smart car: What's the point?

[ShawnD1]

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/eli29/insight

I can probably fit more in my car than a Smart car can, too. Though that isn't saying much, lol.

Cool site. I'm signing up right now!

 

[Capt Caveman]

Saw one the other day with Quebec plates(I'm in Boston). I have no issue with the car. People want choices and it provides people a choice.

 

[Eli]

Saw one the other day with Quebec plates(I'm in Boston). I have no issue with the car. People want choices and it provides people a choice.

The point is that it's a terrible choice.

There are cars that get better fuel economy, are bigger, safer, and more reliable.

It's small size is the only good thing about it. I have no idea why anyone would ever pick a Smart unless you live in an extremely congested urban area and your only choice is motorcycle parking.

 

[Capt Caveman]

The point is that it's a terrible choice.

There are cars that get better fuel economy, are bigger, safer, and more reliable.

It's small size is the only good thing about it. I have no idea why anyone would ever pick a Smart unless you live in an extremely congested urban area and your only choice is motorcycle parking.

When I had to park today, if I had a SmartCar, I would have had a number of more options. So, yes a good option for the city. Do people in the countryside buy them? I doubt it.

There are plenty of vehicles that are terrible options for most situations but plenty of people still buy them.

 

[krunchykrome]

local carmax dealerships are selling them practically brand new (less than 10k miles) for around $10k-$13k

 

[TridenT]

local carmax dealerships are selling them practically brand new (less than 10k miles) for around $10k-$13k

I thought these things were a lot more expensive than that.

Still, gas mileage is pathetic for the size of the car... :/

I rather have an older honda insight that gets 70mpg+. (I've been looking around for one, but you can't find them with less than 180k+ miles)

 

[Eli]

I thought these things were a lot more expensive than that.

Still, gas mileage is pathetic for the size of the car... :/

I rather have an older honda insight that gets 70mpg+. (I've been looking around for one, but you can't find them with less than 180k+ miles)

Correction: You can't find them cheap with less than 180k+ miles.

Don't be afraid of a high mileage Insight, overall. See sig.

 

[mmntech]

I've said it before, but the Fortwo is the worst car I've ever driven. Cheap, cheap, cheap! Not sure why someone who wants a small, fuel efficient vehicle wouldn't get a Fiesta or Fit instead. They cost the same but are leagues better.

 

[angry hampster]

I've said it before, but the Fortwo is the worst car I've ever driven. Cheap, cheap, cheap! Not sure why someone who wants a small, fuel efficient vehicle wouldn't get a Fiesta or Fit instead. They cost the same but are leagues better.

Fiesta or Fit cost about 40% more.

 

[brblx]

Fiesta or Fit cost about 40% more.

uh, what?

for the the fourtwo's 12-13k base msrp, you basically get two seats, a steering wheel, and a safer, reinforced geo metro chassis. with less space.

fiestas start at about 13k, you can get a very nicely equipped hatch for about 16. mazda2 is similar. versa hatch with a six speed manual and power/cruise is like 14k. honda fit is a little more.

 

[djnsmith7]

I don't want to know what would happen to the occupants if my Tahoe hit one at anything > 35 mph. I'm sure it would be a sight for sore eyes. Probably wouldn't seem like a Smart Car (or purchase) then.

 

[Pariah]

I don't want to know what would happen to the occupants if my Tahoe hit one at anything > 35 mph. I'm sure it would be a sight for sore eyes. Probably wouldn't seem like a Smart Car (or purchase) then.

It did quite well in crash tests including 31mph side impact by a simulated SUV. The situation which you described.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz-s1sIoLhU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s&feature=related

 

[l0cke]

The real question: What happened to the Smart Roadster?

RWD, mid-engine, turbo.... mmmmm

 

[ShawnD1]

Fiesta or Fit cost about 40% more.

Not in Canada they're not.
Smart Fortwo Passion - $20,500 WHAT THE FUCK
link

Anyone who pays that is a retard. Full stop.

 

[Monster_Munch]

The real question: What happened to the Smart Roadster?

RWD, mid-engine, turbo.... mmmmm

Mercedes were losing too much money on them to repair the cloth roof under warranty. So they stopped making them. Hopefully they will make a new version at some point.

 

[angry hampster]

uh, what?

for the the fourtwo's 12-13k base msrp, you basically get two seats, a steering wheel, and a safer, reinforced geo metro chassis. with less space.

fiestas start at about 13k, you can get a very nicely equipped hatch for about 16. mazda2 is similar. versa hatch with a six speed manual and power/cruise is like 14k. honda fit is a little more.

Fortwo starts at 10,990.

