First Impression: Smart ForTwo

With gas prices rising, automotive companies are devoloping hybrids, diesels, and small cars that get good fuel economy. Smart GmbH, founded in 1994 as part of Mercedes-Benz and Daimler Ag, devolops small cars that sacrifice performance for fuel economy. The Smart ForTwo is two seat car that comes in a coupe and a cabriolet model. The ForTwo is slow, sluggish. The Smart ForTwo is only good for a commuter car since it is small and fuel efficient. When I travel between Houston and San Antonio or Houston and Dallas, I rarely see these cars on the highway.

The Smart ForTwo can be seen everywhere on the streets. At the December 2010 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee, an elderly woman parked one between two supercars. The Smart ForTwo does not belong at an event when Ferraris and Lamborghinis are present. It is also not a concours car because it is common sight on city roads. I think that it looks weird with a short wheelbase (73.5 inches) and its height (5.1 ft) is the same as its width (5.1 ft). It is not practical for what I need, a vehicle that can haul my items from Houston to San Antonio and vice versa.  

Powering the Smart ForTwo is a 1.0L I3 that produces 71 hp and 68 lb-ft of torque, both which are quite low. It goes from 0-60 mph in 12.8 seconds (ideal time would be anything under 8.0 seconds) and has a top speed of 90 mph, which is quite slow.  It is slower than a Chevy Volt, Honda Insight, and Toyota Prius. The ForTwo gets 33 mpg city/41 mpg highway. It is not a car for the highways. It is tall and has a short wheelbase, making the car have bad understeer issues.

This car has been featured in no racing games. It is drivable in Crackdown and Wheelman.  It has been featured on Motorweek and Jay Leno's Garage. Top Gear awarded the Smart ForTwo as its 2004 comedy handling car. The Stig could not drive it around Hammerhead.

Final Thoughts: It is slow, sluggish, an eye sore, small, horrible when cornering, uncool, and would be totaled in a car accident. Any vehicle that takes over 10 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph should be kept of the highways. It is too slow for passing and drivers need to be extra careful when changing lanes. Any car with similar dimensions to the ForTwo would have problems with handling. I am sick and tired of car companies sacrificing performance for MPG when MPG depends on driving habits and driving conditions. This car SUCKS. Avoid at all costs.

Here is a video of a Smart ForTwo crashing at 70 mph (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtOIfW2K2Hk). I do not own the video. I would not call this car safe.

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Photo taken from Autoblog Green. It is not worthy of being taken by my cameras.

Classic Car: BMW Isetta 300

Microcars have become popular among classic car enthusiasts. In 1953, Iso Autoveicoli came out with the Iso Isetta. In 1955, BMW came out with its own Isetta. The Isetta has a unique design with a three-wheel, one-door layout. There are two wheels in the front and a single rear wheel. Stability is not an issue with the Isetta. The single door is in the front of the car, making it difficult to escape when the front of the car is parked too close to a wall. There is also no reverse gear on the Isetta, making it hard to get out of parking spaces without getting out of the car. BMW produced 161,360 Isettas from 1955 to 1962.

I first saw the BMW Isetta 300 at the 2010 Houston Classy Chassis: Councours d'Elegance. I am not a big fan of microcars so the Isetta did not catch my eyes. To me, there were much better cars on display. In a stadium with Ferraris, Cobras, a Duesenberg, and a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, the BMW Isetta just did not stand out.

The BMW Isetta 300 is powered by a 0.3L (298cc) 1-cylinder engine, paired with a four-speed transmission, that produces 13 hp and 13.6 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 27.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 53 mph. Prices for the Isetta 300 when it was new in 1955 was $1,093. It is a slow, sluggish, underpowered, inexpensive car. But it weighed 770 lbs and got over 60 mpg.

Top Gear demonstrated the stability and being stuck inside an Isetta during Series 15, Episode 2.  It is playable in Grand Theft Auto 2, Choro G HQ, and Top Gear: Dare Devil.

It was tough to decide if the BMW Isetta 300 is a classic car or a clunker. I did not see it on "worst car lists." The Isetta is slow, sluggish, and impractical, but it was on display at a Concours d'Elegance and no clunkers would be on display at a Concours d'Elegance. Isettas are also highly collectable cars. I have to consider the BMW Isetta 300 a classic car.

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First Impression: Fiat 500

Fiat has been around since 1899. FiatS first came to the United States in 1908. However, Fiat had a reputation for making poor quality cars and the running joke is that FIAT stands for "Fix It Again Tony." After poor sales figures in America, Fiat pulled out of the American market in 1983. However, two brands under the Fiat banner were still being sold in America, Ferrari and Maserati. Alfa Romeo made its return to America in 2008 with the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. In 2009, Fiat acquired 20% of Chrylser. The Fiat 500 is the first Fiat sold in America in 25 years.

