OT: how far we've come?, 35 years of non-progress Options

[lapuwali]

Hybrids are the buzzword now, and people marvel at how the latest Civic hybrid gets 50mpg.

Autoweek had a short article on the early Civics, which got 55mpg with a carb. 1.2L, 50hp, 1500lbs. Sure, they were slow, but they were described as still being fun to drive. The way most people drive modern Civics, I doubt they'd notice if they suddenly only had 50hp.

(yes, I know emissions are much better, it's quieter, it crashes better, yada, yada...)

[wbergtho]

Two reasons for cars being heavier these days. 1: Everyone has to have 10,000 airbags, reinforced I-beam girders in the doors, 60" HDTV, 22" rims, electric dog polishers, etc. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif) This has already been voiced by many of you. BUT #2: (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ar15.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ar15.gif) Asshole lawyers & litigation. We now have to have all sorts of safety mumbo jumbo bullshit junk that 1970 Civics never had. As a result, your average car weighs more than a jumbo jet. You now need 400 HP to get up your driveway for christ's sake! (Do you hear Dennis Leary talking here?) The only way we can go back to that distant memory of lightweight no frills commuter cars is simply buy a 1970 Honda Civic and drive it. Hell, put some platform shoes on...slip into some groovy bell bottoms and hit the road and watch out for the other monster sized vehicles on the road. Auto manufactures cannot look back and start building cars like they used to. I wish they could. For now, we'll have to just buy these old tiny "out of place cars" and drive them in this materialistic era we live in. Old cars are cool any how. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/aktion035.gif)