[keeleysam]

Because you need a special class of license to ride a motorcycle.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: episodic
Why can't we buy the tiny little cars you see overseas and even in Canada here in the USA?

If the reason is for 'crash' safety - then what about motorcycles?

Why do we allow motorcycles at all if we can't drive in a small car?

I'd rather take my chances and save some serious change - honestly. I'd be just as screwed on a motorcycle as I would in a tiny car getting hit. Why is one legal and the other not?

The government doesn't permit them?

Anyhow, are cars like the Chevy Aveo and all the Kia Rios and Hyundai Accents selling in huge numbers?

The reason they are not selling is that their stats are not impressive. People figure if well that is the only difference, then why bother?

Meaning a chevy aveo and a toyota camry (a more popular car) really are not that far apart on MPG standards.

Now, if some of the 65 mpg superstars they sell overseas had a chance at the normal prices they sell them for overseas, then I bet you'd have lots of college students, small town person, and thrifty individuals buying them. I know I'd get a 60+ mpg vehicle in a moment's notice.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: keeleysam
Because you need a special class of license to ride a motorcycle.

I'd gladly get a special license to drive a small car.

I have a motorcycle license and a class A currently - so that wouldn't phase me.

 

[Mill]

Very simple. The government hasn't banned them. They simply have to do the same government paperwork and crash tests that every other maker has to do. They haven't found it financially worthwhile to do it yet, but that is about to change.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: Mill
Very simple. The government hasn't banned them. They simply have to do the same government paperwork and crash tests that every other maker has to do. They haven't found it financially worthwhile to do it yet, but that is about to change.

Yea, but that is the thing, they've made the crash test requirement unreasonable for these small cars.

 

[tjaisv]

Well with people getting more and more fed up with outrageous gas prices, i'd assume there'd be a HUGE market in the US just waiting to be tapped for these little European cars.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: Mill
Very simple. The government hasn't banned them. They simply have to do the same government paperwork and crash tests that every other maker has to do. They haven't found it financially worthwhile to do it yet, but that is about to change.

Yea, but that is the thing, they've made the crash test requirement unreasonable for these small cars.

then how is DCX bringing over smart next year?

obviously it's not the crash test requirements. i seriously doubt our requirements are that much more stringent than the latest euro requirement.

edit: and imperial gallons are bigger than US gallons, so you can't use that mileage figure from ford.co.uk and make a direct comparison.

 

[Staples]

If there really is a legal reason, I am sure the oil industry has something to do with it.

 

[drinkmorejava]

a large number of reasons, most justifyable. Meh, a friend of mine from Italy manage to crash his Smart at 60kph and he walked away.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: Mill
Very simple. The government hasn't banned them. They simply have to do the same government paperwork and crash tests that every other maker has to do. They haven't found it financially worthwhile to do it yet, but that is about to change.

Yea, but that is the thing, they've made the crash test requirement unreasonable for these small cars.

Prove it.

 

[Baked]

'Cause small cars are for girlie men. And the fact that a lot of americans can't fit in them.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: wicka
Because it's America, and we like stuff that is exceedingly masculine. Motorcycles are; pansy cars that just become obstacles in the road are not. It's not your job to block me from driving 95 in a 30.

LOL.

Originally posted by: Baked
'Cause small cars are for girlie men. And the fact that a lot of americans can't fit in them.

So fat is manly?

 

[Amused]

As others have said, but not so clear:

The government has not banned them, and the safety requirements are not unreasonable.

It is quite simply because there has not yet been enough demand for super sub-compacts in the US. DC is hoping that has changed and is bringing the Smart over. The other companies will be watching intently to see how it does.

Personally, I think the key to tapping the US market interested in better fuel economy is not in super subs, but in cars like VW's TDI. A nearly mid size sedan with 45 MPG? Who the hell wants a super sub when they can have that much more room AND better MPG?

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: Staples
If there really is a legal reason, I am sure the oil industry has something to do with it.

:disgust:

Yeah, right.


Saw a Honda Fit this morning with a temp tag. Smaller than the Scions and a bigger than a Mini. Looks kind of like the Honda City, but bigger.

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: Mill
Very simple. The government hasn't banned them. They simply have to do the same government paperwork and crash tests that every other maker has to do. They haven't found it financially worthwhile to do it yet, but that is about to change.

Yea, but that is the thing, they've made the crash test requirement unreasonable for these small cars.

It's easier for smaller cars to do well in crash tests since their own mass is the only thing that's contributing. There is no government ban or restriction on small cars. The problem is that automakers don't see a profit in the market segment here...And people will continue to want them as long as small cars are made like plastic toys.