Wildfire 650 Car and Pickup Truck Trikes

[SpudRider]

The Wildfire 650 is a Chinese trike configured as a car or pickup truck that comes equipped with the following accessories: AM/FM Radio with Cassette Player, Sun Roof, Four Door with Hatch Back, Front and Rear Heater, Tire Jack and Spare Tire. The MSRP on the car is $7,781, and the MSRP on the pickup truck is $7,166.



The dealer with the largest inventory of Wildfire vehicles maintains the following website:

http://www.wildfiremotors.com//index.ph ... &Itemid=75









Although Car and Driver Magazine was unimpressed with the fit and finish of the Wildfire 650, it certainly is an interesting vehicle.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/co ... 0_c_column

Spud

[Jim]

I'm just wondering who decided to put a cassette player in this thing? And who things that is a feature?

[SpudRider]

I'm just wondering who decided to put a cassette player in this thing? And who things that is a feature?

I think the factory workers need the cassette player to entertain themselves during vehicle assembly. The reviewer at Car and Driver Magazine made the following observation, “Our test vehicle’s stereo was preloaded with a cassette of Asian music, possibly left there inadvertently by Wildfire’s director of quality control, whose philosophy on fit and finish might well be, “How about we just finish?”

Another reviewer at the bottom of the Car and Driver Magazine article states, “A used car dealer here is selling them....I stopped and looked at their line up this morning out of curiosity. The "bodywork" looked like cottage cheese (dents, waffled body edges) and there was already rust dripping down the sides. Lug nuts were rusted over. Interior metal already had surface rust showing...good gas mileage isn’t worth this! I actually thought they were used Chinese vehicles that has been dolled up and been brought over here to be used on farms....how they can get a plate to drive these on the roads is beyond me.” [sic]

I read somewhere else that you need to carefully inspect the Wildfire for dents before you purchase one.

Nevertheless, this vehicle represents an interesting concept for thriftyriders. Perhaps the people at Wildfire, or someone else, will soon concentrate on building a quality trike.

Spud

[Jim]

Oh it does for sure, and that may be why they have them, but they do have CD's in China don't they? MP3's maybe too? At least it isn't an 8 track or record player

The price seems a little high though doesn't it? What does a base model Cobalt cost in USD?

I assume the reason it is a 3 wheeler, instead of 4, is simply so they don't have to comply to the stricter safety and air quality standards of a car?

[az200cc]

Friends don't let friends drive cars like that

[SpudRider]

...they do have CD's in China don't they? MP3's maybe too? At least it isn't an 8 track or record player

The price seems a little high though doesn't it? What does a base model Cobalt cost in USD?

I assume the reason it is a 3 wheeler, instead of 4, is simply so they don't have to comply to the stricter safety and air quality standards of a car?

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if cassette tapes are still being used in China. I just replaced the Blaupunkt AM/FM/Cassette player that was connected to the CD changer in my automobile. I purchased that audio system in Oregon in 2001, which was not that long ago. However, the young audio technician who installed my new Clarion CD player was amazed at the cassette player. He asked, "Do you ever use that thing?" And don't laugh about the 8 track players, Jim! I remember very well when they were hot items! However, I never heard of anyone putting a record player in an automobile.

Given the quality control, I do agree that the price seems high. However, a base model Chevrolet Cobalt coupe or sedan starts at $16,330 in The United States.

http://www.chevrolet.com/cobalt/?seo=go ... balt_price

These vehicles are classified as trike motorcycles, so they do not need to meet the stricter air and safety standards for automobiles.

Spud

[SpudRider]

Friends don't let friends drive cars like that

It's not a car, AZ. It's a motorcycle.

Spud

[az200cc]

...they do have CD's in China don't they? MP3's maybe too? At least it isn't an 8 track or record player

The price seems a little high though doesn't it? What does a base model Cobalt cost in USD?

I assume the reason it is a 3 wheeler, instead of 4, is simply so they don't have to comply to the stricter safety and air quality standards of a car?

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if cassette tapes are still being used in China. I just replaced the Blaupunkt AM/FM/Cassette player that was connected to the CD changer in my automobile. I purchased that audio system in Oregon in 2001, which was not that long ago. However, the young audio technician who installed my new Clarion CD player was amazed at the cassette player. He asked, "Do you ever use that thing?" And don't laugh about the 8 track players, Jim! I remember very well when they were hot items! However, I never heard of anyone putting a record player in an automobile.

Given the quality control, I do agree that the price seems high. However, a base model Chevrolet Cobalt coupe or sedan starts at $16,330 in The United States.

http://www.chevrolet.com/cobalt/?seo=go ... balt_price

These vehicles are classified as trike motorcycles, so they do not need to meet the stricter air and safety standards for automobiles.

Spud

Late fifties Chrysler 300M did come with an optional record player........Now You've heard of it

[SpudRider]

...they do have CD's in China don't they? MP3's maybe too? At least it isn't an 8 track or record player

The price seems a little high though doesn't it? What does a base model Cobalt cost in USD?

I assume the reason it is a 3 wheeler, instead of 4, is simply so they don't have to comply to the stricter safety and air quality standards of a car?

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if cassette tapes are still being used in China. I just replaced the Blaupunkt AM/FM/Cassette player that was connected to the CD changer in my automobile. I purchased that audio system in Oregon in 2001, which was not that long ago. However, the young audio technician who installed my new Clarion CD player was amazed at the cassette player. He asked, "Do you ever use that thing?" And don't laugh about the 8 track players, Jim! I remember very well when they were hot items! However, I never heard of anyone putting a record player in an automobile.

Given the quality control, I do agree that the price seems high. However, a base model Chevrolet Cobalt coupe or sedan starts at $16,330 in The United States.

http://www.chevrolet.com/cobalt/?seo=go ... balt_price

These vehicles are classified as trike motorcycles, so they do not need to meet the stricter air and safety standards for automobiles.

Spud

Late fifties Chrysler 300M did come with an optional record player........Now You've heard of it

My goodness! You're right!

https://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/Se ... mid=550700

Spud

[Jim]

I could have sworn I've seen cars advertised for less, the Cobalt was just me throwing out there what I assumed was a cheaper car.... I thought thought in the USA I've seen ads on tv for cars as low as 8 or 9 thousand? When I bought a new Cavalier back in 04 it was only $12K Canadian... That doesn't seem like much more then these...

I agree they are, interesting, but I actually don't think they look like a good deal, by any standards... Just my opinion though...