Re: [Paddlewise] Small car capability (was -Primitive Transport)

From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_home.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 22:56:26 -0500
Joe Brzoza wrote:

> There's been much support for getting little gas miser cars like the Geo,
> but I have to ask are they really designed to carry multiple kayaks, gear
> and occupants?

The Geo/Swift/Firefly/Whatever versions of the Suzuki car are a "peanut" car
in my mind.  Not suitable for highway driving and hauling lots of gear.  I know -
I leased one for a summer when I had an out-of-town contract.  Three cylinders
and not enough track means you get blown off the road when a kid on a tricycle
goes by.

The Civic VX and Golf/Jetta/Beetle TDI use engine technology to get performance
out of a "normal" sized small car.  The Civic is much more solid in the wind and
sports a 92 hp, four cylinder engine - plenty of power for those who don't suffer
self-image problems.

These are two different classes of cars with roughly the same fuel economy.  The
latter class is more expensive.


>  Seems to me once loaded they wouldn't be able to get out of
> their own way, and the brakes and suspension would be heavily taxed - which
> wouldn't make for the safest of situations.  We've all seen the cars that
> look like their doing wheelies down the road because they're so weighted
> down.

Two sea kayaks and a rack are about the same weight as one small person.
The gear I carry for two on a long weekend's trip weighs about the same again.
Not what I'd consider an excessive load and well within the ratings for the car.

Mike

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Received on Thu Jan 27 2000 - 19:57:37 PST

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