Here's a Thorough Review of a Meter Maid Car
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Meter maid car review! Have you ever wondered what a Meter Maid car is like? Today I'm reviewing one -- and I'll show you all the quirks and features of a Meter Maid car. I'm also going to drive the Meter Maid car and show you what it's like behind the wheel of this weird and unusual car.
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DOUGSCORE CHART:
www.dougdemuro...
"Most of you want to see me review the cybertruck or a Corvette"
Don't undersell it Doug, I think this review is the prime example why people CHOOSE to watch YOUR content.
views don't lie...Doug knows what sells
I mean, I watch for the cars second, I cum for Daddy Dougs' personality first.
I still want him to review the cyber truck and C8 Corvette, but I appreciate the regular cars more than the newest Shelby Cobra mustang Challenger charger E series Landover land cruiser
I watch all of his reviews, but I click faster on these unique ones!
Same, can't wait for him to review a citybus, its Dougscore must be wild
I'll watch this one. The 'New' Bronco Raptor, nah.
The review we didn’t deserve, but the one we needed.
"May we all get what we want, but never what we deserve!" I've been waiting for this review ever since I saw this cart as Doug was introducing other things or promoting cars & bids. (I bet this is for sale there)
the ost we didn't want but is often reposted on pretty much every site by someone hoping to get attention
Haha
Agreed
Amen to that.
If it had four wheels it would be required to meet DOT auto equipment requirements. As a three wheeled vehicle it's considered a motorcycle.
@careca it’s almost as if different countries have different laws 😂
Just like Morgan used to do.
Don't talk that technical, pragmatic, well researched mumbo jumbo to Doug you.. you.. you Boomer! You'll scare him. xD
@careca like what?
@@DNHarris Not a Boomer. Gen X. Ironically, I think Millennials, like Doug, share a lot like Boomers. Attitude. World view and their place in it.
A center driver seat, rear wheel drive, mid engine, automatic transmission. Must be an extreme supercar for sure.
Pig! You want to ticket people!😁😃😉
Ditch the automatic, and maybe it’d be more fun.
@@MacTechG4 Yeah, but most supercars these days have automatic transmissions.
Don't forget doors that don't swing outwards
It's basically a McLaren Speedtail
The Sports cars Doug reviews are cool and all but this is the type of content of his I like the most. No other big car review channel is out here making this type of content.
To pay credit where it's due Regular Car Reviews did a review on a mail truck
@Doug DeMuro, AwwwWWwwwwwwWww how Kyuuuuuuute!!! 😌😌😌
@@deadstig345 Yes that guy reviews all kinds of quirky stuff I'd be interested in, but he's so obnoxious that his channel is unwatchable.
@@deadstig345 I click on this comment to say the exact same thing lol
@@matthewpresley8060 he’s purposely cringey… but def feel that sometimes
Wonderful content. Multiple "Doug awards" in this vehicle. If the "lateral thrust indicator" doesn't win quirk of the year I can't imagine what will.
Or the arm rest. Who knows.
A lateral G-force meter, just like a Skyline R34!
This is 100% the reason I watch this channel. The weird stuff keeps me coming back. Never change, Doug.
Have you ever tried parking enforcement without a lateral thrust indicator? It’s practically impossible
Can’t wait for the Dougies
This is what makes Doug the most distinctive car reviewer on youtube no one would even think about reviewing something like this
"Never let them know your next move."
My eclectic father in law has a first gen one he commutes to work with every day on the ferry. The ferry system in Washington classifies these as a motorcycle, so he pays significantly less than if he commuted in a car. The creature comforts like enclosed cabin and heater are nicer than an actual motorcycle, especially in the fall/winter. I've driven it once, and it is definitely a unique experience. Great video Doug!
I read "my electric father" lol
@@GewelReal "in law"
Washington State has a motorcycle helmet law. Does he wear a helmet in his "interceptor 1" lol?
@@acme_tnt8741 with no airbags in that tiny metal box it wouldn't be such a bad idea 😂
@@acme_tnt8741 No because Washington's motorcycle law specifically excludes vehicles that have a steering wheel, FMVSS seat belts, and an enclosure that complies with FMVSS 216. There have been enclosed motorcycles/scooters that fit similar requirements for this reason, see e.g. the BMW C1. Also, in most states 3-wheeled motorcycles don't require a motorcycle license.
Doug: "I wouldn't even buy this ironically"
Doug immediately afterward: *describes a scenario where he would buy one ironically*
Never change Doug
He's so nice he's willing to contradict himself to give the benefit of the doubt.
