I swear there was a thread on it, but i couldnt find it.
anyway, ive seen 4 smart cars in nyc in the past week. They are comming. and they are comming quick. People are already throwing rims on them and throwing systems in the back and bumping music. Im thinking.... as a bike, we can weave in and out of lane relatively safely becasue we arent wide. Theres gonna be alot of asshole drivers who think they can do the same and end up getting into accidents... And come on seriously. 1liter? 3cyl 70hp....seriously. Triumph 675s make 120.....
Been seeing Smarts for the last 3-4 years. WHere have you been? Tons in Seattle and several down here in Austin. Apparently, nearly a year waiting list.
There's lots of 'em here in Santa Barbara. This is a town where people do 95% of their driving in town. So these cars actually make a lot of sense. A lot of people who own them here have them as a second or third car. Land Rover, 5 series and a Smart. See it a lot. It's half status half practical. Its sort of hip here now.
That being said, I think they are kinda cool. For running to the liquor store I don't need an SUV (usually ;) ). I'd rock one. But I wouldn't have one as my only car though.
sac
too bad there's a 9 month waiting list. :-\
Quote from: red baron on August 02, 2008, 10:11:36 PM
too bad there's a 9 month waiting list. :-\
???
There's a dealer here that has a at least a dozen sitting in the lot.
sac
Quote from: SacDuc on August 02, 2008, 10:13:31 PM
???
There's a dealer here that has a at least a dozen sitting in the lot.
sac
you guys are like your own little California anyways. ;D
Quote from: SacDuc on August 02, 2008, 10:13:31 PM
???
There's a dealer here that has a at least a dozen sitting in the lot.
sac
The US needs to start building the Smart car "buildings" they use for advertising like they have in EUR. They're stacked like 5 high in a glass building on 4 sides. Looks pretty cool. I liked the sportscar Smart they used to make. I'd get get a Mini in a heartbeat though over the Smart.
Quote from: red baron on August 02, 2008, 10:11:36 PM
too bad there's a 9 month waiting list. :-\
Head up to SMART Riverside, they usually have quite a few on the lot.
Quote from: He Man on August 02, 2008, 09:44:05 PM
I swear there was a thread on it, but i couldnt find it.
...People are already throwing rims on them and throwing systems in the back and bumping music.
And WTF is with the 3 lug rims? Looks like the only people making rims for Smart cars is Smart!
Quote from: IZ on August 02, 2008, 10:20:23 PM
The US needs to start building the Smart car "buildings" they use for advertising like they have in EUR. They're stacked like 5 high in a glass building on 4 sides. Looks pretty cool. I liked the sportscar Smart they used to make. I'd get get a Mini in a heartbeat though over the Smart.
Totally! I'd love to have a mini S. I here the sport package handles like a go kart. Unfortunately they are waaaaaaaay over priced. But yeah, want.
But the Smart car seems nice for running around town in those situations where you don't need top performance.
sac
Let's not forget the possible mods. [evil]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV4HdsDZX6c
Im on the eastcoast NYC. Ive JUST started seeing them pop up. Still the power on them is laughable. I mean, if triumph can dish out 120 on their 3cyl 675, why cant these guys get alteast 100 on a 1liter?
Quote from: SacDuc on August 02, 2008, 10:30:13 PM
But the Smart car seems nice for running around town in those situations where you don't need top performance.
sac
or..if the Monster is down, you can always take the Smart to the coffeeshop before you hit the twisties! [thumbsup]
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa14/akido10/DucsandSmartcar.jpg)
Left Coast Weenies. [roll]
I'd be more impressed if they got better fuel economy, something that small and that slow should be able to do better. Hell, my daily average which includes driving thru NYC is about 35mpg or so with my Mazda 3 which is double the horsepower and probably double the weight. We've even seen 40mpg once with the GTI when intentionally driving it like an old lady on the way to church. I'm thinking the drivetrain they put in that Smart car isn't as modern as it should be.
i saw a bunch of them on my way down to the shore....
but none up here in NW CT.
i laugh at the smart trying to drive around here in the winter :-\
anyone know how they handle snow?
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on August 03, 2008, 04:24:09 AM
i saw a bunch of them on my way down to the shore....
but none up here in NW CT.
i laugh at the smart trying to drive around here in the winter :-\
anyone know how they handle snow?
Really short wheelbase, rear wheel drive and very light. I picture a lot of spinouts in the corners. With snowtires on it it might not be bad, plus if you do slide into a ditch, you can just pick it up and place it back on the road.
