Smart Car
#1
Smart Car
Hybrid Cars Discussion Email This Page | Print This Page Topic: Smart Car
Ann Job should be writing on a car found in Canada and Europe called the "Smart Car". The car is produced in conjunction with Mercedes Benz and has been around for several years. The big question is Why not in the USA. Zap motors has 200 ready to be sold in the USA and is just waiting for Government approval. I have seen and driven one here in the States and I would buy one maybe two tomorrow if they were available here. Well built and safe. Yes they are small but comfortable. My friend has one and drove from Quebec to Key West, Key West to Melborne with several side trips. On arrival in Melborne she reached $100 in fuel costs. The thing got 81 miles per gallon of Diesal. This needs to be investagated as to what is the holdup on selling these cars in America. Reelman
Ann Job should be writing on a car found in Canada and Europe called the "Smart Car". The car is produced in conjunction with Mercedes Benz and has been around for several years. The big question is Why not in the USA. Zap motors has 200 ready to be sold in the USA and is just waiting for Government approval. I have seen and driven one here in the States and I would buy one maybe two tomorrow if they were available here. Well built and safe. Yes they are small but comfortable. My friend has one and drove from Quebec to Key West, Key West to Melborne with several side trips. On arrival in Melborne she reached $100 in fuel costs. The thing got 81 miles per gallon of Diesal. This needs to be investagated as to what is the holdup on selling these cars in America. Reelman
#2
Re: Smart Car
There are some in the database, and just today there was an announcement that a company plans to make electric versions of them!
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005..._technolo.html
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005..._technolo.html
#3
Re: Smart Car
i saw one yesterday!! i was at the mall, we were walking out to our car and there was one just parked in the parking lot. it was really small and had one of those long european license plates on it. on the front dash there was s sign that said something like interested in owning a smart car? call this mercedes dealer. i'd get one as a second car or something.
#5
Re: Smart Car
I saw these things everywhere in both London and Paris. They really are tiny, with the models I saw only being around 6ft. in length. They have to be extremely thrifty with the gas, though. Last year, gas was the equivelant of around $5-6 dollars per gallon. Many people there use Diesel because of the better fuel ecomomy. Can you imagine a collision involving a Smart Car and an Expedition or Ram? That would be my only qualm about these 'ultimate commuter cars.'
Cheers!
Cheers!
Last edited by Atomic Frog; 09-07-2005 at 08:09 PM. Reason: left out a word
#6
Re: Smart Car
As for hitting a big Suv I don't know the answer but you can watch it hit a large Mercedes Sedan head on thier website. Guess who came out on top? The Smart Car. I was amazed. They have incorporated a saftey cell around the car that the passengers sit. It protects them. As for the size of the the thing it looks very small compared to Americian cars, but so was my 62 MG. Driving one is a pleasure. It will do o-60 in 5 sec. The low center of gravity makes it very nimble around curves just like a true sports car. As a matter of fact I believe the Smart Car may qualify as a sports car. Remember the original Mini-coopers. A six ft6"er can fit just fine still having headroom. I'd have to say don't sell this car short just yet until you've had a chance to sit in one and drive it. Reelman
Last edited by Reelman55; 09-08-2005 at 06:24 AM.
#7
Re: Smart Car
Originally Posted by Reelman55
As for hitting a big Suv I don't know the answer but you can watch it hit a large Mercedes Sedan head on thier website. Guess who came out on top? The Smart Car. I was amazed. They have incorporated a saftey cell around the car that the passengers sit. It protects them. As for the size of the the thing it looks very small compared to Americian cars, but so was my 62 MG. Driving one is a pleasure. It will do o-60 in 5 sec. The low center of gravity makes it very nimble around curves just like a true sports car. As a matter of fact I believe the Smart Car may qualify as a sports car. Remember the original Mini-coopers. A six ft6"er can fit just fine still having headroom. I'd have to say don't sell this car short just yet until you've had a chance to sit in one and drive it. Reelman
Last edited by Reelman55; 09-08-2005 at 06:51 AM. Reason: spelling and grammer
#8
Re: Smart Car
You have to have a captive audience prior to investing in the SmartCar here in the USA. I think they will have a difficult time in two areas: 1. American buyers want bigger cars and would be scared that they would get killed in an accident. 2. Not sure the SmartCar can pass America's rigid crash tests. Guess 1 and 2 are sort of related - What problems are you mentioning of the existing hybrids?
#9
Re: Smart Car
I LIKED....past tense, the Smart Car when I first found out about it. I thought it was a great idea but I did have some concern for safety. My problem with it could be temporary, but I have read that the car itself will sell here for $28,000! If that is true then I will surely look elsewhere. For the mileage that people are getting you may as well get the Insight and save yourself $8000. If they truely do come out selling at that price I think it'll flop faster than you can say Edsel.
#10
Re: Smart Car
They are only $20,000 Canadian, so there's no way they will be $28k US. I think they are overpriced, but that's just in comparison to all the other small cars that get sold at a loss, supposedly.