@@marvincool3744 nah he's just quirky and can't help it
yesss hahah
@@-Sean_ that's just one of Doug's features
15:30 I can't believe Doug failed to mention the most unique quirk and feature on this mighty steed, which is the garlic jar lid being used on the wiper fluid container. Luxury at it's finest!!
That's great
Yrp
maybe the owner did that after he lost the original one?
@@polarlicht4758 probably popped off when he got it above 70.
@@polarlicht4758 oh really you mean it ain't standard practice for cars to come with lids that say "garlic" from the factory? Well don't I feel like an idiot now
Doug really is a man of variety
One second he’s reviewing an automobile legend, the other the most random thing ever
Can't wait for the golf cart review on April 1st.
Yeah, this being the automobile legend
He's just that type of guy
i think this 3 wheeler bastard is also a legend just like Grumman LLV
I’d love to see more oddball commercial vehicles like this. Like a street sweeper. Stuff that the general public sees, but would never have the opportunity to see inside or up close.
Can we take a second to appreciate the garlic jar cap on the coolant reservoir at 15:25? The ingenuity is breathtaking.
Came to say just that. Just fantastic
Mentos gum caps fit in windshield washer fluid tanks on newer for focus’s.
Was looking for a comment on it... glad I wasn't the only one who noticed LOL
Was looking for this comment lol 🧄
I saw that!
The fact that he found enough “quirks and features” to pump out 25 minutes of video is incredible.
My thought reading the title lmao
I was just thinking: "Quirks and features?!? The whole thing is one big quirk!"
Its actually easier in these unique vehicles, the whole thing is a quirk
@@Carlisho that’s exactly what I was gonna say…this thing is all quirks
Thank you. I hope this and all the other messages below reach you. Sure there will always be people interested in new, modern supercars, but you also have a huge fanbase who more or less only watch your videos for the old, strange and quirky cars like this Meter maid car. Those videos are exactly why we keep watching your content over other channels. Please for our sake, keep making videos about weird cars, and we will keep watching.
This(sssss)!
I haven't seen a comment like this before
@@EpicJacobE yeah
Completely agree with this!!
I didn’t know this was an option
"You want to see me review the Cybertruck, or the Bronco Raptor or the New Z06." See, that's where you're wrong Doug. This is exactly what we want 😂
I honestly like the styling more than I probably should. lol It has a very cyberpunk vibe to it, especially the sharp angles around the door slide mechanism.
Also it's worth noting Doug that these were not just "Meter Maid" cars but also used for city maintenance and groundskeeping as well, so the bull bar and truck bed would have primarily been useful for those applications.
I kept thinking how much cheaper and better it would have been to import subcompacts and upfit them as police cars. But if you want a pickup I guess this is a decent compromise versus a golf kart. Since those are just too slow.
Could also throw a few car boots in the back too.
All about those cyberpunk aesthetics. I give it a 7 for styling, meaning it just falls short of the Ferret Tank 👏👏
Reminds me of that Taxi from Total Recall...
@@arnehurnik A Daihatsu Midget might have been a good import alternative.
If Doug hasn't done one yet, he should review the Grumman LLV! Folks living in the U.S. would recognize them as a standard mail truck, and they're super interesting
Regular Car Reviews did one a little while ago. Apparently, privately owned ones are very rare.
Yesssss, and there're a bunch of juicy stories behind it too, like horrible design and reliability leading to fire/explosion, horrible gas mileage, and decades long fleet replacement plan.
@@johnmurphy9580 I believe the LLV was only ever sold to the public in the time between when USPS stopped buying them and when Grumman ran out of inventory, and USPS just keeps their LLVs until they end up in a scrapyard and never sells them
@@johnmurphy9580 when I saw this go up I thought, like, is this a response to RCR starting that review with "What's up Doug?! I've got something you haven't reviewed and can never review!" lol
@@JackieBright Yep. Basically the LLV was designed to last for a certain number of years but USPS implemented a plan to extend the lifespan beyond the original design intent. And now we are past the lifespan extension on them. So they don't sell them off to private individuals like they did the DJ Jeeps because they need as many as they can keep to use for spare parts and such.
They are absolutely awful to drive at speed. Now maybe that's just because they are so old and worn out raggedy. But trying to drive one down the road at 55 is just insanely scary. Not to mention some of them are so clapped out they lose power as soon as you try to pull a hill in them at that speed and you have to fight the accelerator to get it to downshift and stay in 2nd so you can actually pull the hill with the engine screaming at you. And of course they are basically convection ovens trying to cook you to death.
