cute. it looks like a little roller skate, but i would consider one.

Best fill 66.7 MPG, best tank 801.5 miles



laurie, central minnesota

Actually in Europe they sell for the equivalent of under $12,000 base price, with the sportier model at around $15k.

In Canada they start at $16,700 Canadian which is about $14,500 U.S.

Unfortunately there are a few companies importing them to the U.S. and taking advantage of their rarity for large profits.


One of the problems in America is the perception that all super small cars should be super cheap with cheap materials, etc.... In Europe there is a large market for "premium" small cars.

There was an episode of Top Gear where Clarkson reviewed the little Smart roadster. That actually looked like a car worth driving. Not exactly fast, not exactly refined, but not a bad way to get from A to B with good FE and a fair bit of fun. If Toyota could sell the MR2 in the US, Smart ought to be able to sell that.

Ah, yes:

High speed stationary object impact video. Also, here's a offset front crash test video.

- Shannon (Geeky, Wild Texan)

It's a rollerskate. I've seen a couple of SmartCars around NYC. They're cute, but I wouldn't buy one. (Although a diesel convertible would be tempting if I had money to spare on a purely-fun car.) It's hard enough to pack enough stuff for a trip in our HCH2. I should also point out that I'm 6'2", 250 pounds.

Would-be hypermiler

I'm excited that they're going to sell SmartCars in the US now! Hooray! I'm deliriously happy with my HCH, but if I had had the choice last year, I may have taken a good long look at the SmartCar. If I ever become a citydweller, and I still need a car, it will be very cool to have this option. Or maybe I'll end up with friends who drive them and I can tag along. It just looks like fun!

After my wife had the "Chevette killing" crash, I came down, walked around and said,

"Oh I don't know. $50 in parts and a couple of weekends and it'll be good to go."

She was ready to kill me . . . she hated the Chevette . . . and used to refer to it with what sounded like "Sh......"

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

I'm 6'3" and not as heavy as you (more like 220 at the moment) and I fit perfectly in this car. I had a ride in a colleague's 2006 Civic and my head was jammed tightly into the ceiling in the front.

The smart is great fun; mine is a cabriolet, with mod cons like heated seats, A/C (two-stage), pollen filter, heated/electric mirrors, etc. The ride is a little stiff, like a sports car (think Boxster), the handling is very good (especially on wider rubber as they offer OEM in Europe), the car is safe (check out the 62.1 miles per hour offset crash test with a Mercedes E Class on www.thesmart.ca), it has driving aids like any Mercedes (ESP, BAS, ABS, CSC, you name it). Wind sensitivity (which I find to be OK anyway) can be reduced by going to the 175/195 section tire combination the pulse version has in Europe, and adding a Brabus spoiler on the front.

MPG is pretty good. I have averaged about 62 US since I got the car, without trying too hard. For example, I have a short commute, I drive with the top down and heated seat(s) on, or up with A/C on, all seasons. Over 90 US MPG is on offer if the car is driven very, very gently, on the highway (50 miles per hour) with A/C off, roof up, etc. I haven't bothered to do this, but others have (www.100mpg.ca).

2008 Mercedes-Benz B 200
2005 smart fortwo cdi pulse cabriolet
1966 Peugeot 404 Coupé Injection
1989 Peugeot 405 DL

My husband swears he saw one of the these at a movie theatre recently, in the parking lot, but I don't know if it was actually a Smart. It had European tags on it, but I don't know if it was a right-hand (non-US) drive vehicle.

- Shannon (Geeky, Wild Texan)

Steering column would be same as in the US if it's from Contentinal Europe, the other side if UK.

The car is not for everybody, but glad it will be in the American market. Some have safety concerns, but it does not have new technologies....

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated