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Sealobo · Oct 22, 2009, 01:40 PM

Got it for almost a month now. Having a lot of fun... heard this is going stateside real soon?

Doofy · Oct 22, 2009, 01:56 PM

Where's the other half of it?

olePigeon · Oct 22, 2009, 02:06 PM

You need aftermarket upgrades to get that puppy up to 400 horse power.

SpaceMonkey · Oct 22, 2009, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

You need aftermarket upgrades to get that puppy up to 400 horse power.

Plus a spoiler or two.

Sealobo · Oct 22, 2009, 02:10 PM

like this?

or... this?

SpaceMonkey · Oct 22, 2009, 02:19 PM

No, not at all like that.

starman · Oct 22, 2009, 02:39 PM

I didn't know they made portable airbags.

mdc · Oct 22, 2009, 02:49 PM

Very nice car Sealobo! I saw a lot of them when I was in Italy last year.

I've been waiting for them to come out here in the U.S. but I gave up waiting and got a Smart fortwo since I wanted a small car for the city.

olePigeon · Oct 22, 2009, 03:12 PM

Jeremy Clarkson seems to think it's a genuinely fun car.

Sealobo · Oct 22, 2009, 04:01 PM

It's fun... just a bit scary at higher speed; but then i got this:

Compare to the factory counterpart...

I have lighter wheels coming in also...

olePigeon · Oct 22, 2009, 04:44 PM

A vibrator?

imitchellg5 · Oct 22, 2009, 04:44 PM

That looks great. I'll be giving them a serious look when they come to the US of A.

Sealobo · Oct 22, 2009, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

A vibrator?

lol in a way, yes. but now as least the car would stick to the road at speed!

msuper69 · Oct 22, 2009, 04:59 PM

To each his own I guess.

OldManMac · Oct 22, 2009, 07:49 PM

That doesn't look like it has room to change your mind.

Shaddim · Oct 22, 2009, 08:29 PM

"You came in that? You're braver than I thought!"

OldManMac · Oct 22, 2009, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Shaddim

"You came in that? You're braver than I thought!"

And perhaps very nimble as well.

olePigeon · Oct 22, 2009, 10:25 PM

"Those are you maneuvers? Lazily drifting to the left?"

Jens Peter · Oct 23, 2009, 01:57 AM

Congratulations - it's a great car!

OreoCookie · Oct 23, 2009, 02:43 AM

Congrats, I really like the design. It's a car with a personality (albeit a tad small).

Sealobo · Oct 23, 2009, 03:07 AM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

Congrats, I really like the design. It's a car with a personality (albeit a tad small).

yes it's small... but surprisingly it has a slightly bigger interior than the bmw MINI~

OreoCookie · Oct 23, 2009, 04:04 AM

Really? Cool. I'm sure it's a great car for 2 or 2 + 2

I've seen quite a few of them in Trieste and I must say, I really like the whole styling and also the size.

Sealobo · Oct 23, 2009, 05:48 AM

Yes... this car was meant to be a beater. Bought it solely for the style. But then at 950kg or so with a 100hps engine, it worked brilliantly with the mechanically assisted clutch (a.k.a Alfa Romeo's Selespeed). This thing can go around bends pretty darn fast; it's perfect for city driving here in Hongkong.

Andy8 · Oct 23, 2009, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by Sealobo

Yes... this car was meant to be a beater. Bought it solely for the style. But then at 950kg or so with a 100hps engine, it worked brilliantly with the mechanically assisted clutch (a.k.a Alfa Romeo's Selespeed). This thing can go around bends pretty darn fast; it's perfect for city driving here in Hongkong.

Sold your Volkswagen? (pardon the pun)

angelmb · Oct 23, 2009, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by Sealobo

Yes... this car was meant to be a beater. Bought it solely for the style. But then at 950kg or so with a 100hps engine, it worked brilliantly with the mechanically assisted clutch (a.k.a Alfa Romeo's Selespeed). This thing can go around bends pretty darn fast; it's perfect for city driving here in Hongkong.

The 500 is more cool than any FIAT has a right to be. Seriously.

But IMHO the 500 PUR-O2 version would be a better choice, you'll get a smaller engine, the start&stop system and its curb-to-curb turning circle is only 9.2 meters (30 feet) whereas yours is 10.6 meters (34,7 feet), a high value for such a tiny car. At least it would make more sense here in Europe, where roads are small and petrol expensive.

I've been waiting for them to come out here in the U.S. but I gave up waiting and got a Smart fortwo since I wanted a small car for the city.

And ten years later, the fortwo is still the king. Well done.

mattyb · Oct 23, 2009, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by Sealobo

Yes... this car was meant to be a beater. Bought it solely for the style. But then at 950kg or so with a 100hps engine, it worked brilliantly with the mechanically assisted clutch (a.k.a Alfa Romeo's Selespeed). This thing can go around bends pretty darn fast; it's perfect for city driving here in Hongkong.

The colonials wouldn't understand your reasoning Sealobo. Does it have dual Ultra-Xtra-Lard-Size drinks holders? No? Wouldn't sell in the US. Does it turn in a reasonable distance (i.e. under half a mile)? No? Wouldn't sell. Does it have three pedals? Yes? WTF is the third pedal for? How many gallons per mile?

You get the idea.

Laminar · Oct 23, 2009, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by mattyb

The colonials wouldn't understand your reasoning Sealobo. Does it have dual Ultra-Xtra-Lard-Size drinks holders? No? Wouldn't sell in the US. Does it turn in a reasonable distance (i.e. under half a mile)? No? Wouldn't sell. Does it have three pedals? Yes? WTF is the third pedal for? How many gallons per mile?

You get the idea.

I take exception to that.

Sealobo · Oct 23, 2009, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Andy8

Sold your Volkswagen? (pardon the pun)

Yes... the beetle is gone... lol. And I reckon it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow all the time!

The Final Dakar · Oct 23, 2009, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by mattyb

The colonials wouldn't understand your reasoning Sealobo. Does it have dual Ultra-Xtra-Lard-Size drinks holders? No? Wouldn't sell in the US. Does it turn in a reasonable distance (i.e. under half a mile)? No? Wouldn't sell. Does it have three pedals? Yes? WTF is the third pedal for? How many gallons per mile?

You get the idea.

This has earned you a major 'bagging in CoD if ever we meet.

imitchellg5 · Oct 23, 2009, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by mattyb

The colonials wouldn't understand your reasoning Sealobo. Does it have dual Ultra-Xtra-Lard-Size drinks holders? No? Wouldn't sell in the US. Does it turn in a reasonable distance (i.e. under half a mile)? No? Wouldn't sell. Does it have three pedals? Yes? WTF is the third pedal for? How many gallons per mile?

You get the idea.

Oh Lord, don't bring up the War.

I would buy it.

hyteckit · Oct 23, 2009, 05:31 PM

I love sporty hatchbacks.

Here's my car.

Oops. That was the concept.

Here's what I have.

Yes, the front might look a little silly. But the rest of the car does look nice.

olePigeon · Oct 23, 2009, 05:48 PM

The concept looks absolutely nothing like the finished product.

imitchellg5 · Oct 23, 2009, 07:24 PM

It looks very similar... a lot of design themes carried over, especially the strong character lines... look at the rear 3/4.

Art Vandelay · Oct 23, 2009, 07:35 PM

That concept was not a concept for the 3. It was a design study concept of Mazda's future design language which is now showing up in current models.

hyteckit · Oct 23, 2009, 09:10 PM

Here's the Mazda 3 concept.

See. Looks like the other concept.

Art Vandelay · Oct 23, 2009, 09:13 PM

Nope, that's an artist's rendition of what they thought the next 3 would look like. There wasn't a concept for the current 3.

hyteckit · Oct 23, 2009, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

Nope, that's an artist's rendition of what they thought the next 3 would look like. There wasn't a concept for the current 3.

