this past summer I saw just the same thing except he was on a moped type scooter. Ive even seen women in dresses on scooters. One woman looked like she had a large belt wrapped around her legs to keep the dress from blowing up.
thanks. i need to talk to someone who really commutes in theirs to see how they like it. i spend alot of time in my car each day and want to make sure i make right choice.
and talked to the nearest dealer who were not that excited about talking over the phone about the car (70 miles)..like the looks and the whole idea for a fun extra vehicle. Questions remain:
anyone think the 70 mi is too far to get to a dealer? they said you only have to change the oil once a year? odd? how do you get at the engine and for example check the oil? i'm still having a problem with the no spare tire issue. bad luck with tires recently!
I live 64 miles from my dealer. In the 10 months/10,000 miles I've owned my smart I've had no problems whatsoever and no need to return to the dealer. Consumer Reports rates the smart as one of the "Most Reliable." My dealership reports in the 13 months they've been a dealer they've performed NO MAJOR REPAIRS. Oil change is 12/months/10,000 miles (whichever occurs first). It's VERY EASY to change the oil and filter and you don't have to go to a dealer. You don't even need to jack up the car. Anybody whoi changes oil can do it. Engine is accessed via a hatch under the truck floor. Vehicle does have an air compressor and tire sealant to use in the event of a flat. Tires are not generally a problem. For more info I suggest the following Web sites:
Yeah I know they claim it will get about 40 miles per gallon....and does it no! being such a small car you would think it would get a lot better mpg.o well though awesome looking car.And it doesn`t get all that bad millage i don't have one but i`ve seen other reviews too!Have a nice day
I am aware of people on smartcarofamerica.com who routinely exceed 40 MPG in their smarts. I personally average around 35 MPG. It's very much a matter of how you drive it, like any other car.
Mine does fine at highway speed. In fact, it seems to me to be less skittish above 65 MPH. But, the question was, how they handle a stiff crosswind.
smarts are high profile vehicles, taller than the average sedan. And, at around 1800 pounds, not all that massive. Yes, they do get blown around quite noticeably by crosswinds. But, I've never been blown out of my lane.
We live in Austin and it is very windy here on many occasions. I have never felt the cross-wind impact on our SMART car anymore than on our van or my Civic. As far as highway speeds it does very nicely during acceleration onto the freeway and at the posted speed limit(70 mph). I generally drive around 75 or 80 with room to spare so you should feel confident that it can "keep up". BTW, it is limited to 90 mph (tried and found it stops there) so if you want to do more than that you need to look elsewhere unless a "chip" is out soon.
Well that surprises me. Living in Florida, I opted to sell my fortwo after two weeks as it was all over the road at speeds over 60 mph. I owned one of the early models and had waited 8 months from reservation time. My advice would be to find one for sale in your area and DEFINITELY take it for a test drive on a highway before you purchase one. :lemon: :lemon:
With its wheels out at the corners of the car, its standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC), its "negative camber" wheel alignment, "stiff" suspension, excellent tires, etc., I think you'll find that the smart is as stable on the highway (and as safe) as any other compact car. Based on my experience (11 months and 10,500 miles) I found that when I first got my smart (first 4 to 6 weeks) I was nervous and apprehensive and expected my smart to be all over the road and blown around by the least crosswind, This cause me to oversteer, overcorrect, overreact, and see problems that just weren't there. Once I finally relaxed and just drove the car like I did my others I found it to be as stable as any and less susceptible to crosswinds than my Honda Ridgeline pickup truck. In other words, my initial "stability problem" was me and my perception, not a problem with the vehicle.
If you take a test drive looking for a "stability problem," you'll probably find one. If you talk with most everyone who's driven a smart for more than 2,500 miles/3 months, you'll probable find there's "no problem."
