Reply With QuoteNo. Americans like to talk about conservation and environmental responsibility, but they like driving their gas guzzlers even more.Originally Posted by Kestrel
So are you going to buy one?
Well, the SMART car is [finally] coming to the States. Anyone really going to buy one?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/11/08/smart.car/index.html#cnnSTCVideo
"That which does not kill us, just makes us madder"
Cletus Nietzsche (Friedrich's half-brother on his sister's side)
No. Americans like to talk about conservation and environmental responsibility, but they like driving their gas guzzlers even more.
Yeah!!!!!!
92 Sunny 214k, 95 Dimples, 93 James Bondo, 92 SM (Speedie Jr)
Shelley, Apex, Tigger, Max, Baby(cats), Fluffy, Spot, and Peanut (mini horses), Cinnamon & Bitsy(dawgs)
MSR #1001, SCCA #208822Let's go racin'
With the wife's 18 mile round trip in town commute, it may be worth giving it a look. Can't see it being much of a highway cruiser.
Plus they make it yellow.
http://www.smartusa.com/
I went to look at them when they were in town a few weeks ago. They make a convertible that will sell for about $17K. Considering that you can get a new base model Miata for around $20-21K, they are not that great of a deal. They currently sell a Mercedes version of the Smart car for about $26K and you can get a turbo. The ones selling for $13-17K will be made in France. Personally, I think they should sell the Smart car for under $10K, but all of the tree huggers out there will pay the higher price.
1990 White NA - SOLD
1994 Black NA - SOLD
2006 Red NC - GT with limited slip, HIDs, all OEM.
Or better yet, "When do they start a racing series with these?"
They are very roomy inside. A lot more headroom than the Miata. If you can fit in a Miata, you can fit in a Smart car.
1990 White NA - SOLD
1994 Black NA - SOLD
2006 Red NC - GT with limited slip, HIDs, all OEM.
No.
If I were to buy a car for economical reasons as far as fuel mileage is concerned, I would buy a volkswagon diesel. Talk of 60mpg from the smart seems to be nothing but myth, and I will go out on the limb and say that they will not get any better than 45-50mpg. For that I would rather have a real economical car, not one that simply pretends to be because of the general publics ignorance and manufacturer hype. Sure a diesel volks gets 45mpg, but its a practical application! It has more interior room and space for additional passengers. Having an eco-friendly car, or simply the passive assumption of eco-friendliness, with a car that carries such a limited amount of passengers and cargo is not only pretentious, but down right ironic.
Better question is... "What's your life worth?"
Driving for 10K at 40mpg at the current price of $3.00 a gallon would cost $750.
Driving a Miata or OTM with 30mpg would give you an annual cost of $999.
Driving my F250 which weighs 6700 pounds, can carry 6 passengers and offers lots of metal between me and my fellow drivers (including those in the "smart golf cart") comes in at $1665 annually.
No way would I let anybody in my family drive one of those things, excepting maybe the local go cart track.
Gotta love an analytical analysis!
Personally, I would rather drive my 1988 trans am that has NO bumper supports, horn, emergency brake, radio, heater/ac, power steering, windshield wipers, sound deadening or any semblance of rational transportation, than drive a "Smart car". (Of course 1000hp will help you forget about minor amenities, besides, its like getting back to nature...but with a machine.) Just the name of the thing eats away at my soul. "Smart"? As if to say that this car is actually an intellectuals choice over, say, perhaps, a Chevy truck?
Sure, it is "smart" when compared to...
...the infamous East German Travant!
But then so is a mule driven cart doubling as a hearse.
Yeah... nice lack of crumple zone to help you slow down. That parts scares me the most.
Daily Driver: 2013 Club edition in Pearl White Mica
Lightness? What's that? I drive a PRHT!
Go dig up a 1988-93 Honda CRX HF. 50+ MPG easy. I miss mine occasionally.
So you get 18mpg in your 6,700 pound behemoth? Good for you -- I barely get that in my Miata.But that $917.00 annually that you don't care about saving ($1,665 - $750) at $3.00 per gallon becomes $1,528 at $5.00 a gallon. So is it worth it then? Or at $6.00 a gallon? If your answer is "it's never worth it" – as I suspect your answer is -- then your argument isn't about the savings at all, so you can drop the “analytics”. Just say "Nope, I wouldn't drive a car that small / unsafe / ugly” or whatever and be done with it. Don't try to convince us all with some stellar "analytics".
