I have found this from VW drivers as well.

 

I attribute my slight 2nd gear stumble to my car's fear of being judged. Jimbo


that's funny!

 

what else has he got to do?

 

I just read that. See http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...28/013102.html

The cars they are bringing in are the second generation, three models which must be a roadster or a cabrio. 7" longer for US safety standards!

0-60 in 10 secs is good enuff for the city!

Also here http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/28/s...to-distribute/

The car will go head-to-head with BMW's MINI brand, which will be redesigned for the 2007 model year.

 

The whole smart car state of existence makes me dizzy. For the past couple of years I've been reading how Mercedes, in spite of the Smartcar's popularity in Europe, has yet to turn a profit--and that they were going to end production. Then, there's press about importing partially-assembled versions via some entreprenuer in CA... to Mercedes' dismay... Today, we see a brief in the business section stating that Daimler Benz is going to export to U.S. market.

I haven't driven one, but I love the fourtwos. They look very, very cute parked next to a row of bicyles on any given alley... I meant to say street, in Paris.

 

I've gotten similar responses, not really used to such flirting at a stoplight yet I just don't know what to say.

I usually run with the windows down so I'm used to hearing all of the comments good or bad.

I got a kick out of a kid in the back of an Aveo when I saw his jaw drop he pointed at Pearl and started getting his parents attention.

And as far as the VW Audi thing, I haven't experianced it myself, most who like the overperforming hatch concept like the MINI, but a few may be disgruntled after I was passing them (at legal speeds) in the twities while driving a minivan, yesterday.

 

Paul Mullet over at MINI2.com traded his MCS in the UK for one of these but he hated the car and went right back to the MINI. Looks good on paper but doesn't seem to be all that.

His words, not mine.

 

I thought the roadster looks "cute". From what I've read, its not the same cars as selling now but the next generation to be sold via Penske dealership networks.

My wife say it and, of course, though it even better looking as a roadster than the MINI because she wants its tiny, tiny.

At 0 - 60 in 10 secs and 101 top speed, its not going to be a performance car but at 61 MPG its going to be fine for around the city town. I wouldnt want to take it on a vacation It would make a great commuter car

 

I'll believe it whenI see it. Daimler-Chrysler has been going back and forth far too many times with the importation of the Smart cars into the US. Last year or the year before, they issued a news press release stating that the good ole' USA will never see the Smart at list not as a product fully distributed and supported by DCX.

DCX investors have been calling for the demise of Smart, so it seems to me that Daimler is playing the last card by bringing the Smart product line, thus boosting much needed sales and production numbers. If Smart turns out to be a flop in this market, you can pretty much count on it being scrapped in a few years time.

 

Heh.

I don't even have my Mini yet and I've already experienced some hate because of it. Comments about having my man card revoked and such.

Then again, I used to be into offroading, and most of the hate/ribbing has come from friends of mine from that era. I guess the transition from THIS to a Mini in just over a year is a bit much for them.

 

Yes it looks good. A slow car that looks fast

 

I've had my MCS since last August and so far the only thing I've heard has been all positive. Everyone here loves my MINI!

 

When men are insecure about their own masculinity, they usually see fit to attack other men when they drive machines that they perceive them to be either "gay" or too "feminine" (Chick).

I have never subscribed to the "macho" mentallity that seems so prevalent in many cultures including the hispanic culture.

 

Breabus(sp?) Smart Roadster

6-Cyl Bi-turbo
Hammond has a good Top gear bit on it, and if I remember right it will out prefrom a MINI.

 

I haven't been the victim of any hatred whatsoever. I get thumbs up from traffic going both ways on the street and at stop lights. Even the neighborhood kids stop whatever they're doing to watch me drive by. My wife experiences pretty much the same thing on a daily basis in her MC.