I saw the FIAT 500 at the 2011 Houston Auto Show. The owner of Northside Houston Fiat brings a few 500s to the Houston Cars and Coffee events. The owner of Northside Houston Fiat brings a few 500 at the Houston Cars and Coffee events. I like this small car. I have sat in the interior of the car and it feels like it was built with car, unlike some other small cars. The interior does not look cheap. However, there is very little space in the back.

The American version of the 500 is powered by a 1.4L 16v I4 gas engine, paired with either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, that produces 101 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. That is not much power, but the 500 only weighs around 2400 lbs. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 114 mph. Prices for the Fiat 500 start at $15,995. That is very low for any new car. It is not particularly fast.

The Fiat 500 has been reviewed by Motorweek. James May raced BMX bikers through Budapest during Top Gear Series 10, Episode 9. Jay Leno featured the Fiat 500, Prima Edizione on his website, www.jaylenosgarage.com. The Fiat 500 is playable in Gran Turismo 5.

Final Thoughts: Fiats were known for being unreliable, but the quality of Fiats have improved over the years. The Fiat 500 is one of the better subcompact cars on the road. The 500 is one of the better looking subcompact cars. It is an inexpensive car, yet the interior does not feel cheap. However, there are quicker and faster subcompacts on the road. I look forward to seeing more Fiats come to America.

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Fiat 500c

The Fiat 500 is a great small car. It is a great car to mark the return of Fiat to America. Now, Fiat has cut off the roof and replaced it with a retractable soft top. Fiat calls this version the 500c.

I saw the 500c at the September 2011 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. A representative from Northside Fiat of Houston exhibited this car. He joked that it is a four-door car by pretending to climb into the back seats through the open top. You could actually get into the backseats by climbing through the open top. The 500 is one of the best looking subcompacts on the road and the style is not ruined by the retractable roof. Also, the 500c still has a nice interior that does not feel cheap.

The 500c uses the same 1.4L 16v multiair I4 engine found in the Fiat 500. It can either come with a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. It gets 101 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. The 500c goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of  9.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 105 mph. The 500c comes in two trim levels. A 500c Pop starts at $19,500 and a 500c Lounge starts at $23,500. That is cheap for a car that is stylish and has an interior that people took the time to work on. Other subcompact cars have cheap interiors.

The Fiat 500c has been reviewed by Motorweek. Richard Hammonds drove a Fiat 500c Abarth through Italy during Top Gear Series 17, Episode 2.

Final Thoughts: This is a great little convertible. It is inexpensive, but it does not feel cheap inside. There is not a lot of room in the back. It is a little bit under power and slow, but there is a more powerful 500c Abarth version coming soon. It is better than the Smart ForTwo Cabrio. I would take the 500c over the Mini Cooper Cabriolet.

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First Impression: Volkswagen Beetle Turbo

The original Volkswagen Beetle went into production in 1938. Dr. Ferdinand Porsche helped design the Beetle. The original Beetle was a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door subcompact car that was available as a coupe or as a convertible. Over 21.5 million first generation Beetles were built from 1938 to 2001. The second generation Beetle was built from 1997 to 2010. It was a front-engine, front-wheel drive, two-door hatchback that was also available as a convertible. In 2011, the third generation Beetle went into production to be released for the 2012 model year. The third generation Beetle is a front-engine, front-wheel drive, two-door, 2+2 hatchback that is also available as a convertible. Like the previous Beetles, the third generation Beetle is available with a turbo.

I saw the third generation Volkswagen Beetle Turbo at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. Compared to the previous generation, the third generation Beetle has a more aggressive styling. That is not saying much as I have seen way more females drive the second generation Beetle than male. I feel that the newer Beetles should have kept the original Beetle design. The Porsche 911 have always had the engine located in the rear. Compared to other subcompacts, the Beetle is nothing special. The Ford Fiesta and Mini Cooper have better styling than the Beetle I never really was a fan of the original Beetle. One thing I do not like is the Turbo decal running down the sides of the Beetle. I am not a fan of flashy decals. It ruins the Porsche 911 GT3RS. To me, it attracts attention from the police.

The Volkswagen Beetle Turbo is powered by a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine, paired with a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission, that produces 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. The Beetle Turbo goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds a reaches a top speed of 124 mph. Prices for the Beetle Turbo start at $29,865. The Beetle Turbo is very quick compared to other subcompacts. But, there are much better cars that cost less than $30,000.

The third generation Beetle has been featured on Jay Leno's Garage, Auto Esporte, The Car Show, and Vrum.

