Smart Car in the States

[govtec]

Hi folks. What are your thoughts about the Smart Car introduced to the states this year? Given that gas prices are above normal level, the Smart Car gets 40/45 city/highway mpg. Unlike the Toyota Prius it does not utilize any battery or charging. Best of all it is very light, nimble, small and ideal for a commuter car. The only downside I see in this car is it puts out only 70HP. Is this enough for highway travel? I figured the Smart Car is a good cheap option when compared to a Vespa scooter or a bike. Any comments on the reliability factor of the Smart Car from our friends in Europe?

I realize this is a BMW forum and for most of you the cost of fuel is not a concern. I expect gas prices to remain at historical highs for the next few years at the very least. This and the fact that the U.S are an oil dependent nation of 70% of our consumption, which I find unnerving.

[BmW745On19's]

It's good for the city, but even if you do 4 lane highway travel with speed limits above 45 mph, its completely scary and useless.

[blueguydotcom]

They're all over san diego. If I worked downtown I'd be interested.

[GBauer]

scares the crap out of me. Let's try taking a Smart car v. a Hummer H1 and see which driver is smarter in a head-on...

[blueguydotcom]

scares the crap out of me. Let's try taking a Smart car v. a Hummer H1 and see which driver is smarter in a head-on...

Only an H1 driver would be stupid enough to purposely run into another car head-on.

[big-tex]

Id buy a scooter. http://powersports.honda.com/scooters/model.asp?ModelName=Ruckus&ModelYear=2009&ModelId=NPS509

That would be awesome for runnin round town.

[govtec]

While we're making fun of how small the car is, it actually received some of the highest safety crash test scores from the IIHS. I don't know about you guys but I'd rather be in a crash inside the Smart Car than on a bike.

[wingspan]

The only downside I see in this car is it puts out only 70HP. Is this enough for highway travel?

My Mini (1967 Austin Cooper S) has 76 HP, is 10 feet 1/4" long overall, but I assure you I have no problem keeping up with traffic on the highway. :D

The only problem is with the twin 1 1/4" SU carbs, large valve head and a heavy right foot, I only get between 23-25 mpg... :(

[ProRail]

Hi folks. What are your thoughts about the Smart Car introduced to the states this year? Given that gas prices are above normal level, the Smart Car gets 40/45 city/highway mpg. Unlike the Toyota Prius it does not utilize any battery or charging. Best of all it is very light, nimble, small and ideal for a commuter car. The only downside I see in this car is it puts out only 70HP. Is this enough for highway travel? I figured the Smart Car is a good cheap option when compared to a Vespa scooter or a bike. Any comments on the reliability factor of the Smart Car from our friends in Europe?

I realize this is a BMW forum and for most of you the cost of fuel is not a concern. I expect gas prices to remain at historical highs for the next few years at the very least. This and the fact that the U.S are an oil dependent nation of 70% of our consumption, which I find unnerving.

What's not to like?

[nowonder]

A friend of mine got one of the first ones in PA. If you see a white Smart on 202, it's probably him. Contrary to what everyone else here is saying, it's a fine highway vehicle... maybe not something I'd want to drive cross country, but fine for the highways around Philadelphia.

Btw, he absolutely loves it. His previous vehicles were a Jaguar X-Type and a MB E-Class, and while he admits it isn't as luxurious as those vehicles, he claims it is more fun to drive. He's a pretty big guy, and fits in it fine.

Shame, if he had told me about his smart before I had a few beers, he would have gladly let me test drive it.

--nw

[big-tex]

A friend of mine got one of the first ones in PA. If you see a white Smart on 202, it's probably him. Contrary to what everyone else here is saying, it's a fine highway vehicle... maybe not something I'd want to drive cross country, but fine for the highways around Philadelphia.

Btw, he absolutely loves it. His previous vehicles were a Jaguar X-Type and a MB E-Class, and while he admits it isn't as luxurious as those vehicles, he claims it is more fun to drive. He's a pretty big guy, and fits in it fine.

Shame, if he had told me about his smart before I had a few beers, he would have gladly let me test drive it.

--nw


Man, I was in Allentown, PA awhile back and I could just imagine the benifits of a smart car. Only thing that would scare me is now tight those roads get, and being passed by big trucks.

[Andrew*Debbie]

I've driven one. It is ok but certainly not a driver's car.

The fit and finish on two of the three units we saw at the local dealer was exceptionally poor. Lots of loose parts and fasteners. One of them did not have matching upholstery. -- That's right the driver's and passenger seats didn't match. I asked and all they could tell me is "it came that way"

Hopefully they aren't all that poorly assembled. Otherwise Smart is going to die a quick death once the novelty wears off.

======

The US market is ready for European "Super Mini's." The Peugeot 207 and the Skoda Fabia are both inexpensive cars that get great gas mileage. The 207 is much nicer to drive than a Smart. With a diesel it can get 50MPG easy.

[pilotman]

it sucks for the following reasons:

1. as others have noted, fit and finish is piss poor;

2. fuel economy is nothing special at all, go get a Prius, Mini Cooper, Yaris, Versa, Fit etc etc which are all much more useful, better driving cars that offer comparable fuel economy;

3. I have extensively driven one on the freeway (a friend owns one) and it is scary, merging and passing are exciting (if the threat of death is exciting to you) on Michigan highways, speeds above 70mph the car is not terribly stable...

4. Safety ratings are relative, I hate it when everyone states how "safe" the Smart is based upon crash ratings, well physics are physics and that car will lose in just about every crash. The other highly misleading thing is it transfers a lot of energy to the driver in a collision, because it doesn't have crumple zones (nothing to crumple really) but rather an extremely rigid space frame, which may not crush but doesn't dissipate energy of impact

5. Old technology, has been out in Europe for a long time, nothing new....

Biggest thing again is fuel economy, you can get a much larger, more useful more powerful car (Yaris, Fit etc) that get comparable mileage.

Only real advantage is ease of parking, but if you can't park a Mini, Yaris, etc. you have real problems.