Bigger is not Better... for cars...

I confess to being a huge fan of Japan's Kei -cars.

They are limited by law, in physical size (read: really small) , engine size (659cc) and engine output (not more that 60hps) . But, BIG in style and technology. Not to be mistaken for bottom--of -the- range models, this category of cars was made to fill a niche that the Japanese government had created to ease the impact on the environment and urban-congestion. Therefore, in itself , the kei-class is in fact rather high-end in price and positioning since the manufacturers try their best to lure customers away from conventional cars using boutique style and fancy technology.

Favourable examples include the Subaru R1/2, Mitsubishi i , Daihatsu Copen, Suzuki Cappuchino and Honda Beat. And Germany's Smart 4Two, too.

They are niche: small, edgy and fancy. And they ain't cheap to buy.

So why then am I waving the banner in its favour here?

Now, that's because, although these cars may not be cheap to buy ( not to mention there are tons of other cars out there at least twice as big but half as expensive!), they are definitely cheap to run (sips fuel) and certainly easy to live with (tight parking spaces, nippy handling, lower taxes and insurance premiums) .

And we can still be proud to call ourselves less of a nuisance to the environment compared to the other road-hog users.

Let's face it, even if one's a family man with kids and parents in tow during the weekends, most of the time , they are really just driving themselves from point A to B.

So why the need to lug around approx. 2 tons of metal (think fuel consumption) and so many other seats at the back? Why the need to visit the gas station ever so often? Why suffer the higher insurance premiums, the higher taxes etc... when in fact.. most of the time, you're the only passenger on board?
On top of that, bigger cars are harder to park and drive around in congested areas.

So, for cars, smaller is indeed better... for me. ;-)

(Otherwise, it's all-out indulgence for me... gimme a RR Phantom/Lambo Murcielago/Ferrari F430, Hummer/Porshe Cayenne etc.. you get the idea ...otherwise , gimme a Kei, any time. ) Wink.