Small European Car

[DriverOne]

One of the things about owning a Festiva in a college town is that you get an unusual amount of respect from the students because you're driving a "little European car." I believe that it's because so many of the students have been abroad, and have seen small hatches. It makes me wonder why more car companies don't see this as a possible scene and put the right cars out there. Let's see, we've got the Yaris, the 500, the 2/Rio/Fiesta, Mini, Aveo, Focus, Fit, CR-Z, Accent, Golf, ForTwo... So maybe 10 choices, and a very serious lack of European design. I think maybe the 500, Fiesta, Focus, Golf, Mini, and Fortwo are the only options. Very mainstream. This is for the North Americans: What ride would you want to see brought over, and why?

[Lmcclure]

why couldnt we get the falcons... like 80s 90s and 2000s

[Safety Guy]

The U.S. needs to change some of the safety rules and allow truly small cars into the country without complete redesigns and adding 400 pounds of computerized automated platinum plated weight.

The Tata Nano comes to mind, and I'm not saying it should be brought over without any changes at all, but clearly, with the economy the way it is, many folks will be closed out of a new car if the lowest price keeps going up. It was sometimes right around $9000 in the past few years, but I don't see any now for less than $10,500 before taxes, prep, etc. (Aveo in central OH).

We need new cars for under $7000, preferably around $5000. With today's technology I don't why one couldn't be designed to sell for that low and still be superior in safety and fuel economy to Festivas and Aspires.

People can buy those "slow electrics" for speeds under 35 mph in town. Most of those still cost around $10K and up. Then there is a huge performance gap between those and the cheapest ICE powered cheapies like the Rio, Aveo, etc.

Relax the safety standards, use some newer technology for improved safety and mileage, and fill in the gap!! Start the curb weights at about 1900 pounds. No power steering needed. Simplicity rules. Possibly two passenger vehicles at the bottom.

USE TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE SIMPLICITY, RELIABILITY AND LOW COST.

However, I know the politicians won't go for it. Look at how the country is being run. Bigger, faster, safer, more expensive (not to mention pleasing the fatcat car companies) is their mantra.

So that's why I drive a Festiva.

Karl

[sketchman]

Yeah, I'm with Safety on it. Even when we get little cars, they cost as much and sometimes more than a "compact" car with more room and for whatever weird reason, about the same fuel economy.

The 500 would have been nice. As would the Fiesta/2 etc, etc. Price kills them all as an option for me. My little sister just payed $10k for a used Yaris. A USED one. Well she didn't. The taxpayers did, but that's another "issue".

Yeah, I'll second the Tata Nano notion. I'd have one.

[eurotiva]

Little european car........eurotiva hahahahaha

[seattlestiva]

Canada has always imported the A Class Benz. Not cheap - but a great small city car. In diesel!
Correct in that anything over 10 - 12k won't do it in a big way.

[Sparky]

Ford Ka looked Festy-like in concept...saw a number of them in Panama. Anyone here drive one?

[Charlie1717]

I love small cars, but I also love unique cars. I hate seeing the same cars over and over. I like how I almost never see other festivas driving around, so that when you do it's more of a treat. Also I love how each festiva is so customizable. Every festiva is different!

[seattlestiva]

Drove a Ka all over France a few years ago. Looked fresh, even after probably 10 years in production. Opel (GM) makes some really cool little cars.
They imported a sleeper in the Saturn Astra.

[DriverOne]

I had all but forgotten the Astra. I really liked it when I first saw it. Saturn getting the knife was one of the big automotive blunders of our day.

[DriverOne]

I love small cars, but I also love unique cars. I hate seeing the same cars over and over. I like how I almost never see other festivas driving around, so that when you do it's more of a treat. Also I love how each festiva is so customizable. Every festiva is different!

That's a big reason I love meets! Bring on FM5!

[sketchman]

I want one of these.

And what it could look like with some "imagination".

[DriverOne]

It looks a bit like a Toyota Sienna.

[sketchman]

It reminds me of Tuck and Roll from "A Bug's Life", uhh if they were cars.

[TominMO]

2012 Scion iQ, coming to America in Oct:
1.3 liter, 94 HP, 2100+ lbs, auto trans only, 37 MPG, $16K.

Average Festy:
1.3 liter, 63 HP, 1800+ lbs, 5-speed trans, 45 MPG, $1K.

Festy, properly equipped:
1.8 liter BP, 127 HP, 1800+ lbs, 5 speed, ~40 MPG, $2K.

+ Aspire brake swap, rear seat trick, 195 HP turbo BP, can tow stuff. How could anyone not love these cars?!?!?