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What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

8691 messages,  Last post on Dec 04, 2009 at 1:39 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

What is this discussion about? Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, smart fortwo, MINI Cooper


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#6454 of 8691
Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [Mr_Shiftright] by snakeweasel
Dec 06, 2007 (6:22 pm)
Reply

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 06, 2007 4:38 pm)

According to the EPA the yaris gets 36 highway 29 city far below the expected 40 (or more) city that the smart is supposed to get.
 
Well
 
Well nothing there is a push for EV no matter what, does Toyota making a EV RAV 4 suggest disappointing fuel mileage? No it didn't. It would seem you are making something out of nothing.
 
There is a small demand for EV's that will grow as they grow in range. Any manufacturer would be smart to test EV versions of at least some of their cars to pave the way to go into full production once technology reaches the point where it will be reasonable to mass produce Ev's.
#6455 of 8691
Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [snakeweasel] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Dec 06, 2007 (6:38 pm)
Reply

Replying to: snakeweasel (Dec 06, 2007 6:22 pm)

Users are reporting higher mileage than EPA. So who you gonna believe?
 
Sample comments: (no cherry-picking, I swear, just as I read them).
 
"near 40 mpg on the highway"
"been averaging about 38 miles per gallon"
"We have managed to get 40 mpg"
"The best is its fuel efficiency (40MPG)"
"mileage averaging 39-41 MPG"
"t consistently gets between 37-42 mpg."
 
ANYWAY, we'll see.....
 
I think the Edmunds review summed the SMART up fairly enough What do you all think?
 
"But for those who routinely drive on the highway, the Fortwo just doesn't make sense -- even if it gets phenomenal gas mileage. A similarly priced subcompact will handle high speeds better; ditto the much more expensive but greener Prius. The 2008 Smart Fortwo isn't a good choice for most consumers, but for certain urban-based drivers, it's most definitely worth consideration."
#6456 of 8691
Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [Mr_Shiftright] by snakeweasel
Dec 06, 2007 (6:59 pm)
Reply

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 06, 2007 6:38 pm)

Users are reporting higher mileage than EPA. So who you gonna believe?
 
EPA site also gives drivers reporting their mileage. Eliminating the extreme highs and lows they are not doing to much better than the EPA estiments and even the high ones are doing worse on the highway than the smart is supposed to get in the city.
 
We will see when the EPA comes out with their estiments. FWIW the Canadian Smart website gives about 43 city and just shy of 50 highway.
 
I think the Edmunds review summed the SMART up fairly enough What do you all think?
 
You mean the review that stated "It's no sports car, but it is fun."?
#6457 of 8691
Re: Dodge Sprinter [michaell] by jlawrence01
Dec 06, 2007 (7:33 pm)
Reply

Replying to: michaell (Dec 06, 2007 12:30 pm)

've looked on-line at the RV conversions that are done on the Sprinter chassis .. I believe the starting price is somewhere around $68K.
 
Do realize that they make the Sprinter as a passenger van which could be had for significantly less than $68k.
#6458 of 8691
Re: Dodge Sprinter [jlawrence01] by lilengineerboy
Dec 06, 2007 (7:49 pm)
Reply

Replying to: jlawrence01 (Dec 06, 2007 7:33 pm)

~35k w/diesel and the shorter wheelbase
#6459 of 8691
Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [Mr_Shiftright] by boaz47
Dec 06, 2007 (8:09 pm)
Reply

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 06, 2007 6:38 pm)

I wonder how many times I see your point as clearly as I do this one. A city car has its place and maybe the smart can fill that place. But the Smart hasn't filled the niche in places where it should. If it can't make it in Europe how is the world will they make it in the land of the Super highway?
 
For a City car I believe a EV would be great. In fact if we sell this house and move to the place in the desert I would get one of the Chrysler EV street legal things to run around town and keep the Truck and the Pontiac. But living in Southern California it is hard to get from one city to the next without going on the Freeway. Just thinking about a Smart on the freeway gives me chills.
#6460 of 8691
Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [snakeweasel] by ttai
Dec 06, 2007 (8:51 pm)
Reply

Replying to: snakeweasel (Dec 06, 2007 6:59 pm)

"Eliminating the extreme highs and lows they are not doing to much better than the EPA estiments...." eerrrrr?????
 
What kind of government creative accounting is this? Why don't you just accept
the average like the chart has? The Yaris manual gets 37 mpg average. EPA
shows 32 MPG. I'd say that's pretty significant.
 
I actually like the Smart for it's cool, small fun size. It's kinda like a go kart with
a roof. I had a motorcycle so taking this thing on the freeway is no problem for
me. No Fear. I am disappointed with the price. $10,000 is a fair price for it.
#6461 of 8691
Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [snakeweasel] by robertsmx
Dec 06, 2007 (10:26 pm)
Reply

Replying to: snakeweasel (Dec 06, 2007 6:22 pm)

To put mileage in perspective, in city (both ratings using fuel economy rating in UK)
Honda Jazz (Fit): 41.5 mpg
Smart TwoFour: 46.0 mpg
 
So, Smart has a little edge. But, does it make up for the compromises? Fit can replace a Civic, while the Smart basically replaces a motorcycle/scooter.
#6462 of 8691
Re: Those are a lot of straws to be grasping at. [dromedarius] by tiff_c
Dec 06, 2007 (11:24 pm)
Reply

Replying to: dromedarius (Dec 06, 2007 11:33 am)

The whole concept doesn't make sense to me. It's almost as expensive as a Fit or Yaris and doesn't have near the interior space w/little to no mileage improvements. If Honda or Toyota had made this car I can't imagine it being so limited.
 
Oh it does make sense in a very crowded city as it's cheaper to park on the street and the Smart is all about parking in small spaces and getting good economy doing it. The Fit and Yaris or Scion xD (aka Yaris 5 door) will fit into tight spaces as well but not nearly as well as the Smart. Smart is the car you buy for a good parking space and not much else which is why it's sales are slow. It needs better economy and be more fun to drive like a manual tranny with a diesel engine.
The Smart should be getting 60mpg minimum in the City to make it worthwhile IMO.
#6463 of 8691
Might it be interesting to see how the by iluvmysephia1
Dec 06, 2007 (11:44 pm)
Reply
SmartForSomeone sells in Japan? I mean, it's cities are crowded and tight for space and the Smart is great for that. So, will they blindly follow their own manufacturers and buy the Yaris, Fit and Suzuki kei-size cars? Probably, but not definitely. Somebody follow that statistic for us in their spare time and I'll get back to you on it, OK?

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