That is baloney! You obviously don't know how to drive! I have had my Smart Car for a year know and I have put 10K miles on it driving at high speeds on the highway everyday going to work. I regulary get it up to 80 and 90 mph and it is rock solid stable. In fact it is surprising how stabile it is for as small as it is.It also has a big advantage moving through traffic because of it's small size. You can find holes in traffic and cut through them like you can with a motorcycle(I ride a motorcycle also). It makes me giggle every time I pass a BMW or some high power sports car. I have a long hill on the highway coming home and most of the time I pass all the big heavy SUV's with my little light (1800#) 70 hp Smart car because it has a power to weight advantage. Also, I have not had one problem with it and even with the regular factory tires, ASB, traction control, and ABS brakes it does quite good in the snow here in Denver,CO.The heater and defroster also performed fine in the minus 20 degree weather we had. I regulary get 43-45 MPG going back and forth to work also which is part highway and part city driving. It is the best commuter car and one of the best cars I have ever had! I change my own oil and it has not cost me a penny so far in extra expenses. It also does not get nicks or dents on it because of the plastic body and the fact that it is narrow and cars don't door ding it when parked.I wash my car every week and let me tell you I really appreciate how easy it is to wash! Smaller is better alot of times!
The Smart short wheelbase makes it more sensitive to steering input,especially if you are used to driving very long wheelbase vehicles...If you don't want to be "all over the road" , I suggest you cut back on drinking booze when you drive...
How did you manage to get a Euro Smart, register it, insure it and get it serviced in the USA? I've had no luck at all trying to get the Euro Smart TDI, even though it's sold in Canada!, never mind obtaining the car you got.
I'm puzzled at the Mitsu-equipped Smart's lousy mileage. The Metro got 45-50 mpg with the same engine more than 15 years ago! I pretty much lost interest in the Smart when they put the Mitsubishi in the US version and announced that low 40 mpg. Also, they STILL don't import the 800cc Diesel to America!? WHY NOT?
I've always wondered why German car companies have such bad marketing techniques. Asking so many willing American customers to wait 10 years just to get what was once a decent car (but no longer is) is truly insane. The first tiny Toyota turbo-diesel that comes to these shores gets my money.
You may have a point there about Renault mileage. I owned a 1970 R-16 five-door hatchback that weighed in at less than 2,200 lbs. It averaged 28-33 mpg until after I installed a toilet-paper oil filter; then it jumped to 34-39 mpg. I believe this type of filter is still being sold.
By the way, When I traded this car for an R-5 in 1976, the fellow who bought my R-16 (with 137,00 on the clock) as spare parts for HIS 1970 R-16 got back to me and said that the engine was so good, that he'd made his car the spare-parts donor instead. Apparently, toilet paper oil-filters do an engine a lot of long-term good in addition to greatly improving gas mileage.
Good idea to check the Smart for sensitivity to crosswinds before you buy. If you live in the Tampa Bay area, just drive north on I-75 from Fletcher. When you pass Bruce B. Downs, there's a stretch of flat land right about where there is a set of large glass office buildings. Every time I drive my full-size Chevy van past those buildings, there's a "whuff" of wind from the west that literally can put you a half-lane to the right unless you're expecting it. Microclimate? That van even has a really hefty rear sway bar on it. So, to anyone in this area who needs a stretch of side-wind test road to check a Smart, I nominate I-75 northbound a few miles north of Bruce B. Downs.
If you do take this wind test, take a Xanax before you do. LOL
All it took was a couple of trips on I95 to get me to sell my Smart (made a couple of bucks) and get a pre-owned Jetta TDI 2006 with all the bells and whistles for what I paid for the Smart. I have four doors, huge trunk, all the power options you can think of, and get a solid 38 mpg around town and 44 to 45 on the road. Best move I ever made.
Over the years, I have heard all the B.S. about how "unsafe" small cars are. I say it's BS because I have always driven small cars for their positive qualities like good handling, good mileage, low purchase price and overall practicality.
For example, on Pearl Harbor Day in 1971, I got rear-ended in my Renault 16 by a drunk driving a huge Buick. His car ended up being 3 feet shorter, mine got pushed in just 16" and was cheaply repaired. The drunk hit the steering wheel so hard, he bent it over at a 90-degree angle and lost all his front teeth. I ended up having a sore neck for a week. The seat and head-restraint did their jobs.
So, just keep buying all those over-priced pick-up trucks gussied up with cushy interiors and way too powerful engines for the suspensions to handle (I think it's unfair that Firetone tire had to pay a heavy price for poor SUV suspension design). Finally, insurance statistics reveal a very different picture than Marketing copy about SUV "safety" does: Rollover accidents with SUV's are far more common than with other vehicle types, and it's rollovers that produce the most fatalities. It that surprising? Think how high up an SUV's center of gravity is! Give me a small car with a low center of gravity any time, thank you!
