Smart comes to America
 

Check out the news link from the Boston Globe

http://news.yahoo.com/s/wcvb/20070628/lo_wcvb/13590218

pretty intresting . . .

Smarts are junk. The cheap interior sucks, the Mitsubishi engine sucks, the manu-matic tranny REALLY sucks, it gets (relatively) poor MPG, it's slower than my W123, it's ugly as sin, and it's porked out for America.

I saw the news today the smart car is coming in january 08. They said it starts at 12K and load it about 14K.

top speed is 90, and it gets 40mpg. I like it, but it cant be your only car.

Think about it, 40mpg is horrible for a car that size. It should be getting 60+

I see what u r saying. But they never stated if 40 mpg was for highway or city. Or maybe its for both then it would suck. I must say when they showed a lady park the car in a very little spot amazing.

I have been seeing one everyday on my way to work. Looks neat... may be it was imported. It would be a good deal if sold for $10 K.

LOL!

60.6 US MPG lifetime.

Ahem, that's a CDI. The gassers only get 45mpg (US mpg).

What do you expect for 14 to 17K ?? An S Class? Your comment does not make any sense.

Funny how everyone "knows" what the gassers get, when the new 451 version has not even been tested here yet. A very recent Auto Bild road test showed nearly 70 MPG in a fuel economy test for the 61 HP gasoline 451.

As you well know, the smart car is being sold in Canada for quiet a while. At first people laughed at it and they thought in Canada, in our winter, this is a joke.

Not any more, the car is a wonderful commuter car or for the inner city. It needs a small parking spot and it can park at right angles to the curb.

I will predict that the US dealerships will have no trouble selling all the cars they can get. Just wait until January and then you will see.

Jorg

i drove one last sunday in dallas off of mockingbird. 4 of us walked up to a smart display where they were having a free test drive deal going on. i was told, while driving the cab., that they cost 14-17k, get 40-50 mpg and will be for sale the first quarter of next year.

oh, they are much faster when using the automatic mode. i was using the paddle shift and got passed by one of my buddies that was driving the hard-top.


also, was told that they have 70 something hp....

I've seen 2 down here where I work in tiny Bartow, Florida. I also saw a switchblade on craigslist in Miami for sale...but the e-mail address kept getting kicked back. :( Man I would have sold my wife's car to get that!

I saw one on the road here in Nor Cal last week. It was a funny sight as the guy in the car looked totally cramped (think fetus position). My girlfriend loves the look of the car though. I see it being a total chic car.

I'm honestly considering a smart roadster. I've got a "hookup" in the shipping industry though, so I figured I'd get a 2-3 year old one and import it...as long as there isn't much needed for them to meet US standards.

I don't think they are THAT bad..when I'm in Italy..they just work really well in the tight streets especially in areas that have little to no parking because you can find the littlest spot and they still fit in there..

I think it would be good for people in big city areas..but I wonder what they would be like on the highway? Italy doesnt count..none of them can drive over there..

to each his own i guess..

Actually they're pretty quick and nimble...or atleast the fortwo's are. My mother in law used to have one and my wife picked me up at the train station and we zipped around the countryside for a while in it. Quite an amusing car. My favorite are the designated parking spaces for them:

:D
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...co94/RR256.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...co94/RR257.jpg

Quick? A stock W123 300D has a faster 0-60 time.

Maybe the european versions have higher HP ratings, but it felt quick for such a small car. Then again...my wife used to race competitively. :D

The 600cc turbo gasser I drove certainly was very nimble. It was sluggish acceleration and very long shift time that killed the "quickness" for me.

How the SMART stands up to US Highways
 

Here's a 9 min video review of the SMART on US roads including I35:
http://thescooterscoop.blogspot.com/...test-ride.html

Smarts will be a hit for small, city-based businesses. Real Estate agencies, decorators, caterers, you name it.

They featured one on the lastest episode of E.R. Dr. Archie Morris was sporting it, dubbing it as a "Chick magnet." lol