Support NeoGAF

[DarienA]

There's a Mercedes Benz dealership right here on the main street in Germantown which we live just a few blocks from. They sell SMART cars and so I see them regularly on I270.

 

[Syckx]

That tiny thing only gets 36MPG? I was actually kind of interested until I heard that. My Prius gets better mileage AND has a backseat.

 

[Dragona Akehi]

That tiny thing only gets 36MPG? I was actually kind of interested until I heard that. My Prius gets better mileage AND has a backseat.

The diesel model gets better mileage than a Vespa.

 

[Phoenix]

This is what happens when you have tiny gas tax compared to most nations that have a significant gas tax . . . you encourage a fleet of gas inefficient vehicles.

That and 1-2 years ago there was no way in hell people would even consider driving them. Even now with gas nearing 4-5 dollars a gallon, people still don't want them.

 

[bishoptl]

You guys are just seeing them now? We've had them in Vancouver for years. What was the hold up in the approval process? I like 'em, but I need my truck for man stuff.

 

[WedgeX]

You guys are just seeing them now? We've had them in Vancouver for years. What was the hold up in the approval process? I like 'em, but I need my truck for man stuff.

Probably federal testing for "safety" against SUVs (actually, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case).

 

[jts]

The hold up was waiting for the larger 2nd gen Fortwo to come and meet US compliance. Cannucks got it first because there was no problem in getting the 1st gen.

1st gen:

2nd gen:

 

[Phoenix]

You guys are just seeing them now? We've had them in Vancouver for years. What was the hold up in the approval process? I like 'em, but I need my truck for man stuff.

Americans didn't approve. Demand was awful, and actually it still is but the opportunity is much larger now than it ever was. Its the same as why Amtrak is actually seeing record increases in people riding the train. It is becoming economically viable for a lot of things that people would normally never touch to enter the marketplace.

 

[tnw]

european plates look so cool...

 

[tnw]

Its the same as why Amtrak is actually seeing record increases in people riding the train. It is becoming economically viable for a lot of things that people would normally never touch to enter the marketplace.

even outside of the NE corridor? I can't see where Amtrak would be at all competitive anywhere else unfortunately.

 

[ForzaItalia]

You see them all the time in Toronto. They sell pretty well here, as far as I know.

I agree. Kind of shocked that this is actually a topic. I just assumed they were everywhere in N.America.

 

[Phoenix]

even outside of the NE corridor? I can't see where Amtrak would be at all competitive anywhere else unfortunately.

Yes, there have been considerable increases in the South East and South Central as well. Don't know about the rest of the country because I don't spend time researching them.

 

[adamsappel]

Saw one this morning in suburban Maryland.

 

[vas_a_morir]

We'll never see one in my tri-state.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

I saw one the other day.

Kind of neat, but I suspect the price tag is still keeping folks away from them.

For what they cost you can just buy a fuel efficient "real car" for a few grand more. :\

 

[Dragona Akehi]

I saw one the other day.

Kind of neat, but I suspect the price tag is still keeping folks away from them.

For what they cost you can just buy a fuel efficient "real car" for a few grand more. :\

What's the price? They're supposed to be fairly inexpensive, but if BMW is distributing them, I wouldn't be surprised if they're jacking it up...

 

[ten5ive9ine]

They've been around Auckland for a few years, but they're getting more and more common as time goes by. Heaps of companies here use them for advertising.

 

[jts]

What's the price? They're supposed to be fairly inexpensive, but if BMW is distributing them, I wouldn't be surprised if they're jacking it up...

Mercedes-Benz

Curiosity: the Smart was initially a Swatch and Mercedes-Benz jointventure project, but later Swatch bailed out.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

What's the price? They're supposed to be fairly inexpensive, but if BMW is distributing them, I wouldn't be surprised if they're jacking it up...

$11,590* for the Pure :\

I paid $14k for my Matrix.

 

[Dragona Akehi]

Mercedes-Benz

Curiosity: the Smart was initially a Swatch and Mercedes-Benz jointventure project, but later Swatch bailed out.

Eh what can I say, I see the little Smart and I swoon, and any and all other important infos go away.