While I whole-heartedly agree with your choice of the Jetta TDI over the Smart, you paid a hefty mark-up for the VW diesel Jetta. My wife and I always rented Golf TDI's while traveling in Europe. These weigh 200 lbs. less than Jettas and get 43 mpg on the Autobahn while running all day at 160kph. The hatchback is perfect for four suitcases and many bulky gifts and is far easier to get into basement hotel garages (very narrow, twisty ramps) than the Jetta. Naturally, no Golf TDI's are being exported to the USA! Same problem with the Smart TDI. Strange, considering that over 50% of all new-car purchases in Europe are Trubo-Diesels.
"By analyzing crash test results published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as what hundreds of auto critics have written about today's most popular cars, we created a short list of dangerous vehicles that you should think twice about before buying for your young driver. And, in the interest of compromise, we provide a safer alternative that both of you can live with.
Smart Fortwo
Sure it's cute, cool, and economical, but the Smart Fortwo isn't safe for everyone -- let alone inexperienced drivers. Because it's much smaller and lighter than most vehicles on the road, auto critics doubt it can hold its own in a serious crash. Many also note that strong gusts of wind can make controlling the Smart on the highway a difficult task. And while the IIHS rates it well in both frontal offset and side impact crash tests, NHTSA has issued a "safety concern" for its poor performance in side impact testing, in which "the driver door unlatched and opened." What's more, the Fortwo's debut was mangled last year when Smart issued a recall after an adhesive problem caused some drivers' windshields to fall out.
A Safer Alternative: For a ride that's just as quirky-looking, but performs better in crash tests and features loads of standard safety equipment, consider the MINI Cooper. It's a bit more expensive, but is probably a safer bet for a new driver."
The Smart is much safer than a motorcycle and much cheaper than a Mini...In fact,Smart is a stylish Mercedes on a beer budget...Personally, I enjoyed watching the drama in the recent test when it went airborne,spun around , and bounced like a ping pong ball...I feel secure in my Smart with its built in crash cage and extremely low rate of vehicle insurance claims for collisions..We drive it safely and other drivers' maternal instincts not to hurt our baby car leads to fewer wrecks...Mini drivers have a dangerous tendency for more "sporty" driving..
I respectfully disagree. I believe the smart IS one of the safest cars for everyone. Not only does it have all the Passive Safety features (help protect the occupants in the event of an accident) including air bags, seatbelt pretensioners and force limiters, the Tridion safety cell, etc, It also has a full compliment of Active Safety features (help prevent/avoid an accident) including ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, etc. It is significant to note that many of these important safety features, standard equipment on the smart, are either optional or not available on most other small cars.
And, while the "Safety Ratings" are excellent, the "real world" is the most important. I suggest that everyone check out the "Safe And Smart" website (http://www.safeandsmart.com) and read about the actual experiences from owners.
If you note, the C300 that it was crashed into weighs about 90% more than the Smart - it was by far the largest weight difference in of the three tests. The real shocker was the Accord versus the Fit. Only a bit over a 700lb difference and it had the worst results of the three.
I wonder what the test would be with the Smart versus the Accord. I bet it would be ugly but easily survivable.
It is silly that people who don't care for the smart come here to argue their case or worse, try to save the poor smart owners from themselves. Many of these same people willingly rode in cars without airbags, cars without side protection or modern crumple zones, roll-prone SUVs, and many of these same people continue to risk their lives driving on roads clogged with 18 wheelers. I don't however see them pleading with cyclists to abandon their unsafe two-wheeled vehicles.
We all make our choices. Every situation has its drawbacks. Most accidents are not headon collisions, so people will draw their lines on vehicle size, mpg, footprint, and equipment in different places--based on probabilities, preferences, driving skill, needs, etc. Being in a smart is safer than being in a 2006 Aveo. Maybe all small cars and all cars without side airbags and stability control should be banned.
But on the other hand, so what? A certain type of car is no more likely to be banned than personal firearms, here in the US. This forum really is for owner discussion, not owner bashing. However, I doubt appealing to either reason or decorum will get these anti-smart crusaders to stop. Perhaps it is best to be amused by the behavior.
