What makes the Rondo feartastic?
Well, it's not dissimilar to the Fit in the acceleration category. That is, if you yanked out the Fit's sewing machine motor and dumped in a 500ci V8 from a 1970 Eldorado. And strapped on a blower. What it may lack off the line, it more than makes up for once you're up to speed...
Kicking down two gears summons power than is completely unnecessary and will put you into the triple digits before you can curse someone else's mother.
It also compares to the Fit in terms of handling. If you put a 500 pound dumpster to the roof of the Fit. And filled the dumpster with 500 pounds of moldy cantaloupes. You see, the Rondo weighs a staggering 1000 pounds more than the Fit. And where the Fit is happy to bound and dance through corners, the Rondo makes like it's about tip over and scatter your moldy melons all over the road. I can't imagine how frightening it looks from the outside.
So now that you're barreling towards your favorite corner, a corner you've sped through a hundred times in the trusty Fit, you suddenly realize that the Rondo's going a thousand miles an hour and is on the verge of tipping over. This is more than a little scary, but also more than a little fun! It's feartastic!
I wonder if it'll do a burnout...
Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor @ 10,605 miles
crowb says:
02:58 PM, 06/20/08
Kurt, in the interests of science, it is your duty to test that burnout hypothesis.
altimadude00 says:
02:58 PM, 06/20/08
Making the Rondo into a corner carver makes about as much sense as thinking your grandmother's Lesabre is a performance car.
You people are speed freaks and want every car to be all about performance. Well, the reality is, they're not.
Either that, or all the good cars were taken and Kurt was stuck with the Rondo.
bgw says:
03:27 PM, 06/20/08
How can Kurt compare the Rondo to the Fit? The Rondo is quite a bit larger, heavier, more powerful, 3 rows of seats and intended for different buyer than the smaller, more fuel-efficient Fit.
Kind of like comparing a Mazda5 to a Buick Enclave. Both good vehicles but not comparable!
carlisimo says:
04:51 PM, 06/20/08
I never understood the wisdom of giving a car more engine than it has handling. It's just a bad combination, and yet so common.
firstwagon says:
05:11 PM, 06/20/08
"Kind of like comparing a Mazda5 to a Buick Enclave. Both good vehicles but not comparable!"
I think they compare quite well. Both seat 4 in great comfort with lots of luuggage or 6 in good comfort with only a little luggage.
cx7lover says:
06:35 PM, 06/20/08
The Mazda5 seats 6 with a coin purse in the back. Anything more than that and it's in your lap.
tmanz says:
03:35 PM, 06/21/08
"I never understood the wisdom of giving a car more engine than it has handling. It's just a bad combination, and yet so common."
Fill it full of 7 people and gear and you probably need (or at least want) all the engine has to offer when merging, passing or going up hills. With just 1 in the car it isn't needed as much.
Just as in any car it is up to the driver to control the power to match the situation and abilities of the car and themselves.
Head full power into the wrong corner with the BMW and you'll probably find it has more engine than handling too. There were 5 kids in FL that can't argue that one.
stovt001 says:
06:12 PM, 06/21/08
tmanz has a good point about the load. Given the small size yet large seating capacity, going from a single driver to a full load of passengers would shift the power:weight ratio so much more in this vehicle than in your traditional American style minivan or SUV/CUV.
tackepj says:
05:57 AM, 06/23/08
Wow, 10,605 miles? On a 2007?
People must really fight over who gets to take this dog home every night.
mrryte says:
06:51 AM, 06/23/08
"Head full power into the wrong corner with the BMW and you'll probably find it has more engine than handling too. There were 5 kids in FL that can't argue that one."
I assume that you're referring to this:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Columns/articleId=124526
Unfortunately; the problem in that particular scenario was driver overconfidence, not the vehicle's power. A person can wipe out in a minivan, Smart Fortwo, Nissan GT-R or just about any other vehicle that takes any curve at a higher speed than it should....
vvk says:
10:15 AM, 06/23/08
Nobody held a gun to your head and made you pick the V-6 model. The four cylinder is perfectly adequate. And probably better balanced in addition to being over 100 lbs lighter.