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An example of something doesn't necessarily mean an exact example. As an example of working within the constraints of the time while preserving the core functi
by noir_lord 10y ago
An example of something doesn't necessarily mean an exact example.
As an example of working within the constraints of the time while preserving the core functions of a car it was a good example, yes from the point of view of western equivalents of the same era they are laughable but western cars didn't have the same constraints.
I'd personally like to see what a modern car would look like if you went in the same direction, given the constraints of it must be a functional car and must pass crash test/emission standards whats the most pared back/reliable car we can build.
Not because anyone would buy them but because it would be interesting engineering.
I grew up in the 80's in the UK, back then cars very very rarely had AC, Electric Windows, Heated Seats etc, you wound the window down and if you where posh opened the sunroof, same with automatic gearboxes (though they are still very rare here, they simply never caught on).
- eveningcoffee 10y agoI get your point from the engineering perspective. Just as side note. The constraints the soviets had were all self made, as the article also mentions. They had all the elements from the periodic table at their disposal, large reserves of oil and natural gas, endless fields of nutrient rich soil. Dacia is probably a car you want to investigate as a more car like specimen. But Smart, or even Renault Elektro is following the spirit of Trabant more closely.
- maxerickson 10y agoI was looking at it and thought of Smart as a candidate. The Nissan Verso undercuts it, selling in the US for $13,000 (including delivery fees and such). Manual trans, crank windows, with AC. It's also considerably more spacious without sacrificing too much fuel mileage.
- eveningcoffee 10y agoSmart indeed works as a minimal car. It has become quite popular as a secondary car where I live (EU) when an additional parking place is a concern, but it definitely is not appealing as a primary car. Manual transmission is the norm here anyway and crank windows are just an annoyance, but AC is possibly better for your health than open windows when used carefully.
- maxerickson 10y agoOh I was just saying that the Verso is probably closer to simplest. It's more utilitarian than Smart and costs less (in the US at least).