Low Rent Cars? Are they possible?

"Harrycarry250" (Harrycarry250) 09/27/2013 at 23:34 • Filed to: None

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I have this crazy idea of having a car company based on three vehicles. An off-roader SUV that comes in three door and five door body styles. A FWB hatchback that comes in a three door and five door style but is extremely compact, as in Original Mini small. And finally, a hard top and soft top roadster that is front engine and rear wheel drive. I want the vehicles to be kin to the no frills cars of yesteryear. The SUV would be like a series IIA Land Rover, the hatchback will be like the original Mini, and the sports car will be similar to the Series one Datsun 240z. I would like all the cars to have modern power trains but completely modularized. As in when you pull the engine, you also pull all the computers that run it, nothing is left in the car. The interior would be barebones aswell and the vehicles adhere to standards but just.

What do yall think?

Lets Just Drive > Harrycarry250 09/27/2013 at 23:37

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I think three things, in this order:

1.) You're never going to get past CAFE.

B.) You're never going to get past NTSB etc.

Thirdly, I love the idea.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Harrycarry250 09/27/2013 at 23:38

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Honestly, it's a bit bonkers.

But....

I always love a bonkers idea. I'm In!

But you need a wagon mate.

GhostZ > Harrycarry250 09/27/2013 at 23:39

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I'd rather that the sports car was closer to a later 240z or 280z. The series one had a lot of suspension/differential troubles and made less power. They're desired because the problems (including the lack of sound deadening) cost weight to fix. Just FYI!

But I agree. Those are the three main segments, although a pickup truck is needed too, absolutely needed for a company to be competitive. All of the other model differentiation comes from the fact that there is a wider variety in the types of consumers than the there is in the types of vehicle platforms necessary, so we get a lot of smaller sedans, crossovers, and bigger sedans all sharing the same platforms, engines, drivetrain, etc. so they can be upscaled or appeal to a different type of person aesthetically.

dieselwagon > Lets Just Drive 09/27/2013 at 23:47

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Sadly, I agree. Even using all existing technology and designs, it's still going to take many many millions, even billions for mass market ability on three vehicles.

This is a case of coming up with the concept, patenting anything you can and hopefully selling out to a big automaker. They're not going to invite a new kid to play.

Lets Just Drive > dieselwagon 09/27/2013 at 23:51

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You could always try it in an emerging market without the restrictions that most markets have? That, or 1940's England. Yeah. 1940's England. Find a shed, get to work.

dieselwagon > Harrycarry250 09/27/2013 at 23:53

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From what I can see, you want to build three vehicles you want, two of which happen to be practical. You don't appear to have considered a viable market for these cars. There is a market, but it's spread out all of the world, in low income/developing areas.

To get any traction in that market and to actually have a unique product, you need some real finance behind you to make the technology without having to buy in from existing automakers. This is something China and India is actively working on, it's a market Japan has held the monopoly on in the last couple of decades. As much as I love the idea, I don't see how you can compete, presumably starting out of your garage or a local industrial unit.

dieselwagon > Lets Just Drive 09/27/2013 at 23:57

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I replied directly to similar effect. It could be done, but even in those environments, it's going to be hard to compete on economics with products from China, if this is supposed to be cheap. If not, then he's going to struggle to find a market for expensive, niche but basic and utilitarian vehicles in a developing country.

webmonkees > Harrycarry250 09/28/2013 at 00:07

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Sorry, wrong topic..

Kinja won't let me unshare this crazy truck.

Harrycarry250 > GhostZ 09/28/2013 at 00:12

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When I mention older vehicles I simply refer to there styling and/or size. Like I said, I modern drivetrain would be a must for reliability. I want a company that uses time tested designs and puts all the money in the mechanics. Like the SUV would come standard with lock differentials and a low range transfer case. The Hatch would be practical, fun to drive, and repair friendly. The sports car would be a tossable size, a relatively low power motor, manual transmission, and a limited slip diff.

Harrycarry250 > webmonkees 09/28/2013 at 00:14

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No worries lol

TheOnelectronic > Harrycarry250 09/28/2013 at 00:56

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Yes, but you'd best go to China or India to do it.

Regulations stateside are far too strict for a startup car company unless they have serious financial backing.

Harrycarry250 > Lets Just Drive 09/28/2013 at 01:06

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What is the hard part in regulations? I understand the immense cost of R n' D but if you simply adhere so regulations then you dont need to change much. You design the car around the reg's in the first place.

webmonkees > Harrycarry250 09/28/2013 at 01:11

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Most folks seem to go for the enclosed cabin three wheeler cars, licensed as motorcycles in states that allows such things. Apparently bypasses a few regulations that way.

The gimmick: make the car so computer controlled that you can simply back another one up, connect, fold the seats and load cargo. No need for a separate device.Well, it's a whole other car, but cheap, right?

A dynamic system that lets the vehicle send corrections to the "trailer" to keep it from, well, acting like a trailer. Sending feedback to the car to have it adjust as well.

A whole new type of drifting could result from that sort of thing.

Down to just half a billion to get one car in one showroom.

Stolen from the mind of Red Green.

Lets Just Drive > Harrycarry250 09/28/2013 at 01:12

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Sadly, I haven't the time to answer your question fully. And I'm not trying to be glib when I suggest, then, that you go ahead and just Google what it takes to get a car into production today in any of the major markets and you'll see exactly what I am talking about.

Gone are the days when you could build a car and put it on sale.

Harrycarry250 > Lets Just Drive 09/28/2013 at 01:35

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Right, which is completely understandable. For many many reason probably.