Unfortunately government protection is primarily responsible for a lack of new American car builders. With the exception of a few niche manufacturers (Callaway, Panoz) there is nothing going on outside of the "big three". With the current safety requirements and emissions requirements it would be prohibitively expensive for a new company to try and break in the market.

Agreed!! And the Smart Car is smaller than the Prius! The Smart car did poorly against a Camry!! :panic:

You can make small and indestructable, but CF is to expensive, cheap only gets you plastic and steel, and a little light metal maybe.

Anyone see the stig drive the konig through the tirewall the other night?

Cuz most people drive longer than that?

BTW, your argument works both ways ---- If all you do is drive to Subway, why even waste money on a new car, just buy a used beater.

Pretty sure a motorcycle is even less safe, yet everyone here still rides them.

True, but generally we're crazy. Most people are too risk adverse to ride, let alone ride around 18 wheelers.

Reliablity!....I mean I don't want my sandwich to get mushy if I have to wait for a tow!

Thought you skipped the bread anyway, lol

It would appear to the layman... or someone who dabbles in physics...
:lol:

Less safe for whom? The C-class driver is now "safer".

How much less safe? 10%? 100%? How is "safe" measured?

It's measured with crash test dummies, and rated by their survival, injury rates.