Test drove a smart car

[walkonwater]

Such a slow piece of junk. I don't know who the lol would buy one. It's slow, small, and doesn't even get great mileage(33/41). For the price(12k-18k) you can get a MUCH better commuter car that gets ALMOST as good mileage, such as my g6 my dad got for 14k out the door, it gets 23/35, although I've average 40 on long trips. The g6 as an example comes with 4 doors and 5 seats instead of a tiny 2 door 2 seat coupe that is slower then heck. I was scared merging on the highway, and the manumatic with paddle shifters barely worked
Pics are next to my fathers yukon XL
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v373/ttothemaxx2/Windows-1252BSU1HMDA0ODkuanBn.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v373/ttothemaxx2/Windows-1252BSU1HMDA0ODguanBn.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v373/ttothemaxx2/Windows-1252BSU1HMDA0ODcuanBn.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v373/ttothemaxx2/Windows-1252BSU1HMDA0ODYuanBn.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v373/ttothemaxx2/Windows-1252BSU1HMDA0ODUuanBn.jpg

[Andrew32]

wait, this is being released in the states?!
I thought my sister 2003 toyota corolla was ridiculous!

I would NOT wanna be in an accident in that thing!!!:eek:

[Alum. REVO]

wait, this is being released in the states?!
I thought my sister 2003 toyota corolla was ridiculous!

I would NOT wanna be in an accident in that thing!!!:eek:

They are on sale in the US right now.:)

[MaXxMaN282]

o look! its a go kart with some fenders and some doors and a cushiony seat! lol

[I know pi!]

they have 70 horsepower, so yeah dont expect much out of a 3 cylinder engine :lol: I thought the MPG was way better and the power would be OK for its size, guess not time to put in a dirt bike engine. But I think smart cars are safer than the other little cars like it they said it had a steel cage around it, but when your "smart" car gets thrown across the intersection by that Suburban behind it, it might suck a little

[navigator ghost]

It's not accidents with other cars that are bad, since the Smart is basically a big bowling ball with four wheels, so it'll plow through pretty much any other car out there (lucky for the other driver:lol: ). The scary thing would be hitting a hard stationary object like a wall. No crumpling, so you'd be smushed into a pancake by the weight of your own body if you were going fast enough.

[Big Trux]

I've seen a couple wrecked smart cars. All of them the driver and passengers obviously walked away. Youtube, smart car crash, they have a well designed cage frame that protects the driver and passenger perfectly well. The car is totalled in any sort of collision. They are very safe.

[slowenuff]

The cars are designed for cities like seattle with the hopes of decreasing traffic congestion. Theyre selling them here in oregon. Ive seen maybe 2 on the road and everyone looks at them the same way. As a matter of fact they look at them the same way people look at guys who use "man bags"

[Unsullied_Spy]

There are people here that have them and they're OK if you live in town and only have a short commute to work/store/etc. The dealer has already gone out of business and there aren't many left. I'll keep my $3000 Mazda Protege which gets the same mileage, is comfortable, 4 door 4 seater, decent-sized trunk, etc.

EDIT: Right now my mileage is down to around 30 MPG, which includes letting the engine warm up every time I drive it and the cold weather. In the summer I get 37-42 MPG depending on driving styles.

[slowenuff]

Its im sorry to say another niche car. Like the gem car, ev-1,ev-warrior,hydrogen fuel cell cars. All good ideas all a move in an eco friendly direction. All doomed to fail. Mainly because of how the american public is still addicted to suvs (mostly women),muscle cars, and room. Hybrids are the only thing going ok right now. And untill they start getting hybrid escalades and land rovers even hybrids future isnt secure.

[Empire932]

I remember seeing this video a couple weeks ago....heres the link
smart diablo VS. Ferrari 430 ..guess who wins..lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vExpEl0_5-Y

i just think its halerious..i wonder how much they put into it
its got it in accel..its such a small car but top speed the smart is nothing to the ferrari

or it could make a nice toy..lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi_CgGGDglY&NR=1

[Mapcinq]

They've been in Canada for a few years now. Although I would never consider buying one, apparently they are quite safe. They are in the shape of an egg (not a bowling ball, like before mentioned) and can handle quite an impact. It'd be great for living in the city due to the size. I also dont think youd have to worry about getting in a highspeed accident with one, as they have very little power. They used to have diesels in them, however they no longer make them with diesel engines. In my opinion the diesel engine was a far better idea, and got far better mileage(which is the only reason you would buy a car like this). But, id rather ride around on the roof of my stampede then be seen in one of these lol!

[rusty_racer]

isn't it merceadies that owns the "smart" company?
i would expect something alittle better from merceadies.
the roadster doesn't look bad though.