Quote from: lethe on August 03, 2008, 04:27:59 AM
Really short wheelbase, rear wheel drive and very light. I picture a lot of spinouts in the corners. With snowtires on it it might not be bad, plus if you do slide into a ditch, you can just pick it up and place it back on the road.
[laugh] no, you could!
i don't expect to see many in these parts...
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on August 03, 2008, 04:30:19 AM
[laugh] no, you could!
i don't expect to see many in these parts...
It only makes sense as a city car. If all my driving was strictly in the city I would consider it because I could park in a lot of spots that I pass up now. However, I'd kill that thing within a year with the highway portion of my trip. I have nothing against a really little car but that one doesn't cut it.
i agree, it's a great mild climate, city car [thumbsup]
Quote from: SacDuc on August 02, 2008, 10:30:13 PM
Totally! I'd love to have a mini S. I here the sport package handles like a go kart. Unfortunately they are waaaaaaaay over priced. But yeah, want.
But the Smart car seems nice for running around town in those situations where you don't need top performance.
sac
If the mini is way overpriced, then the smart car's pricing is an abomination. Even before markup those things are overpriced, but at 18-20K they are ridiculous. Plus the gas mileage is pitiful for what it is. A prius gets better mpg, not that I like the prius either.
I took a quick ride in the Smart. Yep, for the size and power you should get better mileage. VW's TDI get 50ish mpg, in a car that's truly useful.
I think the Smart is more a status symbol, kinda like the Prius. :P
wtf kin of status r you talking about?
Quote from: He Man on August 03, 2008, 11:24:50 AM
wtf kin of status r you talking about?
The "look at me I'm saving the world" status.
My wife and I looked at getting one for her back in February.
The Smartcar is an abominable piece of crap. Noisy, slow, and the trans takes a looooong time to shift between gears. You can paddle shift, and that is faster, but it's a semi-manual, not a semi-automatic, so you have to remember to paddle shift back down to first when you stop.
I bought a 2003 MINI Cooper S in '05 for $17.5k. Much better car, and with gas prices jumping, the resale price jumped too. I had a dealer offer me $17k flat for it last week.
I declined. ;D
I still want a jeep wrangler with a propane conversion and a 4 inch lift kit with tires to match. Hot orange or sleek black.
Quote from: Duc Stamp on August 03, 2008, 08:32:32 AM
If the mini is way overpriced, then the smart car's pricing is an abomination. Even before markup those things are overpriced, but at 18-20K they are ridiculous. Plus the gas mileage is pitiful for what it is. A prius gets better mpg, not that I like the prius either.
Where are they charging 18-20K for them? Last I saw they were about 11-13k...
Quote from: lethe on August 03, 2008, 11:26:36 AM
The "look at me I'm saving the world" status.
Yeah..Seattle & Bellevue right there!! Reminds me of the
South Park episode when the snobs were sniffing their own farts.
Quote from: lethe on August 03, 2008, 11:26:36 AM
The "look at me I'm saving the world" status.
Yeah, people just buy them to fit with an internalized self image -- COMPLETELY unlike the entirely rational souls who buy Hummers. And now that I'm in Arizona ranch country, people must just not be as smart as they were back in Washington DC, because I see a whole lot more horse trailers and big fifth wheel RVs, but I hardly ever see dualie pickups, certainly not as many as I did back in the Northern Virgina suburbs.
FWIW, I used to own a first generation Prius back in Virginia, which made a great around town car, and was confusing as hell parked next to my mud-tired, rusty, 11 mpg 1973 Land Cruiser.
Unless you believe we should all ONLY buy (be allowed by the government to buy?) the most practical, rational car or motorcycle on the market, I hope you're every bit as sarcastic about pavement-bound Hummers -- which is where they generally belong, BTW. Of all the times a proud H1 or H2 owner would show up to off-road with us, not one managed to finish the whole run; they're just too long & too wide for tight east-coast trails. Land Rover Discos and Rangies only did a bit better...
Howzabout instead we all get to ride or drive what we like and can (mostly) afford, and let the market sort out the details?
Quote from: triangleforge on August 03, 2008, 04:16:07 PM
Yeah, people just buy them to fit with an internalized self image -- COMPLETELY unlike the entirely rational souls who buy Hummers. And now that I'm in Arizona ranch country, people must just not be as smart as they were back in Washington DC, because I see a whole lot more horse trailers and big fifth wheel RVs, but I hardly ever see dualie pickups, certainly not as many as I did back in the Northern Virgina suburbs.
FWIW, I used to own a first generation Prius back in Virginia, which made a great around town car, and was confusing as hell parked next to my mud-tired, rusty, 11 mpg 1973 Land Cruiser.