Supercar, but better. Change my mind.
Mid-engine, center-seat, wedge-shape front, truck bed with tonneau (robbed a bit by the engine), truck-like rear window, SLIDING DOORS, sliding windows, inverted hazard light switch, engine hours counter, roll cage, bullbar, and of course, 1 less wheel = weight savings. Combining the best and coolest part of everything.
Not to mention the power to weight ratio! 60 hp in a 1500lb vehicle is not bad at all. With a bit of modding, it could easily be made even lighter. Maybe even more powerful!
Period!
Using the mileage and engine hour gauges, this thing has had an average speed of 5.7 mph over the course of its life.
Excellent
I imagine sometimes it was stationary while engine hours went up. That means this thing must've been doing 20+ at some points!
Thanks for this interesting observation. That is quite a quirky stat.
from the perspective of a professional designer this is farrrrr more interesting than some new hypercar! love this
This is why I watch Doug's videos, everyone is reviewing the latest cars, you get special stuff on this channel.
He's Irregular Car Reviews.
Doug this is a dream come true. Growing up in a big city all I’ve ever wanted was to drive these little machines. Some people remember the first Lamborghini or Ferrari they ever saw, me, I remember the first time I ever saw this beautiful tricycle. I’ve had dreams about driving through the traffic of the city, stopping, and ruining peoples days just to full my quota. Wow, I’m getting chills just thinking about it. Absolutely a piece of art. Thank you Doug, from the bottom of my heart.
Bruh💀
*This* is the best comment on the video...
It's the ultimate gocart 🤣
Ayo bruh 💀
Watch until the end for the blooper. Love knowing that he's all by himself and still uncontrollably laughing at the 120mph speedometer. Doug, you're a treasure. Thank you for all the work you put into these.
Doug seemed like he was on the verge of cracking up during most of the Quirks & Features presentation because he was.
I’d soooo be down to watch more quirky videos like this. No other TH-camrs cover these type of vehicles so it’s always nice. I wouldn’t worry about people wanting to see the newest, fastest cars, I could probably say most of us watch you for YOU, not the specific cars you review! Also, old cars is what gave way to future cars. I’d rather see you review a model t than a model y douggy!
This x1000000
This is stuff he used to do
For every one 500k-million dollar super car he'd do a weird retro car or weird car In general because of Doug he caused my algorithm to introduce to me someone he featured Robert Dunn who's Trabant was reviewed by Doug.
RegularCars reviewed a USPS-style mail truck this year (grumman LLV). It's a great era for quirky car reviews on youtube!
I wanna see somebody throw like 2 18 inch subwoofers in the back and put some daytons on it…
For anyone who is curious, most of the parts on this came from the Hyundai Atos, including the drivetrain and the "city bus" pattern seats. I'm not sure where the headlights come from though. They look similar to the Subaru Sambar lights, but different.
The front headlights i think they are from a mid 90's Kia Besta. Also, all the interior parts come straight from the Atos, including the hazard light button (mounted backwards)
What about the garlic cap on the reservoir?
I confirm that, we had one of those Atos here in México, I recognize that because of the wheeldrive, botons, engine, seat and speedometer. It was such a great car but very unsafe on roads, we actually have a Renault Duster and a Renault Kwid.
hyundai atos is the car i learned driving stick with. gave it quite the bashing
It makes you wonder if they bought parts or just dismantled an Atos to build each one.
Doug, I love that you review old cars and oddball stuff like this. It shows your passion for vehicles and gives your channel a sense of "perspective" that is unique among reviewers for the most part.
I was at a shop that was contracted to work on a small fleet of these, around when the Interceptor II was new; 2008ish, give or take. With all the options, like the light bar and comms radio, I was told by our liason that these were costing the city of Seattle around $50K apiece, at the time. Ridiculous overpricing for what should have just been done with a Cushman.
Almost every job they came in for was some sort of recall-based upgrade. It quickly became apparent that whoever was engineering these vehicles couldn't possibly have had experience in road automobile design. And the build quality was also shaky, at best. I mean, for one thing, the non-ignition locks are super basic wafer locks, like these carried by just about every hardware store or auto parts store. For $50K they couldn't even bother to make sure each vehicle had matched locks - necessitating the handful of keys for everything. It's incredibly unstable; whatever the governor speed was, it was still high enough to be easily tipped up onto two wheels. One or two of them had the absurd problem of incorrectly made wiring harnesses, i.e. a green wire at the engine computer could be a yellow wire at the other end! It made diagnostic work incredibly difficult, and the Canadians would ship us an entire replacement vehicle wiring assembly.
