Smart Cars...US bound soon?

[Bigprairie1]

Any of you folks on the US side heard of or seen the 'Smart Cars' yet? I heard they will soon be importing them into the US (if they aren't already).
They are all over the place up here...kind of interesting and the butt of many jokes. That said, they get seriously good mileage and I believe they are a Mercedes product. This is one of many local ones.....up for sale down the street.
So...what do you think?.....is it the car of your dreams yet?
(I'll pass thanks)

 

[1730V]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

They're already here.

I wouldn't want to get T-boned by a Harley in one of them.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

Not me thanks.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

they are pretty cool cars, basically for traffic driving, with the 800cc engine you get a good fuel economy, they are turbo charged so don't think it is slow .... good sound system too, they are made by Mercedes Benz and can park in any space ..... I won't buy one but they are very safe and quite cute ....

 

[QC]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

They also have a roadster version in Europe

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

definately not a tow vehicle.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

They look like the very first Honda Civics that came out and just about the size of the old Simca's.

If one gets sandwiched between to semi rigs in one of those, yep, that has gotta smart a bit.

Sorta looks like an enclosed powered wheelchair..

 

[sun_runner235]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

Actually from all the info out on them, it says they are quite safe. The silver/metallic outline that looks like a support is actually equivelent to a racecar rollcage. The seats are elevated and the car is designed to transfer most of the energy of the collision underneath you. Its basically described as being a true "David vs Goliath" if this car was involved in a wreck with an SUV. Occupants in the Smartcar would come out in better shape.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

definately not a tow vehicle.

?Coming soon to your favorite trailer and towing forum...

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

Actually from all the info out on them, it says they are quite safe. The silver/metallic outline that looks like a support is actually equivelent to a racecar rollcage. The seats are elevated and the car is designed to transfer most of the energy of the collision underneath you. Its basically described as being a true "David vs Goliath" if this car was involved in a wreck with an SUV. Occupants in the Smartcar would come out in better shape.

Hey SR, would not want to be in it when one of them big ol SUVs sitting on a 12" lift sporting 40" rubber coming at me head on, don't think I would be safe then.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

?Coming soon to your favorite trailer and towing forum...

I have a 22'er and was wondering if a class 3 would be alright on my car to tow it with?

 

[1730V]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

Cars are engineered safer today than ever before, that is true. However, man has not figured out, yet, how to get past simple physics. Weight equals mass and the one with more mass wins. Assuming other safety devices being equal.

I'm not putting the car down, there are two in my neighborhood and they like them. With that said, my neighbors choose, very carefully, where they drive them and when, just like riding a motorcycle. We have a lot of red light runners here (highest in nation) and you do not want to get T-boned in one of these.

 

[QC]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

Moving to Trailers and Towing.
__________________
RED SKY at night. . .

JB

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

Thay are good city cars.......
They were all over Paris, when I was there......
Don't think I'd by one, but I would drive one if given to me......
It would fit nicely on the roof of my suburban as well........​

 

[thurps]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

Waiting for the pickup model, kind of like the Zap electric. I can't believe the sticker price on them.

 

[1730V]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

I would agree that inner city or neighborhood driving is a good fit where speeds are more sedate.

Europe is a different driving experience than here in the US. The chances of tangling with a 6,000# Suburban traveling at 50 MPH+, on a suburban street, is pretty slim. Not here.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

We are currently using one as a second pantry in the kitchen.
Seriously, recently a local automotive journalist (or equivalent) was involved in a 40-50mph rear ender accident with his...and walked away no problem. He wrote quite a protracted article about it and how surprised he was thinking that he would have expected some level of injury. The whole air bag, engineered cage routine seemed to do its thing. The car was in rough shape but he walked away healthy no problems.
Regardless, they aren't in my future anytime soon.

 

[woodrat]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

No new cars are in my future anytime soon, but I think that would be a great city car. Not so great for hauling kayaks on the roof though!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

.... We have a lot of red light runners here....

If you bothered to fill in your location, in your profile, we might know where that was!

Sorry, pet peeve!

 

[frayedknotarts]

Re: Smart Cars...US bound soon?

I sorta like 'em. Son drove one when living in Germany and swears by 'em. I'd like to see one in davits on the back of an RV with the label, "Lifeboat",