would you drive this

[angus63]

Re: would you drive this

I thought that is what the pick up bed is for. Ramps?

No, the bed is for the wife and kids so the dog and I have room in the cab...

 

[DJ]

Re: would you drive this

No, the bed is for the wife and kids so the dog and I have room in the cab...

OOOOH! You play with that kind of fire and you're going to get burned!

 

[WizeOne]

Re: would you drive this

Got a kick out of this line in Wajajajajaja's link.

"The catch? If produced, this would unquestionably be the strangest-looking car on the road"

Whaddya think the original Beetle looked like, to American consumers, when it first hit our shores??

They'd sell a gazillion of them here if Uncle Sam would butt out!!! On one hand they whine about drilling for oil and on the other they squash innovations like this.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: would you drive this

Are you sure this isn't something you wear? Sorta looks like a land based torpedo to me.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: would you drive this

When you get killed in that thing they can put you in the coffin with the car.I will always buy them big

 

[avenger79]

Re: would you drive this

No, the bed is for the wife and kids so the dog and I have room in the cab...

you are so dead if she reads that. LOL

 

[avenger79]

Re: would you drive this

Whaddya think the original Beetle looked like, to American consumers, when it first hit our shores??

QUOTE]

aha no wonder I'd drive it. i have this in my garage as well. It's the girl's car but I ride in it now and then. LOL

 

[JoLin]

Re: would you drive this

I would mount it to a davit on the side of my Ram 1500 and use as a tender for local driving.

Okay, that made me laugh

The problem with a car like that is that it just isn't practical for anything but commuting. Tally up purchase price, depreciation, insurance, maintenance and repair costs... and it's pretty hard for most folks to make the numbers work on a second car reserved just for that purpose.

 

[Caravandaddy]

Re: would you drive this

Perhaps a better idea for 1+1 transportation is this:

http://southwesttrikes.com/stallion.htm

Note: Not me in the pic

 

[lowkee]

Re: would you drive this

The problem with a car like that is that it just isn't practical for anything but commuting. Tally up purchase price, depreciation, insurance, maintenance and repair costs... and it's pretty hard for most folks to make the numbers work on a second car reserved just for that purpose.

That's the best reason I've ever read as to why these types of cars never work out.

Doing some basic estimates:

Primary auto, needed for anything more than basic commuting (assuming lower MPG SUV):
(Already own it)
Insurance: $500/yr
Maintenance: $800/yr (ave)
Taxes, inspection, registration: $300/yr
Commute cost (15 miles each way):
15MPG x $2.75/ga x 15 (miles) x 2 (both ways) x 5 (days per week) x 52 (weeks in a year) = $1430/yr in gas money
Commute cost (30 miles each way):
15MPG x $2.75/ga x 30 (miles) x 2 (both ways) x 5 (days per week) x 52 (weeks in a year) = $2860/yr in gas money

Super MPG Commuter Car:
Initial Cost: $20,000 - $4,000 tax rebate
Insurance: $400/yr
Maintenance: $600/yr (ave)
Taxes, inspection, registration: $300/yr
Commute cost (15 miles each way):
200MPG x $2.75/ga x 15 (miles) x 2 (both ways) x 5 (days per week) x 52 (weeks in a year) = $107.25/yr in gas money
Commute cost (30 miles each way):
200MPG x $2.75/ga x 30 (miles) x 2 (both ways) x 5 (days per week) x 52 (weeks in a year) = $214.50/yr in gas money

Savings by owning a super commuter with a 15 mile commute: $22.75 (gas) + $150 (lower maint costs for primary vehicle) = $172.75/yr
# of years needed to offset initial vehicle cost: 92 years

Savings by owning a super commuter with a 30 mile commute: $130 (gas) + $200 (lower maint costs for primary vehicle) = $330/yr
# of years needed to offset initial vehicle cost: 48 years

These estimates are for an SUV owner, not a decent MPG luxury car, which would make those savings #'s much worse. According to these estimates, once you count the costs for maint, registration and insurance, no second/third vehicle is ever worth owning, even if it were powered for free and by magic. Sobering math indeed.