Final Thoughts: I was not a big fan of the first generation Beetle. I named it the fourth worst car used in the Transformers franchise. The second generation Beetle was mostly driven by females. The third generation Beetle has a more aggressive styling than the other previous Beetles, but there are other subcompacts with better styling  (Ford Fiesta and Mini Cooper S) than the Beetle. The Beetle Turbo has great acceleration for a subcompact car, but it is a bit pricey at around $30,000. There are some better cars than the Beetle for under $30,000 like the Subaru Impreza WRX, Buick Regal CXL Turbo, and Mini Cooper S.

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First Impression: Scion IQ

The Scion brand was created by Toyota in 2002 to appear to a younger generation of drivers in North America. Toyota markets the Scion brand with pure price (the price a customer will pay for car including accessories, finance, and insurance), internet advertising, and single trim levels with with a wide range of customization with factory and TRD accessories. The first two Scions were the xA and xB. The tC and xD would later join the Scion lineup. In 2008, Toyota released the iQ, a three-door, four seater, front-engine, front-wheel drive hatchback. In 2011, Toyota brought over the car as the Scion iQ.

I first saw the Scion iQ at the 2011 Houston Auto Show and again at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. The Scion iQ was also available for test drives, but I did not make it over to the Scion iQ test drive area. First thoughts, the iQ is suppose to be a four seater? The car is just slightly bigger than a Smart For-Two. There is no leg room in the back. The iQ is marketed as the world's smallest four seater. That is not something I would focus on. When I hear that, I am thinking there is no leg room for the back seat passengers. Also, the iQ looks weird. There were Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Lamborghinis, and Porsches at the event, yet there was a crowd around the iQ.

The iQ is powered by a 1.3L I4 engine, paired with a CVT transmission, that produces 94 hp and 89 lb-ft of torque. The iQ goes from 0 to 60 mph in 11.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 100 mph. The iQ starts at $15,995. The iQ is just slow. Anything that takes over 9.0 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph is slow. There are better cars out there for around $14,000 (Ford Fiesta comes to mind). According to people who test drove the iQ at the 2012 Houston Auto Show, the car barely moves when you hit the accelerator.

The Scion/Toyota iQ was featured on Top Gear Series 13, Episode 3, when the guys were trying to find out what the best cheap car. The iQ was also featured on Fifth Gear, Broom, RTL Autowereld, Cars.TV, and Motorweek. The iQ is playable in StreetRally and Virtual Test Drive.

Final Thoughts: The Scion iQ is slow, sluggish, small, and cramp. There is no leg room in the back. I find it to be a slightly bigger Smart For Two. Styling is unappealing. The only thing that I like about the iQ is its 12.9 in turning radius. I cannot think of another car with that tight of a turning radius. At the 2012 Houston Auto Show, people were not allowed to take a standard test drive. People drove the iQ around  a small course that involved going around large traffic cones. When I want to drive a car, I want to drive it around neighborhoods and on the highway, not around cones. Also, I think that $16,000 is a bit much for the iQ. The Scion iQ did not deserve the attention it got at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. I do not get what people see in the car. Toyota and Scion have to use aggressive marketing for the iQ because this car SUCKS!

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First Impression: Fiat 500 Abarth

In 1949, Carlo Abarth founded Abarth & C. Spa. The Abarth logo includes a scorpion with red and yellow in the background. In 1952, Abarth started working with Fiat, creating the Abarth 1500 Biposto, which is based on Fiat mechanicals. Currently, Abarth has three models, the Abarth Punto Evo (based on the Fiat Punto), the Abarth 500C (based on the Fiat 500C), and the Fiat 500 Abarth. The Fiat 500 Abarth is a very hot hatchback. The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is sold out.

I first saw the Fiat 500 Abarth at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. Houston Northside Fiat brings the Fiat 500 Abarths to car events in the Houston car events. There are a few external changes done to the 500 Abarth. There is a scorpion logo on the engine. Fiat badges are replaced to the Abarth badges. There are stripes going along the bottom of the sides of the car with "Abarth" in the stripes. The 500 Abarth also has low riding suspension, 16" aluminum alloy rims, four-wheel disc brakes, a turbo pressure gauge, gear shift indicator, and aluminum pedals. The Fiat 500 Abarth is a sportier version of the Fiat 500. The biggest difference between the Fiat 500 and the Fiat 500 Abarth is under the hood.

The Standard 500 has a 1.4L MultiAir I4 engine that produces 101 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. The 500 Abarth has a 1.4L MultiAir turbocharged I4 engine that produces 160 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque and is available with a five-speed manual transmission. The 500 weighs 2,533 lbs. The 500 Abarth goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 130 mph. Prices for the 500 Abarth start at $22,700. The 500 Abarth provides go performance for a city car at an affordable price. Too bad all 2012 models have been sold.

