Pop N Wood Posted May 19, 2007 Share Posted May 19, 2007 Anybody here own a SMART car? Suppose to be coming to the states next year. A little pricey but at 79 mpg it might work as a commuter car. I have already thought about the safety thing. What I am wondering about is what are they like to drive in the real world? Specifically, what they are like for someone 6' 250 pounds, how are they in snow and what kind of reliability/maintenance headaches are they? I have read the defrosters suck but haven't read anything about the AC. At 0-60 in 22 seconds I figure it won't be a free way car (at least not without a LONG entrance ramp). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted May 19, 2007 Share Posted May 19, 2007 The only reason I wouldnt daily drive one of those is because of the giant vehicle and careless drive habits in the US. If everyone had a vehicle that was approximately that weight, I would drive one, no problem....of course I would make it into a HybridS....something involving my old L28 motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators RTz Posted May 19, 2007 Administrators Share Posted May 19, 2007 Pop, I *thought* I saw them for sale at a nearby dealership about a month ago. I could be wrong, but I'm not sure how I could mistake identifying a car of its... um... high profile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 280ZForce Posted May 19, 2007 Share Posted May 19, 2007 They have some companies that already sell these in the US... I've seen a few around town as well as some other places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mason4300 Posted May 19, 2007 Share Posted May 19, 2007 yup, there's a couple of these around town. Two are plastered with local company stickers, so they're mainly used because they're eye-catching at the moment. Still, I've seen three or four in the area that are for personal use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted May 19, 2007 Share Posted May 19, 2007 Do the ultimate Hybridizing to it...Busa Style... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators BRAAP Posted May 19, 2007 Administrators Share Posted May 19, 2007 Do the ultimate Hybridizing to it...Busa Style... YEAH!!!! I'll take 2, they're small. I Saw another clip of that car beating a Ferrari 430 at the strip. Claims low 12 second 1/4 mile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.I.jonas Posted May 19, 2007 Share Posted May 19, 2007 The only reason I wouldnt daily drive one of those is because of the giant vehicle and careless drive habits in the US Those things are actually rediculously rugged,too much so really.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biYLn47VwJs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted May 19, 2007 Share Posted May 19, 2007 smart cars are great if you live in a large and dense city where you dont really need to see any highway time. While some people in Europe use them as their only transport, they have been banned on some highspeed motorways. I've driven a Smart forfour and must say they are really nice, fun, and zippy enough to get out of its own way. As far as saftey is concerned, check out youtube for the smartcar crash test....it does surprisingly well, the occupants however...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zguy95135 Posted May 19, 2007 Share Posted May 19, 2007 I'd get a Smart roadster / convertable I've actually seen on on the freeway already edit: >_< cant hotlink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 Wow, that hit in the video would turn your brain into chili! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIM73240Z Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 i think i have seen one driving around here with the mercedes logos. or something like it. jimbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TeamNissan Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 I would and WILL take a roadster in a hearbeat. I think it has way more potential for hybriding and to me it looks pretty nice. I always like small cars with that go cart feel, awd mazdas and old minis lol. You can just flip them all over the place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinOlson Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 A local dealer had one market at 29.9k eeek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TeamNissan Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 Ya they are WAY over priced lol. I'll wait to pick up a nice busted up one to rebuild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNeedForZ Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 I have seen a few. They CAN keep up with traffic on the highway, I saw one going as fast as 110kph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete84 Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 The Smart coming to America, officially that is, is the fortwo [sp?]. Fifth Gear did a piece on it, longer wheel base helps on the highway, but it is a bit longer so that the parking nose towards the curb doesn't work in the UK. Parking spaces in the US might be a bit larger on average though . . . . For a heavy commute area, like LA or the Bay Area, I imagine the Smart would rule. For a cross country trip though, I'd take something with more room and comfort. If I ever get stuck in a large metro area, sign me up for one !! Unless Chevy volt doens't get going by that time of course, with that 40K battery priced down to the 2K that it needs to hit lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mray Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 yeah i saw one at my school a few days ago, and it reminded me of the busa hybrid. the dude was blasting music for 2 hrs though. ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayolives Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 A Myrtle Beach, SC company is advertising them for sale at approx. 18K. Safety??????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted May 20, 2007 Author Share Posted May 20, 2007 When it comes to safety I figure it is much more safe than a motorcycle or scooter. I'm a little surprised. I would have thought someone would have brought up the word Humvee by now. This site lists the 3 models they intend to market in the US. $12K to $17K. Seems like a lot for a diesel powered golf cart. One line says the length of the car is about the same as the width of a full sized pickup My work commute is only 10 miles through suburban roads. An occasional freeway jaunt to get from one place to another. There is always the family minivan or Z if I want to go somewhere farther or faster. I am a little worried about reliability with all the electronics. 4 air bars, computer controlled everything. They say it doesn't allow the driver to turn off the stability control or ABS, so doing donuts in the snow would require some manual reprogamming. Maybe I can get the state to give me tax credits to build my own bio diesel distillery in my back yard. I don’t think I would go through a tank of fuel a month (8 gallons). I could become energy self sufficient. I wonder if they have a lawn mower attachments for that thing….. Plus, that car would be a chick magnet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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