The motorcycle-type fork, custom-made or customized for the wide car tire... which itself is stupid to have used here - you need a tire with a rounded cross-section, like a motorcycle has, for steering with a fork. The more squared-off, flat treaded tire will lean when turning, both immediately reducing traction during turning and increasing low-speed steering effort.
But worst of all, the first iteration of the front suspension had _brass_ bushings! Horrid ride and harshness, plus, being soft metal, they would permanently deform when driving over rough surfaces. Of course, this immediately let to looseness, rattling and clunking... And the first time this happened, the manufacturer sent out replacements... _still made of brass!_ Only after this happened a couple of times, in the vehicle's first couple of road miles no less, they finally made and sent out a set of hard rubber bushings, which anyone who knows any basic level of vehicle knowledge would have done from day one. The only place you find a brass bushing on an automobile is something like a pilot bearing for a transmission input shaft, or something else that supports a spinning shaft... Never, ever, for something that needs to survive lateral impact.
I think these vehicles are a ripoff, and the contracts for manufacturing them should have gone to an established US manufacturer that would not have screwed around by leaving the developmental road testing for the paying customer to do on their tax-money-supported time!
I loved the outtake at the end!
Interesting details.
The amount of insight into this vehicle is great, this comment deserves way more likes.
B R U H! $50k?! Jeeeesus...
At my last job (IT at a college campus), my department bought a Kubota RTV-X1100C for only $19,500... (There were probably a dozen of em around campus for other departments too.)
That thing also had a top speed of 25mph (though I could hit 30 on even a slight downhill), powered by a 25HP (53lb-ft) 3-cylinder diesel engine. It also had part-time 4-wheel-drive with locking differential, automatic (hydrostatic) transmission, power steering, and everything else that a typical cheap car would have: Air conditioning/heat/defrost, AM/FM radio with CD/bluetooth/aux, windshield wiper with washer, locking doors with roll-down windows, hydraulic dump bed, full automotive lights/signals, etc. They even had a standard 17-digit VIN, and could be registered as a Low-Speed Vehicle in my state (our campus didn't register ours, but a neighboring college campus did). Plus it had two seats (complete with seatbelts! and the driver's seat was adjustable too), yet it was still narrow enough to fit between the bollards which prevent motor vehicles from entering a walkway (which of course was a big point of these - we got them specifically to drive on the sidewalks, lol).
All that for under $20k, not $50k.... and that even included a few optional extras! For example, our campus standard for the Kubota included the roof strobe light, front pushbar, and a couple other things, plus my department added the optional radio, since we were responsible for the campus's FM radio station.
Oh, and it was built from the ground up by the OEM, not cobbled together by a third party who couldn't even be bothered to cover the Hyundai logos, lol. ;)
@@kutter_ttl6786 wall of text
Not surprised Seattle spending that much on a glorified go kart. I wonder how many parking tickets it took to recoup the cost of just one of these?
And that's why I love Doug. He has hypercars available to him and he decided to review a meter magnum.
doug is the type of guy that
chills when driving a million dollar hypercar
but terrified when driving a 3 wheeled car in the rain
I'd be MORTIFIED if I had to drive that in San Francisco on a DUNNY day!
A 3-wheeled $700 car! 🤣
"This is a mid-engine vehicle with a center driver seat like the McLaren F1."
Gotta love the thoughtfulness and generosity of that man.
I'm absolutely in love with this dinky little thing lol. I'd love to have something like this to pop down to the local grocery store and back. It really looks like something out of an 80's science fiction movie (the exterior does anyway). I love the industrial design of it, the exposed roll cage and all the exposed screws and fittings like on the rearview mirrors, all the straight lines etc. If you painted it black it wouldn't look out of place on an imperial star destroyer from the original star wars movies, being driven by some imperial officer inspecting the tie-fighter bays
I have one 3 years now, 2001, and absolutely love it. I use it for all my errands. I feel safe driving at under 50mph. It is the coolest car I have ever owned.
Nice lol
How does one go about making this purchase?
Surplus auction?
Just don't make any quick turns or hit any potholes at 50mph!
7:09
We clown on the meter maid but ngl as someone on a fixed budget this would be perfect for groceries
This is absolutely hilarious. The sheer terror when Doug is first driving is the best.
