Forbes: A Horrifying Glimpse of the Future

[the Teuton]

What does it go for compared to this thing?

Let's look at what these things go for here and overseas.

Europe:

Mini Cooper: 19,200 E
Mini Cooper S: 23,100 E
Fiat 500: 11,000 E
Fiat 500 Abarth: 18,100 E

United States:

Mini Cooper: $19,200
Mini Cooper S: $22,600

Going by numbers like those, I could see a base 500 at $12,000 or so, which isn't cheap for a car that small, but it's not what I would call bad by any stretch of the imagination.

I just hope they keep the Panda 100 hp model somewhere that price point.

[2o6]

Let's look at what these things go for here and overseas.

Europe:

Mini Cooper: 19,200 E
Mini Cooper S: 23,100 E
Fiat 500: 11,000 E
Fiat 500 Abarth: 18,100 E

United States:

Mini Cooper: $19,200
Mini Cooper S: $22,600

Going by numbers like those, I could see a base 500 at $12,000 or so, which isn't cheap for a car that small, but it's not what I would call bad by any stretch of the imagination.

I just hope they keep the Panda 100 hp model somewhere that price point.

Wrong.



Twingo: 6,995 UK
500: 9,700 UK


Both are Base 1.2L....


The 500 comes in at around maybe $14-15K. Teuton, the 500 is small but not teensy. It's 140" long.....(roughly) tack on a few inches for Bumper regulations, and you're roughly 5-6" shorter than a Yaris 3-door. Small, but not teensy.

[the Teuton]

2o6, you're a retard. 

I was going by the prices on the websites in Euros.  That's what all of those cars start at in Germany.  Quit looking at Pounds or "Quid" because Britain is the only country on Earth to use them.  Everyone else uses Euros, and just because you can't read a German site and you reverted to something in English doesn't mean I'm wrong.

[Rupert]

Just so we're clear, 9700 GBP is about US$15k.

[the Teuton]

No one sells cars at direct currency conversions across the world except exotic boutique manufacturers.

A Veyron will always  be 1,000,000 E, but on any given day, that number will fluctuate from $1,250,000-1,500,000.

[Rupert]

No shit, but they're not going to sell a car that's 9700 GBP for 9700 USD, either.

[SVT666]

No shit, but they're not going to sell a car that's 9700 GBP for 9700 USD, either.

They could.  The British import taxes are ridiculously high.

[2o6]

2o6, you're a retard. 

I was going by the prices on the websites in Euros.  That's what all of those cars start at in Germany.  Quit looking at Pounds or "Quid" because Britain is the only country on Earth to use them.  Everyone else uses Euros, and just because you can't read a German site and you reverted to something in English doesn't mean I'm wrong.

Yes you are. The 500 still commands a premium over other City cars. The Twingo starts at 9,600 E. The Fox at 9.500 E. The Aygo is at 9,800. The 500 even has a premium over the Ka (which it shares most of it's running gear and platform with), which is at 9,950, and the base 500 (base engines are 1.2, keep in mind that the 1.4L is the US spec motor) puts it in Fiesta/Clio/Jazz-Fit territory.

In theory, a base 1.4L (us motor) is 13,000E. A nice sized premium over other cars in it's segment.

[nickdrinkwater]

I would totally rock a 1.4L 500.

This one is perfect (although, I prefer it in a rich chocolate brown versus this creamy grey:

[2o6]

What? I think brown is a flattering color. That color clearly isn't brown. (I can't find the rich and deep chocolate brown I'm describing)

[the Teuton]

Brown can be a nice color, but generally it's a resale killer.

[Eye of the Tiger]

What? I think brown is a flattering color. That color clearly isn't brown. (I can't find the rich and deep chocolate brown I'm describing)

Here is the rich, deep chocolate that you're looking for http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwTZ2xpQwpA

[S204STi]

What? I think brown is a flattering color. That color clearly isn't brown. (I can't find the rich and deep chocolate brown I'm describing)

I was thinking a rich chocolate brown with flecks of corn.

[Raza]

What does it go for compared to this thing?

Twingo 133 Cup is 12,200GBP (the Cup chassis is a 650GBP option) and the Abarth is 13,500GBP.  At the top of the range, there's not much of a difference, but base models of the 500 as more expensive than base models of the Twingo.  At 13,500, the Clio 197 isn't that much more. 

That's not to say I don't love the 500.  I'm not even saying it's that bad of a value (though it is a little premium priced).  I'm just saying that Twingo seems like a car built for one purpose; putting a smile on your face when you're going around a bend. 

But yes, Fiat did a very good job on making the 500's interior special.  You can probably thank shared costs for that; the 500 is also the Panda (they sell a 100bhp 1.4L version, called the Panda 100HP, but as of yet, no Abarth versions) and the Ka. 

