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Smart Fortwo
594 messages, Last post on Apr 18, 2011 at 11:24 AM
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What is this discussion about? smart formore, smart fortwo, Hatchback
#575 of 594 Re: The 5 Most Dangerous Cars for Teens [plekto] by snakeweasel
May 23, 2010 (2:12 pm)
Replying to: plekto (May 23, 2010 12:21 pm)
Since the car was designed around sideways parking but it's no longer legal to do so in the U.S. with ANY Smart, then it has no advantages to defeat any more. I beg to differ with you. I have had the opportunity to drive the Smart in cramped crowded urban streets here in Chicago. There was more than one time I was able to navigate through an area that I know for a fact I wouldn't be able to in any other car available in the US.
Hate to tell you this but in those situations a couple if inches often is the difference between getting through and being stuck.
- plekto (May 23, 2010 4:47 pm)
Replies to this message:
#576 of 594 Re: The 5 Most Dangerous Cars for Teens [snakeweasel] by plekto
May 23, 2010 (4:47 pm)
Replying to: snakeweasel (May 23, 2010 2:12 pm)
This may be true, but even after a small "redesign" like I posted, it would still be the smallest thing on the road by a significant margin. As it is, though, it's just too tiny to deal with major traffic like I get here in Los Angeles. It's horrendously slow and ridiculously tiny compared to the massive SUVs and trucks that are everywhere. I'd not feel safe in it on a major freeway. And, remember, this originally was about what car to get for a teenager. You know, the types that WILL get in a crash sooner or later and that are starting to drive.
The smart money there is to get them a big cheap full-size sedan and let them destroy that instead.
#577 of 594 Re: The 5 Most Dangerous Cars for Teens [jack137] by priggly
May 23, 2010 (4:57 pm)
Replying to: jack137 (May 23, 2010 12:37 pm)
No, Jack, I do not own or drive a "Smart" (I have more regard for life and limb than that) but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!
#578 of 594 Re: The 5 Most Dangerous Cars for Teens [plekto] by snakeweasel
May 23, 2010 (6:29 pm)
Replying to: plekto (May 23, 2010 4:47 pm)
It's horrendously slow But the reality of the situation traffic in large urban areas are even more horrendously slow. Sometime time how fast traffic takes to get to 40.
and ridiculously tiny compared to the massive SUVs and trucks that are everywhere
And that is what makes them so much better in high density urban settings. I have gotten a Smart through areas that an SUV or a truck would have never gotten through.
#579 of 594 Re: The 5 Most Dangerous Cars for Teens [snakeweasel] by beachfish2
May 24, 2010 (6:14 am)
Replying to: snakeweasel (May 23, 2010 6:29 pm)
I have seen 2 on rural interstates in Virginia and everytime a tractor-trailer went by them they were blown all over their lane. The trucks were only doing 70 in an area where 75 or 80 is more common. (I remember the same kind of problems when I drove a '65 VW bug and then a '75 Datsun B210. They just weren't up to it.) I saw another one on a rural interstate in a 30-35 mph crosswind and it was downright scary to watch the driver fight it and try to maintain the 65 mph speed limit.
#580 of 594 Re: The 5 Most Dangerous Cars for Teens [beachfish2] by gregg_vw
May 24, 2010 (7:01 am)
Replying to: beachfish2 (May 24, 2010 6:14 am)
This is so absurd. Every situation has its drawbacks. Has anyone here said the thing handles best on rural gusty freeways? The advantage is in urban congestion. If you take it occasionally on rural interstates, you will be fine, but your drive would be more pleasant in a Lacrosse, ok? The smart handles way better (not to mention being much safer) than the VW Beetle ever did, and lots of people braved the roads in those years ago. If you buy a motorcycle, you are almost guaranteed to get wet sometime. So no one should buy one?
#581 of 594 Re: The 5 Most Dangerous Cars for Teens [beachfish2] by dstrom
May 24, 2010 (7:25 am)
Replying to: beachfish2 (May 24, 2010 6:14 am)
I'm sorry, but that's just not true. I owned VW bugs for 20 years and they were affected, often dramatically, by big trucks and crosswinds, but my smart is not. I live and drive in rural Virginia and drive mine on the interstates all the time at 70-75 mph. No problem! Most of the time I don't even notice trucks or crosswinds. And when I do notice them it's no worse than every other small car and never even close to as bad as my VWs were.. And I've certainly never had to "fight" to maintain control. I suggest that you may want to drive them yourself before making uninformed observations - 
PS: I often find myself drifting up to 80-85 mph so I've installed a cruise control
#583 of 594 Re: The 5 Most Dangerous Cars for Teens [beachfish2] by redfred1
May 24, 2010 (2:26 pm)
Replying to: beachfish2 (May 24, 2010 6:14 am)
Rural VA (probably 66/64/85/ or 81 I would guess) is not as windy as the open highways of central TX. I speak as an owner of a Smart and during large gusts of wind and large trucks I have found the car to move around about the same as my Civic and van. I guess I am not sure what you are referring to in terms of cars leaving their lanes unless the drivers panic and over-react (which is not the cars issue). I have never had to "fight" for control but have found that the car handles wonderfully in tight turns, 180's, and 90's (taking a sharp turn into my driveway at speed). Car easily does 90 for long stretches on our straight and flat TX roads and I have never lacked power to merge into traffic. All of this coming from a guy that owned and street raced a 69 RT Charger with a 440M, 68 RR stick with a 440M, and 71 Cuda with a 383. I am not bragging, just explaining that even a muscle car owner can concede that the Smart is a pretty durable and fun car to drive AND gets 40 mpg on the highway.
#584 of 594 Re: The 5 Most Dangerous Cars for Teens [beachfish2] by snakeweasel
May 24, 2010 (3:28 pm)
Replying to: beachfish2 (May 24, 2010 6:14 am)
I have seen two on rural interstates in Illinois, they didn't seem to have any issues with the wind or trucks.
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