viking13,

I recall reading the Guiness Book of a few decades ago that the tallest man in the world drove a Passat. Don't know the model. Around that time (1976) I had a Passat TS, which with the front seats back, I suspect a very tall person could be seated cormortably. Yet, some small Japanese cars seem cramped to me, I am 5' 10". It's a matter of design, I suspect.

Oliver, I once lived in a place where the local "tall guy" (7'2" or so) drove a Honda Civic. I guess any car can be modified for tall people, my point was that as most tiddlers come from the factory (especially Asian cars) they aren't well-suited for taller people, and this also includes my own 2 tonne 4wd. Some cars have reasonable legroom, but lack headroom. They are improving a great deal though- I can get comfortable in a Toyota Yaris. Whether I'd want to drive such a car any distance is debatable, though.

Given GMH's decision to close its Australian 4-cylinder engine plant down (one which exports, too) it would seem that Valerie's scheme is a non-starter. GM may well be looking at hybrid cars for the future, which quickly discounts "micro" cars because even a small hybrid is quite large. They need to be able to carry the batteries, which are huge compared to the starting battery in normal cars. Toyota's Prius is as big as an early Holden sedan (and probably a deal heavier, too).

Another aspect of these tiny cars is that they don't have the longevity of bigger cars. Their motors work harder and live shorter lives. Their suspensions take a pounding on our god-awful roads. Their crappy cheap interiors fall apart in our searing heat and sun. In short, bigger cars last longer: to my mind it's better to have a true small car (not micro) built properly in the first place, and not waste resources building swarms of tiddlers which would end up on the scrapheap.

As for the micro "cars" (actually many were driven on motorcycle licences) of the immediate post-WWII period: these were built to a specific market, one in which families wanted slightly more than a bike and sidecar. These designs would not pass current safety regulations, although there are some motorcycle-derivative designs around which might fit the bill (safety and weather-proofing).

Why is it that silly little girls like to display their ignorance by going into print about topics of which they know absolutely nothing.

Get a job in a local government planning department, love. They specialise in employing people who have no idea about anything.

Hasbeen

"Why is it that silly little girls like to display their ignorance by going into print about topics of which they know absolutely nothing. Get a job in a local government planning department, love. They specialise in employing people who have no idea about anything."

What patronizing pap this is. It's the blokey love for cars and speed and Big is Best mindset that is the reason our car emissions are still so high. Since when do you have to be an engineer or a revhead to be able to think laterally and come up with solutions? We'll certainly wait a long time if we leave it up to the car industry. Valerie is to be commended on kicking along the debate. Lots of other red-blooded males here are discussing and building on her ideas. They don't seem to have a problem with her gender. What are your suggestions, Hasbeen?

concord

"I'm very pro-choice, socially and economically, so I don't agree with the government using the tax system and other peoples money to ‘tax to extinction’ choices that don't really harm other individuals.”

As pointed out by Valerie, those who choose to drive 4WDs very definitely do impact on the rest of us in many ways. We're all paying a heavy price for this select group to thumb their collective noses at rising greenhouse gas levels and accident statistics. If we can't tax them out of existence, let's shame them off our roads. A rating system similar to the five stars on white goods might work. People would become familiar with comparative fuel usages and buying patterns would change as a result. A red/amber/green coding system visible on all vehicles might do the trick. Driving a fuel guzzler might lose its appeal when it comes with a red mark of shame on the windscreen! I'm only half serious but I definitely think this is the direction we've got to move in. We don't have time to wait for those who currently don't care to start developing a social conscience. Increasing petrol prices will hopefully kick-start the downsizing.

Excellent post Bronwyn.

Just a question, because my knowledge may be out of date, but is there still a rebate on the purchase of new 4WD's? The rebate was intended to assist farmers who have a need for 4WD's, but was exploited by town and city dwellers who have no need of such vehicles. If it is still available, could it be applied to rural garaging of such vehicles? This would help to eliminate most if not all of those frivolous cars from our roads.

Regards the topic, clearly there is a case for an economical low-polluting car. With improving technology, I am sure that in the future even the revheads (like me) will be satisfied.

Fractelle, I believe the "rebate" you are thinking of is the lower tariff (import duty) on 4WDs.

I personally drive a 4WD for several reasons. One is, I live in the bush, and occasionally need the offroad capability. I also need the space when I go to and return from the city (since the shopping is so poor locally). Another reason is wildlife- 4Wds sit higher and are less affected by whacking kangaroos. I've seen smaller cars with the windscreen smashed by roos and emus. Also, when it rain heavily, locally, 4WDs can get through minor floods, while lower cars would stop in their tracks or get washed away.

Gas guzzler? I average better than 10l/100km despite travelling at 110km/hr regularly and with loads up around half a tonne. That's what modern diesel engines can do for you.

City people have little idea of what people in the bush need and want. Having lived in the city myself, I'd not own a 4WD for daily commuting for the simple reason that they are a pain to park, and their capabilities are wasted. "Soccer mums" and the like are wasting money buying a 4WD, as I said in an earlier post it's more about image and perceived safety than logic. If they need to carry half a soccer team they are better off with a people-mover.

There should be no need to increase taxes on 4WDs- the market is already shrinking as people realise that even modern diesels are expensive to run in city environments when they're hauling around 2.5 tonnes unnecessarily, and when they come to replace tyres find they can buy two "normal" tyres for the price of a 4WD tyre. Combine this with mortgage stress and general inflation (and "bowser shock if they own a big petrol 4WD using 20+l/100km in town) and soon 4WDs will be left in the garage or replaced by something more suited to the city.