The mandatory safety features in US vehicles will eat up a big chunk of that $3k. I don’t see what they will have left for a car. India has few regulations so a $3k death trap is possible. I just don’t see that price point as being possible for any new road/highway rated vehicle in the US.

I dunno what to think about this. I’d have to see the car first.

This is a potential goldmine. Assuming its *safe* and not fugly, it could be an instant teenagers’ first car. New car with a warranty, extremely affordable, and with a $3k price-tag, you know the engine will be a bare-bones, but likely very fuel efficient powerplant with not nearly enough power to make dumb teenagers even dumber. Let’s wait and see…

Anybody know anything about the Tata Motors’ car Nissan would compete with?

This could also result in increased competition in super-low priced vehicles, resulting in a larger selection of cars of these kind. Could be a good thing.

Yeah, safety regulations. Even some US cars can’t come to Canada due to the safety regulations in place.

They will cut the profits on the car and take advantage of an underpaid labor. That car WILL be cheap !

It make me think of Lada…but cheaper.

How do you insure a $3,000 vehicle? There can’t be anything left after a shopping cart hits it.

I don’t think I would ever want to be a “proud owner” of a $3000 vehicle in today’s market. I know vehicles can be “inexpensively produced” in developing areas of the world, but that doesn’t mean they are reliable, quality products. I’m almost scared to see this car.

LOL F451!!!

Why do I see a lot of “hard top golf carts” running around on the streets (or sidewalks) of the world. I have never been shopping for a golf cart; can you get a decent one for $3000?

f451, you can toss the car in the shopping cart and push it to the body shop.

maybe not a bad idea, but i’m just pure scared at the idea of my kid in a $3,000 car.

In my exurb, $3,000 will get you a ‘95 t-bird, or an ‘86 Jag, or an 87 maxima, an 86 Volvo and ‘88 taurus wagon.

or a ‘99 Corrolla

I think many people will see “$3,000 new car,” and think “Yogo.”

If the airbags deploy, will you be crushed against the rear hatch? Steve Urkel comes to mind.

Why not just buy a motorcycle? I’d rather be thrown off a motorcycle in an accident than trapped in soem small box.

Have you ever been thrown off a bike at speed terminator? Because I have and your chances for survival in something with four wheels and frame are much much greater no matter how small. This new car could absolutely reshape the market if it sees mass production but I just dont see it happening.

Because by 2015, the export of American jobs oversees will ensure most Americans will only be able to afford rice, beans, and the Nissan Pobreza.

Knowing how to make a controlled fall from a bike is 100x safer than being stuck in a tin can with windows.

I’d stick with a new Kia Optima for overall value and safety until something else is proven.

Global,
Don’t forget about the the thousands of imported workers on visas that businesses use to keep wages low.

Or the millions that don’t have visas, but make good puppets when the republicans need a show of “enforcement.”

Jackjimturkey, don’t you mean illegal votes for Democrats and Bush Republicans? =P

By 2015 Americans will be sneaking into Mexico for high wage jobs in maquilladoras.

More people with access to cars means: 1) more traffic 2) fewer parking spaces 3) increased pollution 4) increase in gas prices due to soaring demand.

I really cant see anything positive about it. Having less drivers is a good thing.

I’m sure a $3000 car is possible. Eliminate all options for one. Eliminate engine choices. Eliminate transmission choices. No more interior cloth/color choices. The cost of produciing this cars parts just dropped astronomically. An optional engine forces new engine components, new mounts, new suspension, new brakes, possibley a new transmission. Henry Ford’s Model T was so affordable because it came in any color people wanted, as long as it was black.

Henry Ford’s Model T was by no means affordable. It often cost a working man his full year’s salary. That $400 price tag was huge back then. Only the upper or stupid middle-class person could afford one. This thing would have to be frightening in comparison to the Model T. I just hope I never hit a car that’s worth $3000 when its on the dealer’s lot for the first time. Can you say jail time? I can’t imagine that being anything less than vehicular man slaughter. If you need a car that bad, get a used Buick or something. Seriously. At least you’d have to get hit by something ridiculously huge like an LTD or an asteroid or something to die in that.

terminator, I rather doubt you would want to be thrown from a motorcycle than be “trapped” in *any* small box in an accident. Regardless of how small a box you’re driving, the force of any impact is immediately disbursed by the 1000s of pounds (even the lightest car) of steel and composite frame of your car, and not, say, directed into your femur. And let’s not forget that a $3k car would still have to meet saftey regs. before being allowed on sale in the U.S. Surround my ass in crumple zones, seat belts, and airbags in *any* accident, thank you very much.

jackjimturkey, I, like you, will reserve judgment on whether or not I’d let me kid drive a $3k car. It may end up being no smaller than an xA (now xD) or Fit, which might mitigate any parental concerns.

