It's the 100th Anniversary of the Ford Model T rolling off the assembly line and being put on the market for $825. That much money went a lot further back in the day, but the mass-produced car is considered the first affordable automobile.Horseless buggies have come a long way since then, though there are still various manufacturers developing more and more affordable vehicles. Take for instance, India's Tata Nano, which is sold brand new for $2,500.
This got us wondering -- are there any new cars that are cheaper? There are. Are they legal in the U.S.? They aren't. Do the Chinese make popular knockoffs of other brands? Absolutely, it's pictured above. Want to know more? Check out our a gallery of subcompacts from around the world, ranging from $15,000 to $2,400. You could own one for pennies a month, and even park the little guy in your living room.
Cheap Cars Around The World
A joint venture with Toyota the Citroen C1 is a popular city car, and the priciest on our list. It has a low carbon footprint and is perfect for bombing around Paris.
Price: $15,000
wintonsworld.com
As of January 2008, the only car legal in America that you could park inside somebody else's mini van. The Smart ForTwo is as popular as the mini dog in Paris Hilton's purse. Just don't take it on the highway.
Price: $12,000
about.com
An affordable sedan with room for 5, the Chevy Aveo gets you 34 MPG on the highway and was made originally by Daewoo. It certainly looks better than the mail truck you've been considering. And it's street legal, unlike many of the cars to come.
Price: $11,000
chevrolet.com
The 5-person Hyundai Getz hatchback has become popular in India, although a hybrid version is available in South Korea and there are plans for an electric version in New Zealand.
Price: $9400
zcars.com.au
The Fiat Palio travels the globe before it hits the road, made in Brazil and sold in India. Models that stay in Brazil are multifuel, so you could probably fill them up with local rum. The Weekend, shown above, is wagon. The standard Palio is a hatchback.
Price: $9200
Fiat-india.com
Hyundai i10
Hyundai is India's third largest car company and hopes the i10 will steal some of the glory of the Tata Nano.
Price: $9100
wikimedia.org
It started out as the first car from India but the Tata Indica has been exported to Europe as well. Like most of the subcompacts in this list, the Indica is a hatchback with a manual transmission. Tata completely eclipsed the success of the Indica with the Nano.
Price: $8500
namastecitytour.com
Just like the country where it was made, the Yugo no longer exists. It was introduced to the United States in the 80's for a mind-blowing $2K, which would cost about $6800 now, far less than anything new you could get Stateside. On the minus side, the 1985 GV was rated as one of Time Magazine's Worst Cars of All Time.
chartertn.net
The Renault Logan is Renault's love child with Romanian firm Dacia and can be had for cheap. Romanian labor unions have recently shut down production because of low wages, so this one might start costing as much as the French equivalent.
Price $6100
renault-dacia-logan.com
Based on an 80's Daihatsu, the ChineseGeely HQ gets a solid 36 MGP and goes the blistering speed of 52 MPH. Unlike the other subcompacts it has a little extra room for cargo, so it stands as China's equivalent to the SUV.
Price: $5800
vicky.in



























Comments:
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Saturday 04 October
By alson taylor
Why aren't these cars legal in America and what needs to be done to get them here? If the environment is the issue, every new owner could buy an acre of rain forest. If safety, well screw that. This is the land of freedom of choice.
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Sunday 05 October
By jarvis
The reason why these cars are not available in the USA is the safety / crash standards that our government sets. These cars would never pass the standards and thus would no be acceptable for state inspection/registration. It would like trying to register a "home made" vehicle with your insurance company and/or state motor vehicle dept.
Sunday 05 October
By gerry924
The reason why these cars are not available in the USA is the safety
/ crash standards that our government sets. These cars would never
pass the standards and thus would no be acceptable for state
inspection/registration. It would like trying to register a "home
made" vehicle with your insurance company and/or state motor vehicle
dept.
Saturday 04 October
By bob wong
junk!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
Sunday 05 October
By DANIEL L GOMEZ
IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, FORD ALREADY MANUFACTURES A CAR THAT GETS 65 MPH BUT DOES NOT SELL IT IN THE USA.I BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE WEALTHY THAT PROFIT FROM INVESTING IN OIL THAT CONTROL WHAT VEHICLES WE ARE GIVEN ACCESS TO.THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE CONTINUOUSLY CHEATED AND DEPRIVED OF PRODUCTS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE LITTLE MAN SO THAT THE RICH CAN DRIVE AS MANY GAS GUZZELERS AS THEY CAN PURCHASE.I AM A BIKER AND I HAVE MADE MY MOTORCYCLE MY PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION AND IT IS A HARLEY.I DO ALSO HAVE A FAMILY VEHICLE WHICH IS DRIVEN LESS AND MOSTLY FOR SHORTER DISTANCES.WHAT IN THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO THIS COUNTRY?
