SMART Car comes to U.S.

[Rider90]

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

http://i.cnn.net/money/2006/06/26/autos/smart/smart_car.03.jpg

:baaa:

[Dr Caleb]

Cool. I know I'm talking to the big car crowd here (of which I have 2), but the Smart is a good 'city' car.

Cheap on fuel, easy to park, easy to service. Even comes in 'topless'. I'm considering retiring the CV, and getting one.

[Bluerauder]

..the Smart is a good 'city' car.
Maybe for some cities. But in the DC and Northern Virginia area, I'd worry about being run over, rear-ended, or backed into. "Smart" ain't the word that comes to mind when I think of one of those things on I-95, I-66, I-270 or the Capital Beltway. ;) No thanks. They are kinda cute though. :rolleyes:

[Rider90]

Maybe for some cities. But in the DC and Northern Virginia area, I'd worry about being run over, rear-ended, or backed into. "Smart" ain't the word that comes to mind when I think of one of those things on I-95, I-66, I-270 or the Capital Beltway. ;) No thanks. They are kinda cute though. :rolleyes:
ditto - I don't think that piece of junk will hold up in Chicago or New York for very long.

[blackf0rk]

46.3 miles per gallon
pff, sounds like a gimmick.


seriously though, i like them. I'm not looking so much at their looks though.

[GarageMahal]

I refuse to own a car that I can lift :D

jta

[ckadiddle]

Who will be the first one to do an engine swapout? Smart car with V8 and blower. Now yer talkin.

[junior]

We rented a very similar vert in Bora Bora last year. It was made by Ligier and an absolute blast to drive. I don't need 300 horses and 4000lbs. of steel all the time. Sometimes 75 horses and 600lbs. works good too.

[shakes_26]

. I don't need 300 horses and 4000lbs. of steel all the time. Sometimes 75 horses and 600lbs. works good too.
Yes its called a motorcycle...... :D

:lol:

I don't fit in these cars but they are a great idea for urban areas, and they will do 95-100mph. They run a 3 cyl turbo I believe, pretty step gearing too.

[Dr Caleb]

I don't need 300 horses and 4000lbs. of steel all the time. Sometimes 75 horses and 600lbs. works good too.

I wish they had the roadster in NA.

Here's (I think*) a Smart Roadster doing a lap of Nuremburgring. Note the speed at which it passes the Lotus Elise. (*I can't view the video at work, so I'm going by memory)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1960991858885861868&q=smart+roadster

And yes, shakes. It's a 3cyl Turbo Diesel. I've been thinking for the whole ''hippie' image thing; how I can run it on hemp oil biodesiel. :cool:

[shakes_26]

And yes, shakes. It's a 3cyl Turbo Diesel. I've been thinking for the whole ''hippie' image thing; how I can run it on hemp oil biodesiel. :cool:

Hmmm why am I soooo craving french fries?????? :D

[Petrograde]

I see 'Smart tipping' becoming a a great new fad!! :P

[junior]

Hmmm why am I soooo craving french fries?????? :D

The one we drove was Italian so maybe a cappucino is more in order. :beer:

[Dr Caleb]

I see 'Smart tipping' becoming a a great new fad!! :P

It's wonderful how people can damage someone elses property, costing them hard earned money, and it's considered a 'fad'. :soap:

Sorry. If I came out to start my Marauder in the morning, and it was on it's side, I'd be a wee bit ticked.

[shakes_26]

Biodiesel = used fry oil, when burned it smells like a huge vat of fries being cooked......:food:


The one we drove was Italian so maybe a cappucino is more in order. :beer:

[Rider90]

It's wonderful how people can damage someone elses property, costing them hard earned money, and it's considered a 'fad'. :soap:

Sorry. If I came out to start my Marauder in the morning, and it was on it's side, I'd be a wee bit ticked.
You have insurance, right? I'm sure a smart-tipping policy will be in effect soon enough...

[Joe Walsh]

Maybe for some cities. But in the DC and Northern Virginia area, I'd worry about being run over, rear-ended, or backed into. "Smart" ain't the word that comes to mind when I think of one of those things on I-95, I-66, I-270 or the Capital Beltway. ;) No thanks. They are kinda cute though. :rolleyes:

Yep, My life isn't worth some extra MPG....That thing makes a Coors beer can look sturdy and a GEO Metro look like a Cadillac!
If I really needed great MPG, I'd buy a used VW TDI. It'll knock down 50 MPG and is a WHOLE LOT safer vehicle.

[seans]

Who will be the first one to do an engine swapout? Smart car with V8 and blower. Now yer talkin.

What a waste of money. All you need are a roof spoiler, neon kit and coffee can muffler. That should give you the same amount of performance for a fraction of the cost.:)

and don't forget the 1000 watt stereo system.

[DarthMarauder]

That is funny I just seen one of these in Ann Arbor today seems the college crowd is already catching on. I want this one.
http://videos.streetfire.net/search/smart/0/cf324233-408a-4e93-8c02-29147e71ab0e.htm

[djbruce26]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=41042611625598 81379&q=smart+crash

[rocknrod]

Price Sucks:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Brand-New-Smart-can-be-driven-in-U-S-EPA-and-DOT-ok_W0QQitemZ300014911013QQihZ0 20QQcategoryZ6472QQssPageNameZ WDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Dr Caleb]

I keep saying, if my Marauder were paid off, I'd have one in the driveway already as my daily commuter. I see more and more of these cars every day. I know it's not as pretty or rumbly as the Marauder, but going back and forth to work all week (600km or 372 miles a week) for $10 in fuel seems pretty appealing.

See if the next 48 hours at the pump doesn't make more people consider it.