If a car and a scooter mated?

VinylDoctor · Post by **VinylDoctor** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:25 pm

http://www.identitymotors.com/dealerflier.php

TelPerian · Post by **TelPerian** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:31 pm

I'd trust them more if they knew which form of the word 'its' to use on their homepage.

az_slynch · Post by **az_slynch** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:35 pm

sub sole nihil novi est...

ZAP Motors has already sold this as the Xebra EV. Guess someone else decided they could drop a gas engine in one and call it good. I've seen a Xebra in person; frankly speaking, it's rather underwhelming.

Think Chinese-made rehash of a Reliant Robin.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:50 pm

Safest vehicle in it's class!

I'm particularly fond of how the term Street Legal is in quotes, as if to imply "It's pretty legal if no one sees you drive it."

kinda scary....

walke2jd · Post by **walke2jd** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:05 pm

I dunno, I kind of like it. For $9k, it seems like it could be fun. And it would get you onto the HOV lanes in VA, so thats a huge plus. Just wonder if it would hold up longer than a year or two.

anthony · Post by **anthony** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:28 pm

except that it's got 2 wheels in the back, so not really like a scooter.

and not really sure what the advantage of this over a smart car is, being that the latter is roughly the same size and, you know, has 4 wheels and all.

walke2jd · Post by **walke2jd** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:35 pm

anthony wrote:except that it's got 2 wheels in the back, so not really like a scooter.

and not really sure what the advantage of this over a smart car is, being that the latter is roughly the same size and, you know, has 4 wheels and all.

Scooter = 2 wheels
Car = 4 wheels
So, a hybrid of both would have 3. Duh.

And Smart Cars start at $12.5k. And they have 4 wheels, meaning no carpool lanes. And they don't get 70mpg...

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:03 pm

Nuttin new here

Production 1973–81 (UK)
1974–78 (Greece, under license)
1989–2001 (UK revamped)
2001–02 (B&N Plastics)
Predecessor Reliant Regal
Successor Reliant Rialto
Body style 2½-door 3-wheel saloon with large opening rear window[1]
Engine 748 cc and 848 cc OHV light alloy Straight-4[1]
Transmission 4-speed manual all-synchromesh[1]
Wheelbase 85 in (2,159 mm)[1]
Length 131 in (3,327 mm) (saloon) [1]
Width 56 in (1,422 mm)[1]
Height 54 in (1,372 mm) [1

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:09 pm

The British show "Top Gear" took at look at the Reliant Robin once. I hope this "safest in its class" vehicle is a bit safer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:10 pm

I have seen these before.....in the flesh.

Never operated one but a point to ponder.

These are licensed as a motorcycle, just like a trike or a sidecar rig.

So, a MCY license is required.
1. I wonder how the course would be setup if this is going to be used for the test.....(Yep, my bike is over there.....heh,heh)

2. In states where helmet use is required, does that mean one must wear a helmet to drive it? (Although, you probably should) and, do you have to wear your seatbelt while operating your 'motorcycle?'

Inquiring minds with much free time wish to know.

Rob

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:18 pm

The licensing varies by state. They would only need a driver's license in CA, not a motorcycle endorsement.

I get and appreciate the intent here. I'm a big fan of old microcars and three-wheelers. Are these at all practical or desirable for most Americans? Probably not. And I'm sure there are much safer implementations. At this point, why not just get a Smart car?

They could probably sell the hell out of these in India and SE Asia if they could get the price low enough.

I've been waiting 5 years for this to hit the streets and may have bought one if they'd come out when originally announced at the original, sub-$15K price point. Now over $25K. Meh.

anthony · Post by **anthony** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:29 pm

walke2jd wrote: Scooter = 2 wheels
Car = 4 wheels
So, a hybrid of both would have 3. Duh.

And Smart Cars start at $12.5k. And they have 4 wheels, meaning no carpool lanes. And they don't get 70mpg...

