Hi: saw one of these SMART cars on my commute home from Boston yesterday, kinda made me feel like a gas guzzler.... apparently these can get 50 to 100 mpg... Coming to US in 2007..

http://www.smart.com

 

I saw them at the Detroit Auto Show. If you lived in a big city, I could see getting a ForFour. They don't have alot of get up and go that would be required to get onto the interstate though. The last I heard, they also said that they weren't going to be bringing over the ForTwo as they didn't feel the US has the market for it and they didn't think it would pass some of the inspections nessecary to bring a car to the US, although that may have changed. The Roadster thing they had (can't remember the name of it) looked nice too

 

They look cool, but I don't think they'll be nearly as fun as a Mini for driving experience.

 

The Smart FourTwo runs a 3 cyl diesel engine. Yes it gets phenomenal gas mileage but you should if you're running a 40hp car. Probably a closer comparison, though not available in the US (maybe soon to Canada) would be a MINI One D. Which should get you close to 60mpg.

2007 is when low sulphur diesel should be introduced in N. America. This should open the door to all those diesel cars in Europe to enter the market.
Not really sure how many will and if they will succeed in the US. Maybe diesel SUVs or Pickup trucks will make a go of it

I noted, while idling next to a smart car, or a VW golf TDI or whatever, here in Canada, that yes, the new diesels are much quieter and less smelly than the diesels of the past. However, you can still hear the diesel clatter and smell some diesel smell.

If my commute didn't involve any highway driving, I would have seriously considered a Smart car too. However, they're nowhere as fun to drive as my MINI

 

Hey MandaBoo, you pretty much got it right. Mercedes had pretty much elected to not import it, but in just the last week or so the news has come out that they are reconsidering the decision courtesy of their new chairman, Dieter Zetsche. He has not committed to importation, only that the decision would be revisited.

 

I'd get the roadster if it was sold in the US. The only bad thing I've heard about SMART is the poor shift quality.

 

I used to see them all the time in germany. Never was inpressed. I used to call them stupids. They have no trunk and not much in the way of convenience.

 

I have a rear engine riding mower that I am considering driving to work on nicer days.

 

Correct, Mercedes has in fact decided not to import the Smart Car to the US, at least for now...

However, you can still get US street legal Smart Cars in the US. Zap cars has been importing them and "Americanizing" them for at least the past year. They have a show room in Santa Rosa CA . http://www.zapworld.com/cars/smartCar.asp

 

I'd seriously consider a ForFour or a OneD, no problem. But then, performance is not my thing....economy, good design, and handling are higher on my list. Yes, I drove a Geo Metro.....and liked it!!!

I had heard that Smart body panels are changeable between different colors...even clear. That'd be fun.

 

Until some auto maker produces flying cars like the ones we were promised in all of those technology magazines of yesteryear and like the ones we saw in the movie Blade Runner I will remain a MINI MAN!!!!

To give up a MINI for a Smart car ... that would be dumb.

MTFBWY,
--Will

 

Some of you guys sound like a bunch of SUV drivers... "I'd consider buying a normal sized car if I didn't have to carpool the soccer team once every two months".

Instead, "I'd consider buying a fuel-efficient car if .... (insert irrelevent comment here)"


Just be honest about it... Personally, I don't drive an SUV or truck because of consideration for the environment and others on the road. I guess I don't feel strongly enough about it to own something more efficient than the mini. In my own defense though, I ride a motorcycle to work most days anyway, which gets twice the mileage of the mini.

I'll be glad when we get past the hybrid phase, and onto something with some long-term practicality. I figure it'll take a couple more years for Prius batteries to start dying and everyone to get really pissed.

 

I drove the ForFour 1.6L (regular fuel) for a wekend. HMMM: Pretty cheap feeling.

As far as size/practicality, imagine a MINI with the back seat area cut out. The ForTwo does have a similar size trunk.

Now I'd love to own the Brabus version of the ForTwo!!!

 

If I remembered correctly... ForFour is FWD, and according to one of the UK magazine (Either EVO or CAR)... They didn't give a very high score for ForFour, like the ForTwo does. So don't expect it ride like a gokart or MINI.

 

The coolest thing about Smartcars i how they are sold (well at least in Germany) they have them on display is a big glass tower, you are supposed to be able to pick the one you want out (yes I'd want to one on top) It is like a big pez dispenser.

Even if they do get imported here, I am not sure how safe I'd feel driving it. they are so small and in the land of SUVs I think it would not take a lot to do some serious damage.

A few years ago I saw a purple smart car on the side of 495 (major beltway around DC). I had just gotten abck from a trip overseas so I was excited - first and only one I've seen in the US.

 

They are actually a lot safer than you may think, actually they have a crash test video where the Smart car hit a Mercedes Sedan and you can see the Mercedes crumpling away while the Smart car takes the hit, the thing is they are so light and the structure so strong for it's size, it's like you're in a big solid cage, the problem is if you ever get hit between two heavy vehicles, that would be ugly, but I bet 2 SUV hitting each other at the same speed as one SUV and a Smart car, you would probably get hurt more in one of the 2 SUVs because the other vehicle might be heavy but so is yours and the combination of both weight can make a lot of damage, the Smart car will almost bounce off and with all the air bags, the test didn't look all that bad.
I almost bought one and there is a Forum for owners and I think people talk more highly of their Smart car than some of their Mini here, they are so thrilled about them cars, it's hard to believe, I gave up getting one because they are now at 7 to 8 months wait and you can't even pick your color, if you're to fussy you can wait forever.
I know a guy who owns one and he travelled more since he bought that thing than ever before, he put 23,000 km (14,300 miles) in less than 5 months and he loves it, he says the speed is governed to 87 mph and he drove it at that speed for over 200 miles and got 74 mpg going 87 mph.
The MINI takes almost as much gas as my wife's Z28 on the highway, I get 29 mpg in the Z28 and about 32 in the MINI.