I am currently looking into buying a smart and seeing all the debate about its so uncalled "safety issues" made me go to a standard in the automotive industry...I know throw facts out there....really odd. Take a look at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) website. http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=632 This gives really all you need to know about it.
Say what you will about the Smart Car, but after our purchase about this time last year I have had nothing but a fine experience driving my Smart. Have just passed the ten thousand mile mark and all I can say is what a great buy! Handles fantastic, cruising down the highways of New England is a breeze with good pick up and passing ability, and the mileage I am getting is just incredible to say the least!! Did a Fall Foilage tour last October and we got 48.53 mile per gallon highway! During winter with snow tires and the cold weather I garnered an average of 42 miles per gallon. With the advent of warm weather and the regular tires on my last tank full I got an astounding 46.25 miles per gallon in the city, and I am not light on the pedal either. As for the safety concern I have had the big cars and still do, and have had a VW in the past as well. Even rolled a VW in front of the SF airport in California one time years ago and came out fine. I got hit in one of my large sedans and did get hurt so go figure. If one is going to run around in terror of this happening or that happening then keep hiding under the sheets as they say! Me I love my Smart and if I can I will purchase another one! One of the best buys I ever made in cars!! Sides with the threat of Oil climbing past $200 a barrel and with the mileage I am getting in my Smart I may just keep my Impala parked for many many moons in the drive.
Isn't it amazing the number of smart haters who take the time to come here and try to save ignorant smart buyers from themselves? Enjoy your car. Those who hate the smart are not forced to buy it. Their arguments don't have much traction when the car fits a buyer's need or mere fancy. They have talked themselves out of the car. But doing more than that it is misguided crusading, and I'd recommend putting that energy into a more worthy cause.
I just got my Smart Fortwo that I've been dreaming of for over 2 years. I haven't put much mileage on it yet since I've only had it for a little over 36 hours. But, the little driving I have done has been so much fun!!!! Because the seats are high, you do not feel like you're in a tiny little car. The only thing I will need to get used to is the reduced rear visibility when the Cabrio top is full lowered it blocks the rear view about 50%. So I will need to rely more on side mirrors and actual looking back.
I wanted it in PINK but that would have cost me $1000 more on the sticker - which btw, no dealer will "haggle" over. The price is what you pay..period. I thought one dealer was gving me a line seeing as I was a woman but after visiting more than one dealer, I found this to be the case. Your only haggling room is in your trade-in allowance if you have one.
Just when you think you've seen everything, I was on the interstate last night. Saw a SMART CONVERTIBLE. Are you kidding me? They made this roller skate in a convertible?
Good news was it was firmly planted in the right lane. Bad news was it looked like it even struggled to keep up with traffic in the "slow lane".
It was NOT a car that I think I'd feel safe driving.....especially on the interstate. Even less so with part of its roof folded down. :surprise:
Little slow in here. was NOT a car that I think I'd feel safe driving.....especially on the interstate.
It is a little slow in here but about the Smart car. Looks like oil/gas are on the way up again, and when that happens Smart Cars start looking better. They are made with cage construction and crumple zones, but I don't think that will help much if you collide with a transport truck or SUV.
I think their real value is as a 2nd or 3rd car for small runs around town.......but then how much are you going to save?
I wonder if the $4000 if you trade in your clunker will spur sales. I have a feeling that if you have an ancient clunker it won't put a new car within reach of buying :sick:
I was on the interstate last night. Saw a SMART CONVERTIBLE
This was about a year ago before they started selling them.
On HWY 80 between Sacramento and San Francisco, we saw a big 18 wheelers advertising SMART cars. We passed it, and in front of it were 5 or 6 SMART cards doing over 60mph. My wife and I agreed that it's not a car we'd feel safe driving on a highway.
OT I wonder if that "road show" :P was responsible for any SMART sales
I noticed the same thing. I would've liked to see it hit a wall at a 90 angle. But then I thought that if it hits another car, it would be very unlikely that it hits it right in the center. So most likely crash would be similar to hitting the barrier at a bit of an angle.
Impressive, but I still wouldn't like to be in it.
