SmartCar smart cars?
I had the opportunity to make it back to Toronto recently and noticed a number of Smart Cars cruising and parked in the streets.
Although time didn't permit me to seek out the "expert" dealer opinions, I was interested tosee if there were any out there that have first-hand knowledge of these vehicles and what the experience is like. I've been to the Smartcar website and liked what I saw... especially the Roadster version.
I'd consider purchasing one for South-Central Texas although I'm sure it would be laughed at and ridiculed by the "bigger in Texas" mentality.
Also, I'm not sure how to get one of these down here for my own personal use. I thought I had read somewhere that they weren't "legal" in the states just yet.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Although time didn't permit me to seek out the "expert" dealer opinions, I was interested tosee if there were any out there that have first-hand knowledge of these vehicles and what the experience is like. I've been to the Smartcar website and liked what I saw... especially the Roadster version.
I'd consider purchasing one for South-Central Texas although I'm sure it would be laughed at and ridiculed by the "bigger in Texas" mentality.
Also, I'm not sure how to get one of these down here for my own personal use. I thought I had read somewhere that they weren't "legal" in the states just yet.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Seems lot of people in Texas are trading their SUV's for smaller cars. If you have only 1 or 2 members in your family, u can go for Smart car and zapcars is selling that vehicle.
Lot of smaller models are coming up while the biv SUV sales are declining.
The downside is that there is virtually no storage space, no cruise control, and these cars are rather expensive for their size (they cost like an entry-level midsize sedan, or a loaded compact sedan). But being sold by Mercedes, it's hard to expect anything else.
I will be listing it on ebay as of this friday 3/24 it is a '99 mercedes smart passion fortwo with under 57,000 km great condition, clean no problems. starting bid is $12,000
Are you upgrading to a new Smart ForTwo?
HOWEVER i did see one driving around in san francisco with california plates. i asked the driver how he did it, and he said "you don't even want to know." but i did.
does anyone know how we could do it??
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
M
I think there is a good chance especially if they can bring the diesels in and they can get the high mileage with our emission standards. With the way gas prices are going a small commuter car that gets a combined 55MPG should do well.
My understanding is that Zap has a waiting list for the cars so it would be smart (no pun intended) for Damiler/Chrysler to seriously look into bringing it here.
I've never seen a Smart in person, but they look to be dangerously small for American roads???
They are small but supposively they are pretty safe. The Mini Cooper is small and it sells well.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Dry Copy Xerox
Damn Close Xavier
Dark Colored Xterra
Actually its Damiler Chrysler.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Does that include California (oh please, oh please, oh please)?
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Chrysler to sell Smart car in U.S. in 2007-report
26 Jun 2006, 05:43 AM ET
DETROIT, June 26 (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler AG will announce a plan this week to begin selling its two-seater Smart car in the United States next year, the Detroit News reported on Monday.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The Smart substantially exceed its Canadian sales targets, by almost four times!
The 2007 Smart Fortwo will meet the U.S. Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency requirements and be compliant for the world's largest car market, the United States.
Within the next few weeks, DaimlerChrysler's supervisory board will establish when to present the Smart to the United States.
They are debating whether to use their dealer network or a third party to distribute the Smart in the US.
A successor to the Smart Fortwo will be on sale in Europe in less than 8 months and DaimlerChrysler will be selling the Smart car in the United States!
The 2007 Fortwo will be extended by 7 inches and weight will increase slightly. We're told this was done for U.S. requirements and compliance reasons. The new Smart will be embracing the Brabus appearance.
The Smart's headlights will be larger and more aerodynamic, tail lights will be restructured, improved horse power, enhanced gas mileage, superior safety features, additional color alternatives and added standard and optional equipment will be available. The Smarts windshield angle will be modified for new protection of pedestrians standards.
Remember, all available Smart cars are gray market vehicles and are not protected under the manufacturer's warranty.
link title
The Smart ForTwo was offered in very limited numbers by a handful of independent dealers scattered through out the country.
Unlike an automobile intended for sale in the US, the available Smart cars are gray market vehicles and are not protected under the manufacturer's warranty.
The currently available Smart cars were acquired directly from Europe and modified to U.S. standards, which was required by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Due to its limited availability, expense of conversion, shipping, and assorted duties, taxes, and other costs involved the Smart Car into the US, the US-modified Smart ForTwo was priced accordingly.
The definition of “Gray Market Cars” is cars that have been imported into the U.S. but not through authorized dealers. They may not meet American safety and emission standards. These cars may have significantly lower values than cars imported through normal channels.
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/
In Canada, the Smart Fortwo; has already outsold the other niche micro-mini, the Volkswagen Beetle and BMW Canada's Mini Cooper.
The Smart was not marketed in Canada by any conventional automotive method.
The massive media exposure generated by the public; gave much coverage and was helpful for smarts success there.
Canada did not have enough vehicles to make a proper launch. Dealers had to tell prospective customers they would have an 8 month wait, even with a large deposit.
Marketing a new car by this method is not beneficial. However in the case of the Smart it only fueled the fire.
We believe the Fortwo will see enormous and steady growth in the USA and a following like the Mini Cooper.
In its fifth year in the United States, the Mini Cooper is still setting annual records with 40,000 sales last year.
http://smartcarofcanada.com/
U.S. Market? Fingers crossed!
M
http://emercedesbenz.com/Jun06/28_Its_Official_The_Smart_Car_Is_Coming_To_The_US- .html
M
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
In the USA I think the success or failure will hinge on packaging and price, we here in the US of A won't pay much more than $15,000.00 for a car this small, no matter who designed or built it. IMO Daimler/Chrysler needs to be sure that a nicely equipped hard top (great stereo, cruise control, special roof, alloy wheels, front, side, and head airbags, ESP and AntiLock Brakes, durable high quality interior fog lights, and a good warranty 5/50 or more) Smart sells for no more than about 14500 and the convertible version of the same car needs to hit right around 15000. They need to keep the packaging simple and easy to understand and they need to make sure thay don't do silly combinations of equipment. for instance on the new Jetta you have to get all kinds of extra equipment in order to get the sunroof that's the kind of thing that infuriates a shopper especially if the packages don't make any sense.
Finally, IMO, DCX needs to keep replacement parts and accessories priced low, not like typical prices charged for european brands in the US.
Here's a picture of the 2007 Smart ForTwo (the model they will likely bring to the USA)
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
That is unless gas doubles in price between now and then.
Edited to add:
I just peaked at the german website and they start at about 9450 euros which is a little over 12K USD. So there is hope.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
M
Short of staking out the car to determine who the owner is and how they got the car here, mods, etc, etc ... well that's a story for another website.
Actually, 8,930 Pounds is only 11,302.29 USD. I have no clue where you got your information from, but I used this:
link title
Now 8,930 Euros comes out to be 11,283.52 USD.
as of 2006.07.16 21:59:20 UTC.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I do have some concerns (rational or irrational) about whether the thing would be safe being crashed into the crowd of Suburbans, Yukons, Expeditions, and Escalades that are in and around Nashville.
55 MPG (on a diesel) while being a non-hybrid is very appealing to me.
They had window stickers like a normal car. One was $24,999 and the Turbo was $27,999
I suspect it is because a company like Zap in California has to convert the cars to US certification.
Too much for my blood. Give me an old Geo Metro with 48 mpg on the highway. My '91 Ford Probe with 172,000 miles still gets 36 on the highway and 28 around town if I baby it.
Jack