Help me! My kid loves fender skirts

[y_p_w]

My 8 year old is car crazy and right now the big fascination is cars with fender skirts. In particular, I'm being asked why I never got a 1999-2006 Honda Insight. I understand that partially covering the rear wheels was for aerodynamics, and doesn't affect brake performance as much because of the regenerative braking.

Of course part of it seems to be from watching the various Pixar Cars movies where there are cars like the Hudson Hornet and cars based off the Citroën DX.

But the one thing is constant 8 year old questions about possibly getting a "Honda Insight with the wheels covered". Any way to reason with my kid that this car isn't all that great?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

The Insight is awesome

Honda should've made it available without the hybrid as well. It would've made a great CRX. Even with the hybrid motor, it weighs less than 2000 lb. Some people do remove the hybrid battery pack and motor and convert it to a non-hybrid.

Fender skirts also come on the new Clarity, so if you're in the market for a new car with a back seat, get the Clarity

Older American cars have fender skirts too

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted by slacktide_bitog
Older American cars have fender skirts too

I remember they were often added to large 70s cars like Caddies and Lincolns.

 

[Astro14]

I think you need to get a Hudson Hornet...

 

[Chris142]

He must love lowriders!

 

[Trav]

A circa 73 Lincoln Town Car or Mercury Marquis or Cadillac Eldorado. Those were the last US car I remember with them.

 

[Leo99]

Our old '67 Buick has some mean fender skirts.

Take your kid to a car show.

Fender skirts 4life.

 

[MrMoody]

Fleetwoods had them up to 1996.

 

[y_p_w]

Not sure what it is about the styling that my kid likes. I was reading that they can create problems - obviously lack of brake cooling, but also rear tire have to be narrow enough to fit and can run hotter because of less air flow. But I guess some people like the look.

 

[MrMoody]

Ha, it's a Honda Citroen. Here's some extreme ones. I like the Merc. The Vette should cure anyone.

 

[Lapham3]

My '67 Wildcat coupe fastback looks great with the skirts on-without looks very different.

 

[HangFire]

As CAFE ratchets up, we may have to get more used to them.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted by MrMoody
Fleetwoods had them up to 1996.


Yes, now you show a pic of it I remember them. I had a Buick Electra that IIRC had them but I don't remember what year it was, 70 Riviera had them also i think. New Citroen DS concept.

 

[oldhp]

The beginnings of a full blown gearhead. Awesome!!!

 

[SeaJay]

How on earth do you get the back tires on and off from those models with the full skirt?

 

[Virtus_Probi]

Originally Posted by SeaJay
How on earth do you get the back tires on and off from those models with the full skirt?

Beat me to it...

 

[atikovi]

2 screws on the bottom and the skirt comes off.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted by y_p_w
My 8 year old is car crazy and right now the big fascination is cars with fender skirts. In particular, I'm being asked why I never got a 1999-2006 Honda Insight. I understand that partially covering the rear wheels was for aerodynamics, and doesn't affect brake performance as much because of the regenerative braking.

Of course part of it seems to be from watching the various Pixar Cars movies where there are cars like the Hudson Hornet and cars based off the Citroën DX.

But the one thing is constant 8 year old questions about possibly getting a "Honda Insight with the wheels covered". Any way to reason with my kid that this car isn't all that great?


Introduce him to piston skirts!!

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Kid's gonna grow up and end up at Bonneville Salt Flats

 

[wings&wheels]

Congrats that he even notices and fender skirts are cool! Our Daughter likes cars w/ smiles; grill on our Elise, Bugeye Sprite, etc.

Few of our friends kids have any interest in cars, m/c's, airplanes.....

My favorite (pic from web);