I would've liked to see it hit a wall at a 90 angle
I don't think too many passengers would survive, it any car hit the wall dead on at 70mph.
Very few accidents are right on. When you see how much destruction there is in that clip, just imagine two cars coming together - both going 70 mph. That would be like hitting the wall at 140!
Impressive, but I still wouldn't like to be in it.
See all those parts in the passenger compartment that break and come loose. Imagine bones and muscles being torn apart. That little Smart car might be safer than a lot of bigger cars, especially ones from a few years ago without airbags and crumple zones.
>just imagine two cars coming together - both going 70 mph
That would be equivalent to one car hitting a stationary item at 70 mph. If cars are different in mass and the other car is a larger mass the Smart car would end up being accelerated more and might even bounce backwards, giving a much larger change in velocity to its poor occupants.
A problem with comparing a fixed block at 45 degrees collision with one against another car is that the parts of the cars aren't going to mesh solidly against each other, so there's going to be more intrusion in places and less slowing. Hitting the solid concrete probably uses the design of the Smart car to its maximum to absorb the forces without extreme disintegration and intrusion occuring. A real life incident is more likely to give worse-looking results. Remember that the occupants only had the time it took for the car's left front to collapse approximately 30 inch to decelerate to zero forward velocity and the approximately 25 mph sideways velocity. You can calculate an average acceleration rate using the 70 mph initial speed. That means higher deceleration rates than in a larger vehicle with a longer crush zone and longer crush time; that's better on occupants generally.
If cars are different in mass and the other car is a larger mass the Smart car would end up being accelerated more
Wow, I forgot I am dealing with Physics experts here. Although the Smart does well in crash tests, I guess what you are saying is, in the long run, it isn't going to matter much to the occupants any way.
Here is my question and concern is. I don't think we have improved on the economical car as much as we think, I bought a 1993 ford escort and it gets 30 mpg, a 1997 dodge caravan that also gets 30 mpg. so in the last approximate 10 years our mpg has only increased by 6 mpg. sounds like the auto industry is still holding out on us. I heard of a person that implimented a hydrogen devise ( simple devise) into there own car and gets about 50 mpg, draw back I heard was every evening they have to empty the reservoir.
I don't think we have improved on the economical car as much as we think, I bought a 1993 ford escort and it gets 30 mpg, a 1997 dodge caravan that also gets 30 mpg. so in the last approximate 10 years our mpg has only increased by 6 mpg.
Compare the features, safety items and weights of those cars to today's cars. Back in 1993, you didn't have airbags, crumple zones, side door beams, electronic abs, skid control, et al. All those things add weight.
I've had my eye on the Smart Car well before they came to the States. I always figured I wouldn't be able to afford one, but now that my 97 Cavalier is needing its second engine replacement in just the 7 years since I have owned it I decided I need to buy my first new car. Not only is my first choice available to me now, but it is one of the cheaper options if not the cheapest out there.
The problem is that my daily commute is 36 miles of city roads with speeds between 45-50 mph and 12 miles of Interstate with speeds of 70-75 mph. Outside of this I rarely go more than 5 miles out of my way and usually on just city streets to visit stores or the theater.
I'm not concerned about the city roads at all of course, but I just want to be sure the Smart ForTwo can handle the 12 miles a day (6 there and 6 back) of speeds around 70-75 mph. I really am not concerned about safety but rather about the car being able to perform well enough. This stretch of Interstate is in OKC and is actually pretty rural with more grass than concrete(I240 East of Sooner Rd if curious) I'm also not too concerned about a smooth ride.
I'd just like to know if someone with an 08 or 09 model can let me know if the car would handle this sort of commute well or not. Also, the only part of driving in my short 7 years on the road that I hate is driving in heavy snow or ice. Oklahoma has been getting hit very hard these last few Winters and I just hate losing any control of my vehicle. However I keep hearing that the car handles this stuff suprisingly well. Is that really the case.
I really would appreciate as much feedback as possible. Just keep in mind that I'm cool with the passenger/storage space, the safety, the fuel consumption, the jerky acceleration, and slightly rough ride at higher speeds. I'm just want to know if the car will get me from A to B(outlined above) and anything else to know positive or negative.
