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The Smart Car

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BoneIdle

BoneIdle

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I've been seeing these around NE Indiana for the past few months. They are growing more numerous by the week. Aside from making the GT look huge in comparison, their appearance kind of creeps me out.

It's totally irrational, I know, but to me they look like cockroaches on wheels. They scurry and scuttle around turns and seem to disappear in a flash, as if they're seeking shelter from a bug bomb.

I keep wondering if the night watchman at the Smart dealership ever walks into the showroom, flips on the light switch and sees the various Smart Cars running for cover under desks and into cupboards.

I'm sure they're a lot of fun, and we all know they're economical, but like I said...
 
I think they're hideous. I don't really "get" it. They're ugly as sin, they're not cheap, they're not incredibly fuel efficient (it's not like they're getting 70mpg), and they're absolutely <span style="font-style: italic">tiny</span>.

When I see them on I95 around here they seem to be driven by obnoxious farts (OFs) that love to ride in the left lane doing 60mph, and they look like they're sitting up against the back window of the thing. Not something that looks appealing when there's a 50,000lb truck coming along at 70-75mph from behind.

According to what I've seen they're running about $4000 less than a Golf TDI. They get the <span style="font-style: italic">same fuel economy</span> yet offer a <span style="font-style: italic">ton</span> more utility while still being a reasonably small car.

Just my take on it - I can't stand 'em.
 
I think the Smart Roadster (below) might have been keen. Too bad they stopped building them.

I think the "shortness" of the present Smart car might be useful in some of the ultra-urban places near me (such as NYC).

But I agree with Scott that they aren't as fuel efficient as you would think a 600cc 2-seater would be.
I see them a a "start" for Americans to get used to more appropriate-sized vehicles. Hopefully, as small cars get more accepted, we'll get some nicer small cars such as the VW Polo and maybe some of the neat, ~Japanese Kei Cars~ .

To be honest, even though I'm not a fan of Smart cars, they are *far* less obnoxious to me than the typical SUVs I see on the road.

Smart Roadster
smart_roadster-L.jpg
 
mee too.
 
They were popular her in Madison, WI. Understandable since this is the #1 yuppie town in the Midwest and maybe the US. It is described as 200 square miles surrounded by reality.

Any way they are fast becoming unpopular because they are not so economical on the highway and are reported to be a handful to drive at highway speeds. I imagine kinda like pushing a doughnut with a pencil.

But I do like them. It is such a wonderful experience passing one in our TR6 on city streets or the highway knowing that behind the smug appearance of the occupant(s) there is complete envy that they are stuck in the "Smart" car and would so like to trade places with us.
 
Like a lot of things, if you can get past their ugly profile, their ok in their place, it just isn't on a super highway. Reminds me a little of the old Berkleys for size, but the Berkleys looked better.
happy0148.gif
 
I've recently been back out on the daily Interstate commute. I've seen a couple of 'em out there and was fearful for the driver's safety. They were over 70 MPH and surrounded with the usual bumper hugging morons... It looked downright dangerous to me. And I'm in an Alfa Spider! At least I have some suspension and a bit of power for maneuvering.

Where's the C.G. on those lumps? They look squirrely over 50MPH to me. Urban grocery cart, yes. Interstate vehicle? I think not. Likely inevitable there will be some incident to send Naderism into a full court press for their removal from all but city streets. 'course the few I've seen "out there" have been driven by what appear to be very young males... not much in the way of sense or appreciation of physics.
 
It's always been a <span style="font-weight: bold">"why bother car"</span>
Seats two with no luggage space.... get a motorcycle.. fresh air !!
Gas mileage just so so......Get a DTI (aerog) or a prius... take the dogs for a spin
Fun factor....... get a mini..... yahoo around those corners

I guess you could get one to practice seating up straight ??
 
Our local mom & pop pharmacy has one for a delivery vehicle. I see it everywhere and for an around town car it may be perfect for them.

I was looking at buying one when they started to import them. For my 7 mile town commute to my prior job it was fine. but that was about it.

I came back from Afghanistan and bought the Spitfire instead. About the same in practical use but the Spit is a lot more fun to drive.
 
I wonder if they could be classified as a CARRY ON?

mini-car.jpg
 
There has been an article on the "net about a smart that was in an accident.
Let's just say the results were horrific!

Enough to scare me away forever. I'll take my chances in an LBC any day.
JMHO

Dave :driving:
 
"for Americans to get used to more appropriate-sized vehicles".....Nial, that sounds a lot like <span style="text-decoration: underline">1984</span>......tried to say that nonpolitically.

I abhor the little things....if they see an opening, they jump into it & I end up having to jam on my brakes to keep from rolling over the little thing.

Remind me of those little Chihuahua dogs.
 
No Tony, I think it sounds like 2009. :angel:

But we agree to disagree; I think there's a place for them.
grin.gif


And a bunch of the comments I read above sounds a heck of a lot like what "normal" folks say about our cars!

tony barnhill said:
....if they see an opening, they jump into it.....
Click to expand...

*Only* Smarts? I live in New Jersey. *Everybody* does that here. :jester:
 
Bite away. I'm unapologetic about my interest in small cars.
grin.gif


As a former owner of several classic Minis (and a daily commuter on Rt. 80 in a Miata), I understand the issues with driving small, "unsafe" cars. But if more of us drove small cars and even micro cars, instead of the tanks we see on American roads, small cars wouldn't be viewed as "unsafe".
Plus we'd have the benefits of saving gas.
Plus they're generally more fun!
(Have any of you guys even *driven* a Smart? It's sort of like an Isetta on steroids. :jester:)

For the record, I'm not a big fan of the Smart. I think it's ugly and the trans is crap. But I wish more folks would accept the *notion* that small or micro cars should be an acceptable choice on American roads.
In terms of safety, the Smart is probably much safer than some of the classics we drive around.

I was recently astounded in a bank parking lot when a young woman in a Ford Expedition cheerfully hopped out of her tank and, looking at my MGB, declared;

"Mister, your car is way too small!"

To which I responded;

"Ma'm, your car is inappropriately too large for today's world!"

Suddenly, <span style="font-style: italic">Miss Gall</span> wasn't so cheerful.

Normally, I would *never* comment to a total stranger about their choice of car, but that's my point....

Lot's of folks with big gas guzzlers are *totally* comfortable telling *me* that my car is unusually small.
I've had that happen to me lots of times.
And that's a mindset that I dislike.

In all honesty, I don't care what other folks drive. I just bought a full-size Chevy van myself (for limited towing usage). I'm comfortable with others making their own choice. But I don't like the folks telling me that my choice is "weird".
In my mind, my choice is sensible and many of these gas guzzler choices are far more "weird".

I look forward to the day when we have more super efficient and fun "teeny-tiny" cars such as the new ~FIAT Abarth~, the ~Toyota IQ~ and the ~VW diesel Polo~ . Going back to my original point, I see the Smart not as a perfect answer, but a good start towards some better choices.
 
Big car, little car . . .

Youse guys worry too much. Just drive and enjoy! :yesnod:
 
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