Smart Car?

btboone

btboone

Joined
Feb 8, 2006
Messages
429
I'm toying with the idea of ordering one of the new Smart Cars from Mercedes. These are 2 seater cars that look to have the back half of a normal car missing. They are about 6 feet long or so. It seems to be a great price at $13K for the mid range model and has good gas mileage and adequate safety with ABS and airbags and a rollcage type design. It makes sense as a corporate car as a rolling billboard that has full graphics all over it as well as a learner car for my son who's a couple years from driving age. The car is so small that it could go in the garage with the other two cars and we would still have room for the trash can and bicycles. Being only a 2 seater would keep scores of teen friends out of the car. It would be great for trips to the post office or to drop him off at school, both of which are daily activities with an SUV right now. It is so small that it would seem to attract attention, so it might be a better business investment than some other things I have tried, and some of it should be able to be written off. I believe there is about a 1 year waiting list, and the cars are made to order.

Has anyone driven one or have feedback about them?
 
Check with your insurance company first. Seems two-seater's are not well received by insurance companies regardless of model. Especially with new/teen drivers on your policy.

At least thats the way it is here.
 
I see them pretty frequently around here.

-Relative term of course, but I probably see one or two a day, local roads and highways in the NYC metro area, and by that I mean the suburban counties, not just Manhattan. In fact I've seen many more outside of the "city" than within its limits.

To me, the concept feels like an all-weather motorcycle with more convenient storage and greatly enhanced safety equipment. Maybe it's because I've actually commuted on NYC highways, LIE, Van Wyck, Belt Parkway, on a bike nine months a year...

I'd buy one of these Smart Cars in a heartbeat.

The caveat...

...they probably should be operated a bit like a bike: a tad aggressively (and we recognize that's it's confusing and frustrating to non-riders) with the notion that you are the prey-animal out there.

On the road, if you act like everyone else, you'll be treated like everyone else... Only you aren't surrounded with four thousand pounds of steel like everyone else.

Act like everyone is trying to kill you and you'll likely survive. A mouse doesn't stand in line with a hundred elephants. If he does, he gets stepped on. If he runs around past them, he's rude, he's a dick, he's a prick; Who does he think he is?! ... But he's alive.

Get it? If you ride, you do.

Expect to not be seen, expect to be cut off, expect to have to react quickly, and you'll be fine. Have fun, and ultimately, develop a sense of pride and community in being different from the herd.

I'd buy a Smart in a heartbeat.
 
I looked at them when they first came to a benz dealer near me. I was interested in a small economocal car as I have a liking for small Euro type cars. Heck, I drove a 1966 bug for over 20 years. But the smart car faded fast on closer examination.

Some genius at Mercedes Corporate level made a decision that for the U.S. market they yank the 3 cylinder turbo diesel, and replace it with a gas Mitsubishi engine. And it need premium fuel to run. The car as it is now, gets only a few miles per gallon more than a Honda civic or Toyota Yaris, and is a bit more expencive than the Honda or Toyota. And the Honda civic and Toyota yaris gives you a back seat with a usable trunk. Not to mention a car than can be used on a long trip.

Engine accsess is almost nill, so service is going to be very expencive at the Benz dealer.

Its a case of too much money for too little a car, that gets too few miles per gallon to be worth it.

Now if they stick the little diesel back in it like in Europe, that changes things.
 
jackknife said:
I

Engine accsess is almost nill, so service is going to be very expencive at the Benz dealer.
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You've obviously never been to a Benz dealer for service; engine access has nothing to do with it. :D
 
jackknife said:
Its a case of too much money for too little a car, that gets too few miles per gallon to be worth it.
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Exactly. It's not worth the $, unless you're buying it because of it's size, or cuteness factor. Then, by all means, have at it. I'd rather have a bike, than a novelty item like this. And we (the wife and I) were even on the waiting list for one:eek: Got our $ back last month.
 
I've seen a couple. They are neat looking little cars.

