There are small cars and then there is the Peel

[begreen]

This is a pretty funny look at personal sized transportation.
Quite a-Peel-ing.
(broken link removed to http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20015336-1.html?tag=mncol)

Watch the video, it's a hoot!

 

[Highbeam]

What kills me is that it weighs 130 lbs. What's with that? My little 250 cc enduro motorcycle that gets an easy 75 mpg weighs about 280.

 

[semipro]

It reminds me of BMW's old Isetta.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isetta

 

[begreen]

In the beginning of the clip the Peel is parked next to one. The Isetta dwarfs the diminutive Peel.

 

[WES999]

I don't think there would be much of a market here for a $20,000 go cart. ;-)

 

[begreen]

Hard to say what people would pay for a modernized version. At $20K it is less than a Twike.
(broken link removed to http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-2007-Twike.htm)

 

[BrotherBart]

I want one for going to the mailbox and back. But it is uphill coming back so it might not make it.

 

[begreen]

Get a Segway. It can double as a wood hauler.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Pretty fair idea but for those dollars, who would buy?

 

[begreen]

Well, I won't be picking one up any time soon. But the video was fun.

 

[ccwhite]

That Peel video is a trip!

 

[begreen]

Almost apeeling eh?

 

[peakbagger]

The clip is from Top Gear from the BBC, if you like the clip, you will love the show. There are usually more than a few laugh your a** off moments in each show. The US version on cable is very pale comparision to the the original English version. They do have a lot of clips on their website that are worth watching. Its british humor and occasionally you may not get some of the references but its worth watching.

 

[midwestcoast]

What kills me is that it weighs 130 lbs. What's with that? My little 250 cc enduro motorcycle that gets an easy 75 mpg weighs about 280.

+1 I used to have a 125cc scooter that weighed about 220. It could squeeze on 2 riders I suppose.
How'd they do it? Especially since it's 60's era design, don't see it being AL or carbon fiber frame & body.
The old Honda 50cc minibikes from the 60's were around 100lbs I think, but come on, those were ity bitty, 2 wheels & no body.

 

[Cowboy Billy]

It would be a hey guys watch this on a windy day!!

Billy

 

[Delta-T]

any vehicle that promises you "assured death" with any impact is generally removed from my xmas list.

 

[jebatty]

any vehicle that promises you “assured death†with any impact is generally removed from my xmas list.

Now that's every motocycle.

 

[SandManConservation]

Literally the ugliest car I've ever seen. Makes my Prius look like a Jag.

 

[offroadaudio]

Bumper sticker on my 2500 Silverado 6.6L diesel Quad Cab:

My Big Dumb Truck Can Beat Up Your Little Smart Car

 

[begreen]

What kills me is that it weighs 130 lbs. What's with that? My little 250 cc enduro motorcycle that gets an easy 75 mpg weighs about 280.

+1 I used to have a 125cc scooter that weighed about 220. It could squeeze on 2 riders I suppose.
How'd they do it? Especially since it's 60's era design, don't see it being AL or carbon fiber frame & body.
The old Honda 50cc minibikes from the 60's were around 100lbs I think, but come on, those were ity bitty, 2 wheels & no body.

It is amazingly light-weight. And you stay dry in the rain.

 

[btuser]

Anywhere that car makes sense is someplace you really don't need a car.

HOWEVER, that guy went up the elevator and to his office. That's pretty cool.

 

[midwestcoast]

What kills me is that it weighs 130 lbs. What's with that? My little 250 cc enduro motorcycle that gets an easy 75 mpg weighs about 280.

+1 I used to have a 125cc scooter that weighed about 220. It could squeeze on 2 riders I suppose.
How'd they do it? Especially since it's 60's era design, don't see it being AL or carbon fiber frame & body.
The old Honda 50cc minibikes from the 60's were around 100lbs I think, but come on, those were ity bitty, 2 wheels & no body.

It is amazingly light-weight. And you stay dry in the rain.

Not to mention 3 wheels on the ground in the rain. Of course it's not safe when sharing a road with full-sized vehicles, the old 2-stroke is putting out way more pollutants than the cars, nowhere to put the groceries.....but I wonder what could be done with an updated version.
Clean 2-stroke or a 4-stroke, Roll cage, a couple cu feet of "cargo space", modern materials to keep the weight down, reverse... you could end up with a practical, somewhat safer, all-weather alternative to a scooter. Under say 3-4 grand I think it'd sell in a few cities.

 

[midwestcoast]

I have one of the smallest cars on the U.S. market today, a Scion XA (05, before they got 'bigger'). The only significantly smaller car I know of in the U.S. is the SmartCar. But there is still room in that car for 4-5 people plus some cargo, or for us, 2 people, a dog and plenty of cargo space for a weeklong trip or more. It is big really when you consider there's ussually just 1 person in it. Only becomes small when compared to other vehicles on the road.

 

[begreen]

Where gas is expensive, they have already figured this out and produce several makes and models of city cars. There are some limited production small cars in the US, mostly electric like the Corbin. The original city car was the Fiat 500, which has been modernized and rereleased as the Fiat 500 Nuovo or affectionately called, the Bambino. It is very popular in Italy and a cute looking car. Coming to the US very soon and rumor is there will be an electric version as well. Also popular in Europe is the Ford Ka.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_500_(2007)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ka

Here's some other cool small cars:

http://www.oobject.com/category/bubble-cars

 

[jebatty]

Really small cars make lots of sense for all the trips with only 1-2 persons in the vehicle, which seems to be most trips made by car. I'm amazed at the big and small SUV's, pickup trucks, and cars that are only occupied by the driver. It would make sense to me for each vehicle to be assessed a weight/miles traveled tax (no, make that a "fee" for the no tax people), which I believe is the way commercial vehicles are taxed. Each vehicle would be equipped with a sensor to measure total weight and miles traveled for each trip. Say the fee was $0.05 per mile per 500 lbs. I think the gas tax also should be left in place as a further stimulus to fuel efficient and electric cars. This fee also would eliminate the brewing issue over no gas tax being paid by electric cars because these cars now would be paying their wear and tear cost to the roads.

For example, a Corolla, which is a pretty typical small car, has a curb weight of 2800 lbs. With one 150 lb passenger, the fee would be $0.295 per mile; with two passengers the fee would be $0.310 per mile, etc. A 100 mile trip would have a fee of about $30. At 12,000 miles/year, the fee would be $3,600.

An Escalade has a curb weight of 6000 lbs. With one 150 lb passenger, the fee would be $0.615 per mile; with two passengers the fee would be $0.630 per mile, etc. A 100 mile trip would have a fee of about $62. At 12,000 miles/year, the fee would be $7,440.

The Peel has a curb weight of 130 lbs. With one 150 lb passenger, total weight is less than 500 lbs, and no fee; with two passengers (one tied to the roof) still less than 500 lbs and no fee.

This fee structure would further stimulate lighter vehicles, greater fuel economy, less emissions, less wear and tear on the highways, and put the cost burden on those who cost the infrastructure more.