preparing for next crash

Ok, not really preparing, I just got my new car -same brand+model, just new version-  and I actually drove it around a bit.
Driving does hurt though cause I have to keep my -left- leg bent just beyond the confort angle and moving it to the clutch pedal is too slow for safety (half a second is way to long in an emergency).

But at least I have the car and I can drive if I have to.

Comments

[davidd]

What kind of car is it?

[sjon]

It's a FIAT Multipla
(http://www.fiat.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_COM/showroom/showroom.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1822329249.1166881256@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdaddjilgddelcefecejgdfiidgnl.0&modelKey=0060)


FIAT is not a world-famous brand but we (my father and me) have always
driven them and we never had problems. Also worth bonus points is that
the dealer is just about 500 meter away, even now I can do that on foot
:)
The Multipla is a curious vehicle. Just like most mono-volume cars it's
higher than normal so you have lots of headroom. But it is very short
at less than 4m which makes parking easy. And it is extra wide allowing
for three equal seets side-by side. Even on the front row. A bonus from
that width is that it holds the road as good as a sprotscar, I can tear
trough corners faster than most :)
The one I got is black and with a 19JTD diesel engin it's got enough power (115bhp) for fun :)

[davidd]

That is so cool! If they sold something like that in the U.S. I would definitely buy one!

Handles like a sports car, huh? You'd better be careful out there, Speed Racer!

There is talk of importing the SMART Car to the U.S. in 2008. I'm looking forward to test driving one. In general, however, there seems to be an incredible resistance to small cars in the U.S. Although introduction of the SMART is almost two years away, the auto magazines are already running articles highly critical of the car and of its chances for success.

Keep working on that recovery. Happy Holidays!

[sjon]

It doesn't really handle as a sports car.
It holds the road very well so I can whiz around corners faster than
most. It is especially surprising cause most people see it as a tall
car (and at 1.75m it is high) so they expect it to topple over  if
cornering fast but it doesn't. I've fatally surprised some by doing a
pure racing style four-wheel sliding corner :) .
It doesn't have the power (just 115Bhp) to really go like a sports car.
Hitting the power in a corner for example doesn't start a spin or
sliding :(

I don't think the Smart is going to sell well in the states. Problem is
that it's under powered and very cramped inside (two seater with space
for two grocery bags). It would do well in very densely build up areas
like Manhattan but in the wide, stretched out suburban areas it's not
going to work. It's natural habitat is the typical European town with high density hectic traffic and short distances (Maybe it would sell OK in Japan).


Recovery is slowing down seriously ... because most of it is done. The
only big problem is the tendon in my left knee but tendons grow and
heal very slowly (no blood vessels in them) I suspect it will take five
or six months to heal, the main doctor supposed that if (he isn't even
sure) it heals it will take a year at least. I intend to beat his
expectations :)