Article Comments: 2008 Smart Fortwo First Look and Drive

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

You are in the Smart Car Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? smart fortwo, Hatchback

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)

Outline

Messages Page 3 of 8: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; Prev; Next; Last

#12 of 65 This car is stupid by chevy598 Dec 10, 2006 (4:13 pm)
There is no way I would take that car on the highway in Michigan. I don't care how strong the frame is that car would scare the hell out of you going 70-80 mph. Can you imagine hitting a dear with a car that light or tapping up against a full size sedan on the highway. Mo matter how strong the frame is a vehicle with twice the wait is going to send that sucker flying. This is a limited vehicle to roll around town with and say I got enough money to pretend I am an environmentalist. Back in the 80's the wind blew a Yugo of the Mackinaw bridge into lake Michigan killing a family and i'll bet you this thing ways less than that Yugo. Replies to this message: gracchus (Dec 13, 2006 8:12 am)
#13 of 65 Re: This car is stupid [chevy598] by gracchus Dec 13, 2006 (8:12 am)
Replying to: chevy598 (Dec 10, 2006 4:13 pm) Smart cars regularly drive on the 401 here in Ontario. The 401 is now considered to be the busiest highway in North America and has massive truck traffic on it (much of it coming from Michigan) and there has been no evidence of smarts having a higher than normal incidence of accidents. When driving on the highway, I have no problems maintaining speed (and I don't drive in the slow lane). The smart is loaded with safety features and I just don't feel unsafe when driving it. The smart is great vehicle for both the city (60 mpg...I have the diesel) and the highway (75 mpg). Might not work as a primary family vehicle for everyone due to the lack of seats (though it is our primary vehicle), but certainly perfect as a second vehicle or as a commuter car. Saying that, I won't be buying the new smart until they release the diesel engine in NA (2010?). cheers
#14 of 65 Smart and Expensive by 74apollo Dec 22, 2006 (8:44 am)
I saw this little car when I was in Italy this summer and fell in love (I drive a Mini). Upon returning to the State, I immediately emailed Chrysler to get more info - they said they had none. Several days later, the national news had a story about the car coming to the States at a price between $12-$15,000. Today I was driving through middle America in a little dinky town of 10,000 and saw two Smart cars sitting on a car lot with Mercedes stickers on them priced at $29,000! Whoa! Who would spend that much on a car like this??? Replies to this message: swordsman (Dec 26, 2006 1:35 pm)
#15 of 65 Re: Smart and Expensive [74apollo] by swordsman Dec 26, 2006 (1:35 pm)
Replying to: 74apollo (Dec 22, 2006 8:44 am) 74apollo, it was probably a couple of the ZAP retrofits. ZAP has been importing them for awhile and making them street legal for the US, but the price absolutely skyrockets to the point of being insane. Only crazy rich people that love to be trendy and brag about their "environmental conscientiousness" would ever pay that price. Again, to those groaning about MPG, the smartusa.com website has stated that the 40mpg mentioned is the minimum combined city/highway average to expect. Not too shabby.
#16 of 65 Re: Article Comments: 2008 Smart Fortwo First Look [KarenS] by scoville Dec 27, 2006 (11:47 am)
Replying to: KarenS (Nov 21, 2006 7:08 am) does anyone have info on the tridion frames? it looks like its made of steel. any talk of an aluminum chassis? the one thing we see more of than snow in the north east is road salt. its got to be a diesel for me or not at all.
#17 of 65 Re: Geez, give 'em a break already! [swordsman] by msuman52 Dec 28, 2006 (6:44 pm)
Replying to: swordsman (Dec 04, 2006 8:27 am) Dude. I totally agree with you. People should do a little research about a car before they start talking about the bad that isnt even there.
#18 of 65 i think it will work. by inaudible Jan 11, 2007 (6:13 am)
if anyone has driven the old honda civics from the 92-95 era, this kind of engine should be familiar already... honda had a 70hp engine in the CX. i drove one for several months last year (waiting for the fit to come out) and i had no problem driving from chicago to detroit and back... even with the 70mph limit in michigan. 75hp is PLENTY for any driver who is not hauling cargo. especially in a car that can barely brak the 1000lb mark. the saftey of a vehicle has been proven, time and time again, to be the result of good or bad design... not proportion.
#19 of 65 Re: Article Comments: 2008 Smart Fortwo First Look [KarenS] by zeniff Jan 11, 2007 (10:42 am)
Replying to: KarenS (Nov 21, 2006 7:08 am) No, I can't see myself driving one of these. The fact that they are being sold thru Daimler Chrysler just means that it's a false front towards environmental protection. You want to save the earth with your car? Buy one from a company that gives a rip about the earth. Check out the following sites that give Daimler/Chrysler's own words about their thoughts along these lines: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=119166 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6247371.stm?ls http://www.inform.kz/showarticle.php?lang=eng&id=147616 Replies to this message: gypsy_tech (Feb 20, 2007 11:09 am)
#20 of 65 M.R. O'Brien by merryruth Jan 21, 2007 (8:35 am)
I first saw these cars in France 3 years ago and fell in love with the look as well as the thought of great fuel efficiency. I have since followed the research and almost extinction. When I heard they were going to be released in the U.S. it stirred my attention again and I for one can't wait to test drive one. I am really thinking about a future purchase. Fuel economy is on everyones mind these days, I am just waiting to hear more about safety standards in comparison.
#21 of 65 Re: Half the size, 10% better fuel economy [sanfrandan] by merryruth Jan 21, 2007 (8:44 am)
Replying to: sanfrandan (Nov 21, 2006 10:48 am) You'll be waiting till hell freezes over to find what you're looking for, the auto dealears wouldn't make a dime on your model, go broke and we'd be stuck with a car that couldn't be serviced! But then in a utopia, who would need service. You might get your wish, the weather is changing globally!!