this is something I would drive if they ever offer it in the US & Canada

https://jalopnik.c...ve-ever-1847681997

Looks like the Cooper Mini and Fiat based Jeep Renegade had a mutated child. None the less, short wheel bases are a BLAST around town. Especially if equipped with a manual....

I kinda dig it. The Ioniq 5 is loosely modeled after the Pony, so that's kinda cool. I wonder if "boxy 80s retro" will ever be a thing?

They've sure come a long way, I drove a newer Elantra last year and it felt as well built as a new Honda, and looked less weird.

I guess this is what people were saying about Toyota and Honda 35 years ago.

I would consider a Suzuki Jimny, but a Hyundai? No way.
Sam are you ok with Korean cars, but not Japanese?

Posted by gambino I would consider a Suzuki Jimny, but a Hyundai? No way. Sam are you ok with Korean cars, but not Japanese?

oh contraire, amigo... my love for kei cars is bordering on the psychotic! Cars like the Suzuki Cappuccino, Daihatsu Mira, Suzuki Alto, Honda Beat, et al really turn my crank as of late.

i just really like small cars, cars that were never shipped here. Why else do you think i drive a car like a Chevy Sonic?

Posted by Samurai oh contraire, amigo... my love for kei cars is bordering on the psychotic! Cars like the Suzuki Cappuccino, Daihatsu Mira, Suzuki Alto, Honda Beat, et al really turn my crank as of late. i just really like small cars, cars that were never shipped here. Why else do you think i drive a car like a Chevy Sonic?

I'm seriously considering a Kei truck. Like having gone and test drive the little right hand driver buggars. I love em. And we can drive them on the road hear as normal.

Posted by jeepdave I'm seriously considering a Kei truck. Like having gone and test drive the little right hand driver buggars. I love em. And we can drive them on the road hear as normal.

there was a daihatsu hi-jet truck for sale here last summer or the summer before at an apple orchard one town down. I didn't stop and ask as I didn't have the money for it anyway, but I absolutely loved it.

Posted by Samurai oh contraire, amigo... my love for kei cars is bordering on the psychotic! Cars like the Suzuki Cappuccino, Daihatsu Mira, Suzuki Alto, Honda Beat, et al really turn my crank as of late. i just really like small cars, cars that were never shipped here. Why else do you think i drive a car like a Chevy Sonic?

I really like the small cars also.
Have you looked at the Smart car? the petrol version? 2nd gen, 2007-2014.
They are quite cheap here, and are quite fun with some mods.

Things have not really caught on with them in North America, yet.

Posted by gambino I really like the small cars also. Have you looked at the Smart car? the petrol version? 2nd gen, 2007-2014. They are quite cheap here, and are quite fun with some mods. Things have not really caught on with them in North America, yet.

i have not. When i bought my Sonic, I tried out a Chevy Spark, the smallest Chevy. I just didn't fit in it all that great at the time, but i have lost some tonnage since then.

Posted by Samurai i have not. When i bought my Sonic, I tried out a Chevy Spark, the smallest Chevy. I just didn't fit in it all that great at the time, but i have lost some tonnage since then.

They are quite roomy inside. The petrol version is a Mitsubishi engine, much better than the diesel offered. As a little fun car, I am considering it. Prices start around $2,500.

Posted by gambino They are quite roomy inside. The petrol version is a Mitsubishi engine, much better than the diesel offered. As a little fun car, I am considering it. Prices start around $2,500.

in all honesty, if I live to buy another car, it will have to be a 'foreign' car due to manual transmission availability.
i don't like automatic transmissions and the big three have summarily shitcanned not only manuals, but small cars as well. I don't need or want a gargantuan SUV or pickup. I don't need it. I have a 96 F150 4x2 i inherited from my father and should do just fine for any pickup-mission needs.

it's getting kind of weird in car world, honestly. I am not on the electric car bandwagon as I don't think the infrastructure is there, nor do I think it's a proper replacement for petroleum-fueled cars...

anyways, felt in a comment-y mood. sorry.

