Smart Car?

[Skittles!]

Thanks heavy, I was wondering where I'd by a new grandmother for the children.

[The Factory]

It seems too small to be practical to me, while this is a step in the right direction in terms of economy, fuel consumption, and environmentalism if this thing got into a wreck it would be a massacre, I don't care what crash tests say, if this thing were struck by a large oncoming vehicle the person in the smart car would probably die or be very seriously injured. Now if everyone drove smart cars that'd be another story but since many people drive hummers and half-ton pickups this thing just isn't smart to be driving around in.

[Backglass]

It seems too small to be practical to me

Like any coupe? It's not something your bring home plywood from Home Depot in, thats for sure. Yet I see idiots commuting to work in Hummers and Suburbans, ALONE, every day on the interstate.

Who is the more practical?

this thing got into a wreck it would be a massacre, I don't care what crash tests say, if this thing were struck by a large oncoming vehicle the person in the smart car would probably die or be very seriously injured.

BUT IS IT SAFE?
A potentially bigger obstacle for Heidemann is convincing Americans that the smart cars — just over eight feet long — are safe.

STEEL SHELL OF SMART CAR

The frame for smart cars is made of reinforced steel, creating what engineers compare to the way a walnut shell protects the nut.

In Europe's five-star crash rating system, the smarts get three stars.

Since introducing smarts in 1998, the carmaker itself has spent time and advertising money convincing Europeans on safety, touting a frame design it likens to a walnut, with high-strength steel beams reinforcing key areas.

Smart also likes to show off a 30-mph crash test between a smart coupe and a Mercedes sedan twice as big. "The passenger cell survived the collision almost unscathed," says spokeswoman Julia Knittel.

Other safety features on the manual transmission smarts include braking and stability technology usually found only on high-end luxury cars. And on hills, a start assist keeps the brakes on for just under a second to allow time for the feet to adjust.

“To generalize and say that the Smart is at a disadvantage in all crashes is unfair,” Kettenbeil said. “We’ve seen numerous times, either in person or on television, where occupants have walked out of a crash regardless of the size of the vehicles that were involved in the accident, and you wonder how that happens.”

In Detroit, product specialist Russell Smolik said these kinds of safety fears probably stem from memories of earlier subcompact cars. Unlike those relatively crude cars of the 1980s, the ForTwo comes stocked with safety features. At its heart is a reinforced steel safety cell, called the Tridion safety cell, which surrounds the driver and passenger.

The point from above is that they are no-less unsafe then other small cars.

Now if everyone drove smart cars that'd be another story but since many people drive hummers and half-ton pickups this thing just isn't smart to be driving around in.

But the majority do not drive Hummers and half ton pickups. If what you say is true, Porsche would be out of business (Cayenne notwithstanding).

Is 8mpg in your hummer worth the perceived safety? Not for me. And remember these aren't "long haul, take the kids 300 miles to Grandmas" cars or something for the farm. Everyday errands, commuting, etc are the intent.

[The Factory]

Serious business below.

It seems too small to be practical to me

Like any coupe? It's not something your bring home plywood from Home Depot in, thats for sure. Yet I see idiots commuting to work in Hummers and Suburbans, ALONE, every day on the interstate.

Who is the more practical?

Never once said I liked coupes.

Well, since I haul a lot of heavy musical equipment back and forth in my pontiac grand prix (4 door) I'd have to say it is in fact too small for my particular applications.

this thing got into a wreck it would be a massacre, I don't care what crash tests say, if this thing were struck by a large oncoming vehicle the person in the smart car would probably die or be very seriously injured.

excerpt

The point from above is that they are no-less unsafe then other small cars.

And being someone who's been in a small during a car accident I can safely say I would rather stick to a larger-ish car, my personal preference.

Now if everyone drove smart cars that'd be another story but since many people drive hummers and half-ton pickups this thing just isn't smart to be driving around in.

But the majority do not drive Hummers and half ton pickups. If what you say is true, Porsche would be out of business (Cayenne notwithstanding).

