It's hip, it's fuel-efficient, and it's cheap. Smart USA's president explains why he's betting on this tiny Euro two-seater gaining traction in the United States.
Comment: I'm 6'4'' and fit comfortably in the 2008 ForTwo. The driving-behavior of the vehicle is a little different than your standard vehicle (automatic shifting of the manual transmission, banking on turns) but I think are quickly forgotten. My major issues are (i) not enough product to meet demand (ii) no cruise control (iii) no all-electric engine (iv) dealers are adding outrageous ($10k+) enhancements to "orphan" (canceled) orders.
Comment: The NHST gave it 3 stars for rollover the worst of any sedan and 3 stars for front side passenger. Overall it barely got 4 stars. The mpg isn't great. Problems with US gear shifters. Only 74 dealers nationwide one would be difficult to find a local dealer if traveling. And some owners don't even have a smart dealer in their own state. At this point the smart car is not looking smart at all. It's still cute though!
Comment: Newsweek apparantly hates to acknowledge any positive aspect of our changing technologies. I've been looking today, and so far I haven't found any headlines that could be characterized as either positive or neutral towards green vehicles.
Comment: While Newsweek hates to acknowledge the existence of Canada, the Smart Car has been on Canadian roads for some time. Perhaps testing a Canadian version of the Smart car would have been more appropriate than testing an European version. They sell well in Canada, there is a constant waiting list, fat people own them and they travel on the same roads as SUVs.
Comment: I didn't realize that my first post had taken, hence the second post that only itterated my point further, mea culpa.
Comment: "...as good as dead in an accident."
When you make a statement like this, it makes you look like bull charging with horns of ignorance. Blind to what you're now aiming at but still charging as if you had something important to accomplish.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RxmiV2PFluM
There's a link to a YouTube video of it smashing 70mph into a wall.
After you watch that video, go take a trip to Europe. I recommend Rome and Brittain myself but do enjoy yourself and try to avoid seeing smart car driving past you every 10 seconds or less. No one is so dumb in this day and age to attempt to sell a car without a crashtest rating.
Comment: "As good as dead in an accident."
Has ANYONE else but me actually seen the video of the smart car going 70 mph into a brick wall only to have the drive get out like nothing happened? Yes, it's got safety weaved into it. They don't joke when they say it's got a roll cage built into it.
I love the ignorance we suffer from in America. Do yourself a favor and visit Europe. I dare you. Not to specifically look at smart cars (though you'll find them EVERYWHERE) but to enjoy yourself. And in enjoying yourself, you'll find an abundance of smaller cars. Small and efficient. I've visited Rome, Germany, and the UK in numerous trips and you'll find these cars littering the streets.
Bigger is not better. It's just bigger.
Also, remember this is meant to be a first car or a commuter car. It does not replace sedans for family outings or SUVs for family trips but it is small enough to get you around town for small errands and commuting. I guess I'm biased since I work between DC and Baltimore. Come visit real traffic. You'll appreciate the idea of a smart car even more.
Oh, and for perspective's sake so you don't think I'm some green-nazi. I drive a sporty coupe myself specifically because the majority of the things I do do not involve people hauling. I love WHP and don't much care about milage. SPACE (which only seems to come as a premium when you're parking) is much more important to me, daily.
Comment: Hmmmmm! It's "micro-mini," and gets about the same gas mileage as a Civic, Focus, and some of the proven small cars. NO, I WOULDN'T BUY ONE! What I now have gets 20, 21 mpg. in everyday driving, so why spend money on a new car at all? If you're NOT comfortable taking it on a road trip.....RENT ONE. You can RENT a car for your trip......take it back when your done.....it's more efficient to do that than to buy one!
Comment: You are as good as dead in an accident. Stupid idea with all the trucks, SUV's etc big vehicles.
DEAD DEAD DEAD
Comment: you're as good as dead inan accident. Stupid idea..
Comment: Initially, I believe this car will do well in places where Vespas are popular. San Francisco, Venice Beach, Miami, New York. It will struggle in backwoods places like Dallas, where the SUV, freeway and shopping mall are king. However as the whole rest of the world is aquiring the means to have a personal car, fuel prices are going to continue to rise. 3 or 4 years from now Americans will look back at 3 dollar a gallon gasoline with fond nostagia. The Smart cars or their technological descendents will be in much greater demand as heavier vehicles become more and more economically prohibitive by the average Joe, That is inevitable, it's just a matter of time. As an investment I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, the very cars that come online in January are going to hold their value for a long time. In the future of micro cars they will become classics. For the company though I hold my breath, They maybe just slightly ahead of their time.
Comment: Initially, I believe this car will do well in places where Vespas are popular. San Francisco, Venice Beach, Miami, New York. It will struggle in backwoods places like Dallas, where the SUV, freeway and shopping mall are king. However as the whole rest of the world is aquiring the means to have a personal car, fuel prices are going to continue to rise. 3 or 4 years from now Americans will look back at 3 dollar a gallon gasoline with fond nostagia. The Smart cars or their technological descendents will be in much greater demand as heavier vehicles become more and more economically prohibitive by the average Joe, That is inevitable, it's just a matter of time. As an investment I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, the very cars that come online in January are going to hold their value for a long time. In the future of micro cars they will become classics. For the company though I hold my breath, They maybe just slightly ahead of their time.
Comment: I drive on the highway to work. About a 30 minute commute one way. I pass by huge semi-trucks, a lot of them. It's hard enough for the semi drivers to see me in a mid sized Taurus now. I could not imagine how hard it would be for the semi-truck drivers to see that tiny thing on the road. To me, it would not be practical and far too scarry to drive it on the highway. Besides, with the price tag still way too high. I will stick with a mid sized car for around the same price. With room and safety to spare.
I say NAH!
Comment: Hopefully someone will take into consideration their size and perhaps, for greater metropolitan areas, allow the smart cars access to HOV lanes. Motorcycles are already allowed the same luxury in many places.
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