I ordered one way back when and I picked it up July of 08. Had it for a year now and I can't express how pleased I am with it's performance and most notably Fuel consumption. I have maintained a fuel log from day one and during winter months with the snow tires on we were averaging 42 to 43 in the city with 46 to 47 highway. With the swap back to regular tires I am now getting 46 to 47 in the city and 48 to 49 highway. The key is to be vigilant on the proper tire inflation. I had a low in the winter of 38 MPG and was stunned but a check of the tire inflation showed a drop in two tires of pressure. Once I made the adjustment to proper pressure I shot back up to 42 MPG. Keep in mind I tend to have a heavy foot so I don't baby it when I drive. As for handling it isn't as bad as one thinks. I have cruised the highways at 70 to 75 with ease. I had a fear of Big Rigs throwing me around like a plastic bucket in a wind tunnel when I got near one but nothing at all. Was fine! Only concern is if the wind is really high I won't take it out as with the height of the Smart it does make it for some serious concentration in big winds. I have no problems with control at around 35 to 45 mph of winds but if it is pushing 50 to 60, I leave the Smart in the garage. I'm sure it could handle it but I have driven a VW Hard Top High Top in the Northern California area for years so I know what it's like to try and navigate a car with a high body style in heavy winds and I prefer not to bother with that again. I am sure the Smart would do alright but I would rather not play with it in those high winds. The Smart has terrific pickup for passing even at high speeds as it will hit and is capable of cruising at 90 mph with ease if one so desires!! If I could I would buy a second one and may do so as I see the price of GAS is on the rise again. As for safety I feel more safe in the Smart then my Impala as in the Smart I have more manuverabilty and can avoid the Phone Talkers and all those who ignore the reason they are behind the wheel!!
Comments
anyone think the 70 mi is too far to get to a dealer?
they said you only have to change the oil once a year? odd?
how do you get at the engine and for example check the oil?
i'm still having a problem with the no spare tire issue. bad luck with tires recently!
I live 64 miles from my dealer. In the 10 months/10,000 miles I've owned my smart I've had no problems whatsoever and no need to return to the dealer. Consumer Reports rates the smart as one of the "Most Reliable." My dealership reports in the 13 months they've been a dealer they've performed NO MAJOR REPAIRS. Oil change is 12/months/10,000 miles (whichever occurs first). It's VERY EASY to change the oil and filter and you don't have to go to a dealer. You don't even need to jack up the car. Anybody whoi changes oil can do it. Engine is accessed via a hatch under the truck floor. Vehicle does have an air compressor and tire sealant to use in the event of a flat. Tires are not generally a problem. For more info I suggest the following Web sites:
www.smartusainsider.com
www.451s.com
Enjoy
I would add to your list of sites though. My favorite hangout is
www.smartcarofamerica.com
Better than all the rest, IMO.
smarts are high profile vehicles, taller than the average sedan. And, at around 1800 pounds, not all that massive. Yes, they do get blown around quite noticeably by crosswinds. But, I've never been blown out of my lane.
If you take a test drive looking for a "stability problem," you'll probably find one. If you talk with most everyone who's driven a smart for more than 2,500 miles/3 months, you'll probable find there's "no problem."
Enjoy
Dennis
How did you manage to get a Euro Smart, register it, insure it and get it serviced in the USA? I've had no luck at all trying to get the Euro Smart TDI, even though it's sold in Canada!, never mind obtaining the car you got.
I'm puzzled at the Mitsu-equipped Smart's lousy mileage. The Metro got 45-50 mpg with the same engine more than 15 years ago! I pretty much lost interest in the Smart when they put the Mitsubishi in the US version and announced that low 40 mpg. Also, they STILL don't import the 800cc Diesel to America!? WHY NOT?
I've always wondered why German car companies have such bad marketing techniques. Asking so many willing American customers to wait 10 years just to get what was once a decent car (but no longer is) is truly insane. The first tiny Toyota turbo-diesel that comes to these shores gets my money.
Your reply would be appreciated.
Herb
By the way, When I traded this car for an R-5 in 1976, the fellow who bought my R-16 (with 137,00 on the clock) as spare parts for HIS 1970 R-16 got back to me and said that the engine was so good, that he'd made his car the spare-parts donor instead. Apparently, toilet paper oil-filters do an engine a lot of long-term good in addition to greatly improving gas mileage.