Is 8mpg in your hummer worth the perceived safety? Not for me. And remember these aren't "long haul, take the kids 300 miles to Grandmas" cars or something for the farm. Everyday errands, commuting, etc are the intent.

But where I live, the majority of people do drive large trucks and hummers, so for my particular region this is unpractical, in a more urban area where people drive more practical conservative cars this isn't an issue but for my case, it is. Also, just because the people around me drive ridiculously sized cars and I choose to drive something larger to protect myself doesn't mean I drive around a farm in a hummer with a corncob pipe in my mouth, it just means I haul heavy crap all over the place and I don't want to die in a collision with a soccer mom in an H2.

[Backglass]

Serious business below.

No doubt.

Never once said I liked coupes.

I never said you did.

Well, since I haul a lot of heavy musical equipment back and forth in my pontiac grand prix (4 door) I'd have to say it is in fact too small for my particular applications.

Agreed. Much like taking a hummer to Shoprite.

And being someone who's been in a small during a car accident I can safely say I would rather stick to a larger-ish car, my personal preference.

And stick with the associated high fuel costs. The major advantage to this vehicle isn't that it is small or cute...but that is very economical at 60mpg. That is a HUGE incentive for me to drive extra defensive against Bambi in the H2...especially with gas at $3.28 in New York. Every time I see a clown filling up their H2 I have to chuckle. $75 every few days is insane.

just because the people around me drive ridiculously sized cars and I choose to drive something larger to protect myself doesn't mean I drive around a farm in a hummer with a corncob pipe in my mouth, it just means I haul heavy crap all over the place and I don't want to die in a collision with a soccer mom in an H2.

Two issues. You have a need to haul things, understood. The safety issue is gray. Did you seriously pick out your current vehicle because it just might get hit by a hummer?

[diddle]

You can get cars that are both economical, and practical.

[Backglass]

You can get cars that are both economical, and practical.

At 60mpg?

[got tonkaed]

60 mpg in and of itself is pretty economical and practical if your not planning on hauling anything along with you.

[diddle]

The Audi A8 can drive from London to Edinburgh. And back again. On one tank of diesel. Thats nearly 800 miles.

[Backglass]

The Audi A8 can drive from London to Edinburgh. And back again. On one tank of diesel. Thats nearly 800 miles.

• Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro - Starts at $70,690us - 30mpg
• Smart "passion" - Starts at $13,500us - 50-60mpg (testing is ongoing)

For the price of an A8 you can own a different color Smart Car for every weekday with some cash left over...and go twice as far.

[Guiscard]

The Audi A8 can drive from London to Edinburgh. And back again. On one tank of diesel. Thats nearly 800 miles.

• Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro - Starts at $70,690us - 30mpg
• Smart "passion" - Starts at $13,500us - 50-60mpg (testing is ongoing)

For the price of an A8 you can own a different color Smart Car for every weekday with some cash left over...and go twice as far.

Was about to post this.

The only real grounds on which you can criticize the smart car are those of style and impracticality for those with lots to transport (goods or people). Both of those are a given really. I personally would rather bike than drive one because I think you look like a bit of a wally, but I wouldn't slate them on any other level.

[2dimes]

Get a trailer for your smart car?

[The Factory]

Well, since I haul a lot of heavy musical equipment back and forth in my pontiac grand prix (4 door) I'd have to say it is in fact too small for my particular applications.

Agreed. Much like taking a hummer to Shoprite.

I do kinda think it's a little more practical than that.
Trying to fit a guitar, amp head, amplifier, PA equipment, etc. into a smart car is a bit of a stretch.

And being someone who's been in a small during a car accident I can safely say I would rather stick to a larger-ish car, my personal preference.

And stick with the associated high fuel costs. The major advantage to this vehicle isn't that it is small or cute...but that is very economical at 60mpg. That is a HUGE incentive for me to drive extra defensive against Bambi in the H2...especially with gas at $3.28 in New York. Every time I see a clown filling up their H2 I have to chuckle. $75 every few days is insane.