 

[teiresias]

If I were to move closer to work I could pay cash for a Pure and just leave the civic hybrid for the occasional long interstate run - would work out nicely actually. I want a yellow one, and then put little wing decals on the side and then get a license plate that says "Chocobo" :lol

 

[Bad_Boy]

I saw 2 of these working downtown last week.

not really a smart car, but a badass 3 wheeler i'd love to have.

 

[Zyzyxxz]

for $12k and getting 36MPG its not bad if your lifestyle can accommodate having a 2-seater

 

[DJ_Tet]

They are horrible little commuter vehicles. I see them every time I'm near Georgia Tech campus. From an aesthetics perspective, they are completely laughable. From an interstate merge perspective in Georgia, I hope you have damn good life insurance.

I'm not surprised. 12 years ago when I was at Tech we weren't even allowed to have cars as freshmen. I can't imagine how bad parking is on campus now, there are so many new buildings there.

 

[akachan ningen]

YES there is a SMART dealership in my city and it SUCKS. They actually have more of OTHER non-smart cars there than they have smarts and I have not seen a single one around town. I'm a little miffed after I saw how much they cost. At that price, there's no point. I thought they'd be around 10K at most.

 

[DJ_Tet]

If I were to move closer to work I could pay cash for a Pure and just leave the civic hybrid for the occasional long interstate run - would work out nicely actually. I want a yellow one, and then put little wing decals on the side and then get a license plate that says "Chocobo" :lol

But I thought the civic hybrid only gets regular gas milage on the interstate?


Anyway, I changed my driving habits and get nearly 40 mpg in my 10 year old Civic. It's amazing how much gas people waste just by the way they drive.

 

[djtiesto]

First time I noticed a lot of Smart cars were when I was in Vancouver in 06 (like Bish mentioned), but recently I've seen a few pop up around LI and NYC. They also opened up a dealer like right down the road from me, the first Smart dealer in Suffolk.

 

[djtiesto]

european plates look so cool...

Another trend I've been seeing is German cars in this country having both a European looking license plate and the regular NY license plate, for aesthetic purposes.

 

[Phobophile]

Another trend I've been seeing is German cars in this country having both a European looking license plate and the regular NY license plate, for aesthetic purposes.

There's a guy who has a Euro plate on the front of his Volvo. I'm surprised he hasn't been pulled over since Illinois requires IL plates on both ends.

 

[Dark Octave]

Point Loma, used to live in North Park. I haven't been to North Park/Hillcrest in quite a while so I'm sure there are probably tons of them there.

:lol I know exactly what you mean. There should be tons of them in Hillcrest.

El Cajon here myself, used to live in the La Mesa/College area.

 

[GSG Flash]

I've seen a ton for the past two years over here, I still don't understand why people spend 15k to 20k on a car that has barely enough room to hold your groceries.

 

[Chû Totoro]

I think it's normal that i see a lot more than you as I'm in France (smaller roads, smaller parking places, smaller cars) but i prefer the "bigger" version. Smart Forfour (here is the Brabus version)

 

[Tauntaun]

Aaaaand thats why there isnt a lot of them in America.
Your way to think is pathetic.

And how am I supposed to carry my music gear in that? SMH. Euro's.

 

[Ripclawe]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/autos/article454340.ece

They aren't the most fuel-efficient autos around, getting 33 miles per gallon in the city and 41 on the highway. (By comparison, a Toyota Prius hybrid clocks in at 48 mpg in the city and 45 on the highway.)

Still, some car aficionados say they have an undeniable European panache.

Thats ridiculous for that small of a car to get that kind of mpg.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the car four out of five stars in the front-end crash test on the driver's side. On the passenger side, it got three out of five stars.

not bad though. but I got my eye on the toyota iQ.

 

[DarkJediKnight]

You see them all the time in Toronto. They sell pretty well here, as far as I know.

Yep. There's 3 in my neighbourhood. In fact, the Peel Region Police Department has a ton of smart cars for Traffic Ticket officers.

 

[Tarazet]

even outside of the NE corridor? I can't see where Amtrak would be at all competitive anywhere else unfortunately.

Believe it or not, Amtrak is huge in the Bay Area. They run commuter lines between San Jose and the three big S'es: San Francisco, Sacramento, and Stockton.

 

[darscot]

I hate to put on my tin foil hat but it is really suspicious that they wouldn't let it into the US until they crippled the mileage.

 

[Dr von plutt]

I dont see the point of smart. They are not cheap, i dont think they are that enviromentally friendly either.

If it was electric id buy into it . But as it is now.. its more of a gimmick really.

 

[Frankfurter]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/autos/article454340.ece



Thats ridiculous for that small of a car to get that kind of mpg.



not bad though. but I got my eye on the toyota iQ.

That car definitely has a better mileage than that (hell, our 12 year old Audi A4 Diesel good a better mileage than that :lol ). I know one in person that gets arround 50mpg (mostly city, sometimes highway). Diesel Smarts should have a good bit more than that too.

 

[explodet]

I see these around Toronto all the time, I'd love to have one of these myself although I'd only end up using it sparingly. I can take public transit more or less everywhere, and gas is just stupid expensive right now.

The Canadian website gives these stats for the current model:

City estimate: 5.9 l/100 km (~39.9 mpg)
Highway estimate: 4.8 l/100 km (~49.0 mpg)

 

[SteveMeister]

I dont see the point of smart. They are not cheap, i dont think they are that enviromentally friendly either.

If it was electric id buy into it . But as it is now.. its more of a gimmick really.

What do you mean, they are not cheap? You can drive a base model off the lot for $12k, and a nicely equipped convertible is $17k! That was expensive in the 80's, but today that's pretty damned inexpensive.

smart offers diesels and micro-hybrids in other markets. It's only a matter of time before those are brought over here. If the Prius wasn't a hybrid it wouldn't be getting anywhere near the gas mileage of a smart car. Apples to apples, folks.

Besides, the smart is perfect for what it is designed for -- a city car. It's cheap, gets good gas mileage, and is safe, maneuverable, and incredibly easy to park.

It's a niche vehicle for a specific market. I don't get the hate -- if you're not in the market, clearly the car isn't for you.

 

[Walshicus]

The Smart Roadster looks quite nice, I think:

 

[distantmantra]

I hate to put on my tin foil hat but it is really suspicious that they wouldn't let it into the US until they crippled the mileage.

Yep.

 

[darscot]

I dont see the point of smart. They are not cheap, i don't think they are that enviromentally friendly either.

If it was electric id buy into it . But as it is now.. its more of a gimmick really.

What does it take for a car to be considered environmentally friendly in your mind. When I bought mine it had the lowest pollution of any car available in Canada on the highway. There were a couple of electrics that had a very slight edge in city driving but the smart beat them on the highway. Also it's diesel which takes less to refine and runs perfect on bio diesel. Then factor in that car is half the size and requires half the steel and plastic of a conventional car. Even the damn tires are low drag and use a fraction of the rubber of a regular tire. The car is not painted to avoid environmental damage during the painting process. It's powder coated and the body panels are colored plastic not painted. Also it's also one of if not the lowest priced car available, so how much does it have to cost before its considered cheap?

 

[Phobophile]

Also it's also one of if not the lowest priced car available, so how much does it have to cost before its considered cheap?

$9000 sticker. As soon as it breaks 5 digits, people will see it as too pricey.

 

[ROFL]

Yes, in our parking lot every morning.

 

[darscot]

$9000 sticker. As soon as it breaks 5 digits, people will see it as too pricey.

:lol

Your probable right.

 

[SteveMeister]

$9000 sticker. As soon as it breaks 5 digits, people will see it as too pricey.

Which people are these? The trendy urbanites making up the car's target market?

 

[Davedough]

This would be the only Smart car I'd buy.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cV4HdsDZX6c

Hyabusa engine baby!

 

[Phobophile]

Which people are these? The trendy urbanites making up the car's target market?

No, it's just marketing psychology. Hell, you could make the fucking MSRP on it $9995 but if you made it $10,195, people would piss and moan about it.