Some of you would literally DIE to see how people drive in Latin America, Africa, middle east or the asian subcontinent. And somehow people live and still make it day in and day out.

I grew up in cars with no seat belts and my mother carried me in her lap in the front seat while riding in the family car. Any of these practices are deemed as suicidal and even criminal in our developed and safety conscious societies. But in most of the 3rd world these things are pretty normal and widely accepted (Regardless of whether they are right or wrong). Do any of you honestly think that a Tata Nano buyer will compare NCAP crash tests as part of their buying decision process?

Yes the world outside of the United States, Europe, Canada, Japan, etc is a pretty wild world in which some of you would not survive a single day.

Namely, do developed nations (or one socioeconomic group within a nation), having accrued great material benefit since the industrial revolution relatively unimpeded by environmental/social concerns, now have the RIGHT to coerce now-developing nations into pursuing a model of material growth that incorporates environmental/social responsibility, thereby benefiting the developed nations yet further (i.e., by not burdening the global ecosystem shared by developed nations, and also not competing successfully in the global marketplace with developed nations)?

Imagine the chaos if anyone anywhere could buy a personal helicopter for $500.

The rest of the world should not follow our lead. We’re a country obsessed with cars that create all kinds of pollution. Air pollution. Noise pollution. Even eye pollution – ugly cars and ugly roads and ugly parking lots almost everywhere we look.

Your $2000 would probably be better spent buying a used car. It’d probably be safer and just as reliable.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2009/03/17/minis-micro-car-plans-come-into-focus/

Well duh… of course the car was never intended to be sold outside of India…

I don’t know why I even bother with this site anymore…

Like they say…. Someone’s garbage is another man’s treasure.

First, Regarding safety.. Are motorcycles safe? is a 1962 austin mini safe? Should DOT ban motorcycles? ban classics? DOT regs make cars much much MUCH more expensive than consumer demand for safety would be. If you actually had to pay for the safety features found in todays cars as options, few would spring thousands for safety features. I believe that people shoul be able to drive a car, if they choose, that is no less safe than a motorcycle.

Secondly, I have observed that much of the MINI community is made of people who dont really come from the socioeconomic level a car like this is for. Alot of people are rolling around in pieces of crap, they drive thier 80′s domestic sedan to thier low wage jobs and are lucky if it starts everyday. or are riding public transit. This kind of car is primarily for them not us.

Third, I would consider it, because I simply don’t need a “real” car for 90% of my driving. commuting to work and trips to the store don’t require a real car. Where a scooter or motorbike could fit the bill it doesnt because I dont care to sweat profusely or ride a scooter in the rain and snow. A smart car is ridicously overpriced for what it is (see point 2)If I could buy nothing more than A climate controlled golf cart for a few thousand dollars that I can make my short trips in. Then yes I would own one, I would also own my other cars for highway trips and shuttling kids… but a car like this does fill a need.

I can’t ever see purchasing a disposable car.