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Hatchbacks Smart Car Smart Fortwo
491 messages, Last post on Oct 07, 2009 at 6:46 AM
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Replying to: dunepearl (Apr 06, 2008 4:39 pm) There are plenty of happy smart car owners. They were just not looking at the same attributes as you. There will continue to be a niche market for the smart, but no, it will not supplant sales of other high mileage subcompacts. I think some folks ordered it for its uniqueness factor and did not seriously consider the shortcomings of a car that is shorter overall than the wheelbase of most subcompacts. |
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| I've seen several on the road around DC this past month. They were so small it was hard to believe something like this got past Nadar. I read a little about it and, from what I read, interest in MPG, I find it probably ranks 2nd or 3rd behind slightly larger vehicles that get nearly the same MPG. I have on 05 Honda Civic Hybrid (5 speed manual trans) which I drive 79 miles one way carrying approximately 800 pounds of human flesh (4 MEN) out of WV to DC. As long as I maintain RPMs climbing out of and into Charles Town on 340 I have not problem. I have gotten as high as 49 MPG and as low as 42 MPG with an average of 45. MPG is more affected by termperature then speed. Honda is willing to RUN once optimum RPM is attained. Honda cost 19K - Fortwo cost 12K. I guess it depends on the person. Fortwo will probably sell to singles or people who choose to commute by themselves. I'd have to drive one before I could make any other assessment. | |
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Replying to: scwmcan (Apr 07, 2008 9:08 am)
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Replying to: dunepearl (Apr 07, 2008 3:25 pm) Scott |
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Well, I've never had anything flattering to say about the smart car. However, I don't necessarily want the car to fail. The "poor" safety ratings noted above aren't really all that bad. The driver side did well. What worries me, however, is the Ins Instit for Hwy Safety hasn't tested it yet--and their test is the more rigorous offset frontal impact. However, many of you have seen the recent British video of a smart car rammed into a barrier at 70mph. It came away ok. (That was not an instrumented test, however.) They shoulda made the car a foot longer. They shoulda given it more power and a genuine stick shift. They shoulda designed it to run on regular gas. They shoulda given it a killer warranty. But in the end, the car just isn't delivering on its fuel economy promise. You can only survive on being "cute" for so long before you gotta start delivering. Just ask any child star!! |
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Replying to: walterquint (Apr 08, 2008 7:10 pm) Just MHO Scott
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Replying to: walterquint (Apr 08, 2008 7:10 pm)
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Replying to: scwmcan (Apr 09, 2008 3:53 am) |
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Replying to: gregg_vw (Apr 09, 2008 5:07 am) Your right about the extra foot. In europe it is Smart For Four and its been on the market for a few years.. |
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Replying to: gregg_vw (Apr 09, 2008 5:07 am) The smart is RWD, which is necessary for superior handling. However, it's just too short and stubby to take advantage of it. It needs that extra foot. You can buy RWD wind-up cars in any dollar store. Most look remarkably like the smart car; tall and stubby. But you release them on the kitchen linoleum and they spin all over the place. That's what scares me about the smart car. The extra foot would not be for 2 extra seats. It would be for cargo and increased utility. And maybe a dog or cat carrier.
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