The Fiat 500 Abarth made a stop by Jay Leno's Garage. Th3 500 Abarth was featured on Top Gear Series 12, Episode 2. The 500 Abarth is in the sub-zero section of the Top Gear Cool Wall. The 500 Abarth is also featured on RTL Motorwereld, Motor Week, Fifth Gear, Auto Esporte, Victor Sauvage, and Anger Management. The 500 Abarth is playable in netKar Pro, Asphault 6: Adrenaline, StreetRally, Asphalt 3D, Asphalt 7: Heat, GTI Club+, Driver: San Francisco, Assetto Corsa, GTI Club Supermini Festa!, Forza Motorsport 3, Forza Motorsport 4, and FERODO Race Challenge.

Final Thoughts: I liked the Fiat 500 and 500C. Abarth takes a cool but slow city car and tune it into a hot hatchback. The car is so hot that the 2012 model is sold out. The 500 Abarth had performance, styling, and practicality at an affordable price. The 500 Abarth does not come with a automatic transmission. If you want a 500 Abarth, then you need to know how to drive a car with manual transmission. The Fiat 500 Abarth is one of the best cars for under $25,000.

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2012 Car Awards: Best Subcompact

Just like I did with the 2011 Car Awards, I kick of the best of the best of 2012 with the best subcompact car to be released in the United States in 2012.

Fiat 500 Abarth

The 500 marked the Fiat brand's return to the North American market in late 2010. There is a tuned version of the 500 called the Fiat 500 Abarth. Powering the 500 Abarth is a turbocharged 1.4L I4 engine that produces 135 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque. This subcompact goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 129 mph. Prices for the 500 Abarth start around $22,000. For a subcompact, the 500 Abarth is quick. Since this is a subcompact, there is not much room in the rear for adult passengers. The 500 Abarth has the same styling as the Fiat 500, but the Fiat badges are replaced with the Abarth scorpion badges and a stripe going along the bottom of the both sides with "Abarth" in it. The 500 Abarth is a good performing car and sells at a reasonable price. It is my choice as the best subcompact car to come out in 2012.

If you agree with my choice or think that another car that came out in 2012 deserves this award, please let me know in the comments below.

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First Drive: 2013 Chevrolet Spark

In the North American market, we have the Fiat 500, Mini Cooper, Smart ForTwo, and Scion iQ as the main players in the supermini class. These car are small cars with seats in the rear. These cars are designed for getting most fuel economy while still being practical for city driving. In August 2012, General Motors released its supermini car, Daewoo/Chevrolet Matiz, to the United States market. The supermini would be sold in the United States as the Chevrolet Spark. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, the Spark was available for test drives, but the only Spark available for test drive was pink. However, the Spark does come in other colors. The Chevrolet Spark is a front engine, front wheel drive, five-door hatchback.

On the outside, the Spark is a smaller version of the Sonic, Chevrolet's entry in the subcompact market. The styling is average, nothing really sticks out. Like the Sonic, the rear door handles are integrated nicely behind the windows of the rear doors. The rear door handles do not stick out on doors, like most cars. As far as the interior goes, nothing special. But for a supermini car, I did not feel cramped. I had plenty of leg room and head room behind the wheel. Even when I was sitting in the rear, I still had good leg room and plenty of head room, and I am 5"9. Now for people over 6'0", you might feel cramped. As compromise for the roomy cabin, the is little room for storage in the truck. The rear seats come close to touching the rear hatch.

Powering the Spark is a 1.2L I4 engine, paired with either a five-speed manual, or a four-speed automatic transmission, that produces 84 hp and 83 lb-ft of torque. The Spark goes from 0 to 60 mph in 11.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 90 mph. On the test drive, it did not feel slow. Over the five days of test driving, other cars felt slower. The ride was smooth. The car responded nicely when I pressed the accelerator and brake pedals. Steering is responsive. The Spark just needs a little bit more power out of the 1.2L engine.


Overall, the Spark is good for what it is. For a supermini, there is plenty of room. I was comfortable inside the Spark, but I wish General Motors had a different color Spark available for test drives instead of pink. Some of the other superminis had noisy rides and when I am trying to talk to a product representative about the car I am driving, it is hard to hear them over the noise from the engine. But, when I was in the Spark, I did not have this problem. It was quiet inside the Spark. I could hear every word from the product specialist. The Spark is ideal for city driving. However, for highway driving look elsewhere. If the Spark came with an engine to produces over 100 hp, then the Spark could be good for highway driving. If you are looking for a car just for city driving and very little highway driving, then test drive the Chevrolet Spark. The base price for the Spark is $12,995, which is a good price for what you get with the Spark. The Spark is one of the least expensive new cars you can buy in the United States.