For the money I'd rather have a used Honda Civic, or maybe a used Mini Cooper. Much more room and power, dead reliable and gas mileage not all that much worse, at least from the one article that I read about the Smart Car.

I had a 1994 Geo Prizm that is still the best car I ever had. I got 37 miles to the gallon with it and now cars struggle to get to 30mpg. I guess everyone wants their economy cars to have a lot more power than the Geo's 105hp, but with the 5 speed it was adequate.
 
Gollnick said:
You've obviously never been to a Benz dealer for service; engine access has nothing to do with it. :D
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I get your point, but to add even more to the dealer cost is the fact that to acsess the engine on the smart car, the service tech is going to have to spend man hours dismantling alot of stuff to get to what has to be worked on. Then more hours putting it all back together. Just like on the new VW beatle, the more engine acsess you block off with poor design, the more expencive in labor charges it is to do anything to the piece of junk.

Engineers should have to spend one semester of thier education in the service bay to understand the penalty of poor design.
 
I've heard that the Smart passed its crash tests with flying colors. It would get much better mileage if it wasn't chock-a-block with heavy-duty safety gear. (I think they have 6 airbags)They could build little boxes on wheels like the old Geo cars, but they would crush like tin cans in collisions with the hulking behemoths on the road today. Concepts like the Smart are inherently hampered by the ridiculous size of the other cars they have to share the road with. As gas prices continue to rise, we will start to see abominations like Excursions and H2s disappear, replaced by more realistically proportioned conveyances. Once that happens, cars can get lighter and still be safe. Semi trucks will probably shrink, too, as they have in Europe. Semi tractors are humongous here in the US. The largest trucks I've seen in Europe are 10 wheels or so, with canvas sides. Ditto for Korea. Trans-shipping containers are not as big there.

I am a big fan of little cars, and am very excited that more are coming to market. I drive a Scion XB (one of the little, older ones) and I absolutely love it. The interior is the same size as most SUV's or larger passenger cars, with exterior dimensions comparable to a Mini Cooper.
 
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In South Africa it has the 3cyl petrol turbo with considerable ooomph. I test drove one and it is a bit like a gokart with all the toys. I didn't like the auto shifting much (coming over from a manual car). Magic when it comes to parking.

They are fun but, although well made they don't have the body mass when hit by a big car etc.
 
Good points to consider by all. Especially about insurance and safety. A big part of the equation for me is to have something so small that it gets noticed. The good mileage for short hop driving, low cost, and being able to park in the crowded garage are all plusses. I do like the look of Aptera, and it fits my design philosophy nicely, but at $50,000, it seems a little more like vaporware than something that Mercedes mass produces and is already doing in 37 countries (although they do make that cool jet fighter looking 3 wheeled thing. I'd hate to know what that would cost.) I've seen the early versions of Aptera as a human powered vehicle done by a college back around 1985 or so. Have a big car maker do them and get the price at $15K and everyone would be in them.

The price is a big factor too. I could get a used Honda and do as well on that end, but the advertizing potential seems like it could be big. I spend a lot more than that on machine tools and never really question it, but this seems different somehow. It does have potential to pay for itself in gas savings and ring sales that might not otherwise not know about our stuff, but I'm having a harder time justifying it then something like a laser welder or wax printer that costs several times more.
 
I've heard that the Smart passed its crash tests with flying colors.
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Except the side impact. The door came off, significantly increasing the chance of the driver being thrown from the vehicle.
 
I keep to the Opel Corsa range. Wanted to go upmarket but distance driving costs in fuel. My 1.4l, 87hp (65kw) gets 40mpg (imperial) (14km/l) at 80mph (130kmph).

One of the best in it's class for impact resistance.

However at a weekly low of 250mls (400km) a week that is a major factor. That was one of the reasons I looked at the Smart when considering an auto. It's cruise speed was also too slow.
 
A big part of the equation for me is to have something so small that it gets noticed.... I could get a used Honda and do as well...
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How 'bout something like the Mazda Miata? Good mileage. Inexpensive. Decent power. New styling as of last year. Used are available for dirt-cheap.

