Hi John
Now that's interesting!
Japanese cars are usually noted for their level of equipment and quirky use of space in a car's interior. Going on how the Cappo is kitted out, I thought they did a very good job with it considering the lack of space available. Following on for there, I would have expected a similar treatment with the [Honda] Beat, [Suzuki] Cara and [Autozam] AZ-1. But your description relayed a different story to me!
If you have images of the interiors, could I persuade you to send them to me, please?
My email address is
ccsparthenia@optusnet.com.au.
The rear-mounted transverse engine of the Cara/AZ-1 is as you said, a Testarossabino (
sic) and you are probably quite accurate: Ferrari and Lamborghini have rear-mounted/midship engines in their current range of cars but their owners don't seem to mind it! So if the Cara/AZ-1 is just a scaled-down version of that same concept, what makes it unpleasant to drive? (I haven't seen one in real life let alone drive one...!)
Ian Linden mentioned something earlier in this thread about the heat emission coming from behind the driver and passenger....
Like you, I also thought that the Smart Roadster is a POS (apologies to all Smart owners) so that one didn't come into my reckoning! Other [not so exciting to drive] Kei cars are the [Daihatsu] Copen and the [Nissan] Figaro(?). I have also given them the flick; which leaves just the Beat and Cara/AZ-1 - as likely stable mates to a Cappo which I already have.