I wanted to see him role it 🤣🤣
Yes, he's making "the face" for entirely different reasons here.
One seat, mid-rear engine, rear wheel drive, 680 kg.s of weight... You can always claim you have a Formula 1 in the garage.
Anyway, this is th exact review we want from Doug. We like supercar ones, but the fact he also reviews these weird things is what distinguishes him.
Imagine if someone claim they have a Formula 1 in the garage, but see a three-wheel interceptor in their garage.
This pretty much reminds me of the Ibishu Pigeon from Beamng.Drive.
F1 cars are even heavier now than this thing, They weigh around 780 kg
The drivetrain, interior dash cluster, column and seat/fabric appear to have been taken directly from a late 90's Hyundai Atoz.
The seat fabric is standard Hyundai Atoz trim, not from a bus.
We got the Atoz in the UK, it was pretty terrible although popular with older drivers as the tall body made it easy to get in and out from.
Same
Ohhh Doug we love you. Please don't stop doing older cars. I will watch this video twice to help the analytics.
MUCH LOVE FROM THE UK 🇬🇧❤️
Anyone else catch that one of the fluid reservoirs in the front used a cap from a jar of minced garlic? 😂 Fantastic review, Doug!
Lol yea I think it was the washer fluid?
Lmfao I did as well! I was specifically looking for your comment
Was just going to say that
Definitely sticks out 🙂
I love how Doug enjoys reviewing such mundane vehicles like this just as much if not moreso than exotic supercars.
It looks like a tram tractor that pulls tram cars at Disneyland parking lot.
If you like reviews of odd and/or mundane vehicles you should look up a channel called aging wheels. It's pretty EV focused as the guy who does the channel likes them, but he does reviews and looks at a nice variety of vehicles.
10:29 I recall in an episode of How It's Made, where they built city buses using a similar fabric, that these odd designs were actually to "deter" (or at least hide) vandalism. I instantly thought "city bus" the moment I saw that seat, lol.
I had a coworker who bought one at an auction solely to get the mail with, as he lives in the middle of nowhere with a driveway nearly a mile long. Eventually it fell into disrepair and he upgraded to getting the mail with a clapped out MR2 he got for $500
I hope his driveway doesn't have any curves... that would make getting the mail quite sketchy.
@@TakuroSpirit77 question is… which is more dangerous around turns? A 3 wheeled interceptor or a mid engined Toyota?
I would have MR2 swapped the meter maid car 🙃
Does he only use the mr2 for mail? That seems like a waste of an mr2 to me
@@notrotom it's an '87 and it's not really roadworthy enough to register and insure, but it has heat and gets the mail, and he can use it to teach his kids to drive stick when they're older
Casual car enthusiast: “The Mclaren F1 is the only midengined car with a central driving position”.
Doug in Yoda voice: “No, there is another”.
Doug, I remember your recent video describing how it often rains when you are on a tight deadline. This must be one of those times. I'm all for meter maid car reviews! I'm very much interested in micromobility transportation. I would love a review of the Citroen Ami if you ever get to France.
@18:15 I would say that the door rails would be a high wear area 😬 maybe they make them long so that they can swap them over L to R when worn out 😉😎
That minced garlic jar lid being used to cover the windshield washer fluid reservoir had me laughing hard for too long!
16 hours and 250,000 views. Doug they’re decent numbers. You gotta keep doing these vids. Ok, overall they don’t come close to new car vids but this is what makes you Doug DeMuro and the only car reviewer most of us watch…look man it a Doug DeMuro thing and I can tell your having fun, it comes across. I’m smiling through the whole thing. Love your work.
listen to the people doug!
I disagree with a 1 for practicality. Yeah its 3 wheels and its 1 seat, but it's also got a massive cargo area, and realistically has to be pretty good on gas... that's gotta be worth something.
This looks like it could be redesigned I to something that could be for light duty
It probably has a tight turning radius and is easy to park
It'd be super handy for popping down to the supermarket
@Simoxs7 the part about the Piaggio Apé is so true, I mean, we have a lot of this vehicle here in the Philippines.
The cargo area didn't look massive, objectively. It looked quite decent for a vehicle that tiny and made for a purpose where cargo doesn't need to exist, but that's it. If the thing was electric, without the engine eating a lot of space from the middle/back, then the cargo area would have been surprisingly spacious.
