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Smallest production car ever

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:14 am
by entirelyturbo
I would so pimp this car. I'd drive it around town with the biggest shit-eating grin on my face, and I'd get 100mpg doing it too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkAbGHz7xUQ

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:22 am
by jamal
I love Top Gear.

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:35 am
by evolutionmovement
That's terrible. I should get 80+ out of my vehicle if I can get the lower-powered BMW 2.0 diesel over here, considering the BMW gets 60 mpg while weighing almost three times as much and having shittier aerodynamics. Mine actually has an intelligent cg, weight distribution, and track. Damn 3 wheelers like that are why I always have to answer stability questions regarding the configuration.

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:39 am
by dropdfocus
You can't help but laugh uncontrollably at those three lunatics... :lol:

I've yet to ever see an episode I didn't like!

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:02 am
by AWD_addict
I like when he drives behind the BBC TV news presenters.

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:12 am
by dropdfocus
How 'bout it!!!! I lost it at that point!!!!! That is soooo totally Jeremy's style too. :lol:

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:15 am
by SubaruNation
AWD_addict wrote:I like when he drives behind the BBC TV news presenters.
+1
yeah!!

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:15 am
by beatersubi
I like the way it lifts a front wheel during spirited cornering.

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 8:45 am
by Hondasucks
I think you could fit that INSIDE a smart fortwo.. (Which I'm pretty sure I could fit in the back of my Dodge, with the canopy on)

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:05 pm
by n2x4
Very cool. I wish there was a US topgear. Apparently there was going to be one but there weren't enough good cars to make a show.

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:45 am
by jamal
I think it was more that the presenters didn't want to move to the US. Season old episodes air on BBC america, with minimal cuts. +90% of the cars they review are available in the US.

Oh and they have torrents at finalgear.com.

Last night the Stig took public transportation across London. It was pretty hilarious.

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:12 am
by SubaruNation
why cant we get cars like this in the US?
i guess you could pretty much add an interior onto a lawnmower and you'd have almost the same thing :D but i would drive it around campus instead of walking :D

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:38 am
by AWD_addict
jamal wrote:Last night the Stig took public transportation across London. It was pretty hilarious.
I like when he reads the paper then throws it down. Funny how the car was proven slower than the other three.

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:09 pm
by internetautomart
SubaruNation wrote:why cant we get cars like this in the US?
i guess you could pretty much add an interior onto a lawnmower and you'd have almost the same thing :D but i would drive it around campus instead of walking :D
they exist here
http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/peel-trident.html

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:49 pm
by evolutionmovement
Yeah, they have a show with these things in Brookline MA every year. Haven't seen a Peel yet, but they get Messerschitts, Isettas, Heinkels, Vespas (yes, they made a car), Fiats, Berklees, and some others.

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:46 pm
by Murphy
if i was walking by someone driving that, id flip them over and run away
it would be extremely hard not for me to do that, i dont know why, but its the only thing i can think of when i look at it

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 12:02 am
by Subtle
:D :D That is so well done.

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:48 pm
by SubaruNation
Murphy wrote:if i was walking by someone driving that, id flip them over and run away
it would be extremely hard not for me to do that, i dont know why, but its the only thing i can think of when i look at it
ROFL!!

aaaa ha ha ha ha holy mother that is awesome, come to think of it i would definitly do that too! :-D

how much do you think it would cost to build one of these?

im up for it once i graduate and have disposable cash :wink:

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:36 am
by internetautomart
SubaruNation wrote:
Murphy wrote:if i was walking by someone driving that, id flip them over and run away
it would be extremely hard not for me to do that, i dont know why, but its the only thing i can think of when i look at it
ROFL!!

aaaa ha ha ha ha holy mother that is awesome, come to think of it i would definitly do that too! :-D

how much do you think it would cost to build one of these?

im up for it once i graduate and have disposable cash :wink:
depends on how much you can do yourself.
the body would be the hardest part in my mind.
the rest will just depend on steels cost.

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:54 am
by evolutionmovement
I imagine you could make one with minimal cost. I'd start with a used ride on lawnmower. The rest can be built with acrylic and fiberglass. Hell, skip the fiberglass and make the whole body acrylic. You could do something much more aerodynamic, too. Not that it would matter as you wouldn't get going fast enough for it to be a big problem. Keep the engine small enough and you could probably register it as a moped. A used garden tractor with dual range might be a good idea so you could use the dual range and gear it up with larger wheels for a useable speed but still have some acceleration. Of course, with so little power, there's only so far you can gear it up. Some used mopeds may be a good starting place also. Some heavy duty mtn bike wheels might not be bad for the front axle. I'd make it a wider track and use the larger diameter of the wheels to stabilize the thing. Might be interesting to sit BELOW the steering, or at least some of you would be lower. Should handle pretty well with a decent set up and would probably be a lot of fun if you're not too concerned with being crushed by cars. Shit, now I'm motivated to draw up some ideas for myself. Dammit, I have a real car to concentrate on.

I have an 8-speed, 11hp garden tractor in my yard with a siezed transmission (might just be the clutch) free to whoever wants it (and can get it the hell out of there). The engine looks salvageable, but will need a fuel pump (simple diaphragm-type).

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:49 am
by SubaruNation
ha ha
i know, subarus are real cars, and if i built one of these i would definetly ONLY drive on the
sidewalk, because you would most certainly die otherwise. and if people got pissed at me for driving on the sidewalk, i'd have a sign with me that would say "go F#$* yourself" ha ha

then i'd get arrested, oh well it'd be damn funny :-D

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:45 pm
by evolutionmovement
By real car, I meant my S2000-powered 3-wheel project, though the wagon needs to get running again as well.

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:39 pm
by SubaruNation
oh...?

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:17 pm
by shtbxr22
That was sweet!

Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:09 pm
by SubaruNation
s2000 powered anything gives me nightmares.
i cant believe that..