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Are you getting a Smartfortwo car?

post #1 of 46
3/20/07 at 12:03pm
Thread Starter 
Smartfortwo

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post #2 of 46
3/20/07 at 12:04pm
I saw a red one the other day...

Jon.
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post #3 of 46
3/20/07 at 12:18pm
Thread Starter 
It looks like the car is made by Mercedes. (Mercedes Auto Group)
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post #4 of 46
3/20/07 at 12:46pm
No, but if they brought over the Smart Roadster Brabus I would give it serious consideration. All that car needs is more rationally sized tires to be really great: 205mm front and 225mm rear just means you'll never be able to unstick the thing with just 74hp in tow. My Miata has more than twice the power and less tire in back! And why 17" wheels when the brakes don't require that much space; the base model 15" rims and tires should have considerably lower unsprung weight. Even though it has one of those damned semi-manuals. Bigger interior than my Miata, more cargo capacity than my Miata, a full 20mpg higher combined fuel economy rating, and (frustrating tranny aside) just as much fun to drive. (With a good-feeling manual, it might even give an Elise a run in the fun-to-drive category. The chassis is that good.) That little turbo triple is a really endearing little engine. Sixty hp is pushing it even for me, but if you can't go fast with 74hp in a 1900lb car, 740hp won't help...
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post #5 of 46
3/20/07 at 2:15pm
There really isn't any city in the U.S. that is suitable for those cars. They all have lanes that are two wide and people carry around too much. Plus for its price, plus insurance, and parking may as well get a used normally sized compact car. Sounds like it's for prius owners trying to be more exclusive.
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post #6 of 46
3/20/07 at 2:32pm
I saw a demonstration of these cars at the Palo Alto Concours. They're rather awkwardly designed in terms of looks, doesn't have the charm of the old Fiat 500s and Jollys.
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post #7 of 46
3/20/07 at 2:36pm
I've seen a few of these around. Are they grey market?
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post #8 of 46
3/20/07 at 3:00pm
A death trap on US highways.
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post #9 of 46
3/20/07 at 3:01pm
I saw a vintage Fiat 500 with a family of three on a US highway once. It was a charming sight.
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post #10 of 46
3/20/07 at 3:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SGladwell View Post
No, but if they brought over the Smart Roadster Brabus I would give it serious consideration. All that car needs is more rationally sized tires to be really great: 205mm front and 225mm rear just means you'll never be able to unstick the thing with just 74hp in tow. My Miata has more than twice the power and less tire in back! And why 17" wheels when the brakes don't require that much space; the base model 15" rims and tires should have considerably lower unsprung weight.

Even though it has one of those damned semi-manuals. Bigger interior than my Miata, more cargo capacity than my Miata, a full 20mpg higher combined fuel economy rating, and (frustrating tranny aside) just as much fun to drive. (With a good-feeling manual, it might even give an Elise a run in the fun-to-drive category. The chassis is that good.) That little turbo triple is a really endearing little engine. Sixty hp is pushing it even for me, but if you can't go fast with 74hp in a 1900lb car, 740hp won't help...

+1 on the Roadster...
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post #11 of 46
3/20/07 at 3:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by j View Post
I've seen a few of these around. Are they grey market?

Sort of. IIRC there is a company that imports them and certifies them, I don't exactly remember.
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post #12 of 46
3/20/07 at 4:04pm
Why, why do people build these things.

Rants aside, I guess maybe it could have some kind of use in large cities like NY. Just make sure you stick some rubber bumpers on there, you'll get knocked around like a pinball in an arcade anyway.

I believe there is a Canadian firm that imports them, I remember seeing one in Haight-Ashbury (of all places) in San Francisco.

JB
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post #13 of 46
3/20/07 at 4:10pm
I saw quite a lot of them in Franfurt recently and many on them in Ireland. One thing I was struck by (again) when returning to the US is how absurdly large most of our cars are. After a week in Dublin, the Golf looked like a large family car.

Personally, I prefer smaller cars. I am single and, honestly, a bit of a cheapskate. Thus, I like saving on things like gas that come with a smaller car. If this car was sold in the US I would definitely look into getting one.
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post #14 of 46
3/20/07 at 4:13pm
Not my taste, it looks too much like a cartoon.
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post #15 of 46
3/20/07 at 4:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CTGuy View Post
I saw quite a lot of them in Franfurt recently and many on them in Ireland. One thing I was struck by (again) when returning to the US is how absurdly large most of our cars are. After a week in Dublin, the Golf looked like a large family car.

Personally, I prefer smaller cars. I am single and, honestly, a bit of a cheapskate. Thus, I like saving on things like gas that come with a smaller car. If this car was sold in the US I would definitely look into getting one.

I'll take the roadster any day:



Jon.
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