"We live in a remote area of ​​central and tired of walking ferrying my son, I am valuing buy one of those quadricycles which are gradually seeing in cities like ours."

"I raises several doubts. ¿They are safe these microcars or quadricycles? ¿Worth buying one of these vehicles or long stay short to the first of change? In short, what are the advantages and disadvantages of a microcar or quadricycle."

Response from our technical expert Luis Miguel Vitoria

Whether or not it is worth we can not advise: depends, of course, use that hagase him. Like almost everything, one microcar or light quadricycle has advantages and disadvantages …. Some motorists associations criticize their fragility, lack of stability and limited means of protection, while others recall that facilitate mobility, especially urban, and spend relatively little. Its maximum speed can not exceed 45 km / h, so that they come to be carrozados moped wheel, at most 50 cm3, with a mass of less than 350 kg vacuum.

More or less popular among elderly people in rural environments and users without a license B, French- their origin, many manufacturers sell them as “cars without a license.” But we must be clear that carry license must hold one o’clock, obtainable from 15 years -to go with a companion have to wait up to 18 years. Make no mistake: they are what they are and offer the offering limited protection except some exceptions, no airbag, ABS or ESP, in addition to a fine frame away the robustness of conventional tourism– as guarantee type organisms EuroNCAP or RACC -there test, as a frontal blow against a Renault Twingo, which shows its vulnerability in ASI- claims. In fact, unless closed or basically self-protection structure roof and lateral counterparts and seat belts, force -are biplaza- occupants are wearing helmet, according to Royal Decree 965/2006; for example, buggy type.

More things: to be mopeds, light quadricycles or microcars are not allowed on highways or freeways, and other roads have to do it the hard shoulder. And, eye, are not a toy, forcing practicing a smooth, progressive and anticipatory driving to avoid bringing stability limit. They are actually made for the city, not to replace cars, so largely, insecurity comes from the bad use made of them.

In this regard, manufacturers and trading firms remember that they are much safer than a moped or scooter, exceeding crash tests under approval and even pass the ITV since 2006. Cheap incidentally, they are not. And is that the average price of a new light quadricycle between 8,000 and 14,000 euros, although there are even 4×4 and all-electric, in which case the rate shoots up to about 23,000 euros.

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