Re: I saw the future today.

Andrew Woode <andrew_woode@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> With a Smart - at least the one I hired in Switzerland in 2001 - the
> choice was _between_ luggage for a week or a passenger, given the tiny
> amount of space at the back.

I gave very serious thought to getting a convertible last Spring when I
needed to replace my wife's old car; the difference in trunk space in
apparantly-similar-sized roadsters is immense.

The Mazda Miata (current-gen one, new) had a fairly good size trunk, and
while I did not try the top down(*) the mechanics of it looked like it
wouldn't be reduced by the top much. (* My wife couldn't find a useable
driving position)

The Mercedes SLK (last-gen one; I was looking used at those as my budget
was
in the 25-30k range) had a fair sized trunk with the top up (visually a
little smaller than the Miata, not sure about the actual ft^2), and a
minimally useable one (enough for a backpack and an overnight duffle, say)
with the top down, and a handy screen to indicate how much space you would
have with it down.

The Pontiac Solstice had basically no trunk space with the top down -
about
2" of clearance, not even enough for a small backpack/laptop bag.  It also
lacked any good in-cabin storage.  A shame, as it was otherwise a very
nice
car.

I've also looked at used Corvettes at times, and the space under the
fastback of C4 coupes is pretty darn big; I'm not sure about the
convertible
ones.

-- 
Nate Edel                               http://www.cubiclehermit.com/
 preferred email  | 
 is "nate" at the | "I do have a cause, though. It is obscenity.
 posting domain   |  I'm for it." - prologue to "Smut" by Tom Lehrer