You like Honda? Maybe an S2000? Decent mileage. Plenty of power. Good-sized trunk. I own one and it's a helluva car.

S2000 insurance is going to be high though, especially for a younger male driver. Liability-only insurance on a used Miata should be very cheap.

I do like the look of Aptera, and it fits my design philosophy nicely, but at $50,000, it seems a little more like vaporware
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The approximate price for the all electric version is $26,900 and the plug-in hybrid $29,900. These prices are subject to change any time before we begin production.
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Maybe not cheap enough for a kid's learner car, but not unreasonable. Just a tad higher than the average car price.

Considered a motorcycle or scooter? Mileage in my old fat cruiser is 30-50 mpg depending on conditions and speed. Many scooters or modern bikes get 50-80+ mpg. Insurance is practically free. Vehicle cost is low.
You have to buy gear though, so factor in $1000 extra to initial price - helmet, jacket, etc. Wouldn't recommend one for a kid learning to drive either. :(

Here's my dream small car. New electric version coming soon:
Luxurich.com-ariel_atom_2.jpg

Tough to find used though. And I always buy used, in accordance to this philosophy, "The kind of new car I could afford, I wouldn't want."
 
The vehicle would be mainly for my wife for short hops to the post office and such. She wouldn't even consider a scooter or motorcycle.
 
The vehicle would be mainly for my wife for short hops to the post office and such. She wouldn't even consider a scooter or motorcycle.
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Bicycle? :D

Seriously, every time I take the bike (the pedal kind or the motor kind) instead of the car or truck for short errands, that's when I save the most $$. On the open highway my small car, and often times the motorcycle, barely gets better mileage than my '95 Lincoln or '86 Mercury did. Around town though, that's when larger vehicles suck the most and smaller economy vehicles really shine. :thumbup:

The vehicle would be mainly for my wife
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So what kind of vehicle does your wife want?
A hint, even wives can look hot when driving a Miata or S2000!

Good Luck in your quest! :thumbup:
 
The bicycle's not an option either. We have very busy roads with a lot of hills. Fine for me , but not for her. Especially carrying a mail bin full of ring boxes to be mailed. She likes the Smart Car and thinks we should sign up for one. I just want to be sure it's an informed decision and anybody with inside info, like the Premium gasoline (I didn't know that) or higher insurance or other things I haven't thought of lets me know what they think of it. If everyone wrote that they drove one and hated it, that would be a pretty good clue.
 
I've no experience with the Smart Car, but if you're looking for something that gets some good mileage the VW diesels stand out.

If you're willing to wait a year or two, VW is going to make the 1L Concept. There's no word yet if it's going to be imported though.


Bob W said:
Bicycle? :D
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I'm thinking Mr. Boone knows a thing or two about bicycles. Can you say 'twist-cranks'? :D I regret not buying a pair of those back in the day :(.

Seriously, every time I take the bike (the pedal kind or the motor kind) instead of the car or truck for short errands, that's when I save the most $$. On the open highway my small car, and often times the motorcycle, barely gets better mileage than my '95 Lincoln or '86 Mercury did. Around town though, that's when larger vehicles suck the most and smaller economy vehicles really shine. :thumbup:
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The motorcycle doesn't get much better mileage than the Lincoln or Mercury? Now that surprises me....my bike gets way better mileage than any car I've owned. It's too bad I can't ride it year round.
 
Obviously, you need one of these fine vehicles:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/isleofman/content/articles/2007/11/01/peel_p50_feature.shtml

The Peel P-50. (unfortunately no longer in production)

BBC's Top Gear program just did a hilarious "test" of one of these, with the 6'4" show host struggling to even get in... Watch on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN0LQJLabqA

I'm old enough to remember the Isetta.. A two-stroke death trap designed so that the front of the car swung away to allow entry. If you had any sort of front-end collision you'd need a can opener to get out.
 
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