Smart Car

[Drunken Monkey]

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?

[ducatiz]

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.

[NAKID]

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

[ducatiz]

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)

[triangleforge]

The Smarts do make a lot more sense around tiny European cities -- but even there a back seat and hatchback comes in handy

[ducatiz]

The Smarts do make a lot more sense around tiny European cities -- but even there a back seat and hatchback comes in handy

good place to put your date while in former Czechoslovakia