This is why I love dougs channel who Else is doing an In-depth review of a meter maid car. I love that he does the every man can and not just Luxury cars
RCR: "Here's a car you can never review Doug" *Mailtruck*
Doug: "I raise you THIS Meter Maid Car".
This vehicle has 7939.2 hours on its engine and 45337.9 miles on the odometer. Assuming that it has only had the single engine and never had an odometer reset this means the vehicle's average speed was 5.7 miles per hour.
Considering that, I don't know if the vehicle was even worth it over just having the meter maids walk.
Average can be kind of misleading. Maybe the parking officer travelled at 25 to get to a certain neighborhood, and then drove at parade-float speeds the rest of the day.
Also, the large trunk might have been used to carry parking boots or other equipment that would be a chore to schlep around on foot.
How many applicants do you think Parking Enforcement would get if the job involved walking 30 miles a day?
@@spyone4828 How fucked is America that having to walk is abhorrent?
@@spyone4828 NYC has walking parking enforcement
@@zedlyfe Not every city is NYC
This is the kind of content that I come here for. I mean it too, i love it when Doug does reviews of cars that you never see reviews of.
totaly, i can watch reviews about a new Audi on so many channels, but they seldom show such niech und quirky things
Doug Demuro does the meter maid car and RCR does the NYC taxi. TH-cam car reviews don’t align in the cosmos like this very often, and who knows if they ever will again. What a time to be alive.
"The interceptor is uncomfortable, impractical, slow, dangerous, and lacking in any decent equipment and luxuries. Naturally therefore, I think it's wonderful." Gotta love him.
the Lateral Thrust Indicator is a great idea, it should be implemented on all reliant robins
Jeremy Clarson would suely agree. What I don't get about that instrument: When you're entering a bend too fast and that thing goes off, isn't it too late to do anything useful at that point? Braking when alread in the turn usually not a good idea.
@@andreasu.3546 Ideally it would be set BEFORE the roll level. So like say 90% of what it would take to roll. If you're ever in a turn where you're going too fast then just let off the gas. When your tires are turned like that you have a lot more drag than you would normally. You can also lightly put your foot on the brake for a bit more as well if you really need it.
I haven't laughed this hard and I've seen quite a few reviews...well done Doug. I can see the terror in your eyes during the drive 😂
this is so much more interesting than a cyber truck review. thank you for this doug, im honestly getting emotional just watching this. thank you
I love how much fun you can tell Doug is having with this. You can really tell every time he says "in the Interceptor TWO!"
Thank you Doug for working so hard in the sun and in the rain just to bring us all such awesome videos! I've been watching you since the pandemic started and I love the way you present your videos! Love from Sydney, Australia
Doug to this day my favorite video you've ever made was of the vintage Aston Martin Lagonda. That car was SO QUIRKY. I love the off beat weird cars you review. Thank you for producing such quality content.
Mine too. Lagonda was the first video I saw on this channel! And then Trabant. :)))
Could agree more! How awesome was that Lagonda! Hopefully one day he'll be able to do a review in the series 1 and 2 Lagonda's.
I'd like to see him review a Tucker!
@@marcbee1234 yeah that'd be awesome too!
I hate to be **that guy** but its Aston Martin
I'm actually having flashback, I drove one of these around for 3 years as a meter maid. Now I realize it was fun to drive, lol!! Thanks for this review Doug!!
I feel that the mid engine as well as the seating position would help stability. Thus keeping the vehicle from easily rolling over. However I feel the car would understeer in wet conditions while traveling at a higher velocity. Great review, I found this very enjoyable to watch. Thanks Douggy
It actually handles even better in the wet. I can do burnouts and drifts in the wet haha
@@thatmetermaid6865 How did you come to find out that the lid to your garlic fit perfectly over your wiper fluid reservoir?
@@thomascortes968 Haha so actually it just sits on top. And somehow never fallen off, and it was there when I bought it.
Gotta love DeMuro. its nice too see someone stick on his own values
With 7939.2 working hours and 45.337 miles on the clock, the historical average speed for this vehicle is 5.7mph (9.14 kph).
You are the hero we didn't know we needed.
Doug the type of guy to forget that his fans don’t want 5 unskippable ads in the first 5 minutes and 16 seconds of a meter maid car review.
If the car industry ever meant to create a car specifically for Doug... well folks, here it is.
He's perfectly happy, as long as there's a CUP HOLDER
PLEASE keep doing gigs like this! They are just as interesting, often WAY MORE than the latest sports car/sedan/...etc. Even though I love all vehicles, it's THESE types of vehicles that really get my juices flowin.
