Spark Doing Quite Well According To NY Times

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

with hand-crank windows

no floor mats

I've long resented this thrown on as an option from the fac.tory on some cars...always overpriced

Air-conditioning is optional

I tried this once (in the SF Bay Area). Never again.

that is cheap to buy and to operate

Cheap to operate remains to be seen

starts at $12,170, significantly less than the Fiat 500’s starting price of $16,100. It’s also inexpensive to run, getting about 35 miles to the gallon

I think SailDesign is beating this, but probably not by enough to make up for the cost difference until the car is 'high mileage'.

bought a Spark with manual transmission

what separates the Spark, buyers say, is that it’s the only minicar sold in the United States with four doors

4 door version of the Mini Cooper not considered a minicar? (I know, it doesn't compete with the Spark on price )

“The ability to get four adults in a minicar like that is what sells the vehicle,” said Andy Lilienthal, of Portland, Ore., who has run a blog on small cars, called Subcompact Culture, since 2008

"like that" = inexpensive?

cars like the Spark, known as “penalty boxes” in the 1980s, implying that the driver was being punished for not affording a larger car

LOL. Never heard this term before. Also, the notion that someone would drive an inexpensive car primarily/largely because that is all they can afford is foreign to me. I guess I just know a fair number of cheap well situated people who don't feel a 'car judgement' is very important.

slow, underpowered vehicles

Just fine by some people (Including me).

with the only advantage being that they were cheap

If you hate parting with a dollar (on principle), then this is a big advantage

Now, buyers ask themselves, “Do I need to buy a full-size sedan, or can I get away with a Nissan Versa?” Mr. Lilienthal said.

Automakers have also taken a different tack in marketing the cars, promoting them as fun to drive and easy to maneuver around the city, as well as the cost advantage.