and don't forget "jkirsch" that we've had such 'cool cars' as the AMC Matador, Pacer and Gremlin as well as more recently the Pontiac Aztec that THEY are probably screaming for over in Europe!!!!
Hey, don't laugh Jeepster! I HAD a Gremlin, brand new in 1973! Paid, let me see, I don't remember exactly, but somewhere around $4k! Ran the wheels off it, put them back on and ran it some more. Sold it for more than it was worth. It really was a good car, just not for everyone, like the smart !
Isn't the MHD kind of like forced Hypermiling? Don't like the idea of the engine stopping and restarting, at least no with the Mitz engine. MHD is not for me!!
In Australia, the MHD was introduced and there was no difference in price from the old non-mhd. Also, there is no MPG change on the sticker. Mainly because MPG tests by the EPA are done with the car moving. However, in stop/go city driving, you would see a definite improvement. This motor was designed by Mitsubishi to incorporate the start/stop technology... the designed it for the smart... so it works flawlessly.
The 2007 Saturn Vue Hybrid I used to have did the MHD thing. Every time I came to a complete stop, the engine would shut off. As soon as I lifted the brake, the engine came to a start immediately.
The hybrid system itself kept having issues. It must have broken down on me like 8 or 9 times. I finally got rid of it. I used to get 27 MPG in the city and 31 or 32 on the highway. That's awesome for an SUV to get that without having some large, expensive hybrid battery the way the Ford Escape has.
Since I am trying to save up to buy this car for cash, I will have plenty of time to wait until I can afford the car. Hopefully the Smart will have the MHD version available by the time I get the money saved.
I am in Miami and the stop and go traffic here is absolutely horrible. My little Saturn gets up to 35 MPG on the highway, but in the city it can tank all the way down to 15-16 MPG. I need an MHD bad!!
I drove the 2009 Brabus today and loved it. It will take too long for me to save up $20,500 cash for this car. I will have to buy a Passion for almost $16,000 out the door and then put new springs and rims to make it handle like a Brabus. Much cheaper to do that than to spend the whole $20k.
I drove the 2009 Brabus today and loved it. It will take too long for me to save up $20,500 cash for this car. I will have to buy a Passion for almost $16,000 out the door and then put new springs and rims to make it handle like a Brabus. Much cheaper to do that than to spend the whole $20k.
If you take the price of a 'loaded' Passion and compare it to the Brabus, you're not THAT far off. I think the Brabus I would have liked to have was only $18,500 or so, which was about $2,000 more than our Passion.
Taking into consideration new tires, wheels, springs, "ground effects" and the number of other Brabus only items, that extra $2,000 is really reasonable.
Yes, and most likely a momentary one that would require a press every time you want to drive. No thank you.
NO, not the way it works. It's much like your 'manual' mode for shifting. You can chose to leave in it "D" and the trans does the work for you OR you can use your "Manual Mode" and shift via the shifter or paddles. The MHD can either be "ON" and will activate itself when the car feels it is needed OR you can turn it "OFF" and it will NEVER be activated.
THAT is what is so nice about it. Yea, I'm sure that there are circumstances where I wouldn't want it activated as well, but I still want the option of having it available if I DO want to use it.
If you take the price of a 'loaded' Passion and compare it to the Brabus, you're not THAT far off. I think the Brabus I would have liked to have was only $18,500 or so, which was about $2,000 more than our Passion.
Taking into consideration new tires, wheels, springs, "ground effects" and the number of other Brabus only items, that extra $2,000 is really reasonable.
The Passion I already picked out and configured was only $16,100 out the door with taxes, title and all papers.
I don't want the ground effects. They will get tore up when my wife drives the car when she hits curbs and stuff.
I only want the handling and the rims from the Brabus and that's it.
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