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Smart Fortwo

491 messages,  Last post on Oct 07, 2009 at 6:46 AM

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What is this discussion about? smart formore, smart fortwo, Hatchback

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#228 of 491 Re: Extended Warranty [haaseh] by dunepearl May 12, 2008 (2:14 pm)
Replying to: haaseh (May 12, 2008 4:16 am) be realy smart and forget about it for now. It's not a very good contract and costs you $100 EVERY time you bring the car in. You may not even decide to keep the smart beyond the two years. Why throw money away?
#229 of 491 Crash test results in by pf_flyer HOST May 14, 2008 (3:53 am)
Smart For You? Replies to this message: gregg_vw (May 14, 2008 5:10 am)
#230 of 491 Re: Crash test results in [pf_flyer] by gregg_vw May 14, 2008 (5:10 am)
Replying to: pf_flyer (May 14, 2008 3:53 am) Funny. People get all concerned about the lack of safety in this car, and insist that it should never be driven on a freeway. Yet, for the driver, it is safer than an Aveo, an Accent and other much larger cars.   The truly crazy thing is no one is screaming the same way about fools riding motorcycles or even scooters, even though there is no safety there at all. Don't buy one if you don't want one, but please stop trying to foist irrational fear on everyone else. It is a safe ride for city driving, and certainly no worse in a crash than a Harley on the interstate.
#231 of 491 DEATH WISH by dmp20393 May 14, 2008 (6:00 pm)
So the smart car does well in crash tests. Great, but remember against vehicles of like size and weight. Also remember E = MC2. Since there is nothing smaller, or lighter, pray that your accident involves another smart car.   Smart car - maybe. Dumb buyer - for certain. Replies to this message: stanwict (May 16, 2008 11:59 am)
#232 of 491 Simple physics by pf_flyer HOST May 15, 2008 (2:47 am)
My Versa got great crash test ratings as well. But I'm likely in trouble in a real world crash in it as well.   "All things being equal in safety, bigger and heavier is always better," said IIHS institute president Adrian Lund in an statement.   So this isn't about irrational fear, it's about reality. The curb weight of the Versa is almost 150% of the curb weight of the smart.   I look at the safety ratings within a class of vehicle a lot like those EPA numbers. Your real world safety may vary. Replies to this message: gregg_vw (May 15, 2008 5:29 am) dmathews3 (May 15, 2008 6:32 am) dstrom (May 16, 2008 4:52 am)
#233 of 491 Re: Simple physics [pf_flyer] by gregg_vw May 15, 2008 (5:29 am)
Replying to: pf_flyer (May 15, 2008 2:47 am) See...what did I say? The physics arguments come out, the smart gets bashed and everyone ignores that everything is relative.   How is a Tahoe going to do against the ever present, very numerous semis hauling crap everywhere? Am I supposed to drive a big rig in order to be safer? Should motorcycles be outlawed? Should we not drive on two lane highways? Should all cars be forced to be in the same size and class for safety reasons?   People in smaller cars may actually drive safer, due to their awareness of physics. (Those that don't may be subject to Darwin's law as well.) The smart has terrific engineering for safety. No one is claiming it overcomes physics, just that it does a better job at crunch control than one might normally expect. Replies to this message: dmathews3 (May 15, 2008 6:32 am) dstrom (May 16, 2008 4:52 am)
#234 of 491 Re: Simple physics [gregg_vw] by dmathews3 May 15, 2008 (6:32 am)
Replying to: gregg_vw (May 15, 2008 5:29 am) I look at it this way, Maybe 99.9% of the cars on the road are bigger than the smart so the smart may have a better chance of coming out on the losing end of the crash but then again, I was thinking of replacing my Goldwing with a Smart but due to the long wait I bought a Chevy HHR and really like it. Granted it don't get the mileage of the Smart going by EPA ratings but it is safer than my bike was so I'm ahead of the game plus there are all kinds of owners clubs and events for the HHR that I'm sure will come along also for the Smart.
#235 of 491 Re: Simple physics [gregg_vw] by dstrom May 16, 2008 (4:52 am)
Replying to: gregg_vw (May 15, 2008 5:29 am) All this talk about safety and the smart prompts me to offer a couple of thoughts for your consideration:   Question: What is the best kind of accident?   Answer: The one you never have.   When considering the safety of a vehicle it is appropriate to consider both the “Active” (help you avoid an accident) AND “Passive” (protect you in the event of an accident) safety features of a vehicle. As we all know by now, the smart has all the “Passive” safety features - front & side/head air bags, seat belt pretensionsers & belt force limiters, “Tridion” safety cell, etc. – and top IIHS Safety Ratings. But, more importantly in my opinion, it has a full compliment of the “Active” ones as well – ABS, Traction Control, Brake Assist, Acceleration Skid Control, Cornering Brake Control, and ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (esp). Experts agree that esp is the most significant safety feature to come along since seat belts. It’s standard equipment on all smarts and is not even available one most other small cars (e.g. Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent, and most others). Personally, I wouldn’t consider buying a vehicle today that didn’t have electronic stability control. Note: esp will be required on all cars within a few years   In the event of an accident, it’s also important to consider the effects of weight, design, and the effects of kinetic energy. At just over 1,800 pounds and with it’s Tridion safety cell, the smart may very well bounce off the front of that 18 wheeler rather than crushing as many 5,000+ pound vehicles with less structural integrity might do. And with it’s size, responsiveness, and “Active” safety features, my smart will probably enable me to avoid the accident in the first place.   So, for safety, give me a smart.
#236 of 491 Re: DEATH WISH [dmp20393] by stanwict May 16, 2008 (11:59 am)
Replying to: dmp20393 (May 14, 2008 6:00 pm) Once a gallon of gas in the US hits $10 there will be a whole lot less large vehicles on the road.

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