YOU CAN DRIVE 200 MILES FOR $3
The sign caught my eye so I wandered into the American Roadster booth at the 2007 LA Auto Show. Mistake. Built by Eco-Fueler of Oregon (www.eco-fueler.com) the Roadster is a three-wheeler that runs on compressed natural gas. It also might be the ugliest thing this side of a pancreas...
Power comes from a 100-hp 1,450cc air-cooled VW engine and a four-speed VW transaxle. The man at the booth told me you can fill her up at home overnight and drive the Roadster to work in the morning. Yeah, with a bag over your head. At least you can take the HOV lane, which is certainly a selling point, and you won't be hot or cold as the Roadster has both heat and air-conditioning. Other features include a removable hardtop, too, steering, brakes and seating for two -- one in front and one in back. Add in the Roadster's 450-mile range and it's easy to see why this trike has found an audience.
According to the man, Eco-Fueler has delivered 18 Roadsters to happy customers, each of which paid $19,900 to be the laughingstock of their neighborhoods. He also said 1,182 other folks have put down $100 deposits for the privilege of being ridiculed by their peers.
But they'll have the last laugh. That VW engine is about to be replaced by a 125-hp 1,650cc three-cylinder. It's essentially half a Mitsubishi V6 and it should make the American Roadster the it car for 2008. Between that and Hillary heading for the White House I think it's time to reevaluate. I hear Canada is nice. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
dderosa says:
04:04 PM, 11/15/07
Ugly? I think it's cool. And I like Hillary, too. So there.
once_for_all says:
04:08 PM, 11/15/07
Scott--tell me the truth, do you dislike these wheels?? I couldn't tell lol.
estreka says:
04:34 PM, 11/15/07
It's like a Prowler that got sideswiped. Twice.
desmolicious says:
04:55 PM, 11/15/07
There's no way that thing will go 200 miles on $3.
johnnyturbo says:
08:33 PM, 11/15/07
It's the official car of National Geographic: The front end looks like that of an Elephant Seal and the handling dynamics would probably mimic those of the common Grey Squirrel.
daytona_500 says:
09:05 PM, 11/15/07
Man that thing is cool, how is it ugly?? If you want ugly look at a CR-V.
sandory says:
09:56 AM, 11/16/07
No doubt that this car is out there and there wil be a niche for it! Buena suerte!
ateixeira says:
12:22 PM, 11/16/07
"ugliest thing this side of a pancreas"
LOL
The front is indeed hideous, but the back half ain't half bad.
Just make sure you park it with the rear facing the street, so as not to scare the kids in your 'hood.