On Sun, 4 Mar 2001, Charlie Bell wrote:
> > Hey there,
> >
> > It is time for me to think of another car. I have a fair commute
> > 35ish miles each way (predominantly 55 mph for 35ish minutes
> > then city traffic with a bit of stop and go for another 10-15). Took
> > a quick look at the Honda Insight. I like the 70 miles to the
> > gallon (begging Albertos and every other metric oriented persons
> > pardon for my digressions), but don't know how well these engines
> > work and if the battery charging patterns, would hold up. Not the
> > most vehicular advanced place in the world here, so all I am
> > getting on this end is the "it's too light" "made of foam", and
> > "where will the dogs go" (the last is the only impractical side for
> > this two seater). Any input or stories welcome.
> >
> > Dee
>
> "It's too light"... Um??? As the great Colin Chapman (designer of the
> Lotus 7 and Elan...) said: "Just add lightness...". "Made of foam"?
> Pardon. Sorry, not everyone needs to drive a mobile steel bunker with
> a 12 litre engine... :o)
Lightness can be a problem if your cross-section is too big and you cross
a lot of bridges that get crosswinds.
As for a mobile steel bunker with a 12-liter engine, the biggest engine I
know of that they've put in normal road vehicles in the US is a mere 5.7
liters. ;) (That's 350 cu. in. for those of you trained to think in
those terms.)
> Space is indeed an issue. It does only have two seats and a poxy small
> boot (um... trunk?).
Yep, that's the term. Trunk. :) But depending on what you're using it
for, the space consideration may not be so big an issue. If you're going
to join the carpool for a kids' soccer team, though, it could be a
problem.
> I'll do a bit of research, I'm sure that there's a 4 door hydrid out
> there, but I can't remember the manufacturer.
I think Toyota has a hybrid out; I'm not sure about the doorage on it,
though. I just know a couple of friends who were thinking about getting
onto a list to get one sometime last year, and doorage didn't come up as a
topic in that discussion, AFAICR. But they have a kid, so it had to have
been bigger than a 2-seater. (And I'm sure that "doorage" isn't in the
dictionary, but I figure everyone can figure out what I mean by it....)
Julia