Panda100HP interior:


500 Abarth interior:


Ka interior:


Twingo 133 interior:

[GoCougs]

Oh, gods, my eyes. What a horror we have coming. What have we done to ourselves!

[2o6]

Oh, gods, my eyes. What a horror we have coming. What have we done to ourselves!

You deserve an Accord. Boring, ugly, and devoid of any and all personality. Perfect for you.

[Laconian]

Oh, gods, my eyes. What a horror we have coming. What have we done to ourselves!

Yeah, those interiors are a smidge busy, aren't they? So many functions, and such a little center console to cram them all into!

[sportyaccordy]

You deserve an Accord. Boring, ugly, and devoid of any and all personality. Perfect for you.

OUCH

[2o6]

OUCH

I'm sorry. Yours is chock full of personality and character.




Cougs needs an Avalon.

[the Teuton]

2o6, just stop.

[Eye of the Tiger]

2o6, I am interested to hear more of what you have to say. Please continue.

[GoCougs]

2o6, just stop.

Interesting commentary considering 2o6 doesn't own a car, and precisely why he is obsessed with all these cheapo put-puts (as in, no context)...

And the 7th-gen Accord V6 will best any of these put-puts in any category one cares to mention save MPG...

[ifcar]

Interesting commentary considering 2o6 doesn't own a car, and precisely why he is obsessed with all these cheapo put-puts (as in, no context)...

And the 7th-gen Accord V6 will best any of these put-puts in any category one cares to mention save MPG...

And price and maneuverability, and possibly cargo versatility.

[2o6]

Interesting commentary considering 2o6 doesn't own a car, and precisely why he is obsessed with all these cheapo put-puts (as in, no context)...

And the 7th-gen Accord V6 will best any of these put-puts in any category one cares to mention save MPG...

No, I just like little cars. I think they're clever and I have a lot of respect for the Engineers and Industrial designers that find a medium between space, practicality, style and still have the car return great MPG's but still be cheap. The accord (along with most midsizers) are lacking the personality and style that these small cars can return, largely due in part that Midsizers naturally have a larger, and more conservative clientele.




If we were to apply the rigorous standards for small cars to other segments, we'd have a much more efficient automotive spectrum.

[Galaxy]

Aside from the fact that that first car was a MiTo, I don't see the problem.

Milano is the name for the Alfa 149 successor.

[GoCougs]

No, I just like little cars. I think they're clever and I have a lot of respect for the Engineers and Industrial designers that find a medium between space, practicality, style and still have the car return great MPG's but still be cheap. The accord (along with most midsizers) are lacking the personality and style that these small cars can return, largely due in part that Midsizers naturally have a larger, and more conservative clientele.




If we were to apply the rigorous standards for small cars to other segments, we'd have a much more efficient automotive spectrum.

You may find pleasure in them, but put-puts are in response to abominable over-reaching government if not a broken capitalistic system. Left to their own capitalist, self-interested, sensible devices, the vast majority of the market would reject these cars - as they do in the US (LOL - at least for now).

[2o6]

You may find pleasure in them, but put-puts are in response to abominable over-reaching government if not a broken capitalistic system. Left to their own capitalist, self-interested, sensible devices, the vast majority of the market would reject these cars - as they do in the US (LOL - at least for now).

I HIGHLY Doubt that. Seriously, these cars are not a government device. Europeans need them (and a lot of them prefer them) because of their cities with narrow roads. There are so many reasons, government being the very last one, that small cars exist and are popular.


Seriously dude, stop smoking crack. Not everything is a ploy from the government.

[S204STi]

I HIGHLY Doubt that. Seriously, these cars are not a government device. Europeans need them (and a lot of them prefer them) because of their cities with narrow roads. There are so many reasons, government being the very last one, that small cars exist and are popular.


Seriously dude, stop smoking crack. Not everything is a ploy from the government.

No, they need them because the government taxes fuel to such a huge extent that people are forced to buy smaller to save money.  It's what our government is going to try to do here shortly, and that means that it is not driven by pure capitalistic forces but by government meddling.

[2o6]

No, they need them because the government taxes fuel to such a huge extent that people are forced to buy smaller to save money.  It's what our government is going to try to do here shortly, and that means that it is not driven by pure capitalistic forces but by government meddling.

Ok. In that respect I agree. However, the gist I got from cougs was that the entire small car segment (from birth) was due to capitalism.

[CALL_911]

Ok. In that respect I agree. However, the gist I got from cougs was that the entire small car segment (from birth) was due to capitalism.

Almost everything is due to capitalism.