I sold my Porsche but am still a member of the PCA and occasionally attend the local chapter meetings. We had a meeting last night that was being held at one of my Porsche friend's workshop where he restores cars in his retired life. Of course, I drove my MCS to the meeting. Everyone there just HAD to see my MCS. In fact the meeting got started about 25 minutes late because of my one-man British car show. I thought I might get some lip from some of the Porsche people for showing up at the meeting in a British car, but everyone was excited about seeing my MINI. I had many comments on the design and quality of the car.

So far so good. Just smiles and thumbs up. If I ever do get an off-the-wall comment, I'll just ignore it and drive away smiling.

 

I have one on order too and have already caught some crap from a lot of people about it. I usually respond with "you would understand if you drove it, but since you think they are gay/stupid/girly/etc you won't have that chance."

I am 6'3 and around 250lbs, so a lot of people say "can you FIT in those little things?!" Nobody believes me when I tell them that they are quick, fun to drive, big enough inside, etc. Oh well, for the lucky few that get to go for a ride, they will quickly understand why I bought one. :-)

Drew

 

Top gears love the current gen car

Pound for pound there is little to beat the fun to be had with the smart roadster. It can compete with any sports car even the so-called 'serious drivers cars' - their owners would still envy you this car. Of course it is compromised by its size this is part of its attraction and we would recommend a fitting before buying - but if you can live with its size limitations or if it is a second or weekend car then it comes highly recommended. It provoked numerous comments such as 'wow', 'nice car' and caused a sensation amongst other road users and pedestrians like nothing else we've driven.

http://www.carpages.co.uk/smart/smar...r_11_03_04.asp

 

Um, it is a British car with german engineering...

 

Funny that this thread should pop up today. This morning, I had to go to the store and so, I drove my new MCSa. As I was pulling into the parking lot, some nasty-looking old redneck in a nastier-looking old rusted out ricer yells, "Ohhh, a MINI A**!" I immediately told him to go and stuff himself, and proceeded to park and get out of my car to see what he wanted to do about it. I guess my size in such a small-looking car was a shock to him as I exited, cuz he took off.

 

Road RAGE!!!!

 

DUH Yeah well of course I know, but this is quite a lot to say to a clinically insane homeless person lecturing your poor defenseless MINI in front of a Safeway

"Excuse me Mr. Crazy man, but that's a British car with German engineering." GMAB!!

He understood "It's German."

(Actually it's designed by an American with roots in BMW-era Rover made in Britian with German and British engineering/parts and a Brazilian powerplant--plus mine has a S2000 stub antenna so it has a Japanese component. Digest that, Mr. Homeless guy....) Jimbo and his Multi-Culti MCS

 

Okay, this incident really pisses me off . I don't really care what others out there think about MINIs - we all know how special they are. No, the thing that pisses me off is that there are still people in the world so full of hate that they put others down for their sexual orientation in the first place. How long is this crap going to continue. Evolve already, wouldya'?

And,as a woman, here is some advice to guys out there who drive macho mobiles (not that there are any of you on NAM, but just pass it along to your friends ): It doesn't make you more attractive to us AT ALL. Usually we just find it pathetic and we make lots of jokes about it behind your backs. I would be much more intrigued by a guy in a MINI than a guy in some monstrosity of an SUV or muscle car anytime, and I know I'm not alone in how I think .

 

Twice I've had black SUVs (one Tahoe, one Seqouia) tailgate me at traffic lights very closely... the slow creep-up an inch or two at a time until they are within ~4-6 inches of my car's rear bumper.

I hopped out of the car each time and walk up to their window to ask WTF (pissed, but not in a personally threatening way). First time, just got a glare... another time a shrug.

Really... I have no idea what the deal is with some people. Both were blond females driving black SUVs -- it seems like they're power tripping on intimidating someone in a small car to me -- but with N=2 I'm not going to draw too many conclusions. Really gets my blood up though - hopefully its just coincidence. If I'd been driving aggressively prior I'd understand, but both times were without prior interaction.

 

Good for you for calling them on it. Of course, maybe they were just trying to get closer to see the interior of your awesome car

 

LOL, ya i understood the situation, just wanted to remind everyone