Fiesta starts at at $13,320. You're right, last night I saw the MSRP for the fiesta hatch and that ws the price I gave.

I'm certainly not trying to make a case for the Smart thought, I think it's an absurd car with absolutely no point.

 

[hanoverphist]

I don't want to know what would happen to the occupants if my Tahoe hit one at anything > 35 mph. I'm sure it would be a sight for sore eyes. Probably wouldn't seem like a Smart Car (or purchase) then.

It did quite well in crash tests including 31mph side impact by a simulated SUV. The situation which you described.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz-s1sIoLhU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s&feature=related

im pretty sure he described faster than the vids you linked... and im not really sold on the results they showed. eating that steering wheel through the airbag still doesnt sound very fun.

 

[djnsmith7]

It did quite well in crash tests including 31mph side impact by a simulated SUV. The situation which you described.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz-s1sIoLhU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s&feature=related

Based on those videos, there's no way in hell I'd want to be anywhere near that car in a crash > 35 mph. Did you see the teeth marks left on that steering wheel? How about the blood spots from the dummy's forehead on the hood of the vehicle doing the side work?

You'd have to be borderline crazy to consider the Smart Car to be a safe vehicle in a crash > 35 mph with a large vehicle.

 

[Pariah]

Based on those videos, there's no way in hell I'd want to be anywhere near that car in a crash > 35 mph. Did you see the teeth marks left on that steering wheel? How about the blood spots from the dummy's forehead on the hood of the vehicle doing the side work?

You'd have to be borderline crazy to consider the Smart Car to be a safe vehicle in a crash > 35 mph with a large vehicle.

I'd respond to the points you made, but since none of what you said made any sense, and you appear to have just made up things that weren't in the video, while either ignoring the analysis by the President of the Insurance Institute or not understanding what he was saying since he was using English, I'm not going to bother.

 

[evilspoons]

Not in Canada they're not.
Smart Fortwo Passion - $20,500 WHAT THE FUCK
link

Anyone who pays that is a retard. Full stop.

LOL yep, the capital-letters "WTF" was pretty much my reaction too. Even the cheap-ass base model is $14,000! You don't get power steering!

The first year or two of Smarts imported into North America had the tiny diesel engine with like 30-40 horsepower. It was actually too wimpy to sustain typical North American highway speeds and got terrible gas mileage. They had to swap it out for the 70 hp gas motor to get a semblance of reasonable highway mileage (and haul our fat arses around).

Just buy a bloody Mazda 2 and let this car die...

FWIW, Toyota is bringing the iQ minicar from Europe/Japan to North America as the Scion iQ. It'll be interesting to see how that thing shakes out.

 

[Lakedaimon]

I work with a guy who bought one of these and he hates it. Says he is afraid to drive it on the freeway when its windy out because the car gets pushed all over the place. Havent seen it in the parking lot recently so he may have gotten rid of it already.

 

[Eli]

Was just randomly browsing craigslist, and saw this:

http://santafe.craigslist.org/ctd/2365096432.html

LOLOLOLOL

16k?! Holy jeebus.

 

[jtvang125]

There's a guy in my neighborhood that has one. We take the same way and everytime I see him he's hauling ass in it. Not sure if I'd ever want to be going 80+ in that thing, especially here in SoCal with all the trucks and SUVs.

 

[djnsmith7]

I'd respond to the points you made, but since none of what you said made any sense, and you appear to have just made up things that weren't in the video, while either ignoring the analysis by the President of the Insurance Institute or not understanding what he was saying since he was using English, I'm not going to bother.

You don't have to. Watch the videos again & you'll see the dummy's mouth his the steering wheel (hence the teeth marks reference, since I have to spell it out for you). You'll also see the forehead bounce from the impact (hence the blood spots reference, since you couldn't figure that one out either). You know, what would happen if it were a real person.

 

[ShawnD1]

There's a guy in my neighborhood that has one. We take the same way and everytime I see him he's hauling ass in it. Not sure if I'd ever want to be going 80+ in that thing, especially here in SoCal with all the trucks and SUVs.

Hauling ass is a lot safer than not hauling ass.

I always like using the example of merging onto the freeway. If you're trying to merge onto a fast moving freeway/highway but you're only going half the speed limit, you need to watch out for every person who is going to be behind you. If you merge in front of an 18 wheeler and he's going twice as fast as you, you're going to die.
If you're going pedal to the floor all the time, the chance of someone hitting you from behind drops to almost 0.

Also, if I had a gun I would totally shoot people who try to merge going 30mph. HIT THE GAS YOU DAMN RETARDS!!@!kljsdf l;kajsdf;lkajsdf asdds s:thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumbsdown: