46.3 miles per gallon in the city & 70.6 mpg on the highway

[LongCoolMother]

i'd buy one. but then, a motorcyle seems cooler and has good mileage too. so maybe not.

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: iamtrout
0-60mph in *18* seconds??? Hell no! Not to mention it apparently drinks premium...

I'm happy with my Toyota Echo, 0-60mph in 8.8 seconds, 42mpg HIGHWAY driving.

 

[BMdoobieW]

I would drive one in Manhattan, or between here (the Bronx) and Manhattan. I might even drive one on short trips to the Island or to Jersey. But for longer trips I would still want a "real" car.

 

[thehstrybean]

My boss is trying to get me to buy one...they're ugly...

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Great idea, but why do they have to make them look so ugly...

 

[Remedy]

Originally posted by: iamtrout
0-60mph in *18* seconds??? Hell no! Not to mention it apparently drinks premium...

I'm happy with my Toyota Echo, 0-60mph in 8.8 seconds, 42mpg average driving.

It's Diesel and it's a 3 cylinder. The tank is about 7 gallons. What exactly were you expecting from it on the zero to sixty benchmark is beyond me. It's not like you're out to drag race against Muscle cars. They actually make a Brabus version of ForTwo which is significantly faster and stylish than the Echo.

I've seen them in person and they are quite the looker in Black on black. But, they are very noisy for a vehicle that isn't going very fast. Although, they do zip around corners and lanes very quickly for their size.

Only things I didn't like about it was 1), the engine noise. 2), the ride hight. I would lower it 1 inch all around.

 

[iamtrout]

Originally posted by: Fox5

Originally posted by: iamtrout
0-60mph in *18* seconds??? Hell no! Not to mention it apparently drinks premium...

I'm happy with my Toyota Echo, 0-60mph in 8.8 seconds, 42mpg AVERAGE driving.

Believe me, it's mixed driving. The closest highway to me is a good 30 minutes away. Everywhere else is 35-55mph limit.

 

[iamtrout]

Originally posted by: Remedy

Originally posted by: iamtrout
0-60mph in *18* seconds??? Hell no! Not to mention it apparently drinks premium...

I'm happy with my Toyota Echo, 0-60mph in 8.8 seconds, 42mpg average driving.

It's Diesel and it's a 3 cylinder. The tank is about 7 gallons. What exactly were you expecting from it on the zero to sixty benchmark is beyond me.

I was expecting basically a running engine. Being so lightweight I would expect the 0-60 to at least be around 10 seconds. 18 seconds is just bordering on unsafe...

 

[LukeMan]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
picture

you drive that to work/school and you will get beat up, just like if you were to drive a moped/scooter to work/school.

 

[thegimp03]

No, I'd be waiting for the day that some guy in an Accord around here crashed into me and killed me.

 

[thomsbrain]

i saw one parked in downtown Santa Cruz, CA (where else?). they are REALLY small. i saw that fifth gear where they crashed one, and the passenger cage is pretty much indestructable, but there isn't much crumple zone to cushion the blow, so you hit pretty hard. i think i'd go with a Fit just for the additional space between me and any impact zone.

 

[clickynext]

Oh wow I didn't know they weren't down there in the US yet. I've seen quite a few here in Vancouver.

 

[Slew Foot]

No way, unless everyone else had one. I'd be too afraid tht some loser in a huge ass SUV would run me over.

 

[herm0016]

i only drive my car once in a while, usually on trips of more the 300 miles... 550 to home for me. i already get 30 on the highway with my olds, which i can fit 5 people in and i can put 5 peoples lugage for a week in the trunk. or a half a sheet of plywood. i'm sure they would be great in the winter up here too, when we have 5 feet of snow on the ground and an inch or 2 of ice on the roads.


no thanks!

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: saymyname
Ok, chop the top, dump it, tint the windows, put a couple 12"s in there, some gold spinners, and hydraulics. Fo' Sho!

There actually is a Smart Roadster. If it's at least RWD it might have potential.

Viper GTS

As light, small, and low as it is, even FWD would be tons of fun...and more practical (i.e. trunk space, efficiency)

I'd wonder why these aren't here already (I've been hearing rumors of them for years) but I do know that they cannot be made very cheaply...

 

[JinLien]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
picture

Report: Smart cars coming to U.S.
DaimlerChrysler expected to announce plans Tuesday to bring fuel-efficient sub-compact to U.S. market.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006; Posted: 1:46 p.m. EDT (17:46 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- DaimlerChrysler is set to bring the fuel-efficient subcompact Smart car brand to the United States in 2007, according to a published report.

The Detroit News, citing a source familiar with company plans, reported the decision will be announced Tuesday. But a spokeswoman for the Smart brand declined to comment on the report.

"We have not made any decision on a U.S. launch," said Bettina Singhartinger. "You can expect something this week. Until then we do not comment on speculation."

DaimlerChrysler has never made money on the Smart brand, which has been sold in Europe since 1998. The brand is part of DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz unit.

The two-seater egg-shaped cars get 46.3 miles per gallon in the city to 70.6 mpg on the highway, according to some estimates, although Singhartinger points out that if the brand is brought to the United States, it will be the next generation of the vehicle which is due to be rolled out in Europe in early 2007.

With U.S. gasoline prices near $3 a gallon, and lagging sales of the large SUV's and pickups that DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler unit depends upon, it would appear to be the right time to bring Smart cars to the U.S. market.

But the U.S. market is also becoming flooded with fuel-efficient sub-compact cars right now, with the Toyota Yaris, the Honda Fit and the Nissan Versa all debuting in U.S. showrooms this year. Those models also have the advantage of having their U.S. dealer network in place. It's not clear if the Smart car would be sold in U.S. Mercedes dealerships, in Chrysler and Dodge dealers or a new dealer network.

