http://www.nbc6.net/automotive/16194426/detail.html

tell me whatchu think.

someone needs to send this link to the insurance companies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s

I'm not really sure where the Smart fits in. For less money you can get a Honda Civic and get close to the same miles per gallon, but gain two extra doors, seating for five, and a useable trunk. A hybrid or an electric version of this would make sense for people living in cities that don't travel on interstate roads, but as it stands it doesn't make any sense to me.

Yes, I agree with chilledbenz....

My friend mentioned that for a whopping $2k more, he could buy a Toyota Corolla (which he did) and he gets 39 or 40 mpg as well and certainly has a much larger, more usable vehicle...

Not a new argument but for some reason people and even car executives can't get around the fact that we are not in the same geographical environment overall as foreign countries where these cars work.

My wife is from Europe and we visit there frequently. Scooters and small cars work great and much more is not needed IMO. Even the downtown of cities here are fine for vehicles like this where cars don't get much above 30-40mph. But for the most part we have big open roads where we cruise at 55-80mph which requires power and more heft in the safety department.

I like the Smart Car, hard to believe I've seen them on the streets of Europe 10 years ago and they still look cool. Too bad the For Four (the 4 door hatchback), and the Roadster Coupe and Convertible (now discontinued) are not coming here anytime soon. I'd take the Smart Brabus Roadster Coupe in a second.

It is definately a novelty car which is why you are paying a premium over the other subcompact cars which has more space, creature comforts and significantly more horsepower.
It's not as bad as some people buy specially imported Smart cars over the years for as much as $30,000 I'm sure these people are kicking themselves really hard.

As for insurance companies limiting or not insuring the Smart, they must be either trying to milk more money off their customers or totally ignorant on the crash testing results. Recently I saw on the NBC news that the Smart car got the highest crash testing results amongst subcompacts.
Not only that, repairs are easy and inexpensive with those interchangable body panels and it doesn't have complicated electronics and expensive feautres other as some of the other cars out there.

Haven't heard any insurance problems, to insure my smart it was a 185$ six month add to my current 385$ premium for my jeep GC.

The Smart's small size may make sense in urban areas where parking spots are tight.