Yugo, Fiat, Rennault, Citroën 2CV, Saab

[theguywiththelongestname]

just a curious inquiry, with a bit of smart tie-in:

anyone out there with any ownership/useage experience with any other euro micro car/ econo car?

i have never owned any other euromicroeconobox...but i have had the pleasure of being a driver and / or passanger in the following: an old two-stroke Saab, an 80s Rennault and an 80s Yugo. Never been in a Citroen 2CV nor a Fiat...

any annectdotal impressions or compare/contrast stories with these vehicles and the smart would be greatly appreciated...

ps: my impressions?...the smart is hands-down, the premier euroeconomicrobox automobile ever manufactured...i'm very impressed with the quality of the smart...and the performance...good stuff!

[fun42]

I had a renault 'le car' back in the early 80's. It was a fun little tin can - not near the quality but decent enough MPG. Best part was the roof - which was sort of like a sunroof - though it was vinyl and opened up the entire top. I remember the ride being rough, and it wasn't what I'd call cute - just small and strange. Never felt safe in it.

Would never put it in the same class with my fortwo. Never thought to compare it.

[theguywiththelongestname]

...that's what i rode in way back in the olden days!...a Rennault "le car"...
man, it was rickety...way worse than any old VW bug or hatchback...very "sheet metal-ly"...

[sheureka]

That's weird - I had one too. And there weren't even that many of them!

[SmartBob]

I've had a Renault Dauphine, Honda 600, several older beetles and a Karman Ghia. My family had a few Fiats, too. The Yugo was just junk. I think most will agree. You're right though, nothing matched the quality of the fortwo.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by theguywiththelongestname

... any annectdotal impressions or compare/contrast stories with these vehicles and the smart would be greatly appreciated... ...

I owned two SAABs, a 93F and an 850 Monte Carlo, and also drove my parents 93B and 96. The 93s were a little rudimentary but in no way flimsy. The Monte Carlo and 96 were well on their way to what SAAB became.

My mother also had a Renault Dauphine for a while that I drove. That was cheap, "plasticy," and definitely flimsy. It ended its life lugging apples up out of the orchard.

I've happily had some seat time in an early, round-headlight Citroen 2CV. It too was rudimentary (or less) but not really cheap - call it successfully utilitarian as was its intent. The 2CV is so eclectic that its foibles are forgivable.

My first vehicle was a 1947 Austin A10 Saloon with a not-bad-for-its-time 30 BHP flathead four. I don't know where Austin came up with so much steel in the post-war years, but the body might as well have been made out of cast iron. Its moving inertia (when it finally gained some) easily overwhelmed the mechanical brakes.

The Monte Carlo was quite heavily "breathed upon" by Gaston Andrey and Felix Bosshardt (Framingham, MA) and I used it for ice racing. It was quite fast. But for the others, performance was a relative term, and a smart could suck them all up - well maybe not the 96. Fuel economy ran in the mid-30s. They were fun times that seemed to slip away until recently.

[MichaelJ]

One Yugo and four Fiats in my history - although the Fiats were more on the soprting side

[WickedMessenger]

I haven't seen a Yugo on the road in years, although I saw one in a roadside junk yard recently. They didn't have a lot of standard features except a rear window heater. That's so your hands would be nice and warm when you pushed it down the street.

[DowneasTTer]

First car was a 58 Fiat 600. That was in 65 ya I know that was a long time ago. Great little car was purchased from one of the estates down on Mt. Desert Island. Only had 12k on it at the time. Only problem was the oil pressure was low. Couldn't find any parts for it so just drove it with the light on the dash for 4 years. Much later I purchased a 72 Honda 600 coupe. For many years the only one Maine. Was a hit at the local sports car club rallies. Seemed to alway drive with the petal to the metal and still be late at every check point!

DowneasTTer
Orrington,Me

[deltadart]

I was a rural mailcarrier and in 1979 I bought a Renault R5 Le Car. The car was very fun to drive. Cars back then were certainly not the quality of todays car. Remember the classic Chevy Chevette? Good cars but the trouble was the automatic transmissions would not last 50,000 miles. Also bought a Dodge Omni hatchback. Cheap looking on the inside but I will admit I had good luck with the engine and transmission.