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First Drive: 2013 Scion iQ

The Toyota iQ was revealed in March 2008 at the Geneva Auto Show. In October 2011, iQ was released to the United States and Canada, but wearing a Scion badge instead of Toyota badge. The Scion iQ is a front engine, front-wheel drive, three door hatchback with seating for four. The iQ is classified as a supermini and a city car. The iQ is the world's smallest four seater. I first saw the Scion iQ at the 2011 Houston Auto. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I took one out for a test drive.

The Scion iQ is very small. It is only 120.1 inches long and has a 78.7 inch wheelbase. It is also 66.1 inches wide and 59.1 inches high. It has cubic shape. The iQ has a bland styling with no characteristic lines. It is quite small on the interior. There are two seats in the back, but the front seats have to be pushed forwards all the way in order to have some room in the rear for adult passengers. The center is simple, but it works. There are three knobs stacked above each other that operate the air condition/heater. I had some leg room and head room behind the wheel of the iQ, but not much.

The Scion iQ is powered by a 1.3L I4 engine, paired with a CVT automatic transmission, that produces 94 hp and 89 lb-ft of torque. The iQ goes from 0 to 60 mph in 11.8 seconds and has a top speed of 100 mph. The Scion iQ is very slow. It did not feel zippy. The engine felt underpowered. Yet somehow, I caught up to a Hyundai Veloster Turbo. The ride quality is okay. The iQ responds when I turn the wheel. One issue is noise. It was very noisy behind the wheel of the iQ. I could hear the engine the entire time. This made it hard to hear the Scion representative  when he was explaining the details of the iQ. This issue can be solved by adding sound dampening material inside the car. Also, the iQ's ride is bumpy. Prices for the iQ start at $15,995, and you do not get a lot of value for what you get with the iQ.

It is very hard for me to recommend the Scion iQ. It does not have a pleasant drive quality. The ride is bumpy, noisy, and slow. I did not have much room behind the wheel. The front seats have to been pushed all the way forward for rear passengers to have adequate leg room. The iQ should have been designed as a two-seater and not a four-seater. There is no point to sacrifice leg room and comfort in order to make the world's smallest four-seater. I have been in a very small car that has good leg room for rear passengers. The Scion iQ is too small to accommodate rear passengers. If the iQ was three inches longer, then there would be good leg room for rear passengers. One positive for the iQ is the center console. I really like how the climate control knobs are stacked above each other and are nicely spaced out. I like that the gear shifter is on the floor between the driver and front passenger and not on the dashboard. The iQ does not deserve the $16,000, especially when there are other superminis that offer a better driving experience than the iQ does for around the same price.

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First Drive: 2013 Toyota Prius C

The Toyota Prius has been around since 1997. The Prius is a front engine, front-wheel drive, four door sedan that comes only with a gas-electric hybrid drivetrain. The thrid-generation Prius came out in 2010. In 2011, Toyota came out with an extended hatchback wagon version of the Prius, called the Prius V. In 2012, Toyota released the Prius C, a subcompact version of the Prius. In Japan, the Prius C is known as the Toyota Aqua. The Prius C is a front engine, front-wheel drive, five door subcompact hatchback. I first saw the Prius C as the 2012 Houston Auto Show. On day one of the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to test drive one.

The Toyota Prius was never a pretty car. The original Prius was a four-door sedan featuring a bland exterior.  The Prius got a redesign in 2004 and a styling refinement in 2010. The best way to describe is unique. The Prius C is nothing special. I really do not like the front end of the Prius C. It looks like the face of a fish. The Prius C also lacks sleek side lines. It instead has a subpar side profile. The Prius C has one of the worst stylings I have seen on modern cars. In my book, the Prius C is an eye sore. The interior of the Prius C is not much better. I felt cramped in the Prius C. I did not have much leg room or head room behind the wheel. The seat was adequate in comfort. It did not try to kill my back. I have sat in more comfortable seats in other cars. The interior itself is nothing special. Upper trim levels feature Toyota's infotainment system, Entune, which is used with a compatible smart phone. I did not test this feature out on the test drive. Overall, the Prius C is not easy on the eye and the interior is bland and cramped.

The Toyota Prius C is powered by a 1.5L I4 engine that produces 73 hp and 82 lb-ft of torque as well as an electric motor that produces 60 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque. The combined output is 99 hp and mated to a CVT automatic transmission. The Prius C also has a 0.9 kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The Prius C goes from 0 to 60 mph in 10.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 105 mph. The Prius C has a smooth ride, but it was very noisy inside the Prius C. I drove the standard Prius in 2012 and it was quiet inside. Why Toyota decision not to add sound dampening material to the Prius C is a mistake. Also, the Prius C is just slow. I drove the standard Prius on the highway and I was worried that I was going to get hit by another car since I could not accelerate properly to change lanes or even get on the highway. Since the test drive was done at the Houston Auto Show, there was no highway driving, which is a good thing since the Prius C is even slower than the standard Prius. Prices for the Prius C start at $19,710. The Prius C is a cheap car with underwhelming performance.

