SJVWC Forums
VW Lounge => General Forum => Topic started by: jthw8 on April 10, 2008, 10:47:09 pm
-
What is produced by a German car company, rear engine, rear drive, cute as hell, and quirky but fun.....A VW of course, but that's not what I'm talking about.....could there be a successor to the throne?
If you will permit something without a VW badge to join you at the DQ night this month maybe we can come to a consensus ;)
Yes, Automotive ADD boy has a new toy....see you all soon ;)
-
a BMW bubble Car!
-
a BMW bubble Car!
BMW Isetta....no but ooooh, I wouldnt turn one down.
This is much newer and more practical....well practical in the sense I can drive it daily which I dont think I could do with an Isetta.
-
Look forward to seeing it Jim, if you keep it long enough to go to DQ.
-
Look forward to seeing it Jim, if you keep it long enough to go to DQ.
This one I have to keep for awhile, for various reasons, so it will make it :)
Yeah, I know I have car issues.
-
What is produced by a German car company, rear engine, rear drive, cute as hell, and quirky but fun.....
INLINE or BOXER type engine might answer the riddle!
The obvoius first answer (and choice) would be a Porsche 912 (or 911 or even a 356)....SWEET
but performance aside many considered the Porsche ugly (not me)..... and assuming you got something older, and since the corvair was considered 'cute' (safety aside this time)....maybe you got one of the Corvair looking NSU's?? a Prinz IV?, a 1000?, or a TT?
could we ask for another clue??
BTW- the Audi TT was named after the NSU TT (not for twin turbo's)
-
could we ask for another clue??
Inline engine. Not older (this is going to be a daily driver). Not from VW/Audi/Porsche (although it almost was and probably should have been)
There is also a clue to the wording of my first post but that might just make it more confusing.
-
Well my first guess was actually going to be a Cooper.....based on your clues. Actually 'produced' by BMW and Throne = england and virtually all of the 'REAL' Coopers (LOL) were RWEngine, practical + driven daily.....etc.
Since you state 'inline' I'll go back to my first thought and say you got one of those, even tho I know the Mini's are front engine (weren't they working on a RE RWD version tho??)
Maybe a trick riddle??
-
Maybe a trick riddle??
No trick, and no Mini (they were on the short list but priced too high)
Engine is in the back, along with the gearbox.
Some other interesting similarities. VW wheels/tires 4.5x15 155/80/15 Riddle Car 4.5x15 155/60/15 (fronts)
Width: VW 60.5 Riddle 61.38
Oil Capacity: VW 3.5qt Riddle 3.5qt
Someone has actually produced a chart with all the specs of both cars and they line up pretty close on alot of things. I guess Im not the only one that things this is much closer to a "new beetle" than the VW version.
Oh and the "throne" thing was not a hint, but you were on to something following the "produced by" logic.
-
Is the "riddle" vehicle going to be at Dust'em off Cruise Saturday? If not I'm with Jack ... sure it's going to be around later this month?
-
Hold the phone ... I have a guess: old Volvo "P" type (I think) ... kind of looks like a VW Ghia?
-
I have a guess: old Volvo "P" type
P1800s were front engine, rear wheel drive
OK heres my guess... ( wrong but hey its just a guess )
1). - a Renault
2). - VW thing
3). - Ghia
4). - Fiat X19
5). - Fiat 850
6). - Tatra ( na just wishin! )
7). - Porsche kit car ?
8). - Tucker ( sure! )
9). - Messerschmidtt ( still small and weird )
10). King midget ( engines might have been german, not sure )
11). Amphicar - ( 1/2 boat 1/2 car - good luck very $$ )
12). Suburu 360
I doubt if its any of these but it was fun tryin!
I give up!
-
How about a Smart Car ????
-
One more..
A Skoda - not sure of the nationality
-
How about a Smart Car ????
Ding ding ding....we have a winner. You officially get to laugh at me first ;)
-
Hey with gas being what it is, I won`t laugh! If I lived in a more urban area and did not have to drive to work as far as I do .... Well let just say ,people said the same things when the BEETLE arrived. Good move ! Made by MB.correct? BO** BO** BO** :icon_thumleft: :icon_thumleft: :icon_thumleft: Of course if you had the need for speed.................smart car +hyabusa= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMmUWNBHkCo
-
Actually I don't live in a particlarly urban setting either. I will be commuting 140 miles (round trip) a day mostly on 295. I talked to alot of owners doing highway commutes and the consensus is that its not as bad as everyone thinks.
-
There's cars were all over Italy. We would say OMG! Look it's another smart car. I think there is a sports car smart car too. I dunno if that is coming over seas as well.
-
There's cars were all over Italy. We would say OMG! Look it's another smart car. I think there is a sports car smart car too. I dunno if that is coming over seas as well.
There used to be a roadster and a 4 door but they have both been discontinued. Currently the factory only produces the ForTwo coupe and convertible.
-
I think it`s cool! Mercedes has a hand in its production/ development don`t they? Did ya check out the you tube link? That would be too much fun!!
-
I think it`s cool! Mercedes has a hand in its production/ development don`t they? Did ya check out the you tube link? That would be too much fun!!
Smart is a subsidiary of Mercedes. The cars are mostly sold at MB dealerships right now. They are built in france though.....not that that is a positive thing.