Herb
All it took was a couple of trips on I95 to get me to sell my Smart (made a couple of bucks) and get a pre-owned Jetta TDI 2006 with all the bells and whistles for what I paid for the Smart. I have four doors, huge trunk, all the power options you can think of, and get a solid 38 mpg around town and 44 to 45 on the road. Best move I ever made.
:shades:
For example, on Pearl Harbor Day in 1971, I got rear-ended in my Renault 16 by a drunk driving a huge Buick. His car ended up being 3 feet shorter, mine got pushed in just 16" and was cheaply repaired. The drunk hit the steering wheel so hard, he bent it over at a 90-degree angle and lost all his front teeth. I ended up having a sore neck for a week. The seat and head-restraint did their jobs.
So, just keep buying all those over-priced pick-up trucks gussied up with cushy interiors and way too powerful engines for the suspensions to handle (I think it's unfair that Firetone tire had to pay a heavy price for poor SUV suspension design). Finally, insurance statistics reveal a very different picture than Marketing copy about SUV "safety" does: Rollover accidents with SUV's are far more common than with other vehicle types, and it's rollovers that produce the most fatalities. It that surprising? Think how high up an SUV's center of gravity is! Give me a small car with a low center of gravity any time, thank you!
Smart Fortwo
Sure it's cute, cool, and economical, but the Smart Fortwo isn't safe for everyone -- let alone inexperienced drivers. Because it's much smaller and lighter than most vehicles on the road, auto critics doubt it can hold its own in a serious crash. Many also note that strong gusts of wind can make controlling the Smart on the highway a difficult task. And while the IIHS rates it well in both frontal offset and side impact crash tests, NHTSA has issued a "safety concern" for its poor performance in side impact testing, in which "the driver door unlatched and opened." What's more, the Fortwo's debut was mangled last year when Smart issued a recall after an adhesive problem caused some drivers' windshields to fall out.
A Safer Alternative: For a ride that's just as quirky-looking, but performs better in crash tests and features loads of standard safety equipment, consider the MINI Cooper. It's a bit more expensive, but is probably a safer bet for a new driver."
http://clubsmartcar.com/index.php?showtopic=17626
And, while the "Safety Ratings" are excellent, the "real world" is the most important. I suggest that everyone check out the "Safe And Smart" website (http://www.safeandsmart.com) and read about the actual experiences from owners.
You can be quiet now.....
I wonder what the test would be with the Smart versus the Accord. I bet it would be ugly but easily survivable.
We all make our choices. Every situation has its drawbacks. Most accidents are not headon collisions, so people will draw their lines on vehicle size, mpg, footprint, and equipment in different places--based on probabilities, preferences, driving skill, needs, etc. Being in a smart is safer than being in a 2006 Aveo. Maybe all small cars and all cars without side airbags and stability control should be banned.
But on the other hand, so what? A certain type of car is no more likely to be banned than personal firearms, here in the US. This forum really is for owner discussion, not owner bashing. However, I doubt appealing to either reason or decorum will get these anti-smart crusaders to stop. Perhaps it is best to be amused by the behavior.
Thanks!
I wanted it in PINK but that would have cost me $1000 more on the sticker - which btw, no dealer will "haggle" over. The price is what you pay..period. I thought one dealer was gving me a line seeing as I was a woman but after visiting more than one dealer, I found this to be the case. Your only haggling room is in your trade-in allowance if you have one.
Just when you think you've seen everything, I was on the interstate last night. Saw a SMART CONVERTIBLE. Are you kidding me? They made this roller skate in a convertible?
Good news was it was firmly planted in the right lane. Bad news was it looked like it even struggled to keep up with traffic in the "slow lane".
It was NOT a car that I think I'd feel safe driving.....especially on the interstate. Even less so with part of its roof folded down. :surprise:
was NOT a car that I think I'd feel safe driving.....especially on the interstate.
It is a little slow in here but about the Smart car. Looks like oil/gas are on the way up again, and when that happens Smart Cars start looking better. They are made with cage construction and crumple zones, but I don't think that will help much if you collide with a transport truck or SUV.
