Note: I write up driving impressions of virtually every car I
photograph, within a couple of days of the drive, so everything is fresh
in my memory. Occasionally, because of the constraints of format (i.e.,
buyer's guide), the prepared text doesn't run. Now, thanks to the joys
of the blogosphere, it can.
Sit inside, and the door sills come up to your shoulders; for what is
ostensibly a small car, it's got plenty of room. The warm colors -
terracotta and cream - help brighten things up considerably. The seats
put you in place, but offer no additional lateral support. The single
standard gauge, the speedometer, is slightly unnerving - it's big and
legible, but shouldn't there be something else to look at? - though the
clear red shift indicator markings double as a tachometer. The only
other gauge in the cabin is the optional electric six-volt gas gauge.
The engine sound, top down, is slightly muffled by the roof stack;
opening the roof also renders the rearview mirror pointless, unless you
want to spy on your backseat passengers. Drivers who are wide of foot
may note that they're inadvertently heel-and-toeing whether they want to
or not: The narrowness of the gas pedal, and its proximity to the
brake, mean that you'd better either wear smaller shoes or hack off a
couple of toes.
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