Letter to the Editor in the London Free Press Sept 26th

[Cheese4]

I don't remember the first letter that this is a reply for....

Not everyone can drive around in a Dinky toy

Regarding the letter, Those who won't conserve fuel shouldn't complain (Sept. 13) from Margaret Gagie:

Obviously she must never look out the window of the Dinky toy she drives to see who is in the other cars around her.

I admit there are many vehicles being driven as fashion accessories and they are unnecessary, but many more are being driven out of need. Many people have families that need to be transported and other people may have physical conditions that make it difficult to squeeze into, or crawl out of, a small car.

I am six-foot-five and 230 pounds. The only way I could drive the kind of car she is championing would be to buy a pair of them, have sunroofs installed, and wear them like roller skates. There goes my fuel savings.

It would be nice if we could all drive 40-mile-per-gallon cars, but unfortunately we're not all childless, physically fit munchkins. Please cut us some slack.

Randy Bolton

London

[TFM]

Here is a Lamer that has NEVER sat in a smart car. He's having the classic knee jerk reaction... What a sad git!

[DangerDan]

So much for "open your mind".

Much easier to keep shoving Big Macs into your face, ain't it, Mr Bolton?

Moron.

[SMRT GRL]

this kind of attitude makes me sick. it's as bad as the one comment i heard yesterday the the car show "my dad says that those cars blow up as soon as they are hit". i wish that for only a second ppl would think before they speak.

edit: i just fired off a e-mail to "letters to the editor" of the London Free Press.

[imposter]

I'd like to see some statistics on the number of multi-car households in Ontario. I'm pretty sure a LOT of these families that "need" larger cars already own more than one, and probably both of them larger than they actually need, so replacing a gas hog with something more economical shouldn't be that big of a deal. It's really not a matter of need, but want.

Sigh.

[firebladetoronto]

I have two kids (in car seats), and I am 250lbs and 6'1", that does not stop me from driving a smart? As mention here, I have a second car for the kids, this is my toy/commuter.

[Hornhonker]

While walking my dog every day I notice in most driveways, if you see one truck you will probably see a second one parked beside it. One guy I go by has five !

[deezle]

Obviously she must never look out the window of the Dinky toy she drives to see who is in the other cars around her.

Randy Bolton

London

Actually, when I look around in traffic, about 90% of the vehicles are single-occupancy. Admittedly, not everyone can switch to a smart...but a lot of them could leave the family van in the driveway till needed, or rent a vehicle on those infrequent occasions when they need to haul building materials or tow the boat. The money saved in fuel would likely pay for the new smart and the occasional rental. Randy Bolton should cut Mother Nature some slack.

Also, smart needs to do some major marketing on crashworthiness.

[smartnhappy]

I'm big and 6 foot, and I get a lot of looks when I get out of my Smart. I've had comments like " I didn't think

you'd fit in there" or "can you get back in?". I had 2 SUV's and traded one on the Smart. Now if I can figure

a way to mount my 8 foot snow plow blade on the Smart, I can get rid of the other.

Seriously, I agreee that Smarts make the ideal second car (don't get mad Smartgirl). I look at mine as

assistance in my mid-life crisis.....it's cheaper than either a Corvette or a mistress (better mileage too!).

And when the day comes that my arthritis make it impossible to get into my car, I'll trade it on a cabriolet and

just open the top and fall in.

[SMRT GRL]

smartnhappy don't worry i realize that ppl need a second big vehicle. in my family we still have the van for the odd family outing or to lug around big items that i can't cram into my smart.

[smart142]

I would love to respond to this guy. However he was responding to a letter from the 13th. Is anyone able to access that letter to see what was written?

[SMRT GRL]

The Article Archives are not available online. If you are looking for an article that appeared in the London Free Press, you can obtain the text of article from the Librarian at the London Free Press. Articles can be sent by mail, email or fax at a cost of $10.00 (plus GST) per article. Prepayment is required and credit cards are accepted.

To obtain a copy of a past article, call 667-4558

http://www.lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/comments.cgi?c=archive

[smart142]

Thanks smrt grl. I'll see what I can come up with. Are you going out to Wortley tonight? Last one!

[SMRT GRL]

i'll try to come...it looks like i won't get rained on like i did on sunday

[Cheese4]

I looked myself....and was one day late on the recycle bin to retrieve the paper...it was in Tuesday's (the 13th) paper and it went out to the curb on the Wednesday night!! DOH! I also checked the web site...but no luck....$10...I didn't want to know that badly!!