The Smart Car

[Wheel-Nut]

I read in the paper that Penske Automotive owns the marketing rights for the North America and Puerto Rico. If it sells the way the "experts" are predicting he stands to make a bunch of money.

Found this on smartusa.com

http://www.smartusa.com/smart-car-fortwo-company.aspx

[Insomniac]

Seems like a car of that size would just have a tough time selling here in the U.S without a considerable shift in people's preferences in cars.

[Wheel-Nut]

It looks like it may "sell out" before it is even for sale in the U.S.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/10/12-600-people-place-99-order-for-smart-fortwo-in-u-s/

[WickerBill]

If my car looks like that, it better get 75 mpg. 40? That's it??

[jonovision_man]

Are these new in the U.S.? We have them here (Canada).

I can't figure out why I'd buy one... they're so overpriced, you'd never make that back in gas savings.

They're most popular as a "look how environmental I am!" symbol I think. And their unique look gets attention, so there's a lot that are wrapped in advertisements.

jono

[Wheel-Nut]

Available in the U.S. in 2008. They had to add some strengthening members before they could be sold here.

I would hate to see what one looked like after coming together with an F350 wrapped in a full Ranch Hand bumper kit. :eek:

[RichK]

They're most popular as a "look how environmental I am!" symbol I think.

...Which is whey they'll sell out in the SF Bay Area. The Prius is, like, so 2006! :cry: :)

[JoeBob]

Interestingly, the SMART has yet to turn a profit for anyone, anywhere.

[nrc]

They're most popular as a "look how environmental I am!" symbol I think. And their unique look gets attention, so there's a lot that are wrapped in advertisements.
Reminds me of the South Park "Hybrid" episode.

I love small cars but this doesn't look fun at all. Looks like a glorified version of the glorified golf carts that old folks drive around the retirement communitites.

[WickerBill]

I can get a Mazda 3 four door for the same price or less (more room, less OHMYGOD ugly) and get 35mpg. Not driving that thing for 5mpg...

[Methanolandbrats]

I can get a Mazda 3 four door for the same price or less (more room, less OHMYGOD ugly) and get 35mpg. Not driving that thing for 5mpg...
Next spring you can get a Jetta TDI Sportwagon that gets 50 mpg, hauls all kinds of stuff and is fun to drive for 20k or less. Safe too.:thumbup:

[cameraman]

There is a group of female biology professors here that are hardcore treehuggers. To say that they are not car people is a monster of an understatement. They looked into getting Smart cars and decided that they are absolutely stupid. The ones that were willing to wait are buying TDI's the rest went for high mileage ****boxes. None of them thought the Smart car was even slightly smart. It was universally written off as a money wasting gimmick.

I can't see that company surviving.

Edit to add.

Okay.... I can't see that nameplate surviving.

[WickerBill]

A car like that has to be 100% electric, or hydrogen, or *something* unique. Even then, carmakers are realizing that they'll sell 10x the quantity if it looks like a car instead of an angry toaster oven.

[Wheel-Nut]

. . . .

I can't see that company surviving.


Yes, I see the company folding soon. ;)


Production began in 1998 in Hambach, France. That same year, smart became a 100% owned subsidiary of Daimler-Benz AG (today DaimlerChrysler).


http://www.smartusa.com/smart-car-fortwo-company.aspx

[oddlycalm]

The Smart Cars are already here in limited numbers, around 200 units as I recall, and I see them around. There is a Subaru dealer with a low mileage 2006 model if you just gotta have one for your own personal self...:gomer: 2006 Smart Car for sale (http://autos.oregonlive.com/Autos?tp=TR_olive&category=search&tl=4&temp_type=d etail&listing_id=105880118&data_prop=OREGONLIVE.CO M-OR-AUTOS)

IMO is the Mini Cooper looks better, carries more, and gets similar fuel mileage for not much more than a Smart Car will cost. More fun to own as well I'd guess. Then there are the already mentioned VW TDI with better mileage and various Asian econo boxes. They may have sold out the first bunch but the real test is how well the next 250,000 sell.

oc

[Gnam]

...Which is whey they'll sell out in the SF Bay Area. The Prius is, like, so 2006! :cry: :)
Seeing the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, and Chevy Aveo more and more around the city. I guess they're easy to park. Maybe SF will start taxing long cars. :shakehead

[TrueBrit]

If my car looks like that, it better get 75 mpg. 40? That's it??

Obviously figuring in the propensity for Americans to be obese...if you weigh a normal amount you get 314/mpg....;)

[WickerBill]

Hilarious. I've been to the motherland... not too much to brag about then?