Posted by Samurai in all honesty, if I live to buy another car, it will have to be a 'foreign' car due to manual transmission availability. i don't like automatic transmissions and the big three have summarily shitcanned not only manuals, but small cars as well. I don't need or want a gargantuan SUV or pickup. I don't need it. I have a 96 F150 4x2 i inherited from my father and should do just fine for any pickup-mission needs. it's getting kind of weird in car world, honestly. I am not on the electric car bandwagon as I don't think the infrastructure is there, nor do I think it's a proper replacement for petroleum-fueled cars... anyways, felt in a comment-y mood. sorry.

smart shift manual transmission
https://youtu.be/IbQdL6mvdH4

This KAWASAKI ZX10R Engined SMART CAR IS *BONKERS*
https://youtu.be/aWBjUJmaxWg

I do not believe electric cars are anywhere near being ready for market.
For the price, and massive depreciation on Tesla's vehicles. They are a ridiculous choice.

When every gas station has charging stations then I imagine there will be other better choices.

Posted by gambino smart shift manual transmission https://youtu.be/IbQdL6mvdH4 This KAWASAKI ZX10R Engined SMART CAR IS *BONKERS* https://youtu.be/aWBjUJmaxWg I do not believe electric cars are anywhere near being ready for market. For the price, and massive depreciation on Tesla's vehicles. They are a ridiculous choice. When every gas station has charging stations then I imagine there will be other better choices.

exactly. Where i live, in rural northeastern New York state, we literally measure distance between destinations in hours. How many charging stations would need to be along the Adirondack Northway (I-87) for traffic moving between Albany and Montreal? How many would there need to be considering a recharge takes what? an hour to three hours? On top of that, where is all this electricity going to come from to power these cars and trucks? I can't speak for Oh Canada, but here in the US, our electric infrastructure is old, outdated and stretched pretty thin as is. Here in my part of New York and over in Vermont, all of our electricity comes most from Ontario and HydroQuebec, especially after the nuclear plant in Vernon, Vermont was shut down a few years back (Vermont Yankee).

Anyways, that's my gripe and i have seen that Kawi-powered Smart car before... the acceleration on that thing is frightening!

Sorry for the ranty poo.

Yeah electric cars aren't the answer when you live in rural Ontario.

Or if you like cars.

Posted by bandi Yeah electric cars aren't the answer when you live in rural Ontario. Or if you like cars.

don't you think its kind fucking weird that here in the 21st century a car like my little Sonic with a 1.4L DOHC Turbo/6speed manual is only getting between 36-38mpg on 93 octane? that car should be getting in the high 40's, low 50's by this stage. Even my car previous, that 2012 Cruze with the same engine and lower-geared transmission was getting between 40-46mpg highway?

i think about all these people that bought GARGANTUAN SUV's and pickups... what happens when gasoline and diesel goes Europe stratospheric in price?

meh. sorry. in a foul mood today.

Posted by Samurai don't you think its kind fucking weird that here in the 21st century a car like my little Sonic with a 1.4L DOHC Turbo/6speed manual is only getting between 36-38mpg

I've always wondered this. Honda reported the 1983 CRX with the 1.3L @ 52hwy. Owners were reporting as much as 70mpg. Today you need a hybrid to get to 50mpg. v8's mpg has VASTLY improved in the last decade, but the 4cyl still can't seem to beat that original CRX. Not that it matters much to me anyway, I am a power snob and LOVE my v8's. I'll happily take 14mpg in exchange for 500+ horsepower. None the less, I would not mind an '83 5spd CRX at all. I would drive the hell out of that.....

Posted by Samurai don't you think its kind fucking weird that here in the 21st century a car like my little Sonic with a 1.4L DOHC Turbo/6speed manual is only getting between 36-38mpg on 93 octane?

My Pony, which is world famous for being a total shitbox, averaged 49 mpg over a 900 mile classic car rally this past weekend. You can't buy a hybrid that gets that kind of mileage today, and this is a car powered by a forklift engine.

my mom's 85 Escort was a 1.6L HO with a 5speed manual and a CARB! it got into the mid-50's on the highway... with a carburetor!!!

what the absolute fuck indeed.

Hell, the Pony still has a manual choke (and a manual intake pre-heater selector with winter and summer mode).

Posted by bandi Hell, the Pony still has a manual choke (and a manual intake pre-heater selector with winter and summer mode).

that all the more illustrates my gripe.