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That infamous Smart Car crash test video

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I'd consider one as a "local" run about if I were in a position to own 2 new cars. However, I'm not. Anyway, I see one of them thar Smart Cars on the freeway almost everyday. That is one place I wouldn't take one... especially here in the greater LA area where traffic goes from 80+ to 0 with almost no warning or reason ...
 
Oh yeah, our LBCs are at least on par with if not better than a lot (not all) of these modern cars when it comes to stopping power, or at least the power assisted disk brakes equipped cars are. Hauling a 2500 - 2800 lbs car down to 0 from 80 is a LOT easier to do than hauling down a 6000lb behemoth from the same speed, even if the 6000lb car has ABS... though the behemoth might win a panic stop in wet conditions contest...

I rarely took my B out on the freeway. I only did it when I knew traffic would be light. That was mostly because while driving my B I became a much more aware and defensive driver, and my #1 defense was to be where most of the other cars weren't, or to be in an environment where people are slightly more attentive (e.g. surface streets with lots of stop lights)
 
GregW said:
PAUL161 said:
<span style="font-family: 'Fixedsys'"> It's a shame I can't fly from my house to the airport. Bummer.</span>
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Maybe you need to move here Paul. A whole neighborhood where you can taxi from your garage to the runway.
Click to expand...

Gee Greg, did you have to do that?
jester.gif
 
There are a huge number of Smart Cars running around DC these days, and while I understand the desire for fuel economy and the ease of parking the little buggers, turns out that they're not cheap transportation by any stretch of the imagination. A new one approaches $20,000 around DC. They're certainly a novelty, and the kids love to spot them on the road, but I wouldn't consider one at that price, if at all.

I will admit to understanding the Smart Car as a grocery getter or for a short urban commute. I am consistently amazed at how many I see on the interstates in my area, all cruising at highway speeds. Seems crazy to me.
 
AND, the gas mileage isn't all that great, either, especially for such a small car. The trick: it's a novelty: a status symbol, especially for the "green" crowd (of which I am a member, but not a fanatic).

Novelties have been know to sell like hot cakes, and the Smart car is doing quite well. No surprise, it's great to drive a small car around town.
 
smallness of vehicle and engine are only 2 parts to the equation for good fuel economy, especially as speed increases... these things all have the aerodynamics of a sail...

I think my favorite hybrid debunking video is from Top Gear. They took a Prius out on their track, and followed it with a BMW M3. The Prius was going all out, while the M3 only had to keep up. The M3 ended up getting better gas mileage by nearly 1 full MPG.
 
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