No wonder it looks off.

Art Vandelay · Oct 23, 2009, 09:16 PM

Here's Mazda's concepts from the last couple of years. None of them are model concepts, they're all design studies.

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/disp...ingMain&bhcp=1

hyteckit · Oct 23, 2009, 09:18 PM

Here's the actual Mazda 3 concept.

Art Vandelay · Oct 23, 2009, 09:23 PM

Nope, it's another artist's rendition. There were no concepts of the current 3.

2010 Mazda3 Concept Fully Revealed... As A Photoshop - 2010 Mazda 3 - Jalopnik

Doofy · Oct 24, 2009, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by robortwillys

It sounds stupid, but I really like my shiney trunk.

Doof often receives compliments about his shiny trunk.

Andy8 · Oct 24, 2009, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by Sealobo

Yes... the beetle is gone... lol. And I reckon it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow all the time!

Excellent stuff.

How is the fuel economy so far?

Goldfinger · Oct 25, 2009, 05:08 PM

Congrats on the 500, Sealobo. I almost ordered one last month. Went with a Mini though. The financial renting on the Mini was cheaper despite the much higher list price.

mattyb · Oct 25, 2009, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

This has earned you a major 'bagging in CoD if ever we meet.

Tea bagging? Didn't think that you colonials liked tea.

You don't get out of your tent long enough to tea bag anyone, but anytime you want Daksy.

imitchellg5 · Oct 25, 2009, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by mattyb

Tea bagging? Didn't think that you colonials liked tea.

You don't get out of your tent long enough to tea bag anyone, but anytime you want Daksy.

I'm sorry, who won the war? I think it was America, thereby confirming our nation as an entity.

Also at the time, what was happening in France just after? A revolution? Hmm, that must have been trying.

mattyb · Oct 26, 2009, 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

I'm sorry, who won the war? I think it was America, thereby confirming our nation as an entity.

The 13 colonies with a little help from the Frenchies and some others. Nice bit of info here :

The French signed an alliance with the United States government in 1778 that evened the military and naval strengths, later bringing Spain and the Dutch Republic into the conflict by their own alliance with France. Although Loyalists were estimated to comprise 15-20% of the population,[2] throughout the war the Patriots generally controlled 80-90% of the territory; the British could hold only a few coastal cities for any extended period of time.

Never knew that the Dutch were involved.

Some other interesting stuff :

John Locke's ideas on liberalism greatly influenced the political minds behind the revolution; for instance, his theory of the "social contract" implied that among humanity's natural rights was the right of the people to overthrow their leaders, should those leaders betray the historic rights of Englishmen.[3][4] In terms of writing state and national constitutions, the Americans used Montesquieu's analysis of the ideally "balanced" British Constitution.

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

Also at the time, what was happening in France just after? A revolution? Hmm, that must have been trying.

They had a revolution, very much inspired by what happened in North America. I imagine it was very trying for those that had their heads cut off.

What does this have to do with Dakar, tea bagging, CoD or Fiat 500s?

paul w · Oct 26, 2009, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by mattyb

What does this have to do with Dakar, tea bagging, CoD or Fiat 500s?

Originally Posted by mattyb

"you colonials"

Stop that please.

LegendaryPinkOx · Oct 26, 2009, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by paul w

Stop that please.

Aww let Ol' Blighty have their due, say I. I think of it as a term of endearment. Like a senile old man still calls his strapping young grandson, "kiddo."

imitchellg5 · Oct 26, 2009, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by mattyb

They had a revolution, very much inspired by what happened in North America. I imagine it was very trying for those that had their heads cut off.

What does this have to do with Dakar, tea bagging, CoD or Fiat 500s?

I think you'll find that the American Revolution lacked headless figures. Unlike the French.

And you started it.

mattyb · Oct 26, 2009, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by LegendaryPinkOx

Aww let Ol' Blighty have their due, say I. I think of it as a term of endearment. Like a senile old man still calls his strapping young grandson, "kiddo."

Indeed.