I've been watching Future Car on Discovery and thinking.....

Z28x
03-07-2007, 09:21 AM
When will we get a 4 seasons worthy mode of transportation that fits in between the car and a bicycle? There is a huge gap in transportation there. It is such a waste to have to drive a 4,000lbs. vehicle 1 mile so a 175lbs. person can get an 4lbs half gallon of milk. You can use a bicycle on the nice days, but not in winter and not on rainy days.

I suspect China, India, or Europe will come up with a smaller 1-2 person vehicle before North America since they are not nations built on reliance of the automobile like the USA is.

Smart car is kind of a start, but it is too expensive. I'm thinking a 1 person vehicle should cost under $10,000. Then people can also have there 4-6 passenger $20K+ cars for longer trips on 65mph+ roads with multiple people.

skorpion317
03-07-2007, 11:23 AM
you mean something like this?

http://thekneeslider.com/images/teca1.jpg

Z28x
03-07-2007, 11:56 AM
you mean something like this?

http://thekneeslider.com/images/teca1.jpg

will it stand up on its own?

Maybe something more like this
http://www.fashionablearmchair.com/monkphotos/un/h_Me%20and%20%20a%20Smart%20Car.jpg

stars1010
03-07-2007, 12:09 PM
6'6" 265lbs man here! :D

What ever this new mode of transportation is..........it cant be too small!

Threxx
03-07-2007, 12:22 PM
Most people just aren't willing to get in something that would guarantee their death if they collided with the average car on the road. Hell... being in a Prius or Aveo or something small like that is bad enough.

Z28x
03-07-2007, 12:35 PM
Most people just aren't willing to get in something that would guarantee their death if they collided with the average car on the road. Hell... being in a Prius or Aveo or something small like that is bad enough.

With electric motors at the wheels and batteries underneath that leaves a lot of space to make those ultra small vehicles safe. I'd also expect a class these smaller vehicles to be for < 50mph roads.

jg95z28
03-07-2007, 12:38 PM
I live less an a mile from the market, yet I am up a steep grade and there is over 100 ft in vertical elevation change to get back home. Find me a small car that can easily make it up that hill and I might consider one. As for now... every car I own has a Chevy V8. :D

soul strife
03-07-2007, 01:05 PM
I live less an a mile from the market, yet I am up a steep grade and there is over 100 ft in vertical elevation change to get back home. Find me a small car that can easily make it up that hill and I might consider one. As for now... every car I own has a Chevy V8. :D

LOL! I don't think the hill really matters, does it?

Z28x
03-07-2007, 01:23 PM
I live less an a mile from the market, yet I am up a steep grade and there is over 100 ft in vertical elevation change to get back home. Find me a small car that can easily make it up that hill and I might consider one. As for now... every car I own has a Chevy V8. :D

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=81&docid=33903

Chris_Doane
03-07-2007, 01:31 PM
will it stand up on its own?

Maybe something more like this


Well the Smart will be on sale here fairly soon. Sometime in 2008.

MissedShift
03-07-2007, 03:20 PM
The only thing that show makes me think is that none of the designers they profiled have any business designing cars. :rolleyes:

2000GTP
03-07-2007, 03:40 PM
will it stand up on its own?

Maybe something more like this
http://www.fashionablearmchair.com/monkphotos/un/h_Me%20and%20%20a%20Smart%20Car.jpg

Hopefully it will come with a cargo box option for the roof to at least put your groceries in.:)

jg95z28
03-07-2007, 06:25 PM
LOL! I don't think the hill really matters, does it?

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=81&docid=33903

I meant small electric car. Sorry. :p

Eric Bryant
03-07-2007, 07:12 PM
Most people just aren't willing to get in something that would guarantee their death if they collided with the average car on the road.

Those of us with big enough balls to operate a two-wheeler on public roads would welcome the crash performance of something like a Smart car.

91_z28_4me
03-07-2007, 10:31 PM
Hows about an Opel Corsa->Saturn Corsa?

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/658/corsaopcur2.jpg

Seats 4, has tiny engines, and they can get 192 hp outta a 1.6L I4!!!

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=14581&hl=

Ken S
03-08-2007, 01:06 AM
Well the Smart will be on sale here fairly soon. Sometime in 2008.

I've already seen one or two of them around here... One on the highway too.

Funny thing is.. So I was talking to one of my uncles.. "Hey, I saw a Smart car on the road today? Man that thing is tiny.. blah blah balh"

and my uncle goes, "a smart car?"

and I'm like, "Yea, its a micro car, made by MB or something? Didn't think they were brought over here yet"

Uncle: "So what makes them so smart?"

Me: :confused: :o :D "OOhh, no, 'Smart' is the brand name.. I'm not using it as an adjective and calling it smart.. The name of the brand is literally 'Smart'."