Unless you believe we should all ONLY buy (be allowed by the government to buy?) the most practical, rational car or motorcycle on the market, I hope you're every bit as sarcastic about pavement-bound Hummers -- which is where they generally belong, BTW. Of all the times a proud H1 or H2 owner would show up to off-road with us, not one managed to finish the whole run; they're just too long & too wide for tight east-coast trails. Land Rover Discos and Rangies only did a bit better...
Howzabout instead we all get to ride or drive what we like and can (mostly) afford, and let the market sort out the details?
Ummmm. . .isn't that what we do now?
I'm in Gaithersburg, MD (right outside of DC) and they have been selling them around here for a while. You don't see many on the streets but they are starting to show up more and more. I'll stick with my Wrangler. It gets terrible gas milage but I love it and with no doors or top, it's not much of a sacrifice to not ride the bike!!!
There are two in my town.
I can fit that sucker in the back of my truck! [evil]
Wouldn't give up my truck for anything.
we have far to many of them north of seattle. they are slow as death getting up on the highway [bang]. when you live here and have far too much money you buy a house in the san juans and drive your smart car there. then buy a fleet of lame scooters for your entire family.
Quote from: whidbeymonster on August 03, 2008, 08:04:45 PM
we have far to many of them north of seattle. they are slow as death getting up on the highway [bang]. when you live here and have far too much money you buy a house in the san juans and drive your smart car there. then buy a fleet of lame scooters for your entire family.
uh huh! Lived there..seen that!! [cheeky]
Quote from: triangleforge on August 03, 2008, 04:16:07 PM
Howzabout instead we all get to ride or drive what we like and can (mostly) afford, and let the market sort out the details?
What kind of talk is that?!!!
You think you have some sort of God given right to make your own decisions?!!!
I'm still not sold on the safety of that little bugger. It's built really sturdy but I haven't seen much in the way of energy absorption for the passengers. Curtain airbags alone aren't that effective. It's the crush zones that make cars safer, isn't it?
I got an '03 regular MINI for 11k when getting rid of my Jeep GC. It would get even better gas mileage if it wasn't fun to drive, but I still spend less than half of what I was spending in the GC. I kind of wish I would have gotten the S, but then I would probably have lost my license by now, so its for the best.
The newer ones gas mileage has only gotten exponentially better. Its a shame they don't put the 6 gear transmission in the regular.
I find the MINI to be small enough and it cost roughly the same and has value outside of what you would expect for a golf cart.
they're showing up in increasing number here. in detroit. so, yeah, they're here to stay.
i like them, but find that they're over priced and don't get that great of millage for what they are. my wife's hybrid, for example, gets better millage for about the same price. and really, the hybrid should get better.
There's a couple here. My most recent memory of seeing one was as I was slowly headed up a twisty mountain road with a school bus (maybe 30mph) and one came scooting around a curve downhill running wide and nearly embedded itself into the grill of the bus. I'm sure there's no safety feature that can make up for a stupid driver ~
JM
Quote from: erkishhorde on August 03, 2008, 10:20:26 PM
*** the way of energy absorption of the passengers.
This is what I was thinking actually.
Quote from: NAKID on August 03, 2008, 02:09:56 PM
Where are they charging 18-20K for them? Last I saw they were about 11-13k...
In DC, the dealers are marking them up as well as private buyers and resellers.
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/car/782707944.html
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/car/781947631.html
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/car/778939939.html
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/car/777379895.html
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/car/774090722.html
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/car/770723781.html
And then there is the guy charging $32,000 for a prius with 35K miles on it. http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/car/782579633.html
The smarts are definitely status symbols in DC right now. The only people that drive them are ones with money and they drive them so they can feel good about their Hummers and Bimmers and Benzes. (not that there is anything wrong with those cars).
Quote from: He Man on August 03, 2008, 11:24:50 AM
wtf kin of status r you talking about?
Yep, the look at me, I'm concerned about the enviroment, status. :P
Wonder how all those extra lead/acid batteries are going to look in the landfill? ???
Most of the people I know (more like recognize than know) have a Prius or Smart as a 3rd or 4th car. Save the enviroment, yeah right...
Prius saves gas, low emissions, GREAT!, but if eveyrone drove a hybrid, wed have toxic nickle in our wastelands instead.
The process of mining nickle and refining it probably does twice as much damage as a V8 Diesel. the nickle gets shipped back and fowrth for processing, and the end result? Ni-Cads are notorious for memory cycles. I wonder how many charges those batteries can take before they get replaced. The future of energy? I still dont know, but Tesla cars look SICK!! i just wish i knew how the make the beast with two backs they work. lol
How about a Safer smart car? Check this out!