[Mapcinq]

Yes, the Smart cars are produced under the Mercedes-Benz brand

[revomania2]

we had a smart car in my work as a part exchange car bafore christmas.
and we valeted it and sent it straight to the auction. i am gald i did not have to drive it there. but seeing i am around 6.1 tall i did fit into it it easy.
but i would never buy one i think it sold at aution for around £3000 gbp probably more and that was a 03 plate (2003 year).
now at the moment i drive a rover metro 1.5 diesel witch gives me between 55 and 65 to the gallon. witch aint bad.i am looking for a bigger car but every time i find the one i am after they always end up seeing before i get the chance to go and look at it. witch i starting to tick me off know. but if i keep on looking i will eventually find one and get to it befor someone else does.
and in the uk there are more small cars on the road know than the bigger ones. and i recon its the fuel prices and the way the car /road tax has changed that as seen to that. they know go on the size of the engine and the exhaust emmisions that come from the car when it has its yearly "mot" to how much road tax you have to pay.i was planning on buying my bro's chevy day van of him i i dont think i will bother know not that it's bad on petrol cause it aint and the road tax dont affect that either cause it only applies to cars registerd after the year 2000. and the only thing thats stopping me from getting a muscle car is i dont think i will get one on my drive.

[drewfromden]

Looks cool, probably great in a place like france or italy, but I'd rather have a mini cooper or a civic here for a com. car

[rusty&maxx]

Just buy a prius, My mom loves hers.

[walkonwater]

Just buy a prius, My mom loves hers.no. No response needed, just NO.

[aussiek2000]

ship forward to 2:15 http://youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s. my dad has a truck just like this and it gets 8mpg city/ 11 highway, i would drive it anyday over that smart car.

[BobR]

ship forward to 2:15 http://youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s. my dad has a truck just like this and it gets 8mpg city/ 11 highway, i would drive it anyday over that smart car.
Up against something of such large relative mass, any other car would decelerate just as quickly. I'd still rather be in a Smartcar than most ten-year-old sedans.

Up against oncoming traffic, though, is when the Smart has the weakness of being lightweight.

[I know pi!]

I remember seeing this video a couple weeks ago....heres the link
smart diablo VS. Ferrari 430 ..guess who wins..lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vExpEl0_5-Y

i just think its halerious..i wonder how much they put into it
its got it in accel..its such a small car but top speed the smart is nothing to the ferrari

or it could make a nice toy..lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi_CgGGDglY&NR=1
when I saw that first video I questioned weather its messed with or not, how does itget that good of traction? not trying to accuse it of being a fraud but I would not be surprised.
That 2nd video is cool it makes it look more like a go cart than car! especially when they just tip it over to work on it:lol:

[arceeguy]

they have 70 horsepower, so yeah dont expect much out of a 3 cylinder engine :lol:

My old VW Rabbit Diesel had 48hp and got 50 mpg. I also owned a 1979 Honda Civic 1200 that was about 55hp and got about 40mpg. The VW was better suited for highway driving, as it would cruise at freeway speeds all day long. The Civic was more of a city car, great acceleration for squirting around town but revved like it was going to explode at 65mph.

If the smart was $10,000 - they'd be popular in places like NYC or San Francisco where the small size would be an asset. I love riding motorcycles, so sub-compacts don't bother me. They are a lot of fun to wring out because you can redline them in every gear and not get in trouble with the law. (but the driver of the minivan next to you will be laughing out loud.....)

[flyin_maxx]

I like how efficent they are,
But really;

If you get hit by even a GEO that tiny thing will get totaled!

[walkonwater]

I like how efficent they are,
But really;

If you get hit by even a GEO that tiny thing will get totaled!did you watch that vid aussie2k posted?

[flyin_maxx]

ummm no...why?

[flyin_maxx]

ok now I am.
that first part was impressive,
nut good luck surviving the 70mph crash into the barrier.

one more thing,
What about being T-boned????
they didnt really show that.

[I know pi!]

the whole car is in an egg like steel cage, being t-boned wouldnt be killer IMO the biggest threat would be the metal ripping through the thin door and whatever stuff being "put into the passenger" but I honestly think it shouldnt be the main thing to judge, what are the chances of getting in a wreck like that? probabally less with a better handling little car like that, and driving a car like a stick-shift keeps you more alert

[Tommyrc]

o look! its a go kart with some fenders and some doors and a cushiony seat! lol

That's what I was Thinking. I can't believe how small that car is. I saw a ad for it saying that it is also easier to park. you can park it like a motorcycle between 2 other cars. Good luck to who ever get in a crash with that piece crud.