 

I don't know but I was just toying around with the UK website and the BRABUS roadster-coupe is a pretty spiffy. But I would definetly still keep my MINI, the same price and alot more fun, and in my opinion that is a smart decision.

Mikey

 

I actually live just a few miles from Santa Rosa. And despite their proximity, I've never seen one of these on the road. I drive through Santa Rosa on my daily commute! Rumor around here is that with the cost being around $20k when it is all said and done is that most folks opt for a hybrid or just something fun like a Mini. It's easier and you get more goodies.

I think the SmartCar makes great sense for a dense urban environment. But suburbia is probably not ready for these just yet.

 

I'm curious what the "real" impact of this is going to be. Europe has made great progress with diesels, no doubt about it. The E320 diesel is an amazing car, with lots of power.

Remember that in the U.S. diesel is available, it just hasn't been popular. In CA the particulate (sp?) emissions are what prevents them from being used in SUV's and cars, but they are allowed trucks. I've always found this amusing that folks can drive a 7000 pound truck to work getting 14 mpg in a diesel 6.0L engine, but it's no longer possible to buy a VW TDI.

Jeep sells the Liberty with a Mercedes 2.8L diesel in it. But the gas engine has been improved too, so the new diesel only get 5 mpg better than the base gas engine. It does have twice the torque though. Downside is that it costs more money too. But 5 mpg (see below) may not be enough reason alone to get a diesel. For cars, the difference is usually greater, because they are lighter and more streamlined.

I'm not entirely sure that low-sulfur diesel will see the diesel car boom that exists in Europe. It used to be that diesel fuel was much cheaper to make, but these days in CA at least, diesel is often one of the more expensive fuels. If say 10-20% of the new car market shifts to diesel too quickly, prices could go up on demand and the result could be a smaller net change in overall savings.

I would consider a diesel Mini if one was available here, but I'm not sure I'd be as happy when I have to drive on the freeway. Around here, a lot of the on ramps are very short (maybe 300 feet) so if you can't get up to speed quickly, your toast. The 55 mpg would be great as long as the ratio of $1:$1 for diesel:gas remains similar. If demand increases cause diesel to cost more, then the attractiveness diminishes. During the recent supply shortages, in norther CA it was very common for diesel to be the highest cost fuel.

Remember too, that what the average driver saves changes as the ratio of MPG and gas cost changes. Take a look at the following examples:

15,000 miles per year assumed, gas cost per year:

(i've rounded the MPG est on the cars....)

Gas/Fuel $2.50 gallon (low avg of "now")
15 mpg truck = $2,500
25 mpg car = $1,500
35 mpg Mini = $1,071
55 mpg Mini D = $681

Gas/Fuel $3.25 gallon (next summer?)
15 mpg truck = $3,250
25 mpg car = $1,950
35 mpg Mini = $1,392
55 mpg Mini D = $886

Gas/Fuel $4.15 gallon (2007 est.)
15 mpg truck = $4,150
25 mpg car = $2,490
35 mpg Mini = $1,778
55 mpg Mini D = $1,131

What I take away from this is that even at $4 gallon, the Mini D is only saving a few hundred dollars a year in fuel costs. Sure it all adds up, but from a "big picture" perspective, anyone with a car that gets OVER 30 MPG is doing the right thing. Gas or diesel.

 

Hey, I never said that their pricing made sense Actually I think that will be Zap's biggest barrier, I just don't think too many American's are going to be willing to fork over $16k for a car that size with limited options. If they can shave another 4 or 5 grand off the price they might have a fighting chance.

The showroom is across the street from the mall (not Coddingtown, the one in downtown) I believe it's on B Street. They've got a couple of Smarts in the window...

 

They have been up here for about 6 months, selling well to city folk.

But I have heard reports that on the highway they are slow, and can be blown around pretty bad by on-coming semis

 

Same in Calgary, there are quite a few of them around the downtown area. And I see them on the main highway inside the city with 100km/h speed limit all the time too. They do take a while to get up to highway speed, but the onramps here in Calgary are pretty generous so they have no problems.

These "Smart" cars are more fashion statement than actual fuel/money/enviroment savings. You can spend 1/2 of the price of a new Smart for 2 here in Canada, get a decent used car that gets well over 30mph, and those cars will be quite a bit more practical than the Smart as well. However, how can you blame people for wanting to look cool/good

 

Oh my...I hadn't thought about that. I just had a sudden vision of a SmartCar getting blown off the road on Highway 175 switchbacks between Hopland, CA and Lower Lake, CA.

(For those not familar with the area, this is a small stretch of road with VERY tight switchbakcs, NO GUARDRAIL, and steep drop offs. It's recommended that vehicles over 30' avoid it, but often they go across anyway!)

 

Well said. They're slow, they handle poorly, and there's no room at all in it. Doesn't sound very smart to me.

Rawhyde

PS It'd be a hoot watching one try to get around on the mountain roads around here....unless I'm the unlucky sap stuck behind it.

 

There is Alot of smarts Fortwo's in Montreal! Downtown, they are everywhere. It said on the news last week that the waiting list is about 8 months now.