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/09/16/battery-or-fuel-cell-powered-inflatable-car-just-might-be-safes/
Id like to see what a "Smart Car" looks like after driving off a 25 foot cliff! [popcorn]
They are "Smart" if they have the original 600cc gasser or 800 cc diesel engine and get >60 mpg
the USA version with the 1L engine is not smart at all.
For about 3000 less, get a Toyota Yaris hatchback and you get a backseat and more carrying space and almost the same mileage. (37 vs 40 hwy)
The US version of the Smart car just screams "I AM A make the beast with two backsING MORON AND CARE MORE ABOUT MY IMAGE THAN MAKING SMART DECISIONS"
If you want a cheap, good mpg car, get the Yaris. If you want to look like an idiot, get the Smart car. Then drive your SO and your sister/brother to work -- oh, that's right, you can't get more than one other person in the car.
Datech name of company here in Fairfield, Ca.
is selling a basic Smart car for $21,000, fully loaded conv. $27,000 :o :o
WTF! is wrong with this picture [roll].
Consumer reports basically said they are crap.
The Honda Fit has more room, more HP, handles better and gets better gas mileage.
Oh yeah, it's cheaper too.
Put a turbo Diesel in it and I might consider it (best power / mileage engine there is).
As it is I'm scratching my head thinking the only advantage is it's size. But until they make Smart car sized parking spaces, WTFGAS?
Quote from: Drunken Monkey on August 05, 2008, 09:45:37 PM
As it is I'm scratching my head thinking the only advantage is it's size. But until they make Smart car sized parking spaces, WTFGAS?
i can sort of see the logic if you live in NYC -- parking is a premium and you can put 2 of those POS's in some spaces.
on the other hand, you might find it picked up and moved to the sidewalk when someone gets pissed and wants your spot.
they advertise them as being "city friendly" meanwhile NYC and other cities are desperately trying to get people OFF the road and into mass transit. doesn't seem very city friend, they are just another set of wheels on the road.
The main reason folks I know in Europe like them is the old cow paths they call roads in some places -- as little as 5 feet wide. Can't get most small cars thru them, and the Smart is "smart" for them -- plus they use the TD and small gasser engine.
Quote from: ducatizzzz on August 05, 2008, 08:53:13 PM
For about 3000 less, get a Toyota Yaris hatchback and you get a backseat and more carrying space and almost the same mileage. (37 vs 40 hwy)
Toyota Yaris $11,550-14,650
Smart Fortwo $11,590-16,590
Consumer Reports
Yaris - In Consumer Guide testing, Base sedans with automatic transmission averaged 30.6 mpg in mostly city driving, 36.6 in mostly highway driving, and 28.6 including gas-eating acceleration runs.
Fortwo - In Consumer Guide testing, ForTwo models averaged 38.8 mpg.
So, maybe some places are charging a premium for this, but that's not because of Smart.
In comparison, here is the Fit, which they recommend in this category...
Honda Fit $13,950-16,070
In Consumer Guide testing, an extended-use test manual transmission Sport averaged 31.9 mpg over its 9023-mile evaluation. Another manual-transmission Sport averaged 35.6 mpg with slightly less highway driving. Automatic-transmission Sports averaged 28.7 mpg in a mix of city/highway driving, 38.4 in a test that included mostly highway use
Quote from: NAKID on August 06, 2008, 01:25:33 PM
Toyota Yaris $11,550-14,650
Smart Fortwo $11,590-16,590
Consumer Reports
Yaris - In Consumer Guide testing, Base sedans with automatic transmission averaged 30.6 mpg in mostly city driving, 36.6 in mostly highway driving, and 28.6 including gas-eating acceleration runs.
Fortwo - In Consumer Guide testing, ForTwo models averaged 38.8 mpg.
yep. that's the one.
for what you will lose with the 3mpg less on the yaris, you'll make up for with the additional load capacity, plus the 42 is shit on the highway -- its like riding in a skateboard. the Yaris is the skateboard with shocks.
check edmunds for real-world pricing of configured models (not just base prices)
The Smarts do make a lot more sense around tiny European cities -- but even there a back seat and hatchback comes in handy
(http://www.photobasement.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/hatchback.jpg)
Quote from: triangleforge on August 06, 2008, 04:18:50 PM
The Smarts do make a lot more sense around tiny European cities -- but even there a back seat and hatchback comes in handy
(http://www.photobasement.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/hatchback.jpg)
good place to put your date while in former Czechoslovakia