Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Hatchbacks Smart Car Smart Fortwo
491 messages, Last post on Oct 07, 2009 at 6:46 AM
You are in the Smart Car Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
|
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.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Replying to: pf_flyer (May 15, 2008 2:47 am) 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.
|
|
|
Replying to: gregg_vw (May 15, 2008 5:29 am) |
|
|
Replying to: gregg_vw (May 15, 2008 5:29 am) 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. |
|
|
Replying to: dmp20393 (May 14, 2008 6:00 pm) |
|
|
Is anyone driving the smart, yet? If so are you sticking to the premium gas as "recommended"? I am really curious as it seems this would negate any savings or most for the difference in cost of the gas. Also I find it funny that a car with "high compression" of 10 to 1 is too high for regular. But would like to hear from owners who have tried one or the other. If I have to use prem. Its' a deal breaker for me. Thanks all. UncleFudd
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: unclefudd (May 25, 2008 3:16 pm) Most likely not, the Smart is rated at 33 city and 41 highway with regular going at $4.14 and premium only 20 cents more at $4.35 that means a car using regular would have to get 31.4 city and 39 highway to equal the fuel cost per mile of the Smart. As far as I know all non hybrids fall short of that so the premise that the additional cost of premium eats up any savings due to MPG is false. As gas prices increase car using regular will have to get even better mileage. |
|
|
Thanks but the question remains; Is anyone using regular in their smart? the reason I ask is because it is only a 10 to one compression. This should not be a reason to have to use premium. I guess the test is to put some in and drive it. If it is not detonating it is OK. But by then its' too late as it implies that you have already bought it in order to perform the tests I described.  Anyone!! Thanks UF
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Hatchbacks Smart Car Smart Fortwo
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2009 smart fortwo
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
