1.5L of Micro Muscle Fury

This is what the sticker on the window of a new Honda Fit subcompact hatchback (33 city, 38 highway) read at the Honda dealer I was at yesterday. Imagine that - pushing the idea of an economical, efficient car as fun. Too bad Detroit is gonna get its ass kicked in this revived segment too. Cool little car too, the brochure shows one can fit an alpaca in the rear seat.

Now, if only they'd sell it with a small turbo diesel. Wow, they'd sell a bazillion of them.

but had cargo room and a couple of features that Honda couldn't match.

Same mileage, though.

3 cylinders, but it would climb a mountain (slowly, but hey, you got to enjoy the scenery), comfortably seat four (preferably short people in the back seat) -- and got 70mpg on the highway.

The year after I bought it, I toured the whole state of Colorado on 2 tanks of gas.

I miss that car (I'd still have it, but my son left the keys in the ignition while "just running inside to pick up the tickets to the rave, mom!"

A couple of years later (or the following year) they turned it into the "Geo" Metro, gave it another cylinder, and ruined it.

only 4 years old when I got it, so it qualified as a new car to me. It had a small engine, standard drive, no AC, no power anything, and just an AM radio, but I loved that little car. It was a breeze to drive and park. It got nailed in a 7 car pileup on the interstate. My injuries were minor, thank goodness, but the car was a total loss. Sniff.

We'll see how the relationship with my new econobox develops.

if only we could buy small turbo diesels in Ca

about the right technology and innovation, I'm convinced of that. I mean, my father just got a brand new lexus with all these features, including headlights that wash themselves, and I thought, "who gives a fuck about headlights that wash themselves?". I mean seriously, this thing had every possible gadget you could ever think of. But it is only those types of gadget conveniences that I've seen technology used for in vehicles. Not what I give a shit about though. Know what I want from them? I want 100 miles per fucking gallon, period. I don't know how to do it, but I know we have enough intellect and technology to figure it out already. I mean, here we are, 2007 models, and oooooohhh a honda with 38 miles per gallon highway.

I say that's pathetic. A 1983 fucking yugo got 31 miles per gallon highway. You tellin me in 24 fucking years the best we improved our technology was by 7 fucking miles per gallon? Pathetic.

:rant:

A Fit is vastly safer, more reliable, less polluting, and comfortable than a Yugo could ever be....

Although your point on mileage is dead on. It seems most engine improvements in the last 20 years have been in power density and emissions, not efficiency.

During the entire century of autos there has been surprisingly little improvement in economy.

The 1928 Model A Ford gave around 45 mpg and 60+ mph from a 3.3 litre engine. The car weighed around 2500 and was shaped like a brick.
Yet 45 mpg is still good today.

Is there a conspiracy to maintain oil demand? ;-)

Except for that THIS CAR, which looks remarkably similar and gets essentially the same gas mileage, has been on the GM showroom floors for a year.