View Full Version : Smart Car - Coming Soon to the USA
Claymore
23 Aug 2006, 10:25 AM
These were spotted coming out of Long Beach last week, headed for testing in Arizona:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/inim_mini/IMG_4019.jpg
SWEET
Pilum
23 Aug 2006, 01:25 PM
Wife's got one, for what it's worth... They're actually a good little car, there's a lot of space inside the cabin (I swear it was made by whoever did the Tardis :D) and you can get the week's shopping in the back, which is all you really need. I thought the automatic gearchange was a bit delayed when I had the test drive, but then again I'm not used to automatics. The semi option seemed ok.
As a city car for a single person or a couple, it's an ideal concept, though it will cruise at 70 on the motorway without any complaints if asked. You can't really knock a car you can park facing the kerb and not have it poke out much, if at all, more than a normal car parked parallel. Particularly useful if (like my wife and, if I'm honest, me at times!) you can't really get to grips with parallel parking.
What does for it, in my view, is that Mercedes are involved. Over here, at least, that means you're paying Mercedes prices for it (compared to similar models) and the maintenance too. Not had any problems with it though (touch wood!) so it's not been too bad. Wife's only getting rid of it because kid #2 is on the way so she'll need a car with back seats :) No complaints here.
Pibe#10
23 Aug 2006, 04:08 PM
there was an article on the NYTimes about them, I saw one running around the streets of Dale City not long ago. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/02/weekinreview/02barry.html?ex=1309492800&en=11e04bd67cfe76e9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CronoGraal
29 Aug 2006, 08:33 PM
They're all over Sweden. I'm disgusted when I see them. :[
Nanbawan
29 Aug 2006, 10:39 PM
They're all over Sweden. I'm disgusted when I see them. :[
I don't live in Paris so I don't get to see too many, but what I see is already enough. The roadster is sweet though. Quite expensive for a toy but still fun apparently.
http://25togo.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/smart_roadster.jpg
The bad news is they stopped its production...
I guess the smart will star in many US entertainment productions if not in Leno's jokes.
tcmahoney
29 Aug 2006, 11:55 PM
Saw one from British Columbia in Seattle. I gave the driver a thumbs up and she gave me a look that clearly said "wow, I sure get a lot of attention, don't I?"
I'm tempted to call up a dealership in BC and see if I can snag one up there.
tcmahoney
04 Sep 2006, 12:14 AM
Saw another one tonight at the pizza place I work at, this one with Washington plates. Didn't get a chance to talk to the owner, but I was chit-chatting with some customers as I was cleaning their table later on and mentioned the Smart car. They said that to import one from BC costs an extra ten grand to modify it to meet US emissions standards. :eek: Don't know how reliable that information is, but I just thought I'd throw it out there and see if anyone can confirm that or correct it.
I'm definitely going to have to check it out when it hits some local lots, though.
Excape Goat
07 Sep 2006, 12:42 AM
I always thought Smart car is perfect for the narrow streets in Europe, especially in Paris. I am not sure whether it will fit into the US market where there are plenty of space for parking.
Claymore
07 Sep 2006, 09:48 AM
I always thought Smart car is perfect for the narrow streets in Europe, especially in Paris. I am not sure whether it will fit into the US market where there are plenty of space for parking.
This car will sell like mad in urban areas.
Nanbawan
07 Sep 2006, 12:36 PM
^
Auto makers like Peugeot, Renault or FIAT might be keeping an eye on how the Smart sells then.
Claymore
07 Sep 2006, 02:29 PM
^
Auto makers like Peugeot, Renault or FIAT might be keeping an eye on how the Smart sells then.
I don't think they'll ever come back to the US, at least not on their own. Smart has the Daimler/Chrysler dealer network already in place. Peugot, Renault and FIAT would have to partner with an exisiting US dealer network; I doubt they'd lay out the capital to build their own, given their dismal sales the last time around.
tcmahoney
07 Sep 2006, 10:02 PM
Saw another one in downtown Seattle today with Washington plates.
I do believe it was advertising this site (http://www.greencarco.com/).
Pibe#10
12 Sep 2006, 05:09 PM
Sorry if this dosen't belong here:
video about ZAP cars, I know its not about Smart cars but its related...
http://news.com.com/1606-2_3-6108950.html
a 130 mph electric car
http://news.com.com/1606-2-6102127.html
(it can be removed it people don't like it here)
Nanbawan
12 Sep 2006, 06:37 PM
Historically, the first car to ever break the 100 KPH barrier was an electric car, the 'jamais contente' (never happy)...
Jenatzy set his third and final land speed record on April 29, reaching 105.88 km/h (65.79 mph) in the CITA No 25 La Jamais Contente which was an electric vehicle. This was the first record over 100 km/h.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_Jenatzy
amerifolklegend
12 Sep 2006, 09:57 PM
I saw a bunch of those SmartCars in Bermuda last week.
Great place to have them. They fit right in.
You'd have to be a total and complete and utter tool, hell-bent on killing yourself and your passengers if you ever thought buying one of those to drive in the states would be a good idea, though.
DoyleG
21 Sep 2006, 04:08 AM
I saw a bunch of those SmartCars in Bermuda last week.
Great place to have them. They fit right in.
You'd have to be a total and complete and utter tool, hell-bent on killing yourself and your passengers if you ever thought buying one of those to drive in the states would be a good idea, though.
Seen a lot of them driving aroudn Edmonton although not on the main roads. Hate to see people driving in a coffin on wheels.
Dave Brother
21 Sep 2006, 03:32 PM
I saw one here in Washington DC two weeks ago. I first saw one last year in Hamburg. It looks like a neat car. I'd be interested in one.
Chicago1871
21 Sep 2006, 04:45 PM
You'd have to be a total and complete and utter tool, hell-bent on killing yourself and your passengers if you ever thought buying one of those to drive in the states would be a good idea, though.
I recall reading somewhere that they are very solidly built and quite safe. Obviously there would be some risk, but no car can claim otherwise. There was even a video circulating around a while back. Here it is (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/60538/smart_car_crash/).
amerifolklegend
21 Sep 2006, 05:24 PM
I recall reading somewhere that they are very solidly built and quite safe.
I'm sure they are.
But if I learned one thing from the militant anti-SUV soldiers, it's that SUV's are killers of other drivers on a holocostical scale. You can make the damned thing survive a 55mph head on collision with a brick wall till the cows come home, but if you think I'd opt for a SmartCar over another SUV or even full sized car if faced with a head on collision with an Escalade, then I think you might be retarded.
Chicago1871
21 Sep 2006, 07:21 PM
... if you think I'd opt for a SmartCar over another SUV or even full sized car if faced with a head on collision with an Escalade, then I think you might be retarded.
If, given that situation, you opted for a SmartCar, then I would definitely question your IQ.