Stop Making Small Cars Bigger!

[MugenRep]

Originally Posted by BLKHILLSGUY

Not to mention Scion did not make the car look anything like the funky concept, which would have been super easy to make. And the interior was boring and drab. A cool interior is in the new 500s and the Smarts. Even the Toyota Aygo had a better interior than the IQ. Toyota made some critical errors with that car. I was seriously contemplating purchasing one. But for the above reasons anf no manual, I wasn't nearly as interested.

The concept was exactly that, a concept. Very rarely does a production car look anything like a hand-built concept. Aygo and Fiat definitely have a better looking interior but the Fiat had harder plastics than the iQ. The iQ is soft touch, more front mid engine, and the CVT actually isn't as bad as one would expect. Once you realize you can just stick it in "B" and the rpms just sit at 6000rpms through the entire 1/4 mile (if that's how you're measuring). Being short wheelbase at 78.8" it actually handles pretty well once you dump the 175 width tires. The differential and front sway of the car is also in front of the engine and the 1NRFE sits leaning back behind the front strut towers effectively making it front-Mid engine like some odd old Renaults. It also has 7.5 degrees of caster from the factory to boot. Other than a slow power plant (17.4 @ 80mph quarter mile). It's a pretty decent little car that's shorter than the original classic mini, albeit taller.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Originally Posted by MugenRep

The concept was exactly that, a concept. Very rarely does a production car look anything like a hand-built concept. Aygo and Fiat definitely have a better looking interior but the Fiat had harder plastics than the iQ. The iQ is soft touch, more front mid engine, and the CVT actually isn't as bad as one would expect. Once you realize you can just stick it in "B" and the rpms just sit at 6000rpms through the entire 1/4 mile (if that's how you're measuring). Being short wheelbase at 78.8" it actually handles pretty well once you dump the 175 width tires. The differential and front sway of the car is also in front of the engine and the 1NRFE sits leaning back behind the front strut towers effectively making it front-Mid engine like some odd old Renaults. It also has 7.5 degrees of caster from the factory to boot. Other than a slow power plant (17.4 @ 80mph quarter mile). It's a pretty decent little car that's shorter than the original classic mini, albeit taller.

I get that BUT the concept IQ was not overly difficult with tons of different curves and huge tires, etc. It had a great design that could have easily been replicated and they offered boring, drab colors. That is why the Spark has sold so well. It offered neat colors and the first generation had a funky little look.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

I just don't know why Subaru doesn't make the small hatchback Justy again. I always wanted one, but had a Ford Festiva instead. A small hatchback that has AWD is perfect.

[aspro]

Originally Posted by BLKHILLSGUY

I just don't know why Subaru doesn't make the small hatchback Justy again. I always wanted one, but had a Ford Festiva instead. A small hatchback that has AWD is perfect.

Yeah, just like the suzuki sx4. Awd in a small hatch is gold. Too bad the company went belly up. I was waiting for them to join the trend of factory boosted hot hatches but it never happened.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Originally Posted by aspro

Yeah, just like the suzuki sx4. Awd in a small hatch is gold. Too bad the company went belly up. I was waiting for them to join the trend of factory boosted hot hatches but it never happened.

I agree. I think my next car is going to be a Subaru as Toyota doesn't offer anything small with AWD. The 17 Impreza is a HUGE step forward. Honda should be a little nervous.

[Thirty-Nine]

Originally Posted by BLKHILLSGUY

I just don't know why Subaru doesn't make the small hatchback Justy again. I always wanted one, but had a Ford Festiva instead. A small hatchback that has AWD is perfect.

YES x 11 billion! I actually do know why they don't make one, at least yet, and that's because they don't need to.

That being said, the Impreza keeps growing and growing. The 2017 Impreza is growing again. At some point, the Impreza will likely be be as big as the Legacy and they'll slot something under it, much like Honda did with the ever-growing Civic (then we got the Fit).



I would buy a small AWD Subaru in a heartbeat. We love our '13 WRX.



FYI, I owned two Suzuki SX4s (a 2009 and 2010). I'd still have the '10 if Suzuki had stayed in the U.S., but was worried about repairs and warranty stuff, whether justified or not. It was a great little AWD rig. Did great in snow and sand, too. I kind of miss it from time to time.

[MugenRep]

I really wish some short wheelbase FR would hit the shoes too. I've always had a soft spot for the Suzuki Cappuccino and would loved to have seen even a slightly bigger one in the US.