Overall, the Prius C is one of the most disappointing cars I have driven. I named it my worst car to come out in 2012, and I stand by my decision. The Prius C has poor styling plus an interior that is nothing special. The Prius C has low engine output and poor performance. This was not a fun car to drive, especially since it was noisy inside. This is one of the worst cars I have driven. I did not drive anything this bad in 2012 and there were maybe few other cars that were just as bad or worse that I drove at the 2013 Houston Auto Show. Avoid test driving this car at all costs. The Prius C sucks. Yet, Toyota Prius fans might look into the Prius C if they want a smaller version of the standard Prius.

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First Drive: 2013 Mini Cooper Hardtop

Mini was originally a brand of small cars owned by the British Leyland Motor Corporation. The Mini brand was created  in 1969 and was owned by British Leyland from 1969 until 1986, when British Leyland was broken up. Mini was a part of Rover Group from 1986 until 1988, when Rover Group, including the Mini brand, was acquired by British Aerospace. In 1994, BWM acquired Rover Group, including the Mini brand. In 2000, BMW broke up Rover Group, but BMW retained the Mini brand. While the Mini brand was around since 1969, the original two-door Mini car was created in 1959 and was in production until 2000. In 2001, an new Mini was created. This Mini was a three-door hatchback with a front engine, front-wheel drive layout. This new Mini is known as the Mini Cooper Hatchback, or Mini Cooper Hardtop in the United States. The second generation Mini Hardtop went into production in 2006. During one Saturday in February 2013, I went by a Mini dealership and test drove a Mini Cooper Hardtop. I also test drove the Mini Cooper Countryman. The Hardtop I drove came with a six-speed automatic transmission  The Hardtop is also available with a six-speed manual transmission. There is also a version of the Hardtop that comes with a turbocharged engine called the Mini Cooper S Hardtop.

The Hardtop has a modern small sports hatchback styling, but it still pays homage to the classic Mini. The Hardtop has a small, yet sporty grill and front bumper. The grill on the Hardtop is shorter than the grill on the classic Mini. The Hardtop also has a sporty interior, but there are a few touches taken from the classic Mini. There is a speedometer located on the dashboard, between the driver and front passenger seats. This is a feature taken from the classic Mini. Current Mini Coopers have a turn indicator lever with two positions. If you just push the lever and release it, the turn indicator will blink for three seconds. This is helpful when turning lanes. The seat has a sporty feel to it. It is not soft, but it is not firm enough to be uncomfortable. I had decent headroom and leg room. This is a small car and there is not much room in the rear for adult passengers.

The Mini Cooper Hardtop is powered by a 1.6L I4 engine that produces 121 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds and has a top speed of 126 mph. The Hardtop has a sporty feel to it. The suspension is firm. The Hardtop has some zip to it. It is very responsive when I turn the wheel. It also has good throttle response. Prices for the Mini Cooper Hardtop start at $20,400. That is not bad for a small, sporty hatchback.

Overall, the Mini Cooper Hardtop is a great small car. As far as non-turbocharged city cars go, this is the best performing car in the class. Most city cars go from 0 to 60 mph in over 9 seconds. For a city car, the Mini Cooper Hardtop is quick and sporty. I like the styling of the Hardtop. It has a modern small hatch styling with some touches that pay homage to the classic Mini car. Most of all, the Mini Cooper Hardtop is a fun car to drive. It also has a reasonable starting price of just $20,400. If you are looking for a small sporty hatchback with solid performance and is fun to drive, give the Mini Cooper Hardtop a test drive. If you want a more performance from a small car, there is the Mini Cooper S Hardtop that is powered by a turbocharged I4 engine. The Mini Cooper Hardtop is one of the best city cars you can buy.

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First Drive: 2013 Smart ForTwo Coupe

The Smart ForTwo has been around since 1998 and is currently on its second generation, which has been in production since 2007. The Smart ForTwo started being sold in the United States in 2006. The Smart ForTwo is the smallest car currently sold in the United States. It is 106.1 inches long, 61 inches wide, and 61 inches high. It has a wheel base of 73.5 inches. The ForTwo has a curb weight of 1,650 pounds, making it the lightest car sold in the United States. The Smart ForTwo is a two-door, rear-engine, rear-wheel drive city car. I have seen many Smart ForTwos on the Houston roads. During one Friday and April of 2013, I took one out for a test drive. I drove the Smart ForTwo Passion Coupe.