Once again, I don't drive an H2, my pontiac gets 300 miles on a full tank of gas, which costs me a little over $20 to fill, and since I mostly drive in town to school or whatever else it takes me a looooong time to run out of gas, therefore it's about $20 every two weeks to keep my vehicle fueled up, which, for me isn't bad. For me the fuel economy just isn't bad enough for me to trade in for a smart car.

just because the people around me drive ridiculously sized cars and I choose to drive something larger to protect myself doesn't mean I drive around a farm in a hummer with a corncob pipe in my mouth, it just means I haul heavy crap all over the place and I don't want to die in a collision with a soccer mom in an H2.

Two issues. You have a need to haul things, understood. The safety issue is gray. Did you seriously pick out your current vehicle because it just might get hit by a hummer?

I wouldn't specifically say a hummer, but a large vehicle, yes. Above all else when I look for a vehicle I'm concerned with safety first then I go into further inspection as to its running capabilities, fuel efficiency, etc. I don't care if that makes me stupid, I'd rather be stupid walking away from a crash than cool with my face wrapped into someone's axle.

But this is all my personal preference.

[0ojakeo0]

hell no i wouldnt touch that thing with a 10-foot pole

[Backglass]

my pontiac gets 300 miles on a full tank of gas, which costs me a little over $20 to fill, and since I mostly drive in town to school or whatever else it takes me a looooong time to run out of gas, therefore it's about $20 every two weeks to keep my vehicle fueled up, which, for me isn't bad.

Wow...you must have drastically lower gas prices where you live. $20 to fill up?! Even my puny Chevy Cavalier four banger costs me double that to fill up here in NY. Then again prices are high for everything here.

[The Factory]

Wow...you must have drastically lower gas prices where you live. $20 to fill up?! Even my puny Chevy Cavalier four banger costs me double that to fill up here in NY. Then again prices are high for everything here.

I suppose the Government feels sorry for people stuck in Odessa and decide to make it easy on us in some small way.

[diddle]

The Audi A8 can drive from London to Edinburgh. And back again. On one tank of diesel. Thats nearly 800 miles.

• Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro - Starts at $70,690us - 30mpg
• Smart "passion" - Starts at $13,500us - 50-60mpg (testing is ongoing)

For the price of an A8 you can own a different color Smart Car for every weekday with some cash left over...and go twice as far.

It may say 30mpg, but it has made it from London to Edinburgh, and back, on one tank of fuel. And it is easily more practical than the Smart car, which was the point I was getting at.

[Backglass]

The Audi A8 can drive from London to Edinburgh. And back again. On one tank of diesel. Thats nearly 800 miles.

• Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro - Starts at $70,690us - 30mpg
• Smart "passion" - Starts at $13,500us - 50-60mpg (testing is ongoing)

For the price of an A8 you can own a different color Smart Car for every weekday with some cash left over...and go twice as far.

It may say 30mpg, but it has made it from London to Edinburgh, and back, on one tank of fuel. And it is easily more practical than the Smart car, which was the point I was getting at.

Sorry, but a $70,000 car is not practical no matter how you twist it. 30mpg is from the Audi website. If the mileage was better, surely they would claim it.

[Nobunaga]

... I saw Smart-Cars, and cars very much like them often in Asia. They're not too suitable for US highways, but in-town stuff, sure, I guess.

... A semi-truck driver might not even notice plowing over one of these things.

...

[muy_thaiguy]

70 grand? That's not practical, but how would these cars do in really cold climates? Along with alot of snow and ice?

[Backglass]

... I saw Smart-Cars, and cars very much like them often in Asia. They're not too suitable for US highways, but in-town stuff, sure, I guess.

... A semi-truck driver might not even notice plowing over one of these things.

...

FWIW, I saw them in Germany on the Autobahn at full speed...next to fully loaded semi's.

[muy_thaiguy]

70 grand? That's not practical, but how would these cars do in really cold climates? Along with alot of snow and ice?

[dustn64]

Huge SUV's FTW!

[Heimdall]

This is why they are cool:

[DaGip]

This is why they are cool:

BigF00t would squash the shit out of that!