Keep "weird n' quirky" content up!!!!
NYPD used these vehicles for officers when I was young..
Mostly in public parks but I remember seeing these as a kid, and always wanted one..
Cool content
They still do. Sitting in this thing probably beats standing on foot in the rain!
I still see them around New York, more so Brooklyn but definitely still around :)
There’s a photo of one surrounded rubble after 9/11. I think I saw it in a book or something but I’m sure you can find it online.
I too have an ‘04 Gopher and it’s my daily driver. I too live in San Diego. I love this goofy little car. In the beginning it is terrifying but you get used to it pretty quick. It’s a fantastic little grocery getter. Here by the beach its perfect for short runs to the store. Like the one reviewed here, I cranked up the governor on mine. I drive it regularly on the freeway. The fastest I’ve had mine is 78mph but it’s scary at that speed. Any evasive maneuver and you will probably end up on your side.
Some precautions include taking turns slow. It likes to fishtail if you take a turn too fast. Be careful driving in the rain. These will slide if you hit the brakes hard. The mileage is nowhere near 50mpg. Possibly when used for their purpose but daily city and highway driving is about 27 mpg.
It does attract attention both good and bad. I get a lot of people asking about it and a lot of people don’t like them. I’ve had homeless people threatening to throw their water bottles at me, people say bad words to me and show me I’m number one with their middle finger.
A number of people want to ask me or blame me for a parking ticket. One old man literally chased me to complain about a car that was parked more than 72 hours in front of his house.
Me and a buddy who has one went for a long distance ride. We drove them from San Diego to Virginia City, Nv. 1200 miles but we did it. Our butts and throttle knees were aching at the end of the trip. We would drive sitting almost 90 degrees while extending our throttle knee out the open door for a few miles to relive the pain. It was fun though. These are not meant for long distance driving.
I’m keeping mine. It’s a fun little machine.
It would be really cool for you to review a street sweeper! I have driven one and it is crazy how many switches and gadgets are in them. it would be hilarious watching you describe all the way they build them so you can drive it from both seating positions.
This video alone is going to buy Doug a nice vacation, and I'm absolutely here for it. What a delightful "car" to review!
Doug gave practicality a 1 even though it’s got terrific gas mileage and a huge boot/trunk. Other than that, I agree with his opinions and I certainly enjoyed watching this video! I too love the quirky stuff.
Look, if the car kills you if you happen to turn the steering wheel too much, even a 1 on practicality is too much!
If your business objective is to enforce parking regulations and you have a limited budget, this thing seems like it is extremely practical.
@@WitticismGeneratorpfft... an electric golf cart would be more practical, and safer.
(see also the $900 EV Chinese car on youtube)
In the UK we had electric vehicles back in the 1960's and 70's...the Milk Float. You knew what frustration meant to be stuck in your car behind a Milk float on a milk delivery round :) Tp speed 5mph...
I see so much potential for customizing one of these. Fat rear tires/rims, chromed roll cage, candy paint, custom audio, supercharged GM 3800. That would be so much fun.
"Lacking in decent amenities..."
Come on, it comes with a solid steel cupholder! Already beating anything GM from the period.
A Thrust Indicator for a vehicle governed to 35mph, brilliant.
And it has a pen holder. Does your Honda Civic have a pen holder? No? Well there we go!
it needs a flux capacitor to enable time travel!!
Doug never disappoints
I know this is old; but man, this is why I watch your channel. I am not interested in any other channel at this point. Very entertaining!
I also remember seeing these as NYPD vehicles, not just for parking enforcement!! So the storage compartment was definitely useful
Amazing, I never knew I’d be this interested in this vehicle. I’ve seen these for years and never gave them a second thought. Thanks Doug
This is the best review ever, Doug should do more of these type of reviews
Watch the Isetta video. Early Doug.
I have an ex-NYPD one here in Florida. Here it's registered as a motorcycle (no insurance needed) and with my roads being a max of 55mph, and I'm 10 miles from a store. This is a very practical "extra" vehicle to use when mom has the kids in the Highlander. Massive money savings and a self contained "motorcycle" that I can do errands with. Even tow a small trailer. I like to park it in the "Police only" spot at Walmart.
Its amazing how doug still finds "new" cars to present us so frequently
I love Doug’s dedication to this review, he even looks like someone you would expect to drive a metermaid!
Yeah, it was designed to drive 5mph to check meters and parking. But remember - these were generally kept at a central garage (usually creatively titled "Central Garage" in many cities) and a user had to drive out to the specific neighborhood they would patrol. They got these up to governor speed frequently!
