What car to get? Europe

Where do you plan on buying and driving it? Europe? Pls specify.

europe

In spite of all the talk no one yet makes a lightweight car. I've been involved in one or two projects to specify what one might consist of and tried to get EC funding for a technology demonstrator. It seems that even in the eye of the global warming storm hot air is still preferable to hardware. There's a continuous stream of paper based studies.

Some OEMs have been brave enough to do their own but lose the will when they start looking at marketing such a thing. The question is, how much in terms of comfort and safety (real or perceived) is the buyer willing to do without? In your replacement vehicle would you miss out the airconditioning and SatNav options. Do you feel you need or want seatbelt pretensioners? Can you manage without sound absorption, power steering etc etc etc. One of the main outcomes from our studies was to show that front-engined, front wheel drive is not the optimum layout for light weight, mid-engined rear wheel drive is better. Is that a turn-off to the prospective buyer??

Have you seen the little French Micro-cars from the likes of Ligier and Aixam?? They're light and economical albeit lacking in luggage space for your intended use. Im not saying that a lightweight economical ini has to be quite as pared-down as that, but they're a benchmark of sorts.

I hear what you are saying, I was thinking I suppose of a 4 seater Caterham

Patrick,

That sounds fun! could be done no doubt, but could you not make suitable luggage-carrying additions to the standard one or are you after a 'familiale', they might be detachable (the luggage carrying additions). I made a frame to carry a windsurfer on my Triumph Spitfire once. The windsurfer did make opening the front-hinged bonnet for the replenishment of water a bit of a chore! I had to do this quite often (apporx every 10mls at it's worst!)

I'd love a sort of light weight mini camper, perhaps based on a caterham chassis or similiar. A friend suggested a smart car plus a trailer, which makes a fair bit of sense.

In reality if you take it easy its actualy quite hard to beat something like a Mondeo estate. However I thing some sort of small esatey Citreon might be sensible to get low tax, big milage and at least some space.

Any other ideas?

Skoda Roomster.

Hmmmm,

Yes it looks good, or Ford connect LWB

The Peugeot 207 Diesel write ups have been very good. 5 litres / 100 and plenty of zing.

With mild apologies to VW; they did produce the 3-litre Lupo (as in litres/100km, not engine capacity!) which used quite a lot of magnesium to get the weight down. It wasn't just a low-powered standard Lupo. I probably forgot about it like the rest of the motoring public. It was, in comparison with the standard car and all other 'minis' extreemly expensive. I've just been reading with interest about the 'new' FIAT 500, might be nearer the mark.

Whilst on the subject of VW there is the Audi A-2 which is relatively light, that's relative in light of it's carrying capacity and peers. I drove a relatively early 3cyl diesel which felt good to drive - but I'd go mad claustrophobia thanks to those a-pillars. Shudder.

The Smart, to my way of thinking, is clumsy and overweight in respect of it's size.

PPS following the Citroen theme, they were very good at small light cars and vans. I'm thinking 2CV derivatives and 'Visa'. There were camper derivatives of one or both of these which would be most practical for Outdoor Activity Types. Not sure about performance mods.

Ford Mondeo desiel 6 gear eastate (station wagon) brilliant mileage pleanty of room.

keep the old beater to pull the trailer etc and buy a commuter Mini or Smart Car.

I'm currently selling a Citroen HDi, 50mpg, in my view the most easy distance cruiser you can have for the money.

Want more fun.