Kei cars - why not?

[A1VDY]

Bodywork area nowhere big enough for an an enormous vented bumper and giant grill so no... Kei cars wouldn't sell here..

[Baldchap]

Olas said:

If a politician seriously suggested a policy like this they would take *all* of the votes.

Even the fat people votes? I can't see fat people voting for a compulsory removal of their vehicles. Can you?

[irocfan]

ajprice said:

Olas said:

CanAm said:

The (now defunct?) Caterham 160 qualified as a kei car.

No - Kei cars are 660cc maximum.

Edited by Olas on Saturday 14th March 11:39

The 160 was a 660cc car, it had a Suzuki 3 cylinder turbo in it along with narrower bodywork. 80bhp here but I think the Japan model was to 64bhp kei regulations.

https://www.evo.co.uk/caterham/7/7297/caterham-sev...

I think the other requirement for a Kei car was (massively) restricted dimensions - I suspect that a Caterham would just be too long?

[biggbn]

owned four smart cars, a brace of cinq sporting, several other small cars. Nearest thing to a kei car was my daihatsu move with an 850 cc triple. Absolutely brilliant wee car, modern day 2cv/wardrobe on wheels!!

[MKnight702]

Thesprucegoose said:

People don't want them. The Sukuki ignis is 900 kilos and might be kei dimensions. People want jacked up stupid big cars for convenience and safety.

Do what they do in Japan, Don't give them the choice, no drive, no garage, no available parking space then kei car is your only option. It would help with the pavement parking plague if nothing else.

[ajprice]

irocfan said:

ajprice said:

Olas said:

CanAm said:

The (now defunct?) Caterham 160 qualified as a kei car.

No - Kei cars are 660cc maximum.

Edited by Olas on Saturday 14th March 11:39

The 160 was a 660cc car, it had a Suzuki 3 cylinder turbo in it along with narrower bodywork. 80bhp here but I think the Japan model was to 64bhp kei regulations.

https://www.evo.co.uk/caterham/7/7297/caterham-sev...

I think the other requirement for a Kei car was (massively) restricted dimensions - I suspect that a Caterham would just be too long?

Here we go : https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/caterham...

Kei spec is 1.48m max width, 3.4m max length, no bigger than a 660cc 64bhp engine. 160 dimensions are within that and the Japanese spec is 64bhp, so that model qualifies as a kei car.

[vikingaero]

A1VDY said:

Bodywork area nowhere big enough for an an enormous vented bumper and giant grill so no... Kei cars wouldn't sell here..

In the same vein, if Tesla had offered a Kei sized car as their first ever mainstream model they would be bust. The public want BIG.

[flatso]

I would absolutely love a kei car with rear sliding doors, I would have one in a heartbeat. I never understood why they do not import them, places like Italy, Spain, Greece would gobble them up.

[shih tzu faced]

What we really need is for the industry as a whole to start producing tiny cars again.

Won't happen though, they're currently all bailing out of the city car market, preferring instead to push customers into bigger / more profitable B class cars. Easier to do when list price is all but irrelevant and it's all about the monthly cost, and off course for many people bigger must be better.

If the powers that be really were as bothered about the environment as they like to make out they are, proper small cars would be imperative.

[DoubleD]

shih tzu faced said:

What we really need is for the industry as a whole to start producing tiny cars again.

Most people don't want tiny cars.

[Pothole]

Thesprucegoose said:

...what would you expect from a 20 year old car for 3k??

Edited by Thesprucegoose on Saturday 25th January 16:11

My Civic is 21 years old. I has only surface rust. It cost £175

[anonymous-user]

vikingaero said:

A1VDY said:

Bodywork area nowhere big enough for an an enormous vented bumper and giant grill so no... Kei cars wouldn't sell here..

In the same vein, if Tesla had offered a Kei sized car as their first ever mainstream model they would be bust. The public want BIG.

I think it would. Badge folk love Tesla.
It isn't size otherwise the 1series and A class wouldn't sell like hot cakes, it's the badge.

Young Gazza next door doesn't want a Honda Civic he wants an Audi A1 in white.

[DaveTheRave87]

I'm currently driving an up! GTI, which probably is the closest thing the UK has to a performance kei car.

I suppose there's no real market for them, apart from enthusiasts.

[DoubleD]

GravelMachineGun said:

vikingaero said:

A1VDY said:

Bodywork area nowhere big enough for an an enormous vented bumper and giant grill so no... Kei cars wouldn't sell here..

In the same vein, if Tesla had offered a Kei sized car as their first ever mainstream model they would be bust. The public want BIG.

I think it would. Badge folk love Tesla.
It isn't size otherwise the 1series and A class wouldn't sell like hot cakes, it's the badge.

Young Gazza next door doesn't want a Honda Civic he wants an Audi A1 in white.

Why do these threads always end up with how everyone else only buys the right badge, but of course I don't!

People on here seem to be the real badge snobs as they are the only ones who ever go on about it.

We will be moaning about leasing next!

[Spm_steve]

If only Kei cars were available here.. something like a Honda nbox custom would suit the Spm_ family great as a short-range carpark weapon. I love a properly small car. We had a UK Daihatsu Cuore for 4 yrs and loved the little thing, our only car at that time.
European 'small' cars are still fairly hefty and are seriously lacking boot space for a baby buggy/DIY/tip run/bike etc, not a problem with the box shaped Kei cars.
Problem for me is cost to import, or 'jdm scene tax' for those already here. My cars are firmly in shed pricing and I'd find it hard to justify.. I don't try to keep up with the Jones', just to enjoy cheap, practical motoring!

Nb I do agree those that have restricted or no parking should moderate their choice of transportation to suit.. shame there's no incentives similar to EV's.

[eldar]

Pothole said:

My Civic is 21 years old. I has only surface rust. It cost £175

A lot of JDM cars had little rustproofing as standard....