One reason for the profit problems for the Smart brand is a low selling price at that part of the market. The three Japanese sub-compacts coming to the market sell for between $11,850 and $14,000.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/06/26/smart/index.html

Geo Metro @ 58 mpg.

SAE Super Mileage Competition clock in at 3145 mpg.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: JinLien

Originally posted by: moshquerade
picture

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/06/26/smart/index.html

Geo Metro @ 58 mpg.

SAE Super Mileage Competition clock in at 3145 mpg.

Good point...

Maybe if they put a superfluous battery under the hood and marketed the Smart Fortwo as a hybrid, it'd be hip to drive?

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: iamtrout

Originally posted by: Fox5

Originally posted by: iamtrout
0-60mph in *18* seconds??? Hell no! Not to mention it apparently drinks premium...

I'm happy with my Toyota Echo, 0-60mph in 8.8 seconds, 42mpg AVERAGE driving.

Believe me, it's mixed driving. The closest highway to me is a good 30 minutes away. Everywhere else is 35-55mph limit.

Perhaps if you're a really good, gas-conscience driver, but the company specs for the car only rate it at 42MPG highway.

 

[Remedy]

Originally posted by: JinLien

Originally posted by: moshquerade
picture

Report: Smart cars coming to U.S.
DaimlerChrysler expected to announce plans Tuesday to bring fuel-efficient sub-compact to U.S. market.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006; Posted: 1:46 p.m. EDT (17:46 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- DaimlerChrysler is set to bring the fuel-efficient subcompact Smart car brand to the United States in 2007, according to a published report.

The Detroit News, citing a source familiar with company plans, reported the decision will be announced Tuesday. But a spokeswoman for the Smart brand declined to comment on the report.

"We have not made any decision on a U.S. launch," said Bettina Singhartinger. "You can expect something this week. Until then we do not comment on speculation."

DaimlerChrysler has never made money on the Smart brand, which has been sold in Europe since 1998. The brand is part of DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz unit.

The two-seater egg-shaped cars get 46.3 miles per gallon in the city to 70.6 mpg on the highway, according to some estimates, although Singhartinger points out that if the brand is brought to the United States, it will be the next generation of the vehicle which is due to be rolled out in Europe in early 2007.

With U.S. gasoline prices near $3 a gallon, and lagging sales of the large SUV's and pickups that DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler unit depends upon, it would appear to be the right time to bring Smart cars to the U.S. market.

But the U.S. market is also becoming flooded with fuel-efficient sub-compact cars right now, with the Toyota Yaris, the Honda Fit and the Nissan Versa all debuting in U.S. showrooms this year. Those models also have the advantage of having their U.S. dealer network in place. It's not clear if the Smart car would be sold in U.S. Mercedes dealerships, in Chrysler and Dodge dealers or a new dealer network.

One reason for the profit problems for the Smart brand is a low selling price at that part of the market. The three Japanese sub-compacts coming to the market sell for between $11,850 and $14,000.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/06/26/smart/index.html

Geo Metro @ 58 mpg.

SAE Super Mileage Competition clock in at 3145 mpg.

The problems with the Metro was the quality asssurance. Or the lack there of. Although it's just a Corolla. I don't think the Corolla used lower grade components like the Metro did. Which is probably why no one is buying them anymore.

 

[Staples]

If it gets me where I want to go, I could care less of what it looks like. That car does not look bad and the mpg number is very attractive.

 

[blakeatwork]

They're not in the US???

Wow, that's honestly surprising... the are a fun car to drive... feels almost like a go kart with a roof...

 

[goota]

i think the smart has alot of potential, the only problem is the size, americans like SUVs for one reason, the space, they want to carry their 2.5 kids thier dog to the soccer game comfortably, also despite whatever crash rating it got, im sure most people would just assume that they would just get eatan up by any other car on the road if they got it an accident. But I do hope this works out for D-C

 

[Ilikepiedoyou]

I drove one for a bit at my school, they are wonderful. Very peppy, great visibility coupled with a great driving position. But then again I am not the type to buy an suv just becasue everyone else already had one wether it be to fit in or for protection. But you must remeber safety has two sides, surving an accident vs. avoiding an accident. I for one believe that being an alert driver in a small car is much safer than a slow reacting person driving a car that handles like a swimming pool.

 

[walrus]

I want one!

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Ill stick to my single digit fuel guzzling 1995 Ford Bronco . Also..... what is used to test 0-60? Our Bronco does 0-60 in a little less than 8 seconds (half-gas launch followed by pedal to the floor). Yet people bash SUVs as slow??? Perhaps I'm testing wrong (no its not downhill, its level) And on a 50 degree gradient, (We have a REALLY steep hill that goes for about 250ft., the Bronco completely outran a Camry, Accord, Taurus, Dodge 1500, and a Dodge Stratus R/T all when taking off on the gradient. So why are SUVs considered slow? Yes its unwieldy around a tight curve (no ******, but responsible driving nulls that), and it does guzzle fuel (It also out tows the 1500 and is better offroad than almost any other vehicle (Granted, old Land Rovers, Hummers, and really modified jeeps would probably beat it) but im talking stock). Im not glory hogging, or boasting or none of that, I'm just trying to understand the mentality. I live on a dirt road of Geogia clay, and after a rain, no camry, accord, infiniti, or audi is getting out. Now I realise most people have no need for big vehicles, but why do so many people want to completely phase them out when they are still very necessary for a lot of people? (including me)