Review written on 8/1964.
Several months ago I thought to my self. "Donut should really make a Microcar that is better than the Chipmunk." Someone at Donut must of been reading my mind because I got my hands on the latest Gray Squirrel and gave it a test spin. I hope it's not as bad as the U2570 but the real question is: "How far behind does it lag to the Chipmunk?"
I was giddy when I heard we were testing Donut Gray Squirrel. On the track this thing is fast. How fast? Notice there are no pictures on this page? That fast! This is one of the fastest Microcar I've ever been in. As impressive as that sounds, the 53 hp @ 3564RPMs 905 cc Radial5 engine is even more impressive. Peddle to the metal, this baby will do 98 mph easily. And in a straight line we hit a 21.574s 0 to 60 mph! When we hooked it up to our test trailer the 63 lb-ft of torque was able to move 57 lbs. Which was very good for a its class. The good thing about the Donut Gray Squirrel is that it's actually handles better than your typical Microcar. Its cornering abilities surpass the norm. So if it's weaving through cars in traffic or trying to do a lap around our track. The Gray Squirrel is a good choice. Mommy can I keep it? Please?!
While the Donut Gray Squirrel won't win any awards, It won't turn heads, and it certainly doesn't have a wow factor. The Gray Squirrel does have a very well design interior. It may not be top end, but it is more than enough for long trips and everyday drivers. It makes you feel good about life. Without feeling pompous.
Getting into the Donut Gray Squirrel can be quite a bit of a pain. Even an amoeba would be claustrophobic in the confines of the Gray Squirrel. With only 12 cu-ft of cargo and passenger space, there is absolutely no place to put anything. Want a to take a suit case? Strap it to the roof. Want to take a child to school? Strap him to the roof. Want a soda... you guessed it. Strap it to the roof! One has to imagine Donut owns a roof rack company somewhere.
While not exactly handmade, Donut did put a bit of extra work into the Gray Squirrel and it shows. Panels actually fit and are made to last. The finish doesn't fade in the sun, and all the bolts have washers. It begs the question why buy a lower quality car every 5 years, and not buy the Donut Gray Squirrel which should last a few generations?
Dog is said to be man's best friend. But that saying isn't true anymore. I propose the Donut Gray Squirrel is truly man's best friend. Not once in our long term testing did it need repair. This vehicle was built to last a life time. It is truly a wonder of the world. Centuries from now people will still probably be driving this thing, that's how rock solid it is.
We wouldn't call the Donut Gray Squirrel a truly 'green' vehicle, but it does get a very good 46.3 mpg city and which will leave your wallet full of greens, and that's good enough for us.
You could really tell the engineers at Donut designed the Gray Squirrel to save lives. This vehicle not only reduces the risk of being killed in it, but reduces the risk of being killed from it. This vehicle should be looked at as a marvel of preventative engineering.
When it comes down to it, the Donut Gray Squirrel is one of the best Microcar on the market. For almost everyone on the looking for a Microcar, you won't find a much better vehicle than the Gray Squirrel. It testing team was astonished by the results. We give it our total and complete recommendation.