I got to drive one in Italy while on vacation last month. It was fun, but I like my MINI a lot more. The owner tried to sell it to me, but even though it was small, I don't think it would have fit in my luggage.

Big drawback to them(unless it has changed in the past few years): top speed was only about 65-70mph. That isn't bad if you never leave town, I guess.

 

so does this make the mini a dumb car?

 

Okay, now that it is larger (the pic) I can see it now...We all had people make smart remarks (no pun intended) about our MINIs, could you imagine the ones you'd get with this one? HEY! All you mod junkies, what are the possibilities? Mick

 

I saw some of those in Paris a few years ago, too.

Parking is a serious problem over there. One morning we were awaken to a sort of slamming sound. I looked out the window and saw a car trying to parallel park by pushing the cars in front and behind to get into the spot. Needless to say I was shocked. Later, I saw someone else doing it so I guess it's a common thing, but man, would I be pissed off if somone did that to mine!

 

There was one seen by my wife here in MA just the other day. Unfortunately she didn't get a look at the plate to see if it was a manufacturer or not. Theoretically Smarts are coming here someday. Last one I saw was at Le Circuit Mont Tremblant. The guys who run the nearest gas station to the track (and deal with towing for the track as well) rent Smarts and have a couple sitting around.

 

Actually that looks routine for what I saw while visiting Paris. In fact, It's quite possible it was the MINI that pulled into the space! I was travelling with a group of Americans, and we all remarked on how skilled the Parisians must be at parking into very tight spaces.

 

One HUGE reason to not expect smarts to be offered is in my opinion is that the smart car can't compete on price

Unless they are sold for less than 10k (which they wont) Why would you want one? You can get a Kia or aveo for less money and have more space and more power. Not to mention the Geely's and other chinese makers that will soon be selling brand new cars WELL below 10k!

 

Think I remember seeing a review of that roadster on Top Gear a while back. He was bagging on it in every which way he could during the spot, but when he did the final conclusion, the old guy actually liked it.

 

A girl that lives in my building is a salesperson for Smart. My girlfriend and I make fun of her Smart car and she makes fun of our Mini every time we run into each-other. I love that it only has 3 lugs, not to mention 3 cylinders!! She loves pointing out that she gets like 75 mpg, but I say the Smart has nothing on the Mini.

B

 

There is a video clip floating around out there somewhere - probably on Google Video - showing our friend Jeremy from that great UK auto show testing the Smart Car by running it remotely into a cement wall at 70 mph, which has to be about top speed.

Amazingly, the passenger compartment remained sound and did not deform - and one of the doors actually still worked.

My MINI is just the right size for me - and for getting around the countryside. If I were an urban resident, I might be very tempted by the SC as a better choice for living on the streets with public parking.

Bill

 

I've seen one here.

I've also seen all of the models at car shows and wow, they are tiny. The Roadster barely came up to my waist.

 

Nobody on this thread mentioned they run on diesel. For a diesel, they are much cleaner than the old diesel engines and quieter too. But that would explain the valve clatter mentioned earlier.

They have all the bells and whistles of electronic safety and I believe there was a video in another forum of a Smart in a crash test at 75mph into a wall.

A Smart was on my research and shortlist before I decided on my MCS.

 

I saw one in Chattanooga last week. It was driving up St. Elmo Avenue. It's kinda cute, but not for me.

It's no more practical than a classic Mini, and I bet nowhere near as fun to drive. I'd even rather have a BMW Isetta than a Smart. It'd probably be cheaper to get an Isetta AND a Mini than one Smart car.

Rawhyde

 

The one I owned ran on regular gasoline not diesel
Of the MCC (Micro Compact Car) Smarts that I saw in Germany were gasolkine

Top speed was 87MPH

Average MPG driving in the city 55mpg

Average MPG on the highway 84MPG (as long as I took it easy)

 

Zap has filed suit against Mercedes because MB has decided not to import for now.

 

I actually like the Smart Car. But, I can't imagine it's really competition for the MINI.

 

I agree. Its targeted at maybe the same demographic audience, but for a different use: Zipping in town instead of taming the Dragon.

 

Saw my first Smart car in Port Angeles WA (It had Alberta plates) last year and my first impression was man that car makes my MCS look like a stretch limo! And I read it was the Smart Fourtwo that was coming to the US, not the 2-seater or roadster? Love to drive one just for the experience.

And I thought my MCS turned heads! Jimbo

 

OK guys, here's the skinny on the Smart car -

The Smart car company(the car is called the Smart ForTwo - punny!) is owned by Mercedes Benz. MB wanted to import the cars for a long time and were taking strides to do so. They even encouraged some dealers to import them and have them wear dealer plates.

Unfortunately, this plan was scrapped in 2004 because it couldn't be competitive on price. Here's why. The average Smart Car cost about 7 or 8000 British pounds. I don't know how much they cost in Germany but I'm sure it's simmilar. With that exchange rate that puts the car at about $14,000. All this for a car with a top speed of... wait for it.... (and keep waiting for it because 60 comes in about 15 seconds) 84 MPH!!! That's not even fast enough to power up the time circuits.

The Smart Roadster is a sweet car, but also way too expensive. The car costs about 12000 GBP, which is closer to 20k. It's not even priced well across the pond, and the design is set to be abandoned. The v6 smart roadster was an unbelievable hot car, but it never got built because of the huge expense in creating the V6 from 2 I-3's. Pricing would have Boxster territory or thereabouts.

As far as tuning potentail - I admire your courage! Straight line speed is what I said earlier, and as far as cornering goes, Top Gear named it one of their "Comedy Handling Cars". They put it through a chicane and it went left, and oops forgot to go back to the right. If I find the video I'll link it, because I thought it was hilarious. The car almost ran over the 2 guys who thought they were at a safe distance!


HOWEVER! They're still great looking little cars and get a lot of looks when you drive them. Kind of like a MINI without the driving fun. If you want to buy one there are a few steps you can take.

First: Get a car wholesaler's license. In CA it takes a few steps and costs a few hundred dollars plus several hours time (complete a class, take a test, run around town getting licenses). Step 2: Buy one in Mexico or Canada. Step 3: Throw your dealer plates on there and drive home! Dealer plated cars don't even need to be registered, let alone smogged. You now own an extremely rare auto. Plus, you'll never pay sales tax on a car again. I'm thinking about doing this myself, actually.

 

I don't think I want to be that Smart... what if you have to sneeze?

 

when I drove up to Collingwood and Toronto last year, I saw several Smart Cars zipping around. Boy were they tiny I was driving around in a rented Windstar and was going pretty fast on the highways... I couldn't keep up with them I heard the Smart cars were being gov't subsidized in Canada because they're friendly to the environment. Is that still true?

 

I couldn't find the smart cars on killboy Clo, any more specific date?

 

That post should win an award! It made me spew my drink all over the place.

Rawhyde

 

Just like Rawhyde said, I too was mid-way through a sip of coffee when I realized that you meant it was 4 mph too slow.

Thanks for the laugh!
John

 

84 mph? That should be fast enough for the granny lane on the freeway.... Mick