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Saturday 04 October
By path
Looks like there is NO MORE Freedom of speech.. We have to watch out what we say do and post. That to me we are living under scrutiny everyday..and one day if you do not agtee to what someone else says your out of here. look at the islam nation soon we will be one of them
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Saturday 04 October
By Karen S.
I have the Smart Car..and you can buy these in the States. Cheap on gas and fun to drive. I get about 56 on highway and 42 in the city. go to smartcar.com and check out the web site.
Reply
Saturday 04 October
By Rod Clark
How much is a smart car
Monday 24 August
By Stephen Gatlin
A SMART car is about 12-18 thousand. I love mine. All I can say. Very high gas mileage if you drive the speed limit (a curiosity) and as safe as any small car. Plus they are made by Mercedes in France, and mine has given no trouble whatever over the past year.
Saturday 04 October
By Nancy
Auto makers in the USA should be ashamed for not offering these types vehicles to the consumers who gave them their profits in the first place! We need vehicles w/great gas mileage as well as the next person.. get your acts in gear(literally) for us too. I am about ready to ditch my car & start thinking about the good old days- horses and a much more peaceful way of moving on the road.. freedom of choice i agree- change some trade tariffs & GET US THESE CARS---NOW!!
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Saturday 04 October
By Karen S.
Its around $13,500.00 and you can add extras like heated seats, moon roof or convertable..and then the bumper to bumper warranty. I have mine LOADED and I have the warranties and road side assistance and I payed $18,000.00. Go to the site and it will give you all of the info. Mine is blue and black trim. The body is made by mercedes and the frame is by Penski (I think I spelled that right)
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Saturday 04 October
By watdakuk
It`s Penske.
Sunday 05 October
By Roy Smythe
Vote them out in the Nov.4th election.Republican or dem like them or not If they voted yes for the outhouse bailout vote them OUT. our chance to send a message. 90% of the public was against it but they passed it anyway. should have taken more time and got it right.VOTE THEM OUT.
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Saturday 04 October
By Curious
Interesting article..One wonders the labor involved to create such a product..child labor possibly? .15 an hour and a bowl of rice?
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Sunday 05 October
By MalloyalOne
If we ever get oner of those, I already know what the licence will read.
Car2 D2
And it will be silver with blue trim!
Mal
Reply
Sunday 05 October
By Cobra
Let's see....hmm. First buy a $2000 golf cart. Add a cheap $500.00 motor. There ya go....All done! ...and for $2500. Oh, btw, you better increase that life insurance before driving it! The U.S. would never allow a new car on the road that only costs $2500. You'd have to have at least $1000.00 worth of safety features on it....if you could add them that cheaply. Safty glass, bumpers, seat belts, extra rear brake light, high and low beams, and a catalytic converter for the environment (if it's gas)just for starters. I know that the catalytic converter would add over $400.00 to the price...and I may be underestimating it's cost since the price of "Platinum" has skyrocketed with most other precious metals. Heck, just the rims and tires on my 1998 car were over $5000.00 from the factory and that was 10 years ago! I don't want to drive anything as cheap as the vehicles this story is describing in America. It would be a horrible death trap for anyone in it. I might as well get a motorcycle and have a chance of getting out of someone's way first. (I've heard of some no-name motorcycle company in Fla that will sell you a slow 200 cruiser motorcycle in the $2000.00 range but don't try to get your bike fixed under warranty and don't even think about returning it either...(personal friend's experience)!!
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Sunday 05 October
By ed
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THESE SMALL CARS IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY A CASKET WHEN YOU DIE INSIDE. THEY PICK UP THE CAR AND BURY YOU IN IT.
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Tuesday 04 August
By Boat Rod
The smart cars I've seen aren't really as fuel efficient and safety smart as you would think. I wasn't impressed when I looked into one seriously about 5 months back
Reply
Tuesday 04 August
By Bob
I would agree. I would never want my wife or kids in such a compact bubble no matter how attractive the fuel efficiency.
Bob
www.boatauctionsinfo.com
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