What's with the dinky cars?

[357 mag]

The one's I've seen around town don't usually have any tag on them, and if they do it's one that says DEALER. I've seen the same tag on at least 4 vehicles!

[justme]

We are talking about two different vehicle types here. The ones you see around here and that are sold by B and S trailers are classified as micro utility vehicles. They are not required by the state to have registration, or insurance and can be operated on county roads or in a city that passes regulations allowing them (dodge city did with Brian Shirley ram rodding it ). The dodge city ordinance does require insurance, and a 10 $ city registration. They are all used (cannot import new ones) and usually come from China. The do not have to meet any of the USA safety regulations or emissions requirements. They do have to have all the equipment required by state laws ie: turn signals, wipers, etc.

The other vehicles like the mini cooper and mini car have to pass all safety standards and are legal to use on all streets and highways.

Needless to say there has been at least two years of Law enforcment fighting against the chinese imports, but those that import them have the money and political influence. Just hope a kid doesnt get killed in one of these on the higway; and yes I do understand (all too well) that kids get killed in full size vehicles also. I just believe the chances of survival are much better in a vehicle that has to meet the USA standards for safety.

[CRAZY HORSE]

If you buy that foreign stuff

you may have to pay the consequences

have a good day

[Bubba]

We are talking about two different vehicle types here. The ones you see around here and that are sold by B and S trailers are classified as micro utility vehicles. They are not required by the state to have registration, or insurance and can be operated on county roads or in a city that passes regulations allowing them (dodge city did with Brian Shirley ram rodding it ). The dodge city ordinance does require insurance, and a 10 $ city registration. They are all used (cannot import new ones) and usually come from China. The do not have to meet any of the USA safety regulations or emissions requirements. They do have to have all the equipment required by state laws ie: turn signals, wipers, etc.

The other vehicles like the mini cooper and mini car have to pass all safety standards and are legal to use on all streets and highways.

Needless to say there has been at least two years of Law enforcment fighting against the chinese imports, but those that import them have the money and political influence. Just hope a kid doesnt get killed in one of these on the higway; and yes I do understand (all too well) that kids get killed in full size vehicles also. I just believe the chances of survival are much better in a vehicle that has to meet the USA standards for safety.

The bold underlined statements in your post contradict each other don't they? They aren't allowed to be driven on the highway. So, there shouldn't be anybody killed in them on the highway whether they are a kid or not.

[Binky Bainbridge]

Smart cars are popular in England particularly around large towns and cities like London.
truth about smart

[K C Muffin]

The Smart Car isn't one of those micro utility vehicles. It's a Mercedes. I doubt you've seen one in Dodge - there's a waiting list up here and I haven't see any on the road yet. Those are licensed for highway use.

Bubba, I think the point Justme was trying to make was that kiddos sometimes drive cars where they're not supposed to - including the highway until/unless they get caught.

[Bandit]

Smart cars are popular in England particularly around large towns and cities like London.
truth about smart

Here is a review of the American version of the Smart car, like I said, a neutered version of what they sell in Europe: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/au...fortwo-ny.html

"By my stopwatch, the car takes more than 14 seconds to reach 60 miles an hour, and it tops out at 90. The engine’s clattering idle was loud enough to make me suspect a diesel under the hood. No dice: The diesel-powered Smart that tops 70 m.p.g. on the European test cycle won’t be coming here."

"If the engine is mediocre, the five-speed automated manual transmission is an engineering embarrassment. You could practically squeeze a half-inning of baseball into the maddening delay between the release of one gear and the engagement of the next. The Smart loses momentum in the pause, lurching passengers forward, and then Barcalounges backward when it oozes into a higher gear."

"That’s where the Smart gets really dumb. For roughly the Smart Passion’s well-equipped price of $15,510, one could have several pint-sized models — the terrific Honda Fit or Nissan Versa come to mind — that are sportier, hold twice as many people, up to six times the cargo and get nearly the same mileage."