Geo Metro making a comeback?

[Ma Deuce]

Could the difference between US and German testing really cause such huge discrepancies in average fuel economy?

Maybe. For instance, the Prius gets close to 90 MPG in Japan's fuel economy test cycle. However, I think it's far more likely the extra exhaust plumbing diesel cars need to be compliant with the new US emissions regulations (which is the reason VW temporarily withdrew their entire diesel lineup from the US market) is to blame: After all the last Jetta TDI got 38 MPG combined with the manual, and 35 with the automatic.

[The Yosemite Bear]

So a Geo Metro is obviously not strong enough to resist a hard collision with a much bigger vehicle; what makes you think a motorbike rider will do as well?

It won't do any better, but a motorcycle is more capable of getting out of someone else's way than a little Geo Metro with a 3-cylinder engine. Better brakes, better acceleration, and manueverability. If you actually get hit in either one you're probably screwed.

And you have non-anecdotal data which shows that inadequate vehicular acceleration is actually a factor in a significant number of accidents? Because having a steel shell around you, even a small one like that of a Geo Metro, is still vastly superior protection to a leather jacket.

not to mention I can attest having CRASHED a Geo Metro vs. Avalanche, as well as signifigant body damage vs. Deer, and vs. Ricer Boy Racer, that a seat belt, and the majority of the body being a good crumple zone, makes it a surviveable for hte driver/passengers, but not so well for the car. (actually the Boy Racer I came out better on the repair bill/body damage. and Why should I not be suprised that the "Fast and the Furious" fanboy didn't have insurance when he hit me?

[Jaevric]

And you have non-anecdotal data which shows that inadequate vehicular acceleration is actually a factor in a significant number of accidents? Because having a steel shell around you, even a small one like that of a Geo Metro, is still vastly superior protection to a leather jacket.

Conceded. My information is based off of information from people I know who ride motorcycles, which implies bias. And, of course, any advantage from superior acceleration/manueverability supposes that the motorcyclist has time to react and is paying enough attention to make use of their advantages.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Acceleration isn't immportant

Decelleration is, and a motorcycle fails on that, since they can't be equipped with seat belts, to allow the driver and passenger to handle the negative Gs of very hard/emergency breaking.

[Death from the Sea]

From my experience in working many motorcycle crashes, regardless of how injured the bike rider was, the #1 reason given.... the driver of the car/truck 18 wheeler/bus/or whatever is that they did not see the motorcycle. The fact is that you are alot smaller object on the road (even compared to a metro) and makes it hard to see you, and when other drivers can't see you, that is dangerous.

[Kanastrous]

This is why I ride with flashers and strobes.

Fucking idiot cager morons still will manage to not-notice you, but they'll have less of an excuse come the investigation.

[Kanastrous]

ghetto edit - the real problem is that drivers don't pay attention. Unless you're painted with day-glo orange stripes, wearing a million-candle-power light-up beanie and pissing cyalume, they look past you not because you are that much more difficult to spot, but because they are careless asshole morons to whom it would not even occur to give a fuck about the safety of anyone around them, anyway.

I haven't been surprised on the road by a motorcyclist since I can recall. Because I pay attention to what I'm doing, when I drive.

[The Yosemite Bear]

I've never wanted a motor cycle. My childhood next door neighbors were Jokers on one side and Angels on hte other side. I've got too many negative associations with cycles...

[Flagg]

I had a trusty little metro hatchback for a good 3 years. Aside from it having no legroom, it was a damned fine little car. Even after it got rear-ended by a car twice its size. I wish they would start making new ones with modern improvements because if they fixed the leg room issue I'd probably get one.

[The Yosemite Bear]

yeah, legroom/head room pretty much killed it for me. it was a good little car, and it even survived me general lee ing it once....

[Death from the Sea]

ghetto edit - the real problem is that drivers don't pay attention. Unless you're painted with day-glo orange stripes, wearing a million-candle-power light-up beanie and pissing cyalume, they look past you not because you are that much more difficult to spot, but because they are careless asshole morons to whom it would not even occur to give a fuck about the safety of anyone around them, anyway.

I haven't been surprised on the road by a motorcyclist since I can recall. Because I pay attention to what I'm doing, when I drive.

too true, so many drivers don't pay attention. And then there are those that just can't fathom that they were at fault in a crash. BUT HE HIT ME!!!! yeah but that was because you turned from the middle lane....

[salm]

The VW Lupo did 100km / 3 Liters (90 miles / 1 gallon). Too bad they stopped producing it. It also looked pretty cool.

[The Yosemite Bear]

The VW Lupo did 100km / 3 Liters (90 miles / 1 gallon). Too bad they stopped producing it. It also looked pretty cool.

that math has to be wrong. a mile is over a km and a half (actually a Km and 2/3s) so 100 km= ~60miles on a little over 3/4ths of a gallon oh wait, lets see, 60*.75=45mpg

[salm]

The VW Lupo did 100km / 3 Liters (90 miles / 1 gallon). Too bad they stopped producing it. It also looked pretty cool.

that math has to be wrong. a mile is over a km and a half (actually a Km and 2/3s) so 100 km= ~60miles on a little over 3/4ths of a gallon oh wait, lets see, 60*.75=45mpg

No, that math is correct:

100 km per 3 liters -> 33 km per 1 liter

33 km = 20 miles
1 liter = 0.22 gallons

0.22 gallons X 4.5 = 1 gallon
20 miles X 4.5 = 90 miles

[Broomstick]

They mentioned the Ford Festiva only in passing in that article, but I owned one for 14 years. It got great gas mileage. You do need to maintain them, and we changed the oil and replaced parts as needed, but we found it very reliable. It stands tall for its size, so there's headroom. It has a four cylinder engine and, as long as you don't overload it, the acceleration is plenty adequate for normal and sane driving. (This car is not for racing, m'kay?)

After we sold it, the next owner crashed into a full-grown deer at 50 mph - smashed the front end to hell but the occupants were completely uninjured. The Festiva had the highest crash safety rating in its class during its years of manufacture.

It was a great little car.

My current Echo gets 42 mpg - they aren't available new anymore but you could find a used one. If not, the Yaris is the current small Toyota. Get one without a lot of gizmos on it. Sure, it's marketed towards young people and it's not a big, sexy muscle car, but it's very practical for daily commuting and errands.

[phongn]

0.22 gallons X 4.5 = 1 gallon
20 miles X 4.5 = 90 miles

It depends on how you define "gallon." Google's unit-converting calculator says ~94 mi/imperial gallon or 78.4 mi/US gallon.

[Sam Or I]

Somewhere i read that fleet fuel efficiency was actually higher in the mid to late 90's than it is today. (I believe I read it in 06.)

Of course horsepower was a lot lower then as well.