Smart car??
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 149
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From: Twain Harte CA
The average Indy car costs upwards of $1.5 mil. They are designed to protect the driver in a reinforced cage - - to the point that drivers often walk away from the kinds of collisions you mention. I doubt any of us will be able to afford that. It's what you said earlier, though that counts. We need a safe, structurally sound 1200 pound car..............that costs us less than giving away our first-born.........
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,599
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From: Converse TX
I have seen a few on the around town and last Saturday when out in the Vette I was cruising the limit and one Vert Smart was behind me. So having a little fun I put went to six gear at 60ish and went to half throttle, off, on, off and then back to 60ish, within 30 seconds he went flying by me with his wife staring at me wondering what the hell the smell was
Love leaving a little meth for others at times and just wanted to see that baby really motoring to get by me
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,211
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From: Vancouver B.C.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 480
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From: Navarre, Florida
Chris
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
If you take a look in California for example, I don't know about the actual statistics to make any solid cllaims, but it appears that at least 70-80% of people are driving alone and half of those people are using big trucks and suvs, as some one mentioned above. I don't have anything against that, but with the fuel prices I think that cars like smart and mini are a great option.
MB claims that it's one of the safest cars, the shell of the car is in the form of an egg, therefore providing the most resistance in an impact. I have seen a few at local junk yards a couple had front end collisions. The frames, which are not longer than a foot were crumpled, but the interior was not damaged, the floor board did seem to have some dents but the passenger compartment was completely intact. To me it looks safe enough.
Back to the mpg. MB stopped making diesel versions of smart in 2006-2007 if I recall correctly. Instead they introduced a gas version that is officially for sale in U.S. The diesel, according to smart was more fuel efficient compared to the gas version. The only other car I was able to find in the little EPA issued booklet was a toyota prius. I would rather drive a smart than a prius, although prius is also not bad.
MB claims that it's one of the safest cars, the shell of the car is in the form of an egg, therefore providing the most resistance in an impact. I have seen a few at local junk yards a couple had front end collisions. The frames, which are not longer than a foot were crumpled, but the interior was not damaged, the floor board did seem to have some dents but the passenger compartment was completely intact. To me it looks safe enough.
Back to the mpg. MB stopped making diesel versions of smart in 2006-2007 if I recall correctly. Instead they introduced a gas version that is officially for sale in U.S. The diesel, according to smart was more fuel efficient compared to the gas version. The only other car I was able to find in the little EPA issued booklet was a toyota prius. I would rather drive a smart than a prius, although prius is also not bad.
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I agree that the Smart car would be great for in-town commuting but I sure wouldn't want to get in one for a long trip out on the highway.
The thing that gets me is you have to put a $99 deposit down on one, get placed on a reservation list, then wait up to a year to have one delivered to you. Sorry, but if they want to sell me one, they need to ramp up production to where you have a much shorter delivery time.
The thing that gets me is you have to put a $99 deposit down on one, get placed on a reservation list, then wait up to a year to have one delivered to you. Sorry, but if they want to sell me one, they need to ramp up production to where you have a much shorter delivery time.
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14
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Well, personally I think they are not sure how sales would go on the U.S. market, hence the wait list. In Canada you can go to a local Mercedes dealer and pick one up, but you're right not many people would agree to wait for a year to get the car.