Wickedated, I’m not sure this means that there will be more traffic. The number of drivers are held in check primarily by the legal driving age.

But, your point is well taken, although I would note that cheap cars existed before (especially used ones, as noted by jackjimturkey), and I think that this car will just give those consumers who were going to buy a cheap car one more alternative.

Ga36. That’s exactly what I mean!

Yeah I can picture it. Go-kart frame with a 10hp Briggs and Stratton engine on it with a plastic 350z body cover on it.

this totally has the potential to increase the number of drivers on the road.

also, it could be environmentally catastrophic, as this would truly be a car for the throw-away society.

have we learned nothing from that long-forgotten episode of The Lone Gunmen where they investigated the conspiracy to cover up the water-powered engine?

A few things…
You guys that make opinions and judgment on items that you have no information on need to become intelligence officers for the Bush administration. I’m sorry, I can’t respect your comments.period.
To the guys who think it’d be better to be on a motorcycle, i know it’s been said before, but I must reiterate. Even in my one vehicle crash (hit gravel, you don’t normally crash something with 4 wheels just with gravel), at 30, hitting only asphalt on my ($10,000) motorcycle, Also, fully geared up, I was pretty messed up, and I was almost run over by an SUV…
which brings me to my next point. Cars like these will essentially reduce traffic. Think of Freeways as network lines. The bigger the vehicle, the more bandwidth it takes up. it’s hard to accelerate, it takes long distances to stop, thus it needs to maintain a safe distance, the are normally driven by Fukin Morons or dip$hits on cell phones and not to mention they are gas hogs… anyway, that’s my stance.
Looking forward to having $3000 cars on the road as long as they are safe, reliable, and not Fugly

F3INT))AP3X, so did you survive the motorcycle accident you were in, or did you die?

I like the idea of a $3000 car. I plan on buying a few when they come out and using them for crash’n'derby.

BTW Vike,

You’re the dip****. Talking about intelligence gathering, then prognosticating on how these cars will reduce traffic – you’re ****ing confused. Shut the **** up, you’re wasted again.

Vike, the size and performance of a car are rarely the cause of an accident. The same idiot driving a Honda Fit will be just as much of an idiot driver as if he were driving a Hummer.

People are the problem when it comes to traffic, not cars.

rather die in a nissan than a cherry

The closest thing to “intelligence gathering” on (V)ike’s point that DeansterTJ alludes to would be to look at traffic conditions in metropolitan areas where there is and has been a steady market of microcars, which is probably, for example, Tokyo, and probably most of the larger European cities.

I’ll admit I don’t know the numbers, but my impression is that smaller cars won’t alleviate traffic problems in the way that (V)ike suggests it will (i.e., travel time, which is what i think of when we say “traffic”). European metro areas are just as congested without large SUVs, in fact, didn’t London ban traffic or at least taxed cars heavily that traveled in the more central regions of the city.

My point is that traffic problems are more a function of population density, and by extension, the number of cars on the road–not the *kind* of cars on the road. Now, $3k cars may lead to greater traffic congestion, but only if it leads to a greater number of cars on the road than otherwise would have been on the road without havnig a $3k new car to choose from. As I’ve said before, I don’t think this is the case–a $3k car will just be one more cheap option for the car consumer who was going to buy a car anyway.

That is until you bring this car to markets where cars are arguably a necessity. In my corner of the globe, mass transit is absolutely terrible, and not even all that cheap. Plus our city is so freaking spread out walking is often not an option, unless you happen to live in one of the denser areas. Even still, cars are pretty much a necessity. (Either that or bus when the buses run and spring for a cab during the significant amounts of time when most routes shut down.) Basically my point is that there are a lot of markets where the availability of a $3000 car would not only be far more efficient (for individual users) than public transportation, but quite possibly cheaper, as well.

