Article Comments 2008 Smart Fortwo First Drive

110 messages, Last post on Aug 07, 2008 at 8:31 AM

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Article comments for First Drive: 2008 Smart Fortwo - The 2008 Fortwo is larger than its predecessor, but it's still outrageously small, some 40 inches shorter than a Mini. In real life, it looks like an artist's impression of what a car might look like if we all drank skinny lattes. (more)

Full Test: 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion - Bottom Line: Hugely versatile as a city-only car, but perhaps not the best choice for those who go farther or need to carry more. (more)

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#11 of 110 Nah... by plekto Feb 24, 2007 (1:14 pm)
Again, it has all of the safety goodies found on a C-class. It has leather as an option. The interior looks very upscale as well. It's going to be marketed as a half-sized(and cost) C-class. It'll sell like crazy. And they did increase the trunk space enough to fit a single large suitcase. It's about the same size as most roadsters or the Mini. Small, but useable. I suspect that they will make some sort of flip-down feature for the passenger seat. That would allow a nice flat cargo area. Plus, it's RWD - lol. And 40mpg average is just fine with me
#12 of 110 mass by blue330xi Feb 24, 2007 (6:15 pm)
It dosen't have the mass of a C-class or the same length crumple zone. While you may think that is a +, if you are struck by a 6000lb SUV you will find the C-class is a much better place to be. This car may be as safe if you say run into a wall at 40mph, but if you get plowed by an SUV or Pickup the mass difference is just to huge. I have seen this first hand. I have seen a escalade nearly plow over a mini cooper, and that was only a 20mph or so impact. It happened on paradise ave as the mini was at a stop light ready to turn toward the strip (I live in vegas). I was in the next lane waiting. The mini driver ended up going to the hospital but seemed in good shape except for a broken lower lip but the entire rear end of his car was smashed over by the front bumper of the escalade. The escalade didnt look that damaged, he probably just needed a new bumper. The taxi in front of the mini was not that bad off either except a dented rear bumper. As a comparison my brother was rear ended by a cement truck while in his Jeep Grand Cherokee. While the rear bumper was damaged, he came out allright and the car only needed about $1500 (of the truck drivers insurance money) to be repaired. Replies to this message: snakeweasel (Feb 27, 2007 7:00 pm)
#13 of 110 mass 2 by blue330xi Feb 24, 2007 (6:27 pm)
Another way to think about it is worst case possible accident. If you were on the freeway say in the left lane between the cement guard rail and a semi and the semi veers into you, would you rather be in something like a land cruiser or escalade, or would you rather be in a smart? The larger vehicle will deflect less and will be less likely to get crushed under the wheels of the semi trailer. Im not saying you wont get killed still, just that I would rather have the added mass of the SUV or large car in a senario like that. Some motorcycles actually have airbags also...that does not mean you want to wreck in one more then you would a car.
#14 of 110 Yeah... by plekto Feb 24, 2007 (8:17 pm)
And lots of people ride motorcycles. And people get hit by semis, too. The reality is that no car will protect you all of the time unless you drive something like a Uimog or military transport. The big vs small car in a crash thing won't work here. If it's as safe as a Mini, it'll be just fine. As for the crumple zone, it's not a lot different than say, a MR2 or Fit. The crumple zone on a Fit is maybe a foot longer, but that's all engine and no real protection(on the contrary, they have to make it so the engine doesn't enter the passenger space as much as anything else. The Smart lengthened the bumpers a bit as well - so you get a little less than two feet of 100% dedicated crumple space. Not great, but not bad, either. Oh - and the crash tests they've done show that while it evaporates in the front and rear, the main safety cell stays intact. Lastly, it has airbags. The airbags are not supplimental in this car, but essentially required - so that it all works together in a crash about as well as a typical midsize sedan without airbags did. Of course, after a crash, the entire car is toast, since it just self-destructed like a Formula-1 racecar(and probably just as spectacularly) so always carrying full coverage is a noted expense. Get in an accident? Hop in a replacement. Don't bother fixing it.
#15 of 110 4two by cxvargas Feb 25, 2007 (8:53 am)
I'm stationed here in Europe and I see smarts everywhere I go and with so many large commercial vehicles crowding the roads I don't believe the smart is more or less safe than a Ford Fiesta or a Citroen C1. I would buy one but I find them a little bit over price. Also, with the MB A-class over here in Europe maybe DCX should consider selling that model in the States as a Smart. I would prefer that if the price is right.
#16 of 110 Yeah... by plekto Feb 25, 2007 (9:22 am)
Truth to be told, I'd prefer almost any small Euro turbo-diesel over the Smart. The TD Civic, for instance, is astounding. It's nothing like the model we get in the U.S. - it's easily a generation ahead in every way. Then there's Ford's own cars, Peugeot, and a slew of others that make better small cars than we get here(Mini and the Fit are probably the only two exceptions I can think of). I also want the Volvo C30, the BMW 1, and the Mercedes A class to come over here.
#17 of 110 Re: Really? [plekto] by mike91326 Feb 26, 2007 (6:42 pm)
Replying to: plekto (Feb 24, 2007 10:48 am) I agree, it would be a great car here in LA. I just wish it would come with a diesel. So where do you do 30mph in LA? If I went 30 on the 405 from West LA to the valley I would probably get a speeding ticket.
#18 of 110 Heh by plekto Feb 26, 2007 (9:04 pm)
I was being generous. No, seriously, 25-30mph is about the actual speed if you aren't in a total gridlock situation. Lol.
#19 of 110 Re: Geo Metro averages 33/41 mpg, cty/hwy [joe131] by snakeweasel Feb 27, 2007 (6:57 pm)
Replying to: joe131 (Feb 24, 2007 11:02 am) A tiny 2 seater Smart with little luggage space is just a toy to most US drivers. It may have some novelty appeal, but as a car to own and drive every day, it's gonna flop Not to sure about that. I look at my daily drive and cannot remember when I had more than two people in it and needed more than enough room for a few bags of vittles. For what I need a Smart will fit the bill perfectly. It makes the perfect second "commuter car". If people actually give it a chance and ignore naysayers like you it might have a chance. Replies to this message: joe131 (Feb 28, 2007 11:24 am) snakeweasel (Feb 28, 2007 6:38 pm) joe131 (Feb 28, 2007 7:29 pm) and 17 more...
#20 of 110 Re: mass [blue330xi] by snakeweasel Feb 27, 2007 (7:00 pm)
Replying to: blue330xi (Feb 24, 2007 6:15 pm) if you are struck by a 6000lb SUV you will find the C-class is a much better place to be. I have seen the results of that. Trust me you don't want to be in the C-class under those situations. As a comparison my brother was rear ended by a cement truck while in his Jeep Grand Cherokee. While the rear bumper was damaged, he came out allright and the car only needed about $1500 (of the truck drivers insurance money) to be repaired. The cement truck wasn't going that fast then. I once saw a Cherokee rear ended by a dump truck. There was nothing left of the Jeep.