Re: I saw the future today.

"David G. Bell" <dbell@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On Tuesday, in article
>     <LYdGj.28485$XI.22162@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>     bosslady@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 "Jette" wrote:
> 
>> rkshullat@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:
>> > Martha Adams <mhada@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> >> I saw the future: a blocky little car, just
>> >> long enough to hold a driver and passenger
>> >> side by side.  I think it was about 7 to
>> >> 8 feet long.  Small tires.  Some people
>> >> might call it "cute."  
>> > 
>> > I'm not sure the loss of passenger and cargo space
>> > and increased cost is worth the roughly 15% increase
>> > in fuel economy over something like the Yaris,
>> > especially for the half of US households that have
>> > more than 2 people in them.
>> > 
>> >> In any case, *big change* from the SUVs
>> >> I've been seeing around since about 1996.
>> >> One of those SUVs would make 3 or 4 of 
>> >> these new midget things.  I wonder how
>> >> that's going to work out with the general
>> >> American public?
>> > 
>> > I think a lot of them will be sold as novelties
>> > and repainted as mobile advertising, kind of like
>> > the PT Cruiser and New Beetle were for a while.
>> > The Yaris and the Prius are both more practical,
>> > with the choice depending on budget.
>> >
>> 
>> Lots and lots and lots of them over here in Europe.
> 
> What's practical depends on where and how you live. A Smart might be a 
> usable commuting car, with something more conventional for when you want

> the whole family together.
> 
> American seem to have this thing about size. Big houses, big cars, even 
> big anatomy. I've never dared look at the remake of The Italian Job, but

> the new Mini takes up more space in a car park than my Land Rover.

I'm not insistent on "size at all costs" but I also can't understand
the worship of small for its own sake, especially at the cost of
functionality. I tend to extend Alton Brown's utensil theory to
vehicles: I hate cars that are only good for one thing. I want something
that I can drive to work but also take my family with me. Something that
gets good gas mileage on a daily commute but can also be driven on a
thousand mile trip. Something that can hold me and my laptop but also be
used for a shopping trip that includes three people, groceries, household
goods, clothes and the ever-important toys and books. I really don't
want to have to own 5 cars or rent one every other week.

	Robert
-- 
Robert K. Shull                           Email: rkshull at rosettacon dot
com