MUSCLE VS. BRAINS

[skip68]

This was taken a couple days ago. Our buddy just got his smart car! It's actually a nice lil ride! Hope the link works!
Mrs.Skip68

[PocketThunder]

I saw one of those in the cub foods parking lot.  tiny little cars they are! 

[moparstuart]

I saw one of those in the cub foods parking lot.  tiny little cars they are! 

I would hate to get hit by anything big driving that thing you would be dead!!

[Old Moparz]

I recently parked my '04 Ram Quad Cab with an 8' bed next to one....... 


Funny, I just did a quick search & found this comparison.

http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/stories/gvb/page1.html

[skip68]

My buddy ordered it 10 months ago from Utah, and drove it back. I asked him if the car moved around when a big rig passed by, and he said not more that any average size car. This is the showroom floor model that is COMPLETLY loaded! Heated seats, GPS, IPOD hookup, the car tells you if your speeding, traction control, sunroof, other stuff, and ..........................this is the kicker,.............STORAGE!!!!!! I figured he would have a tuff time getting in the car because he's over 6 foot tall, but surprisingly, there is alot of room! Also, if you get sick of the color, you can buy different colored panels.
Mrs.Skip68

[WingCharger]

These cars are supposed to revolutionize the way we drive, and make all older vehicle obsolete. I woudnt mind driving one though.

[skip68]

These cars are supposed to revolutionize the way we drive,

Yeah, my friend drove it on the sidewalk in front of our house!!!!
Mrs.Skip68

[WingCharger]

I actually saw a commercial where they say they will revolutionize it. But what about truckers, farmers, and haulers?

[skip68]

Some of the Grocery stores here are putting in "Smart Car" parking spaces!
Mrs.Skip68

[Old Moparz]

I think the Smart Car is decent & a good idea, but it won't replace everything, & obviously not trucks. It'll have it's niche in the market, probably like how the VW Bug did in the 60's & 70's. The reason I have a full sized truck is to tow the 2 trailers I have. Before I had any trailer, or a kid, I had a regular cab, compact Nissan truck with a 4 cylinder. It served it's purpose to commute in, haul crap from Home Depot, swap meets, & junk yards. I wouldn't mind having a Smart Car as an extra vehicle right now, but I can't afford another purchase like that for a few years.

[WingCharger]

.

[dodgecharger-fan]

I saw one of those in the cub foods parking lot.  tiny little cars they are! 

I would hate to get hit by anything big driving that thing you would be dead!!

It's basically a roll cage on wheels - even more so - but that's a good point of reference.

Sure, there are some scary pictures floating around of some really nasty crashes involving Smarts, but the outcome wouldn't have been much different in your average grocery getter.
The only fair comparison is the crash tests and these things did very well.

I do think that there's varying opinions on the fuel economy though. I've heard it's not much better than your average grocery getter. I've heard it's much better.
I want to hear from someone who's living with one.

I sat in one at the auto show last year. I'm 6' 2" and about 235 lbs. I fit very comfortably - even had to pull the seat forward a bit.

I've been thinking about one of these for when my daughter starts driving. It'd fit on the driveway........ and that's about the best value point for me with regards to these things.  I could park it behind the New Yorker.... or in it.

[Charger_Fan]

They're fun to look at, but I wouldn't want one. I'd rather ride a motorcycle.

[bull]

Brains? I don't know about that. For as small and useless as they are you'd think they'd get better mpg than a Honda Civic hybrid, a Prius or a VW TDI Jetta (all four door cars) but they don't.

[PocketThunder]

They're fun to look at, but I wouldn't want one. I'd rather ride a motorcycle.

That reminds me of the reference to dating a candy coated gal vs riding a moped. 

Grant how have you been man, we dont see you very much over here like we used too.??...?

[LoneStar Mopar]

Hey, does that thing have a Hemi?  Kind of reminds me of a BMW Isetta.

[dkn1997]

gas savings just arent worth your life. 

[bull]

gas savings just arent worth your life. 

That's not even the point, in fact it's quite the opposite of what you'd think. They do great in crash tests but the mileage sucks IMO compared to some real cars that can actually be used to haul familes around without making you look like a circus attraction. A better way to say it is gas savings just aren't worth your pride.

[bear]

I would hate to get in a crash with one of them let alone be by one when it crashed. I think I'll stick to big vehicles I don't care that I am not getting super high gas mileage ratings I would rather be able to walk away from a crash with my life then save the environment I'll never see again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz-s1sIoLhU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s
I wonder if I can push one over by myself

[dkn1997]

gas savings just arent worth your life. 

That's not even the point, in fact it's quite the opposite of what you'd think. They do great in crash tests but the mileage sucks IMO compared to some real cars that can actually be used to haul familes around without making you look like a circus attraction. A better way to say it is gas savings just aren't worth your pride.

I don't care what tests anyone shows me. no way you are living through a wreck in that shoebox.   reminds me of something my dad taught me when I was about 11 years old.  We were avid boaters and I had just completed my boaters safety course.  we were out and I preceded to tell him all of the boating rules he was violating.  He just turned to me and said 'There is only one rule out here:  Big boats eat little boats" 

[bull]

gas savings just arent worth your life.

That's not even the point, in fact it's quite the opposite of what you'd think. They do great in crash tests but the mileage sucks IMO compared to some real cars that can actually be used to haul familes around without making you look like a circus attraction. A better way to say it is gas savings just aren't worth your pride.

I don't care what tests anyone shows me. no way you are living through a wreck in that shoebox. reminds me of something my dad taught me when I was about 11 years old. We were avid boaters and I had just completed my boaters safety course. we were out and I preceded to tell him all of the boating rules he was violating. He just turned to me and said 'There is only one rule out here: Big boats eat little boats"

I hear you dude, I'm not defending it. I'm just saying that's not the main reason I wouldn't buy it. Its main flaw IMO is the size/mpg ratio. The thing should get like 80 mpg if it's going to be the size of a wheelbarrow and yet it doesn't even do better than a VW Jetta TDI.

A turbo diesel Jetta 5 speed gets around 42 mpg combined so why buy a Smart and get 38?

[dkn1997]

.....I hear you dude, I'm not defending it. I'm just saying that's not the main reason I wouldn't buy it. Its main flaw IMO is the size/mpg ratio.

your right, it should get better mileage, but I disagree on that being it's main flaw.  Besides getting killed in it, the biggest deal breaker for me is it's sheer unadulterated GAYNESS.  I'd have to go to the vet and get neutered before I drove that thing. 

[mikesbbody]

gas savings just arent worth your life. 

so true! i wouldnt be seen dead in one of those  G.A.Y... (the car not me  )

[Mike DC]

 

Safety?


Guys like us will drive cars with bad brakes, bad steering, bad wiring, lightened front ends, unpadded rollcages, no shoulder belts . . . We're pretty selective about wanting safety when it allows us to rule out a boring uncool econobox. 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Believe it or not those cars fair very well in crash tests....the whole car is one big steel cage.
There was one at this years Chryslers @ Carlisle...the only one in its class called "Friends of Chrysler" or some BS like that