Doug showed this thing more enthusiasm than every other driver of one combined.
This is my favorite Doug review video. When he starts cracking up, so do I! Lol, it’s therapeutic.
I love how happy he is for this WHOLE interview. So much joy! These weird cars are the best reviews to see.
The gage cluster, fan speed dial, even the seat with this fabrik is from a '98 Hyundai Atos. The smallest Hyundai sold in Europe at the moment.
This is actually a pretty practical vehicle when you come to think of it. If you're only carrying a couple of people or maybe a few bags of groceries, you don't need a massive vehicle. Most Americans live in urban areas, and I would like to see these things become more popular in cities as taxis, delivery vehicles, and even car-share vehicles.
Probably already been said but, the extra large cargo area is sometimes used for keeping the "parking boot" to lock your car down if you don't pay your tickets. Not sure if they can hold more than one. I used to live in downtown Eugene Oregon (AKA parking hell) and I've seen them install one more than once. Usually they also have some kind of electric impact gun for putting them on too. (maybe it plugs in to the outlet in the console?) Also, I have seen one tipped over from hard cornering before so maybe that sensor is a good idea. Two people jumped out of their car and got it upright again pretty quickly though. Driver was kind of shaken up but drove it away.
Most of the controls (steering wheel, instruments, switches, even the upside down hazard button AND the seats), are from the Hyundai Atos (also called Santro, Amica, Atoz). It was supposed to be looking like a kei car but not exactly one. Always had 0.8, 1.0, 1.1. L engines. Funny thing is that a friend of mine just got one less than a month ago, for fun, and she got her cat stolen... Now it's straight piped and sounds amazing. I've driven it, and it's pathetic slow, with the brakes being spongy, and the a/c cutting all the power :P Also, in my country, Greece, Gatos (Γάτος) is the male cat, and they said we got the "Atos" version of the name, because the front looked like one?!?! Yeah it's crazy.
Was scared for a moment cuz of how I parsed "got her cat stolen"
Thank you Doug. Always wondered what they were like inside and to drive, and now I won't have to go to jail to find out. I'm sure this won't be one of your top videos, but for us car enthusiasts. You give us the content we crave.
18:32 thats actually a retro reflective sticker. Reflectors on cars dont have to be actual reflectors, they just have to reflect x amount of light back to be dot certified.
This is why I keep an eye on Doug! No one does videos about these oddities that also deserve a place in our hearts.
This and the Grumman LLV have got to be my favorite Doug reviews. Something about government vehicles just hits the spot for me.
Since when did he review the mail truck? Are you not thinking of the Nissan S-Cargo?
You must be thinking of the regular cars LLV Review
For $2,000 getting 50 mpg, I think I can see why sonebody in a small village or city would pick one up. I imagine for just having something to park at the train station or to run errands, this would tick the box and pair well with a more practical family SUV.
It also seems like a decent solution for someone who is mobility impaired, but not to the degree that a wheelchair is called for. If you just need to run to the post office or get one bag of groceries from the store, a car is more than you need and keeping a car may be more than you can afford, but not everyone can pedal a bike and mobility scooters tend to be terribly slow.
If I want to watch a video about a vehicle that I may never own, I at least want it to be something as lovely and plain as this. Thank you, Doug
I'm 20 seconds into this review, and it's already the best you've ever done. Please! I beg of you! More stupid, pointless, ridiculous vehicle reviews!
This is the closest Doug will get to review a Reliant Robin! Going 73 MPH in THIS must have been terrifying.
Well, if Doug wants to review a Reliant Robin (or a Trabant), all he has to do is ring up Robert Dunn of Aging Wheels/Under Dunn.
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They do have some (inadvertent) shared history, as both of them have reviewed could be considered to be the Most Famous Yugo on TH-cam; Tavarish had also reviewed it, but he bought it a couple of years ago, he and Jared Pink (of Tavarish's second channel, Wrench Every Day) fixed and hotrodded it up, and gave it to Robert, but Robert has since sold that Yugo on.
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Imagine your chill drive on highway being interrupted by the mighty interceptor 2!
Doug, I’ve been watching your content since 2014. The beauty of your channel is that your viewers will watch your reviews, whether you’re reviewing a Pagani or a…meter maid car. I love how you review these types of cars. That makes you the most unique car reviewer out there. Keep up the good work!
As much as I respect the doug score, the "Cool Factor" should be a 10.