Is the Harbor Freight car coming ...?

[280z1975]

Check out this article/slideshow from Businessweek.com

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/04/0412_cheapcars/index_01.htm?technology+slideshows&popupWidth=770&popupHeight=600

So when do you think Habor Freight will start importing the cheapest car known to the US?

[zbane]

The thought of having a Tata dealership in town gives the phrase "let's go look at some tatas" a whole new meaning!

Tata Indica

India is gaga over the Indica, the country's first indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured car-and a best-seller to boot. It is made by Tata Motors, a division of India's best-known conglomerate-the Tata Group.

Seriously, though- If any of those cars would meet the US standards for emissions and safety, I think some of them would sell very well. I wouldn't mind having the Chevrolet Aveo/Kalos, the Geely Merrie Star (looks prime for rally driving), or the Hyundai Getz ("It Getz me where I need to go!" would have to be the tagline).

photos-1.Tata 2. Chevy Aveo 3. Geely, 4. Hyundai

[sblake01]

Personally, I can't picture myself owning or even driving any of those cars pictured. It's just not me. I have a hard enough time with my wife's HHR. FWD cars are just not for me.

[280z1975]

I to would own just about any of them because I have my Z, which is the car I like to keep clean, scratch free, baby and all those great things about owning a car.

My daily driver .... I keep it maintained and clean, but don't stress over food being spilled, grease on the seats, scratches on the car or those other things ... it's a simple machine to get me from point A to point B ... but my Z, that's my real car ...

[sblake01]

My daily driver .... I keep it maintained and clean, but don't stress over food being spilled, grease on the seats, scratches on the car or those other things ... it's a simple machine to get me from point A to point B ... but my Z, that's my real car ...

That is also how I feel. Except in my case, the daily driver is the 810. It's a compromise from the Z but, yes, but to the extent of a modern FWD, 4 cyl econobox. I just can't get there:eek:

[zbane]

Stephen,

I am quite taken with your 810, I think it's a lovely car (of course your Z is as well).

There is no doubt that the current wave of econoboxes lack something (individual personality, perhaps), but as fuel prices here in the US continue to rise (to world norms), the demand for cheap, small transport will rise.

Would I want to drive one of these cross country? Probably not, but for around town, or longer distance day trips, sure.

[280z1975]

That is also how I feel. Except in my case, the daily driver is the 810. It's a compromise from the Z but, yes, but to the extent of a modern FWD, 4 cyl econobox. I just can't get there:eek:

I understand you there ... my last car, a Nissan Sentra was absolutely great. Owned it for 10 years, drove it over 135,000 miles and had to change the alternator, the valve gasket and the brakes( of the non-interval replacement things). That was it! Bought for 9,000 in 1996 and being sold this weekend for 1,500 ... if my wife and I weren't in a position where it needed to be sold, I think I could have easily gotten 2,250 for it. Still, it's had an operating cost of around 900 bucks a year or about 5.5 cents a mile. Not to bad in my books for a reliable car.

The car I just bought here is a 5 door station wagon type car. Big enough to carry me and my bikes for a weekend of racing and only cost me 900 euros in total cost to get in on the road ... if it lasts me 3 years I will be thrilled ... of course it's got a fun little habit of turning on the lights randomly (developed over the last two weeks of a month of ownership) and drained my battery twice this week! ... going to install a cut off switch to the lights or the battery to keep it from being drained.

I prefer to spend my money on my Z ....

[Zak's Z]

I 'd like to go out and 3 or 4 of the cheapest of those cars....so when my wife crashes one, I can just pull out another one for her.:nervous:

zak

[Carl Beck]

There is no doubt that the current wave of econoboxes lack something (individual personality, perhaps), but as fuel prices here in the US continue to rise (to world norms), the demand for cheap, small transport will rise.

Hi David (everyone)

I really don't believe that you will see fuel prices rise to "world norms" here in the U.S. for decades, if then. That is because "world norms" are far more driven by excessive taxes, and very inefficient refinery, transportation and retail systems than we enjoy here in the U.S.

There is no question in my mind however, that fuel costs will continue to catch up with inflation here, and will rise past that; as China, India and the rest of S.E. Asia bring another 3 BILLION drivers on line over the next two decades. But even then, Fuel will still be a minor cost to us in the U.S. relative to the casts of Depreciation, Insurance and State Taxes. With cars costing less than $10K - all the significant operating expenses come down with the sales price of a new car.

From a marketing forecast perspective, as we decimate what used be considered the American Middle Class (Upper Middle, Middle and Lower Middle in Sociological terms).... by importing major percentages of our goods from China, India and other third world countries, while we shut down all American Manufacturing enterprises; and out-source the higher paid "knowledge workers" jobs {info. technology, software engineering, and indeed ever increasing percentages of all engineering and technology related jobs) ... At some point fairly soon - there won't be a very large middle class here in the U.S. able to afford a $25,000.00+ automobile.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[GreenZZZ]

Watch the Tata's in action!

http://ricos.blogspot.com/2006/11/india-day-26-traffic.html

When I was in India, most cars had their side mirrors either folded in or busted off. While moving around in India, I sat in the back seat horrified.

[DeesZ]

Very entertaining, GreenZZZ.... The amazing part about that video is that I didn't see anyone 'bite the dust'!

Some South American traffic is similar - at least 20 years ago in Brazil it was...

I never understood why there wasn't a very high death toll. I was told by a 'local' that it took a very high skill level to be a metropolitan driver..... Very few people where I am from would make it more than 30 seconds. It was kinda like playing 'Frogger' with vehicles.

[GreenZZZ]

All the video is missing is the random cow introducing herself into the chaos, and there would still be no carnage. I had 3 drivers while in India, about $45.00 a day with a nice car or van, sometimes had a DVD player. The driver's skill was amazing and they typically slept in the parking lot of your hotel, on call via cell phone 24x7. (cell phones are cheap!)

The video highlights how transportation markets are different. I remember reading about the Japanese car execs getting flown to drive the great lone highways in the desert southwest of the US and getting blown away by it. Same thing taking an American and driving in India... You equip yourself differently.