[Cam]

There are quite a few here. They are mostly utilized as rolling billboards.:gomer:

[TrueBrit]

Hilarious. I've been to the motherland... not too much to brag about then?

Nah mate, it's one category where you Yanks rank number one that you are very welcome to....;)

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_obe-health-obesity

[nrc]

Nah mate, it's one category where you Yanks rank number one that you are very welcome to....;)

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_obe-health-obesity

8% difference. Big deal. You guys could make that up in three years if you had some decent dental care. :D

[Methanolandbrats]

8% difference. Big deal. You guys could make that up in three years if you had some decent dental care. :D:rofl:

[coolhand]

8% difference. Big deal. You guys could make that up in three years if you had some decent dental care. :D

Zing!

About the Car, I am trying to decide if that thing is safer than a Bike or not

[Robstar]

There are quite a few here. They are mostly utilized as rolling billboards.:gomer:

There are thousands here & most used for this purpose too...

[jonovision_man]

Zing!

About the Car, I am trying to decide if that thing is safer than a Bike or not

Actually it's safer than most cars:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/040908.htm

It has a safety cell thing:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/images/tridon_safety_cell-1.jpg

Obviously not much of a crumple zone, but supposedly it does well in crash tests.

jono

[Insomniac]

Actually it's safer than most cars:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/040908.htm

It has a safety cell thing:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/images/tridon_safety_cell-1.jpg

Obviously not much of a crumple zone, but supposedly it does well in crash tests.

jono

And the DP01 exceeded F1 crash testing standards. ;)

[TrueBrit]

8% difference. Big deal. You guys could make that up in three years if you had some decent dental care. :D


:rofl: :thumbup: Touche!!

[TrueBrit]

Actually it's safer than most cars:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/040908.htm

It has a safety cell thing:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/images/tridon_safety_cell-1.jpg

Obviously not much of a crumple zone, but supposedly it does well in crash tests.

jono

There's a you-tube out there with a programme from the Beeb that slams once of these things into a concrete barrier at 70 mph....car holds up pretty well....everything inside would be marmalade, but the shell was intact...

[mapguy]

everything inside would be marmalade.

Like the occupants?


marmalade... mmmm...

[jonovision_man]

Stumbled across it:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s&mode=related&search=

jono

[opinionated ow]

Are these new in the U.S.? We have them here (Canada).

I can't figure out why I'd buy one... they're so overpriced, you'd never make that back in gas savings.

They're most popular as a "look how environmental I am!" symbol I think. And their unique look gets attention, so there's a lot that are wrapped in advertisements.

jono

out here you can get a smart car fully maintained, petroled etc. for $5 a day. The only catch is it is covered in advertising. there is a video of it somewhere. quite hilarious actually (but i'm not oging to youtube while at work!)

[devilmaster]

Just for the hell of it, I should head down to the Smart dealer and see if I could get a test drive....

http://www.overseasmotors.mercedes-benz.ca/site/dlr_overseas_motors__windsor__inc_/images/content/mercedes-benz_windsor9.jpg

[Cam]

Just for the hell of it, I should head down to the Smart dealer and see if I could get a test drive....

Not to be a pick nits, but do ya really think you can fit in one? :p :D

[devilmaster]

Not to be a pick nits, but do ya really think you can fit in one? :p :D

You're pretty brave all of a sudden, now that you're back amongst the roos and koalas a half a world away.... :gomer: :p

[chop456]

Steve - I think you could fit in one just fine. And if we push hard enough, I bet we could get Cam into the glove box. :D

[Fio1]

I rented one in Europe and absolutely loved it! It's actually pretty roomy inside. It's like the old Mini's, small but the cabin is pretty roomy. It drives really well and at least in Euope is priced decently (15 grand). I'd buy a Smart before a Prius any day. :thumbup: :thumbup:

[opinionated ow]

3cgstct9RaI

this is what i was talking about earlier ;)

[Cam]

Chasers rawk!!! :thumbup:

[Cam]

You're pretty brave all of a sudden, now that you're back amongst the roos and koalas a half a world away.... :gomer: :p

Wanna take me on big boy??? Huh???? C'mon!!!I dare ya!!! C'mon!!! :D

[Gnam]

Bad omen for Penske? Trying to drum up publicity for his Smart Car, he rings the closing bell on a day when the Dow loses 400 points. :thumbup:

http://www.nyse.com/images/press/pag080907h.jpg

He's got the midas touch. :gomer: