SMART cars in the US

I have heard for some time that the SMART car (75mpg) is coming to the
US. Then last week I heard that a dealer in Portland has started a
waiting list for the cars.

Anybody have any more information???


Bill

http://SnowboardSex.com
It's not what you think

 

I think that a little vacation up in the Great WHite North is in order.
May still have waiting list but at elast you can see what they are
like.

It is EMBARASSING when one of these little doodlebugs blows past your
Volvo s40, and you're doing 120 KPH (65 MPH)

It fits two adults and briefcases (or picnic basket) comforatably.
Really an inner-city or urban transport but I've seen a lot with
corporate logos (courier and blueprint).

 

Check here: http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/

http://www.smartcar-owner.co.uk/brief_model_details.htm
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/06/08/smart-car-plus-gsxr-equals-smartuki-a-very-smart-car

Check the "Roadster" here:
http://tinyurl.com/bh6ng
__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"

 

The Smart is some time now over here in The Netherlands, the Smart four by
four is made over here.
I heard some bad things about the lifespan of the engine. It's value after a
few years is also low.
Think twice.

 

Funny handling when all the electronics kick in, same money buys a
proper car

 

gat any speeding tickets ? 120= 74

 

[snip]

They had some engine problems indeed, but as far as I know that was solved a
couple of years ago already. The value after a few years is low but that is
partly because they are fairly cheap to buy. In other words, depreciation is
not really bad.

Marc
(also from The Netherlands. Not a Smart owner/employee/shareholder by the way)

 

In 1987 I was motorcycling on the Autobahn, two-up (with pillion
passenger) and camping grar on a BMW R75/6. We were doing about
75-80mph (120kph) in the #2 lane. In my mirror I saw a car overtaking
us in the #1 lane. It was a VW rabbit GTI. As it went by I
instinctively turned my head away and squinted a bit. it was probably
going about 100mph (140kph) and it mst have been near redline becasue
the motor sounded like it was about to puke pushrods and pistons all
over the roadway.

Whay was I only doing 80mph? The bike had bad rings and that's about
as fast as it would go without fouling the plugs.


__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"

 

When my daughter went to France about 5 years ago she reported there were
SMART cars everywhere - parked, being towed, anything but driven.

Mike

 

I think they cost about as much as a "family" 6 cyl here in Australia. Like
scooters which have virtually replaced mopeds, imported for about $400AUS &
sell for $2000AUS... "if yer want economy it'll cost yer, mate".

 

I agree that, considering their size, they are not the cheapest of all cars. But
overhere they are in no way to be compared to large saloons. But then again,
large cars (or rather: all cars) are relatively expensive in Holland. Even
better, apart from Denmark we're the most expensive country in Europe regarding
cars.

 

What the hell? I though we Finns have that questionable honor to be on
top of the most expensive country regarding cars Taxes on cars are
basically a punishment for owing a private vehicle )

 

Well, in Finland it may be a punishment for owning a vehicle, overhere it is
just another way for our government to make big money :-(
Car manufacturers even reduce the net price (without all taxes) of cars because
otherwise (with all taxes) they would be too expensive and they would not sell
any.

 

That "punishment" line was meant to be a sarcastic joke The truth is
that drivers in Finland feel that way anyway.

The cheapest tax-free cars in Europe can be purchased in either Denmark
or Finland. Believe me, I had to double check, since we have bought two
new Volvo's through Finnish Diplomatic Sales over the last years...

 

torpainter, no speeding tickets yet.

The OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) target dangerous and high-speed
drivers ahead of people who are "going with the flow", loike me

At the point where I got passed, the posted limit was 90KPH (54 MPH)
but is a straight four-lane dividded highway well away from urban
areas.

I've had a few cars howl past me doing at least 40-50 KPH (25-30 MPH)
over what the flow of traffic is doing and weaving in and out without
turn signals. Those are the guys that Sgt. Cam Wooley includes in his
holiday-weekend reports, as well as the cars that are dangerously
unsafe (holes in floorboards, things loose in the back of pickups,
eating with both hands while steering with knees....)

 

I dunno, I've never paid more than $4000 for a car and I've certainly
paid much less. There'll always be people who buy new cars regardless of
their cost, so there'll always be a plentiful supply of good used cars.

 

Kytis wrote:

[snip]

I know, I tend to react in a sarcastic way as well when it concerns taxes

Then at least the people in Finland and in The Netherlands share some
feelings

[snip]

 

Here in the UK I've seen many broken down on the motorway.

I've also had the misfortune to drive one and it may just be that one
(and my hate of them) but the automatic gear changes are diabloical - it
tries changing gear then it seems as though it has to count to what gear
it's in, the little man looks on the piece of paper...

Then again anything I can't use with enough space to move house withing
a few trips (or a car where I can't turn the back into a temporary bed
for the night. ) I'm not happy about. As well as being biased.

 

Well, yes, they are fuel efficient. However, I think that the car is a
total compromise. If you can live with a motorcycle every day, then this
car is for you.

Otherwise a Toyota Echo hatchback (not available in the US either), or the
new Toyota Yaris (will be available in the US soon), would be a MUCH better
alternative. The Yaris is a ULEV II compliant vehicle, makes the
environmentalists happy (almost as good as a Prius). It is also MUCH more
powerful.

The smart 0-60 is about 20 seconds, the Yaris?? well, at least the Echo
Hatchback did it in less than 9 (somewhere around 8.5). Which is GREAT!!
The Yaris has 2 less hp than the Echo, but the same engine (tuned to be ULEV
II compliant).

I have a 760, and I love it. It is not fuel efficient, it does put out more
smog than I would wish (compared to a small car, which is all I really
need).... but it is a great driving car. I am so impressed with the
durability. 290K kms and still going strong.

I WAS planning on buying a new car, but this thing just won't die. My
choice was the Echo Hatch or the new Yaris. They are really good cars, bare
bones basic, but both have cup holders (and my 760 doesn't!!, which is ok).

Cheers

 

That is my situation, too! We use the 760 for its hauling capacity and I
commute with it, but if I were to choose a car now it wouldn't fit my needs
well. I've been saying "when the turbo goes out, the car isn't worth it to
me"... but I've been saying that for 5 years now. At 23xK miles it still has
the original turbo and always gets me where I want to go (unless it gets
stuck in slushy snow). Die, curse you, so I can get a shiny new car!

Mike