just drove a Smart car

[NICKG]

i oredered on e last year, we drove the car today...it was cool. finalized the order, should be here in like 6/8 weeks...i am looking forward
neat little car

[billybek]

Ok, I'll bite.. How smart was it???

[Moneyguy1]

My car is rather stupid.

Seriously...How did it handle and how comfortable is it?

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by billybek

Ok, I'll bite.. How smart was it???

Can you imagine all the possible wise guy remarks when a "Smart" car stops or needs repair?

[NICKG]

Originally Posted by Moneyguy1

My car is rather stupid.

Seriously...How did it handle and how comfortable is it?

it was cool really, reminded me alot of an 83 gti. it turned great and while slow, it wasn't too bad. i am 5 10" i was more than comfy, it has tons of room inside

[unimog406]

whats the quality supposed to be like for those things?

[NICKG]

it was really pretty nice, the leather seats were VERY nice, all the switches are smooth and not cheap feeling. the doors shut with a good thud, all the trim fit well too.
I did not get any cheap feeling from anything on it...contrary to my boxster.

[hytem]

I think that Prius is the smartest car around. It smells your keys and opens the door for you, then starts the car. When you back up, a movie screen on the dash shows you what's behind you.
Perfect for my wife, who can't back up our driveway without hitting a tree.

If the Prius had a stick shift amd some getup, I might consider one.

[NICKG]

what will you do when the battery in prius goes?

[Az911]

Originally Posted by hytem

I think that Prius is the smartest car around. It smells your keys and opens the door for you, then starts the car. When you back up, a movie screen on the dash shows you what's behind you.
Perfect for my wife, who can't back up our driveway without hitting a tree.

If the Prius had a stick shift amd some getup, I might consider one.

Why would you want a manual transmission in an econo box daily driver?

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by hytem

IIf the Prius had a stick shift amd some getup, I might consider one.

Topping Al Gore III's 100-mph allegedly doobie-fueled sprint in a production Prius, Toyota's own Landspeed Prius cracked the hybrid speed record on a run at Bonneville. Starting with the car's stock Hybrid Synergy Drive system -- a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and 50 kw permanent-magnet electric motor -- the Toyota team gave the transmission a taller final-drive ratio and beefed up the inverter charge from 500 to 550 volts. With lowered suspension, roll cage and moon-disked wheels, the 130-mph Landspeed Prius looks, dare we say, almost sexy.

[SLO-BOB]

They seem like a decent car. Reasonable price. The crash tests are nothing short of amazing. One shows a Smart car ramming into a oncrete barrier at 70 mph. The passenger compartment remains intact! Gotta wonder if the occupents would survive the deceleration injuries, but impressive none the less. The other attractive aspect of the Smart is the tiny footprint. You can park where no normal car has gone before which is a God send in a big city. The only dissapointing thing is the unimpressive mileage. I would like to think a car that small could break the 50 mpg barrier.

[strupgolf]

Ah, a picture of things to come. Lots of people will be driving these things soon, very soon. Hey, that's the way the world is going.

[Jeff Alton]

The Smart cars have been available here for a few years, and in Europe a few years before here.

Are the ones in the USA deisel or gas?

Crash tests are nice, Smart Car vs a non-moving object. How are you going to fair when you get t-boned? Or get hit by a moving object?

I guess they are good on fuel and easy to park, but I just do not get them. There was a wait list here when they first came out, now the MB dealers have tons of them sitting on the lots waiting for someone to come make an offer....

Cheers

[strupgolf]

Must be a Canada'ian thing. There are'nt many down here younder. Soon will be.

[kstar]

Here's a very hot one with a GSXR1000 motor, among other modifications:







source: http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/06/08/smart-car-plus-gsxr-equals-smartuki-a-very-smart-car/

[john70t]

The low price(~$12K), small size, and the o.k. milage(Geo Metros got almost 55mpg freeway btw) make it a good commuter car for many people.

With a custom rack to carry 4x8 sheets, there's not too much more utilitarian need.

[Jeff Alton]

Originally Posted by strupgolf

Must be a Canada'ian thing. There are'nt many down here younder. Soon will be.

Ummmm, okay, Whatever....

You think they are going to become the next best seller?

Cheers

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by NICKG

it was cool really, reminded me alot of an 83 gti. it turned great and while slow, it wasn't too bad. i am 5 10" i was more than comfy, it has tons of room inside

Well the steering will not have reminded you of an 83 GTI. The steering feels like the rudder on a sailboat. No feel whatsoever.

[RWebb]

First one I ever saw was way out in the Oregon desert - 100 miles from a paved road. Two European guys had brought it with them and were touring the entire US in it. Reminded me of doing that in a Fiat "little mouse" long ago.

I hope MB will now import the "A" series car. It's a very cool design - the motor is almost entirely under the front.