By that logic, a 3-wheel ATV would be a hybrid of a car and scooter also. If we're only talking by virtue of the number of wheels anyway. I was thinking more- body of car, # of wheels of scooter, but this is just the body of a car with 3 wheels, so more like a hybrid of a car and 3-wheeler. annnnnyway, re: the smart car, you have a point. I was thinking of the diesel smart cars they have in europe that also get 70mpg. I didn't realize that the ones in the US were different.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:21 pm

They bodged the Smart launch in the USA. I see many, but it's not the car I hoped we would get, even after a couple years, which was a diesel.

Given that both Japan and the US are now making some pretty good, cheap small cars with good MPGs, it's very hard to make sense of the Smart for most practical buyers.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:41 am

TVB wrote:The British show "Top Gear" took at look at the Reliant Robin once. I hope this "safest in its class" vehicle is a bit safer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

TG is a great show...but not always fair. They put on an over sized tire..added a bunch of weight etc.

It was pretty cool when they launched one like a space shuttle!

heyitsomid · Post by **heyitsomid** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:59 am

Safest in its class while also being the most dangerous in its class!

Space Shuttle Robin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJdrlWR- ... ure=relmfu

Mr Bean and the Robin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II1U-85lzkQ[/url]

VinylDoctor · Post by **VinylDoctor** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 1:28 am

anthony wrote:
walke2jd wrote: Scooter = 2 wheels
Car = 4 wheels
So, a hybrid of both would have 3. Duh.

And Smart Cars start at $12.5k. And they have 4 wheels, meaning no carpool lanes. And they don't get 70mpg...
By that logic, a 3-wheel ATV would be a hybrid of a car and scooter also. If we're only talking by virtue of the number of wheels anyway. I was thinking more- body of car, # of wheels of scooter, but this is just the body of a car with 3 wheels, so more like a hybrid of a car and 3-wheeler. annnnnyway, re: the smart car, you have a point. I was thinking of the diesel smart cars they have in europe that also get 70mpg. I didn't realize that the ones in the US were different.

It's a Scar
a go cart with a motorcycle engine.
I bet they float too.

VinylDoctor · Post by **VinylDoctor** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 1:31 am

heyitsomid wrote:Safest in its class while also being the most dangerous in its class!

Space Shuttle Robin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJdrlWR- ... ure=relmfu

Mr Bean and the Robin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II1U-85lzkQ[/url]

did you see the show where he drove off the brideg and it hit the water and popped up?
and the music was when the red red robin goes bob bob bobbin along.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 8:02 pm

My favorite car scoot combo project is this one here. If it does what they say it will, I'll buy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU5MQlD0r5s

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 9:04 pm

Tom wrote:My favorite car scoot combo project is this one here. If it does what they say it will, I'll buy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU5MQlD0r5s

Cool, but looks a little over-complicated. Still cool!

Sadly, it will probably be $30k *if* it ever makes it to market, or it will be vaporware.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 9:06 pm

It'll be 19k, in 2014. They're saying 12.5K by 2018

200 miles on a charge, 100 mph possible. But yes, very very complicated.

anthony · Post by **anthony** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:36 pm

Tom wrote:My favorite car scoot combo project is this one here. If it does what they say it will, I'll buy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU5MQlD0r5s

it does look kinda cool, but judging from the video, handling won't feel as nice as it does on a scooter. the balance thing will be awesome for dangerous or potentially dangerous situations, but quite possibly at the cost of fun!

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:39 pm

So true. I would absolutely miss leaning, curious to see what the driving will feel like. I figure you still lean but the gyros do it for you as you turn the wheel? Seems strange to think about, because it must lean to turn, and so you'll still have to fall into the lean, even if you don't cause it. Must be tested prior to buying of course.

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 6:30 am

So, if you need a motorcycle license to operate one, does that mean you can drive it in the carpool lane?

...I'm just wondering how it handles in the wind...

lovemysan · Post by **lovemysan** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 6:06 pm

http://gondolaproject.com/category/oddi ... ooter-car/

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 6:48 pm

This is really tickling my desire for a piaggio ape

az_slynch · Post by **az_slynch** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 9:02 pm

Lokky wrote:This is really tickling my desire for a piaggio ape

Don't forget the Lambros too!

lovemysan · Post by **lovemysan** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:13 am

http://home.myfairpoint.net/vze6omtd/jo ... index.html

Modern Buddy

If a car and a scooter mated?

If a car and a scooter mated?

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