Click and Clack tackle the question: How much power is enough?
Click on the image above for more shots of the 2008 Ford Focus
There sure are lots of automobile choices out there vying for your hard earned dollars. Cars come in all shapes and sizes, and finding the perfect one can be a daunting task for those who are not very well versed in the market. Today, as gas prices continue to climb, choosing the right-sized car for your needs is increasingly important to the pocketbook. A recently-widowed woman who needs to downsize from her current Ford F-150 truck sent a letter to Tom and Ray Magliozzi, better known as Click and Clack, wondering what new vehicle would best suit her needs. The real question: How much power is enough?
Simply put: drive all your options before making a decision. Be sure to consider how many miles will be driven on the highway as opposed to the city and how many people you will regularly be taking with you. For those who drive predominately in the city and alone, the smallest available engine is most likely going to work out just fine, which, incidently, is true for the majority of the population of the United States. Now, need and want are two completely different questions...
Gallery: 2008 Ford Focus
[Source: The Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jimmy 8:54AM (7/11/2008)
I would only disagree that "city" drivers need less power. In my observations, urban areas tend to have the most aggressive driving with the hardest acceleration and braking. Things are much more relaxed in the suburbs and rural areas.
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Jesse 9:36AM (7/11/2008)
sure, most city fools treat stoplights like a drag race tree, but that doesnt mean she has too. What they are saying is that the smallest engine/car combo will provide her the largest returns. If she wanted to drive like an idiot and be able to run into other idiots without getting hurt, she wouldn't need to get rid of her F150.
UH2L 10:32AM (7/11/2008)
Click and Clack had some good comments, and although it's good that they mentioned weight, I don't think they explained torque well enough. I attempted to do this in a post I wrote a while ago for a now defunct automotive blog.
http://uh2l.blogs.com/realitydriven/2007/02/the_myths_of_po.html
It's just good to see that people are starting to realize that you don't NEED more than 4 cylinders, but a turbo sure is nice to have.
UH2L
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MikeW 11:30AM (7/11/2008)
What is wrong with those two guys?
They didn't mention gearing. That is far more important than weight.
Take the Versa/CVT or 6 speed stick
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jeffzekas 2:12PM (7/11/2008)
Want versus need: we NEED to go from Point A to Point B, we WANT to look stylish, feel powerful, and show our good taste. How about a Rolls Royce body set on top of a Toyota Yaris? Or a Ferrari with Prius Hybrid drivetrain? What we NEED is to all start driving Kei cars, since, as the Japanese have shown, all you REALLY need is 660 cc's of power and a roof over your head!
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