The new Ford Escort

[flintlock]

Re: The new Ford Escort

Add "relatively safe" to that and we agree 100%.

I just hauled 900 pounds of bagged compost* in my 2012 Hyundai Accent hatchback. I wish it had a dropdown tailgate like a wagon because lifting 150 pound burlap sacks up over the "curb" in the back of the hatch was a b!tch and a half! But it handled well and got 36 mpg with all that weight. It could have carried more but I wanted to see out the windows.

It averages 34 mpg mixed, 40+ strictly highway. I've had it almost 3 years, got 27,000 miles on it and had zero repairs.

* you know those really BIG burlap coffee sacks that hold 69 kilograms of coffee beans? Six of those.

My guess is you exceeded the payload on that vehicle by a good bit!
Don't think I'd do the same with my Sonata, but have had it the same time as your car and problem free as well.

[shiny!]

Re: The new Ford Escort

My guess is you exceeded the payload on that vehicle by a good bit!
Don't think I'd do the same with my Sonata, but have had it the same time as your car and problem free as well.

I actually didn't! The Accent's GVWR is 1119 pounds over curb weight. Figuring 900 pounds of compost, the spare tire and myself, it was under the weight limit. To the car's credit it handled all that weight without any strain. Great motor and shock absorbers.

Dragging 150 pound bags of compost exceeded my limit, though!

[ST]

Re: The new Ford Escort

Ford's 2015 F series trimmed 700lbs of bodyweight - you've probably seen all the hoopla. The industry is undergoing a fundamental shift with an implied 4% annual improvement in fuel economy to meet CAFE standards. For every 3% reduction in weight, 2% improvement in fuel economy & CO2 emissions. Investors in the auto companies might learn that they don't want to be in those companies during a capex cycle like this one. Aluminum seems straight forward, but it's not - sourcing the right kind for long term supply and body shop problems. It will be an interesting sector not only from a consumer perspective, but from an investment implication one, as well.

[charliebrown]

Re: The new Ford Escort

I just bought a low mialage 2007 dodge caravan to replace my wife's car 2000 mini van for 8K. I'm hopping to get another 7 years on it or just over 1100 per year capital cost. Compare that to a new honda odyssey with a cost of over 30K. I know they are good cars, think I will get 27 years out of in the rust belt? I've only been able to get 15 out of any car here before parts just started dropping off.