When I was in Paris and especially London, the traffic was insane. Even in the restricted zones of London, traffic was so intense that it was nearly suicidal to walk across the street. I doubt that the traffic would be lessened if they used Hotwheels cars. I think they are more on the right track with public transportation. The Underground is much quicker than driving anywhere in London. In a busy city, public transportation is a much more practical solution to traffic problems than little midget cars driven by the average Joe on his cell phone. The average driver is at best annoying and at worst deadly. If you must resort to a $3000 car to get around your city, take the bus or subway. That saves you buying the vehicle and paying for gasoline and insurance. Problem solved.

even extremely poor families can afford a $3000 car with payments even at 48 months for less than $100 per month. now think about all of the poor people left behind to die in katrina because they had no car to escape in. honestly i think this is a great idea, i doubt very few of us will even consider one, but to the poor this would a lifesaver. people will also be able to go buy groceries in better places than the mom and dad store they have to walk to, they can take their kids to the hospital without calling an ambulance, they can evacuate themselves from fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes etc etc etc.

CTS: why not just buy a ‘99 Corolla? Or some other used vehicle that’s been treated OK. In L.A., you can get a car for $100.

who really wants a used corolla, i would drive a used 68 beetle before a corolla.:)
there is a different satisfaction of buying something new over something used. unless of course we are talking women then give me a well seasoned slut anyday over a virgin.

In terms of effects of a $3000 car on infrastructure and society, there would be many effects beyond the obvious speculation of traffic. So what if ‘the poor’ did have wider access to personal transportation? Well, getting a better job comes to mind. So now an entire segment in society has the ability to obtain employment outside of a bus route or walking distance of their HUD home. What does that do for the economy? The benefits are astronomical. The poor do have options currently, but the trickle down effect of a $3000 car would be huge. It wouldn’t just effect the poor either, every other segment in society would benefit. At $3000, this car suddenly creates a different class of considerations. Is power windows, seats and a generic factory stereo worth $15,000? That’s the next class of car up from $3K. What about the super classy interior so many on here whine about, is that worth $27,000 more? When considering college or buying a house, this car is instantly an opportunity to save money. That money saved is then spent elsewhere in the economy.

This car is also cheap enough to temp those out there who prefer bigger cushier cars. As evidenced by those above complaining about losing their creature comforts in a cheap car, it won’t convince everyone. But there would be a huge segment who would choose. This truly begins to define the priorities of the anti-foreign oil and enviros who want more fuel efficient vehicles. What’s more important, creature comforts in bloated inefficient vehicles or an ultra affordable efficient vehicle without all of the baubles and bolt-ons?? Environment or comfort??

CTS:if I was a “Muslim” terrorist and blew up a day car center and got 72 virgins, I’d be pissed. I’d ask for four or five good porno sluts (one in each color).

Piablo: the market has spoken: How much mpg would a civic have w/o A/C and other comforts, and with the 1.3-liter of the ’80s/’90s? I’m guessing north of 65.

hell yeah jack thats what im talking about a good slutty variety. remember the high school days of dry humping and constant making out with the virgins? my stripper now is 38 im 33 and i love how horny older women are, i dont even need to kiss her, i hop in bed and she spreads them. you know how it is now for us old women just want a throbing piece of man meat pounding them like a ****ing jackhammer. yeah every color, pussy is always pink in the center.
black pussy, white pussy, yellow pussy, pink…..the color dont matter as long as it dont stink.

“for us, old women”
messed that one up.

what a ****in stupid idea. nissan is prepared to stick it’s badge on a supercar (GT-R) a good idea, then stick it on a $3000 tin box (it probbably will be). so much for trying to raise brand status. Ghosn has mad some good decisions but he seem’s to be running out of idea’s.

I take it that most people are assuming that selling a $3k car will open up the market to consumers who wouldn’t have ordinarily bought a car. CTS Driver thinks that having a $3k car would given Katrina victims achance to escape. My question, if they had $3k to spend on a car, why hadn’t they already bought a $3k used car?

Ao radio
no a/c
2 or 3 cylinders
cheap faux-vinyl seats
no power steering
crank windows