Look Out Toyota, Here Comes The Good Enough Chinese Car

[tk1971]

I'm in complete agreement with bronsin here regarding all the extra "tacked" on stuff on cars that make them less and less reasonably priced.

The Echo, Yaris' predecessor, did not have air bags, abs, nor traction control. It was inexpensive and reliable, but common sense also revealed that such a small car would not be as safe as a bigger car if it were in a serious accident. People still bought them. Some who crashed in them were hurt, some even killed, but I see a lot of Echos still around, so +1 for defensive driving and safe driving habits.

On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with raising the bar on safety, but sometimes I think we've gone a little too far. For example (re: child booster seats):

California Law (Effective 01/01/2012):
Children under the age of 8 or under (who are shorter than 4' 9") must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat.

I remember clacking heads with my sister and brother in my dad's old Lincoln that didn't have any belts. Now I have to keep my 2 boys in their car seats until they are 8 or taller than 4' 9".

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by tk1971

I'm in complete agreement with bronsin here regarding all the extra "tacked" on stuff on cars that make them less and less reasonably priced.

The Echo, Yaris' predecessor, did not have air bags, abs, nor traction control. It was inexpensive and reliable, but common sense also revealed that such a small car would not be as safe as a bigger car if it were in a serious accident. People still bought them. Some who crashed in them were hurt, some even killed, but I see a lot of Echos still around, so +1 for defensive driving and safe driving habits.

On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with raising the bar on safety, but sometimes I think we've gone a little too far. For example (re: child booster seats):

California Law (Effective 01/01/2012):
Children under the age of 8 or under (who are shorter than 4' 9") must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat.

I remember clacking heads with my sister and brother in my dad's old Lincoln that didn't have any belts. Now I have to keep my 2 boys in their car seats until they are 8 or taller than 4' 9".

Agreed. And it is only SLIGHTLY less silly than the law it replaced. The major anchor of the law it replaced was weight. I had to make sure my little cousin used my car seat (also in California) far longer than she would have had to in other states because she didn't meet the weight requirement. She's very athletic. Her mother has held age group records in major triathlons. She could have escaped the old law earlier by gaining weight just for the sake of gaining weight. Her mother was NOT going to let that happen.

I too agree with Bronsin re unnecessary items driving up the cost of cars (as I've stated in other posts), but I don't think he should have included airbags and ABS on his list (as I've stated in other posts).

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by tk1971

The Echo, Yaris' predecessor, did not have air bags, abs, nor traction control. ".

ECHOs did have airbags. I think ABS WAS an option but you very seldom see ABS on an ECHO.

LOVE that car! Probably the BEST small car ever made all around.

I notice the ads for the new Toyota minicar the iQ stress it has, what, 11 airbags?

They also go out of their way to "luxurize" that car.

A shame! I might buy one if only it wasnt MORE than a Yaris!

I think airbags and ABS obscure the REAL way to safe driving and that is what they call DEFENSIVE DRIVING. Drive like you want (others) to live!