Article Comments: 2008 Smart Fortwo First Look and Drive

65 messages, Last post on Jun 22, 2008 at 7:42 AM

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Article comments for First Look: 2008 Smart Fortwo - Americans' newfound love affair with small cars is about to be tested with the arrival of the 2008 Smart Fortwo. (more)

First Drive: 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion - Once you get some momentum together, it's a pleasure to drive the Smart. Despite its short 73.5-inch wheelbase, the Fortwo absorbs bumps and potholes quite well. The ride quality isn't exactly as supple as a Maybach, but the motions are surprisingly gentle. (more)

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#1 of 65 Article Comments: 2008 Smart Fortwo First Look by KarenS HOST Nov 21, 2006 (7:08 am)
Can you see yourself tooling around town in one of these? Check out our first look and post your comments here. First Look: 2008 Smart Fortwo Replies to this message: scoville (Dec 27, 2006 11:47 am) zeniff (Jan 11, 2007 10:42 am) gypsy_tech (Feb 20, 2007 11:09 am)
#2 of 65 Well... by plekto Nov 21, 2006 (10:44 am)
It's a good car, but it's also dissapointing that they don't offer a deisel engine. 55-60mpg would be a major selling point. Yes, the dash is ugly compared to the original. But the wheelbase and widening is welcome. I won't buy one new, but a year old for 4*K or so, most definately.
#3 of 65 Half the size, 10% better fuel economy by sanfrandan Nov 21, 2006 (10:48 am)
If I'm going to give up a back seat, I want more than a 10% fuel economy payoff. The Civic gets nearly as good gas mileage, looks a bit unusual, and has a nice backseat. With the low volumes, I'm guessing ownership costs won't be much, if any higher for the civic either. Outside of really dense cities where the extra 5' would deny the civic a parking place, I can't see the tradeoff making sense. If they sold the diesel or made a hybrid that set a new bar for fuel efficiency, then maybe I'd bite. Then again, I'm still waiting for the vegetable-oil-plug-in-hybrid-cylinder-deactivating-solar-roof-zero-emissions-min- ivan.... For under $25,000.... Replies to this message: merryruth (Jan 21, 2007 8:44 am)
#4 of 65 ... by plekto Nov 21, 2006 (11:04 am)
The old version got 60-70mpg equivalent with a 600cc engine. Sure, it had a few less HP, but it also didn't even weigh 2000lbs. As expected, they put a bloated engine to try to satisfy America's lust for HP and miss the boat. ie - why buy this when you can buy a Civic that gets 40mpg highway already and is a much nicer car? They need to get rid of the bloat, get it lighter, and give us a really efficient engine that rivals the overpriced hybrids. Replies to this message: swordsman (Dec 04, 2006 8:27 am) msuman52 (Dec 28, 2006 6:44 pm) merryruth (Jan 21, 2007 9:37 am) edf4 (Jan 21, 2007 7:02 pm) demosthenes (Jun 09, 2007 9:44 pm) luvcutethings (Jun 20, 2007 9:15 am)
#5 of 65 Will they never learn??? by wlm26 Nov 21, 2006 (2:55 pm)
Everyone who's posted said as much. Why buy this extremely small vehicle, and only get 40mpg?? Do the math, DC. It's not worth it in the slightest. I honestly had hopes that they would give us a diesel engine that got 55-60 "real" mpg, but noooooo!! We can't have Americans thinking they can drive around in an enclosed vehicle that gets that kind of mileage! As far as we ignorant Americans know, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS 55-60 MPG VEHICLES!!! So sayeth the govt., science, auto manufacturers, blah, blah, blah!!! Americans will stay blissfully ignorant and buy this car in droves. So, bring it on DC! We need the next fad in cars, and you know how we Americans just ADORE fads!!!
#6 of 65 Needs to be bigger by rlyon Nov 21, 2006 (3:03 pm)
It's sweet, so 3 feet smaller than the mini? Wow, that's almost too short. It should at least match the mini's size for the US version. That way there'd be some type of backseat/trunk area.
#7 of 65 Do it right the FIRST time! by citiboy Nov 22, 2006 (8:50 am)
Geez, just bring the DIESEL units over, willya? I've driven these in Canada and Europe, and they're incredible! As a collector of vintage foreign sports cars for the past three decades, I've always appreciated those that turn in the highest fuel economy possible: Coupled with diesel's legendary longevity, they'd sell 'em here as fast as they'd arrive! For once, wouldn't it be gratifying to see an automotive manufacturer get it right, first time out of the chute???
#8 of 65 smart fortwo by yugoman Nov 22, 2006 (8:56 am)
my says she wants the smart fortwo,i'm going to get her one. i personally think they also came up with a new word to put in the DICTIONARY.
#9 of 65 You've got to be kidding me! by cyrussd Nov 27, 2006 (2:55 pm)
This has to be one of the worst ideas I've read about in recent history. A car that is three feet shorter than the Mini; gets "over 40mpg"; priced near a Civic/Corolla; and is made by an American company? This has disaster written all over it. May I remind everyone that not that long ago, behemoths called SUVs roamed the highways/byways... Last time I checked, they still do. Driving this thing around will most assuredly guarantee your place on the road pyramid just above speedbump and center-median. These cars are like sodacans waiting to be flattened by the Hummers/Excursions/Escalades/full-sized pickups/etc. No amount of mpg would persuade me to forfeit safety. Mark my words, this car will be fodder for the American consumer.
#10 of 65 It better be radically improved by 6sptl Nov 28, 2006 (11:11 am)
I drove a smart in France last summer and can assuredly attest that it was the worst car I have ever driven barring a soviet era SKODA. Consumer Reports gave a short take on the present Canadian iteration and reached the same conclusion. There is no denying the car is the cutest thing in 4 wheels in a long time, but there is no denying that it is probably one of the worst transportation devices ever devised. For the same money you can buy a Fit sport which has twice the passenger room, the same milage and actually performs like a car rather than a gokart.