These Smart Cars don't seem all that smart.

amitten

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 07:45 PM
Original message

These Smart Cars don't seem all that smart.

Only 33 MPG in town and 41 on the highway. That's just barely better than what my new (non-hybrid) Honda Civic gets. :shrug:

If I'm gonna ride around in a tin can, it should do better than that!

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/622/going-small-a-smart-experience/;_ylc=X3oDMTE4MXNyNDllBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEc2VjA2ZwLXRvZGF5BHNsawNzbWFydC1yZXZpZXc-

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

PBS Poll-435

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 07:49 PM
Response to Original message

1. They are for gawk value only.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

no name no slogan

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 07:51 PM
Response to Original message

2. Well, they can't call them Dumb Cars

who the hell would want to buy that?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Pierre.Suave

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 10:21 PM
Response to Reply #2

8. I saw one in our hood the other day

It was TINY!

:hi:

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

LeftyMom

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 07:54 PM
Response to Original message

3. We were driving by the Smart dealership slowly in heavy traffic

and LeftyKid starts bugging me from the back seat.

Mom.

Mom...

Mom!

So when I could spare a little attention from driving, I asked him what he wanted. And he asked me in this really excited, almost awed voice:

"Mom, is that where clowns get their cars?"

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Fire Walk With Me

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 10:21 PM
Response to Reply #3

9. snort!

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

YellowRubberDuckie

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 07:55 PM
Response to Original message

4. They actually started in Europe...

...where I believe they get 50 miles to the gallon in town. However, when they came overseas, they had to dumb it down a little for Americans.
Duckie

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

flvegan

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 07:59 PM
Response to Original message

5. Aren't they also much cheaper?

Like $13k?

I'd not have one. Hell no. 0-60 in 13 seconds? Where would my dogs go?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

cemaphonic

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 10:18 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. Yep, cheaper, better gas milage,

plus being small is often a pretty big advantage in old city centers (as my Dad found out when he brought his Crown Victoria with him when he was living in Brussels).

I'm really not sure what the point of the American version is. Lifestyle accessory for upscale urban Europhiles is my guess.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DS1

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 10:20 PM
Response to Reply #6

7. There's three in our town. They manage to park in places nobody else

would even consider. Good for them.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

kwassa

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 10:35 PM
Response to Original message

10. Smart cars are old cars, actually. 10 years old.

Been around Europe that long.

A great idea, back then.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

democracyindanger

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 10:56 PM
Response to Original message

11. 30% better MPG than a Honda Civic

That's more than just barely. If you're making the comparison based on what you, personally, get out of your Honda, consider that you're getting better than Honda's estimate, which means you'd get better than 33/41 with a Smart car.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Kutjara

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 11:10 PM
Response to Original message

12. MPG is only part of the story.

I drove one in London for five years and it was the best car I've driven in my 30 years on the road. OK, it's not Autobahn stormer, but in and around town, there's nothing better. I could beat any sportscar point-to-point, simply because I could fit through gaps in the traffic they couldn't.

The two seater is also the same length as a Mercedes S-Class is wide, so you can park it perpendicular to the kerb without sticking out into the street (which opens up a world of parking opportunities).

Add to this the fact that many parts of Europe have lower road tax and parking charges for the Smart, and it's a car that makes a lot of sense.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Q3JR4

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Aug-03-08 12:01 AM
Response to Reply #12

13. Wow, or should I say smart?

Q3JR4.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Thu May 02nd 2024, 02:45 AM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.