I think their real value is as a 2nd or 3rd car for small runs around town.......but then how much are you going to save?
I wonder if the $4000 if you trade in your clunker will spur sales. I have a feeling that if you have an ancient clunker it won't put a new car within reach of buying :sick:
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
This was about a year ago before they started selling them.
On HWY 80 between Sacramento and San Francisco, we saw a big 18 wheelers advertising SMART cars. We passed it, and in front of it were 5 or 6 SMART cards doing over 60mph. My wife and I agreed that it's not a car we'd feel safe driving on a highway.
OT I wonder if that "road show" :P was responsible for any SMART sales
Unfortunately, the passengers seem to be a part of the crumple zone.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
No, actually, the passengers become the airbags
Really though, it seems the Smart Car does reasonably well in crash tests, better than you would expect;
This test shows a Smart Car going into a brick wall at 70 mph.
Smart Car
The Insurance Institute also found it did not too badly, though they do say a larger car will probably give you more protection;
Smart Car Crash
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Maybe it was just the angle it was filmed at but that wall sure looked like it was slanted quite a bit. Still impressive.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Impressive, but I still wouldn't like to be in it.
I don't think too many passengers would survive, it any car hit the wall dead on at 70mph.
Very few accidents are right on. When you see how much destruction there is in that clip, just imagine two cars coming together - both going 70 mph. That would be like hitting the wall at 140!
Impressive, but I still wouldn't like to be in it.
See all those parts in the passenger compartment that break and come loose. Imagine bones and muscles being torn apart. That little Smart car might be safer than a lot of bigger cars, especially ones from a few years ago without airbags and crumple zones.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That would be equivalent to one car hitting a stationary item at 70 mph. If cars are different in mass and the other car is a larger mass the Smart car would end up being accelerated more and might even bounce backwards, giving a much larger change in velocity to its poor occupants.
A problem with comparing a fixed block at 45 degrees collision with one against another car is that the parts of the cars aren't going to mesh solidly against each other, so there's going to be more intrusion in places and less slowing. Hitting the solid concrete probably uses the design of the Smart car to its maximum to absorb the forces without extreme disintegration and intrusion occuring. A real life incident is more likely to give worse-looking results. Remember that the occupants only had the time it took for the car's left front to collapse approximately 30 inch to decelerate to zero forward velocity and the approximately 25 mph sideways velocity. You can calculate an average acceleration rate using the 70 mph initial speed. That means higher deceleration rates than in a larger vehicle with a longer crush zone and longer crush time; that's better on occupants generally.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Wow, I forgot I am dealing with Physics experts here. Although the Smart does well in crash tests, I guess what you are saying is, in the long run, it isn't going to matter much to the occupants any way.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Hi gregg,
In gg's defense, we were posting on another forum, but we were off topic. So all the posts got moved over here.
Compare the features, safety items and weights of those cars to today's cars. Back in 1993, you didn't have airbags, crumple zones, side door beams, electronic abs, skid control, et al. All those things add weight.
The problem is that my daily commute is 36 miles of city roads with speeds between 45-50 mph and 12 miles of Interstate with speeds of 70-75 mph. Outside of this I rarely go more than 5 miles out of my way and usually on just city streets to visit stores or the theater.
I'm not concerned about the city roads at all of course, but I just want to be sure the Smart ForTwo can handle the 12 miles a day (6 there and 6 back) of speeds around 70-75 mph. I really am not concerned about safety but rather about the car being able to perform well enough. This stretch of Interstate is in OKC and is actually pretty rural with more grass than concrete(I240 East of Sooner Rd if curious) I'm also not too concerned about a smooth ride.
I'd just like to know if someone with an 08 or 09 model can let me know if the car would handle this sort of commute well or not. Also, the only part of driving in my short 7 years on the road that I hate is driving in heavy snow or ice. Oklahoma has been getting hit very hard these last few Winters and I just hate losing any control of my vehicle. However I keep hearing that the car handles this stuff suprisingly well. Is that really the case.
I really would appreciate as much feedback as possible. Just keep in mind that I'm cool with the passenger/storage space, the safety, the fuel consumption, the jerky acceleration, and slightly rough ride at higher speeds. I'm just want to know if the car will get me from A to B(outlined above) and anything else to know positive or negative.