Anyway, I'm not defending the car, but I’ve always admired the Europeans and their usual [not universal] distain for the US “bigger is better” mentality when it comes to cars. And the Smart Car is just one quirky example of this.
IMNSHO the views expressed about other fuel efficient cars – VW Diesel, Honda CRX HF, etc. are very true, and better reasons for not choosing a Smart Car if you were looking to be more economical in the first place. In other words, you don’t have to shoehorn yourself into a Smart in order to get 40-50 mpg. Still, the Smart does have certain… flair
BTW, I doubt I'd buy a Smart Car -- I want to drive something fun, fast/quick, and cool, and I don't care terribly much about the cost of gas (OK, when it hits $7.00 a gallon, I may have to do something different). No use of voo-doo analytics to say I wouldn't buy one!
"That which does not kill us, just makes us madder"
Cletus Nietzsche (Friedrich's half-brother on his sister's side)
To me my life is more worthy than saving the planet from the global warming. The Smart is no match for the H2s in a crash. There are too many soccer moms on the phone and fixing the hair behind the wheels of the H2s!
Gabriel
Nope, I wouldn't drive a car that small. Not sure about "stellar analytics" but I am sure about what I learned in Physics 101. And I know that $1528 won't go very far down at the ER either.
So you get 18mpg in your 6,700 pound behemoth? Good for you -- I barely get that in my Miata.
Anyway, I'm not defending the car, but I’ve always admired the Europeans and their usual [not universal] distain for the US “bigger is better” mentality when it comes to cars. And the Smart Car is just one quirky example of this.
IMNSHO the views expressed about other fuel efficient cars – VW Diesel, Honda CRX HF, etc. are very true, and better reasons for not choosing a Smart Car if you were looking to be more economical in the first place. In other words, you don’t have to shoehorn yourself into a Smart in order to get 40-50 mpg. Still, the Smart does have certain… flair
BTW, I doubt I'd buy a Smart Car -- I want to drive something fun, fast/quick, and cool, and I don't care terribly much about the cost of gas (OK, when it hits $7.00 a gallon, I may have to do something different). No use of voo-doo analytics to say I wouldn't buy one!
I had an 87' CRX HF, it's best tank was 54mph. I miss that car,
My last tank out of the 97' Civic CX hatch was 37.5. and it's already paid for itself and I never had a car payment with it.
I like the Smart car, but you'd have to give it to me. You take a risk everytime you drive a car, truck, or anything else. When your time is up, your time is up. Drive defensively and pay attention behind the wheel and always expect cars around you to do the wrong thing.
Smile
93' LE #1136 - FM II
250k miles
I drove one at the Houston test-drive.
They're quick. Deceptively quick. It's a factor of gearing. They don't have much power and because of the short gears are limited to about 70mph.
And they handle well. They're stiff and have a short wheelbase. In heavy traffic it was ridiculously easy to maneuver. Driving on an open road it handled fairly well, but a little choppy based on the seating positon close to the rear axle and the ultra short wheelbase.
And they ARE safe. At least safer than any Miata. And big enough to handle large people. Brianne and I comfortably fit in one with plenty of headroom and shoulder room and we didn't have the seats all the way back. FWIW, we're both 6'3".
And cheap to buy. The optioned out coupe was less than $14k.
Is it the MOST economical car? No. Some of the VW diesels and older flyweight Hondas and other junky economy cars beat it out when it comes to milage. But it is almost as nice as a Mini Cooper, has some decent options (GPS Mapping, Stereo, panoramic roof) and is available new with a warranty - should you treat your car like an appliance.
Would I have one as an only car? No. I tow a racecar and haul parts around too much. That requires a truck. I wouldn't take one on a cross country trip because you'd be driving near top speed much of the time. But I'd drive it from Houston to Dallas every month to see my pals. I'd drive it around Houston. Not counting towing to races, or cross country trips, I drive an average of 120 miles a day.
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