The Smart ForTwo has a very small appearance. The car has a unique appearance as there is nothing on the road that looks like the Smart car. I like cars that have sporty and/or aggressive styling and the Smart ForTwo styling is neither aggressive nor sporty. To be honest, I find this car to be ugly. I just do not like its styling. On the inside, I had good amount of head room. As far as leg room goes, I felt cramped. My left leg was constantly touching the door panel. The seat has decent comfort. But I have been in other city cars that had more comfortable seats like the Fiat 500C and Chevrolet Spark. The dashboard has one analog gauge, a speedometer, and digital gauges under the speedometer. There is a storage space behind the two seats. The storage space is located above the engine compartment. But do not worry, the storage space is well insulated and your items will not be heated by the engine. Other than that, there is not much special about the interior of the Smart For Two.

The Smart ForTwo is powered by a 1.0L I3 engine, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting mode, that produces 70 hp and 68 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 15.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 90 mph. The Smart ForTwo features the smallest engine currently sold in the United States. The Smart ForTwo is the slowest accelerating car as well as the least powerful car sold in the United States. One thing I noticed was a delay with the transmission when it is shifting. I have never noticed this in any other car. I felt unsafe in the car. I was driving on the highway and the wind easily knocked the car around. Never have I driven a car that could be easily pushed around by the wind. The Smart ForTwo Coupe I drove featured thin wheels, which added to the instability of the ride. Despite being pushed around by the wind, the Smart ForTwo has a quiet ride to it. Since the car has a short wheelbase, it has a rough ride. Prices for the Smart ForTwo Pure Coupe starts at $13,240. Prices for the Smart ForTwo Passion Coupe starts at $15,640. The Smart ForTwo is one of the cheapest cars you can buy in the United States and it felt cheap.

Overall, the Smart ForTwo is a bad car. It is too small, underpowered, and too slow for everyday driving. There is also a delay with the transmission when it is changing gears. It is not fun to drive and provides a horrible driving experience. This car is suitable for short distances only. If you have to rely on highway driving, look elsewhere. I can easily recommend the Fiat 500, Chevrolet Spark, and Mini Cooper Hardtop over the Smart ForTwo. The Smart ForTwo is very bad, but it serves a purpose. Automotive companies have to meet a certain fuel economy rating across all brands and models. Mercedes-Benz owns Smart. Since Smart ForTwo has a fuel economy rating at 34 mpg city/38 mpg highway, it allows Mercedes-Benz and AMG to make performance cars like the C 63 AMG Black and the SLS AMG.

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First Drive: 2013 Smart ForTwo Cabrio

The Smart ForTwo has been around since 1998. It is available as either a three-door hatchback or a two-door convertible. The Smart ForTwo Cabrio is a convertible with a cloth drop-top. The drop-top acts like a cloth sunroof, but it retracts all the way to the rear hatch door. The upper section of the roof line above the doors are removable. During one Friday in April, I decided to stop by a local Smart dealership and take the the Smart ForTwo Cabrio for a test drive. I drove five cars that day, included the Smart ForTwo Coupe. The version of the Smart Cabrio I drove featured wider wheels not featured on the Smart ForTwo Coupe I drove. But you can get wider wheels on the Coupe as well as on the Cabrio. The Smart ForTwo is a rear engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door convertible. It is available with a five-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode. It is classified as a supermini/city car.

The Smart ForTwo Cabrio has the same styling as the Smart ForTwo Coupe, except a retractable cloth roof of the Cabrio replaces the hardtop of the Coupe. The Smart ForTwo Cabrio feels more open with the top down. One feature about the retractable roof is that it can open and close while the car is in motion. As far as the interior goes, it is the same interior found in the Smart ForTwo Passion Coupe. I felt less cramped with the roof down, but I did not have much legroom behind the wheel.

The Smart ForTwo Cabrio is powered by a 1.0L I3 engine that produces 70 hp and 68 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 12.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 90 mph. The Smart ForTwo Cabrio has the same performance as the Smart ForTwo Cabrio. Whether the Smart ForTwo comes with a retractable roof or not, it is still underpowered and very slow. The car felt slow on the roads and highways. Just like with the Coupe version, I felt a delay with the transmission in the Cabrio version. The wider wheels help the car with stability on the highway. The wind does not affect the Smart ForTwo with the wider wheels. But, I still could feel the wind push the car from side to side. The Cabrio is a convertible, and you will get wind noise with the roof down in almost any convertible. Prices for the Smart ForTwo Cabrio start at $18,640, which is $3000 more than the Smart ForTwo Passion Coupe.