I've seen the 'busa powered smarts, they are cool. There is a company that builds a bolt in kit for the 450 (previous model) and they are working on one for the 451 (current model) but it kinda defeats my purpose of a fuel efficient commuter....and a Barabus turbo kit is easier ;)
Personally Id like to see the VW Lupo 3 cyl diesel swapped into it. The motor gets 70mpg in the lupo and makes about 100hp (thats 30 more than the car has now) and the smart weighs less than a lupo.
But this one is a driver, Im not going to be messing with it much.
-
Jim, I saw a documentary on this when it was in development and the crash this car can take is amazing. The price is nice also.
-
Jim, I saw a documentary on this when it was in development and the crash this car can take is amazing. The price is nice also.
The safety design is truly amazing. The NHTSA finally finished their review and it got 4 stars overall. 5 stars on driver side impact. Its a sturdy little beast.
There are a few other cars in the same price point, but this one doesn't feel like an econobox, MB put some nice features in the car for safety and comfort that make this thing a bit more upscale than the average commuter car.
And its shocking how big it feels inside, I can put the seat back far enough so I cant drive it. For those who will get the reference, one person told me it must have been designed by the guy who built the Tardis.
-
Congratulations Jim! I 've been looking at smart cars every time I'm in France and they are every where. (I'm wondering if this is the future of american autos as gas approaches $4.00 a gallon this summer) They are nice little cars, fast to accelerate and the perfect commuter car. The safety factor is a plus, being that we live in the land where most people are driving their SUV's while changing the radio station, talking on the cell phone, eating their egg Mcmuffins and combing their hair- all at the same time- while they are driving!
Looking foward to seeing it.
-
When the prices go up, I think I'm getting a Vespa PA pa pa pa pa pa
-
Congratulations Jim! I 've been looking at smart cars every time I'm in France and they are every where. (I'm wondering if this is the future of american autos as gas approaches $4.00 a gallon this summer) They are nice little cars, fast to accelerate and the perfect commuter car. The safety factor is a plus, being that we live in the land where most people are driving their SUV's while changing the radio station, talking on the cell phone, eating their egg Mcmuffins and combing their hair- all at the same time- while they are driving!
Looking foward to seeing it.
I definitely think the other automakers are watching to see how it is received. Most of the Japanese car companies have similar vehicles but noone wanted to be the first to take the plunge with the US. SmartUS itself is anticipating 12000 vehicles a year and they already have pre-orders for about 36000. Right now there is about a 20% attrition rate of people who pre order and dont take delivery, which was good for me since I got one of those "orphans" that didnt get picked up.
I do think as an only car it would be way too impractical, at least for me. But as a single person commuter it makes alot of sense. Picked it up today in edison and did 68 miles on the highway before the gas gauge registered the first gallon gone. Of course the gauge is probably not perfectly accurate but still it was fun to see it :)
-
Jim,
Cool choice!
The local Venutos Pizza place has one, the first I've seen.
They are small but years back my daily was an Austin Healey Bug Eye and that car was around 9 ft long. You learn real quick to stay out of the way of bigger vehicles plus you can out maneuver most of the land yachts. Hey what happened to the wagon ?
-
Jim,
Cool choice!
The local Venutos Pizza place has one, the first I've seen.
They are small but years back my daily was an Austin Healey Bug Eye and that car was around 9 ft long. You learn real quick to stay out of the way of bigger vehicles plus you can out maneuver most of the land yachts. Hey what happened to the wagon ?
Still got the wagon, like I said, as an only car the Smart is impractical, but the Wagon supplements it when I actually need to carry something. Its also the dog hauler, tow vehicle, etc since wifeypoo decided it was her turn and she got rid of her SUV and got a mustang (Ive never had luck with fords but it was her choice and I gotta admit, its kinda nice)
-
So I went to mow the lawn today and well.....this kinda put it all in perspective.
(http://www.misfittoysracing.com/2008Smart/mower.jpg)
-
LoL LoL kickAss I really gota see this. $61$
-
I may try to meet you all at the start of the cruise next saturday. I still have alot of work to do on the BABE car so I probably cant do the whole cruise but I'll come out and say Hi :)
-
As I was reading the posts I was wondering ..."where's the photo of the Smart Car". You didn't let me down. WOW very cool! Do you get odd looks on 295? I have to admit ... I have NEVER seen one on the road. Maybe I'll notice you while in the parking lot on 295. Inside joke to anyone who drives OR tries to drive 295 at the wrong time of day ... like me.
Get your GORE on!
-
As I was reading the posts I was wondering ..."where's the photo of the Smart Car". You didn't let me down. WOW very cool! Do you get odd looks on 295? I have to admit ... I have NEVER seen one on the road. Maybe I'll notice you while in the parking lot on 295. Inside joke to anyone who drives OR tries to drive 295 at the wrong time of day ... like me.
Get your GORE on!
It was a nice parking lot yesterday around 4:30
Did my first fillup today. 371.3 miles - 8.3 gallons = 44.7mpg wooohoo
-
I may try to meet you all at the start of the cruise next saturday.
Sure hope you can make it, if even for just a short time. I realy want to see it in the flesh. Lease is up on my daily driver next year & I'm definitly going small & efficient
-
Sure hope you can make it, if even for just a short time. I realy want to see it in the flesh. Lease is up on my daily driver next year & I'm definitly going small & efficient
If you are even thinking about it get on the list now, the wait is at least a year if you order one. Its only $99 to reserve one and its fully refundable if you change your mind.
I will either come out to the start of the cruise or to the DQ night, just gotta see which I can fit in.