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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#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!!
#22 of 65 Re: Geez, give 'em a break already! [swordsman] by merryruth Jan 21, 2007 (9:37 am)
Replying to: swordsman (Dec 04, 2006 8:27 am) Good return, I'm with you. Can't wait to try them myself. Replies to this message: edf4 (Jan 21, 2007 7:02 pm)
#23 of 65 Re: Geez, give 'em a break already! [merryruth] by edf4 Jan 21, 2007 (7:02 pm)
Replying to: merryruth (Jan 21, 2007 9:37 am) Likewise. As for those who say they'd never drive it on the highway or would be afraid of being hit by an SUV or whatever, then I suppose they have never enjoyed driving or riding a motorcycle. Clearly the SMART is tons safer than a motorcycle, but how many thousands of people drive those, many without helmets? For most people, like me, their vehicle choice is not solely based on safety, but enjoyment: just ask a biker, or other small car driver. I like the SMART. I have read about its safety innovations and preliminary crash test results and I am impressed. I will test drive one and may even buy one. Life to to be enjoyed, and the SMART is unique, practical, fun, inexpensive for what you get, and the mileage is pretty good too. Oh, and an added bonus; it's sales will support American workers.
#24 of 65 Don't Worry by plekto Jan 21, 2007 (11:12 pm)
The Smart will be a good thing. All of the delivery and messenger services as well as pizza delivery and so on - guess what car they will all buy? 50+mpg highway and no hybrid nonsense(or higher price) - it'll sell well just based upon that alone. And it's worlds safer than a Geo Metro was in a crash - or a Ford Aspire/Mazda 3/Kia Rio/etc(same family/design - the 2 door egg shaped sub combact). People drive their little Aveos around all the time as well and it's not seen as too unsafe to drive(though it's definately no winner vs a SUV) Motorcycle MPG, can fit two people(like a bigger bike), but has AC, ABS, an is dry in the rain. Essentially, it's a 4 wheel enclosed Goldwing or simmilar. I'm certainly going to buy one. Of course, I lived a mile or two from one of two models that were driven in California a few years back as a test. So I got to see it in person every few days and let me tell you - it has the same cuteness, alure, and fit and finish qualities as a Mini. People constantly were asking the owner what it was and how they could get one/if it was coming to the U.S. anytime soon.
#25 of 65 Great little car! by engineer al Jan 27, 2007 (2:46 am)
I bought a '06 Fourtwo and an '06 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins 4x4 last June. I live on a small island, and we get lots of weather here. As far as I am concerned, I have the best of both worlds. I drive the truck when I need to, but the Smart does the trick for everything else. As I live several miles from town, and therefore the nearest store, I find the little car invaluable for everything from soup to nuts. How many times do you find yourself "just running to the store" for bread and milk etc? Or to pick up or drop someone off somewhere? I do all of this and more, parking is a breeze, back and forth to work, and so on, and all this for less than $20 a tank at my community's over-inflated fuel prices. I have to agree with the one poster about the fact that it takes around 45 minutes to an hour to get anything done as the car always draws a crowd of curious folks looking for info on it. I have gotten my tallest friends to sit in it, I always put the seat all the way back first, and to a man, they always pull it forward again to reach the pedals. On the highway, it cruises just fine at 110-120 kmh, (65-70 mph) and I regularily pass other cars with it. The road I live on has a really steep hill with a corner at the bottom, in the snowfalls we have enjoyed so far this winter, I have had no problem getting the car up or down that hill, which I have even seen bring some 4x4's to their knees. The only real complaints I have are that in the colder rainy weather, it can take quite awhile to defrost the windshield, ( a pain in the ass for me as I live less than 5 minutes from work ), and the road noise is a little loud sometimes. Otherwise I am really enjoying my car!
#26 of 65 Mileage by countsmackula1 Feb 04, 2007 (6:12 pm)
Why do these things not get 70-80 mpg? A Honda Civic is much safer, no doubt ( due to weight), is nearly as maneuveravble, and can seat more if necessary, and gets mid-40s all day long.Why are these cars necessary?
#27 of 65 well... by plekto Feb 04, 2007 (11:51 pm)
Note that it's 45-50mpg in combined testing/real-world in Europe. Ie - you actually GET 45mpg average. EPA tests will probably list something like 40city and 55highway.
#28 of 65 no radio by 74apollo Feb 06, 2007 (10:10 am)
I test drove this little car several weeks ago. It had a smoother ride than my Mini. The price tag of $29,000 is ridiculous tho and it had no radio!
#29 of 65 ... by plekto Feb 06, 2007 (10:21 am)
The one sold by Zap/etc right now is priced at twice the normal selling price. It's 9-13K in Europe, if you adjust for VAT and taxes and the exchange rate. Quite affordable. And it will come with a Radio - since its being marketed as a Mercedes/sold at Mercedes dealerships primarily. Just wait until this fall. It'll be all good then
#30 of 65 Re: Article Comments: 2008 Smart Fortwo First Look [zeniff] by gypsy_tech Feb 20, 2007 (11:09 am)
Replying to: zeniff (Jan 11, 2007 10:42 am) My wife and I are looking for a Chrysler dealer that is getting the car so we can put a deposit down. Of course Chrysler executives are going to be-little global warming, there line up is full of gas guzzlers. European nations are screaming louder because of one of the theories of a result of global warming would be a European ice age. I'd be worried as well, even if we won't have any proof until it is too late. I will admit, it might already be too late.