Its coming!! 40-60 MPG !! sits two... shorter than the MINI !! ( almost) As Smart!! Been in Europe for years!! Built By Mercedes Benz !!

The fourtwo "SMART CAR!!" I saw them in the UK a few years ago.. freaked out!! Totally a funny looking small two seater!! Well NOW they are coming to the US in 08!! Rocking... now I will be able to get TWO cars in one parking spot!! Got my MCS for speed, and the Smart for MPG and just cool!!
Any one seen any yet?? Seems the left coast has been modifing them to US standards for a few years.. but selling them as a 24-40K novelty?? But now they are coming in US certified!! Cool!!

Just me......................................

Thumper

 

Doesn't look too SMART to me. Your mileage may vary.

 

They have been in Canada for a couple of years. You see them around the city and the odd **** driving one on the highway.
I believe they have exceeded their sales targets. Somehow I just can't see them doing that well in the good old U.S.
I'm sure someone will create a SMART Limo and that will satisfy the basketball set. Maybe they'll trade in their Escalade's???

 

Did I hear somebody whisper turbo?

 

I like 'em in theory but can't do a two-seater so I'm out!!

 

My dad wants one but my parents just got a Prius last year so he's gonna have to wait. I prefer one of the discontinud Roadster or Coupe models over the Fourtwo. They are definitely a niche market but I bet they will find a place in cities.

 

There's already a thread about this but I still think the Smart cars are cool and I'm still considering buying one.

 

I'm used to seeing and in several models in my home town of Stuttgart. The engine and transmission in the two seater, same as in Europe, coming to the US is disappointing. Better ones would provide still better gas mileage and that is one main point of these automobiles. But, they can be admired for their limited use of raw materials and energy during manufacturing. There is not a lot natural resources tied up in them compared to full size autos. This is something I appreciate about motorcycles, too.

 

Sorry but the US version of Smart seems pretty lame... a paultry 40MPG (haven't heard a single report of 60MPG in the US version) for a 3 cylinder slow azz car (0-60 in 12 sec which borderlines dangerously slow in traffic) is just not for me so I will pass. Get the MPG up to 60 for real then talk to me as I can avoid the Hwy on my way to work but 40MPG is a joke.

 

http://www.smartusa.com/index.html

8. How fast does the smart fortwo go? The top speed of the smart fortwo is approximately 90 mph.

Yeah, I have heard a few things about the trans, However I believe the drivetrin is going to be a little different for US sales. We were in England in my friends Audi doing 85 mph and were PASSED by a smart.. had to be doing at least 90 !! That is when I decided to look into these guys... IF we end up over there this year, we ARE going to test drive and see what it really is like. On their site (above) they seem to have all the bells and whistles.. and it truly isnt that much many times that the wife can make a 90 mile per hour pass to the store... and parking isnt going to be a problem anymore...LOl!!

Just me....................................

Thumper

 

they were in the all over the world from maybe 4 years or more.. but i think they weren't introduced here in the US because saftey in these cars are BAD

 

Do you have a reference? It's also what people assume about MINI.

 

LOL.. Yep on that!! The safety is what kept the MINI's out!! LOL and look at them now!! When there is a contest between a MINI or SMART and an SUV.. guess who will likely win!! I believe that MB has their ducks in a row... check the site I posted..

Just me..................................

Thumper

 

Yeah, that's the main reason these cars will be mostly limited to the cities. The areo is horrible. There are better alternatives out there for highway. My family has had a Honda Insight since 2000 and it's delivered a 64+mpg lifetime over ~93k miles. 0-60 is around 10 sec...not fast but I've never had a problem with lack of power (especially when the torque peak is around 2k rpm). It's also a blast to drive. There's also the VW diesels that'll get you an honest 45 mpg and hopefully MINI comes out with that sweet new Cooper D next year in the States.

 

Get a MINI 1st

 

the things people are doing to these smarts is pretty neat. i think i saw a 3 sec 0-60 time on youtube

 

Wow! Faster than a Ferrari!

Edit:
OMG, check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPQIizRp9ck

 

Or this V6 bi-turbo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxJaGG1CobI
Pretty cool, although it comes at a supercar price without matching supercar performance.

 

I drove one recently at an event here in LA and while I like the idea of the car, it's not something I could ever, EVER own. They let us drive on a small loop that didn't allow for speeds higher than around 20 mph, but it was enough to tell how un-fun of a car it was. I expected it to be sluggish, and that wasn't the problem, but the sequential (and only available) transmission is abysmal. It literally takes seconds after shifter for the gears to actually change, and when they do change the whole car lags like crazy, as if someone had disabled the gas pedal.

That said, I'll probably have one in my garage eventually since a certain someone who I live with put a deposit down on one.

 

That's the other bad thing I've heard about them. Shifting is terrible.

 

They might sell them in the US with bells and whistles, but it will still not be fun to drive them. Driving a MINI is fun becasue it handles, rides solidly (like much larger BMW and Audi), and has sufficient power. The poor little Smart two seater is not like this. The Smart two seater is great on concept, but poor on execution. It is unfortunate.