Comparing a few dimensions

"I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker" (qaaaaa)
03/14/2019 at 14:35 • Filed to: None

I like small cars. I drive one and intend to drive another when I move on from my Golf. They’re easy to park, light, tossable, get good gas mileage, and generally good in cities, particularly when you have to parallel park. Here’s a comparison of dimensions of my car versus one very specific small car I’m eyeing. Figures are from wikipedia and google, if wikipedia doesn’t have a figure.

1996 VW Golf No Lowballers I Know What I’ve Got, versus 2013 Mazda2:

Wheelbase: 97.4" vs. 98"

Length: 160.4" vs. 156"

Width: 66.7" vs. 66.7"

Height: 56.2" vs. 58.1"

Cargo volume with rear seats down: 52.7 cf vs. 27.8 cf... That can’t be right, can it?

Curb weight: 2600ish lbs stock? Who really knows? vs. 2288.4 lbs per wikipedia. Light!

Horsepower: 115 crank (probably like 80 WHP) vs. 100 crank HP (probably 90 ish whp, forums have dyno sheets saying 97 WHP bone stock)

Guess what I’ll be test driving next week? Anybody have questions or things I should look at?

DISCUSSION (28)

carcrazydan738 > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 14:49

In the Mazda 2 category I recommend a Toyota Yaris or Nissan Sentra or Versa possibly.

punkgoose17 > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 14:51

This is exciting. I really like the Mazda 2.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 14:52

Have fun! My buddy has the Scion version of the 2 and I quite like it. I haven’t driven it yet but I’ve ridden a few times and it’s a nice little car.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 14:54

Meanwhile the Honda Fit out cargo spaces the Mazda 2 with similar dimensions.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > carcrazydan738
03/14/2019 at 14:55

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
03/14/2019 at 14:57

Yeah, but I don't want a Honda.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 14:58

In a suprise turn of events, I'm actually testing a diesel Chevette.

FSI > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 14:58

Probably the best among th e very few subcompacts offered in the NA market. If you like driving dynamics the Fiesta is my recommendation. If Ford does one thing right it's the handling in their smallish (for American standards) vehicles.

dogisbadob > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 14:59

Glad you found a good 2

punkgoose17 > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 15:07

https://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/d/olympia-1981-isuzu-mark-diesel-coupe-39/6815112132.html

carcrazydan738 > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 15:10

Ok well they do hold their value and are more reliable and parts don’t cost as much as a prissy VW just saying

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 15:15

Honestly as much as the 28 cu ft sounds like an underestimate for the 2 ; the 53 cu ft for the Golf sounds really optimistic. The current golf which is 8 inches longer, 4 inches wider, and has 5 more cubic feet of storage with the seats up has 53 cu ft with the seats down.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > FSI
03/14/2019 at 15:22

What I really want is a F ord Ka. Come on, Ford!

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > carcrazydan738
03/14/2019 at 15:25

Mk3 parts are absurdly cheap, actually.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
03/14/2019 at 15:26

Yeah, 53 cannot be right

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 15:30

Test drove and sat in a few while I was looking for my current car.

From my memory it d rove really well, but kind of tin can-y and noisy . Light and fun, but quite slow, of course . The thing I noticed right away against it’s competition at the time was how cheap ALL of the interior felt. I’m no snob when it comes to interior quality (I drive a cheap Chevy, ) but this was cheap feel AND boring looking inside.

The competition at the time (which admittedly was more money and weighted more, ) at least had interesting styling. Or maybe the interior is plastic but the seats and steer ing wheel are nice. Cars like the Fiat 500 were cheap inside, but at least had some style.

Also I dont think a 2013 is going to get you that sexy kodo design 2 in your picture . You’ re going to be looking at the Mazda smiley face for that year:

Kinja'd!!!

While not bad looking, it’s much more boring that the newer, non-USA models you have in the lead pic .

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
03/14/2019 at 15:34

So much this. Which is better to drive though...

nerd_racing > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 15:43

I had a 2012 Mazda 2 and it was indeed very light and tossable. I do sometimes regret trading it in. With the seats folded flat you could definitely get a road bike or a mountain bike in the back, if the front tire came off. They are much less cramped than a similar year Fiesta though.

nerd_racing > FSI
03/14/2019 at 15:44

The fiesta weighs 300 lbs more though and the suspension is soft and soggy outside of the ST trim. I’d go Mazda 2 instead every time.

nerd_racing > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
03/14/2019 at 15:46

This is exactly what my Mazda 2 looked like. I always liked the bold Green color and it was never dull or boring to drive.

Khalbali > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 16:03

I had a 2014 and loved it, it was sadly a victim of Denver hail.

FSI > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 16:09

The first generation Ka used to be on every corner in Europe but they've gone extinct. Rust and cash-for-clunkers type programs killed many of them. Still a good car for its time. For the second generation the Ka shared platform with the Fiat 500 and built in Poland alongside it.

FSI > nerd_racing
03/14/2019 at 16:13

Sucks to get the watered down and cheaped out versions in the US because Euro market Fords get praised for their handling in many reviews (sometimes the only strong point in comparison to the competition)

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/14/2019 at 16:16

181 L x 68 W x 54 H

103.5" wheelbase.

2,901 lbs according to wiki, but I think they were actually just over 2,500lbs.

141 hp/172ft-lbs “stock”.

Funny how a modern sub-compact isn’t much smaller than a small midsize of the early 90s.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
03/14/2019 at 17:49

Kinj a’d? No pic.

Longtime Lurker > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/15/2019 at 00:21

The cargo volume on the Golf might be measured to the roof versus the beltline.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/15/2019 at 07:01

That was my car’s specs :

Kinja'd!!!

nerd_racing > FSI
03/18/2019 at 07:20

Fun fact, Ford racing used to sell a handling kit for the fiesta, it was stock Mazda 2 suspension parts.