Overall, I do not like the Smart ForTwo, whether it is the Coupe version or the Convertible version. There are just too many issues I have with the car. I noticed a delay with the transmission. The car is underpowered and very slow. The Smart ForTwo is so light that it gets pushed around by the wind. I did not have much legroom behind the wheel. And the car just feels cheap. If you want a supermini car, go with a Fiat 500, a Chevrolet Spark, or a Mini Cooper. If you want a supermini that has a retractable roof, go with the Fiat 500C. The Smart ForTwo is just bad. The main purpose for the Smart ForTwo line is that it raises the overall MPG rating for Mercedes-Benz, the parent company for Smart. This allows Mercedes-Benz to make high performance like the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, and the Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG. Other than that, I do not see a reason for the Smart ForTwo to exist.

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First Drive: 2013 Fiat 500C

The original Fiat 500 Topolino was produced from 1936 until 1955. There was even a convertible version of this micro car/supermini/city car. From 1957 until 1975, Fiat produced the Fiat 500, a rear engine, rear wheel drive micro car. Unlike the Topolino, the Fiat 500 was not available as a convertible. In 2007, Fiat brought back the 500 name for its new city car. In December of 2010, production for the American version of the Fiat 500 began. In Spring 2011, the Fiat 500 went on sale in the United States and Canada. This was the first car to be sold under the Fiat brand in Canada and the United States since 1984. While the Fiat brand just recently returned to these two markets, Fiat's other brands, Ferrari and Maserati, were still sold in these two markets while during those 27 years. Another one of Fiat's brands, Alfa Romeo, made a short return these markets with the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and 8C Spider in 2008. The last Alfa Romeo to be sold in the United States occurred in 1995. After starting production of the Fiat 500 in 2007, Fiat started production on the convertible version in 2009. Fiat called this retractable soft top version the Fiat 500C. The Fiat 500C was available for the United States in 2011. The Fiat 500C is front engine, front-wheel drive, four passenger, two door convertible. The 500C comes with a five-speed manual transmission. I first saw the Fiat 500C at the September 2011 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I took a Fiat 500C for a test drive. The version I drove came with a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shifting mode.

On the exterior, the Fiat 500C looks just like the Fiat 500. The 500C is one of the better looking city cars available for the American market. It has sleek body lines, something missing from the Scion iQ and the Smart ForTwo. The 500C shares some styling characteristics from the classic Fiat 500, including the round head lights, the hood, and a sloping rear end. It even has a similar body line going along the side of the car, just under the wind. This was a feature on the classic  Fiat 500. The Fiat 500C has a stylish interior. It is classy, but functional. Behind the wheel, I had good leg room and head room. The car feels more open with the roof down. Since this is a city car with only two doors, there is not much room in the rear for adult passengers. The rear seats are better suited for smaller passengers.

The Fiat 500C is powered by a 1.4L I4 engine that produces 101 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 110 mph. While the performance of the 500 is not great, it is still better than the performance of the Smart ForTwo Cabrio. For a small car, the Fiat 500C has a smooth ride. The car responds well when I turn the steering feel and has an agile feel to it. Unlike the Smart ForTwo Cabrio, the wind had little effect on the car. It was quiet inside the 500C. I could hear the product specialist explain the features of the Fiat 500C, even with the roof down. And most of all, this is a fun car to drive. Prices for the Fiat 500C Pop starts at $20,000. Prices for the Fiat 500C Lounge start at $24,000. While the Smart ForTwo Cabrio is cheaper, with a base prices around $18,500, the Fiat 500C is a better car.

The Fiat 500C has been featured in Gek Op Wielen, St. Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold, Letters to Juliet, Camping 2, Monte Carlo, Der Letzte Bulle, Switch, Ein Sommer Im Elsass, Dolfje, Jo, Borgen, Frankie, Motorweek,, Wainy days, The Office, Pod Prikritie, and Top Gear Korea.

Overall, this is a good city car/super mini/micro car. For a micro car convertible, it has decent performance, especially when compared to its rival, the Smart ForTwo Cabrio. While having a 0 to 60 mph time of just under 10.0 second is slow, it has some zip to it when driving on city streets. With a top speed of 110 mph, it is one of the faster city cars out there. And the Fiat 500C is fun to drive, whether the top is up or down. There is a high performance version of the Fiat 500C, the Fiat 500C Abarth, which has a turbocharged 1.4L I4 engine that produces 160 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. It is only available with a five-speed manual transmission. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 129 mph. It costs $26,700. Still, if you want a city car with a little performance, go with either the Mini Cooper Hardtop and Coupe lines or the Fiat 500 line. For a city car, the Fiat 500C is a good choice.

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