We saw our first local Smart Car the other day! DH and I noticed it right away, with it's intransit sticker plate. They are so DARN cute! There was an article a few weeks back about a local teacher being the first to order and buy one. Hopefully no one will pick it up and carry it off when she parks it at school.
Posts: 3395 | Location: Nebraska | Registered: Jun 08, 2003
Haha, they do kinda look like they can be pushed over with one digit. You mentioned the Prius, this weekend I watched There Will Be Blood and saw a trailer for Toyota at the start of it. I know! This is a Toyota ad! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3J5GLb6YwQ
Originally posted by GreenDonna: I heard these cars can park sideways in a parking space and still fit!
Not sure what the mileage is on these cars though,,do you?
Absolutely true about the parking GreenDonna! I've been seeing one in San Francisco for a little over a month now. When I was first approaching it, I could see *something* between two parked cars. I knew it wasn't a motorcycle but not sure WHAT it was. Turned out to be a cute lil SmartCar parked with it's nose out facing traffic and between two parallel parked cars. In a city like SF where parking is a premium I'm surprised I'm not seeing more of these!
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I finally saw one parked at a restaurant. My dh would not let me get out to look. I wanted to wait and talk to the person who was driving. The car was from out of state so again dh said No! Very cute and reminds me of the first Toyota we got back in the 70's that car was small. but we got great gas mileage.
That is a common DH phenomenon. He was probably afraid you would find out too much positive info from the owner, and you both would be out shopping for one next week.
....or that you would pick it up, and hide it in your purse?
Posts: 3395 | Location: Nebraska | Registered: Jun 08, 2003
If you're looking for something around town, it would be OK, don't take it on the highway though. Also the narrowness of the cabin makes for a very tight fit for two adults at the shoulders. There are probably better cars for most people that get similar mileage, the Honda Fit or Civic come close.
"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts for ever." Lance Armstrong
Like Lights Out, I too recall when the first Hondas showed up in the 70's. Those first ones ((and a lot of the 80's vintage) rusted out pretty quick, but look at how they grew as a company, due to the import market. My hope is we generally see downsizing and fuel economy come back into vogue for commuter cars.
Posts: 3395 | Location: Nebraska | Registered: Jun 08, 2003
I saw SMART cars when I was in Europe back in 2001 and thought they were pretty cool looking and wondered when/if they would make it to the USA. For me, if I actually drove to work I'd get something that would allow me to take the whole family along so a Fit or Civic would be a better choice for another vehicle in my family. For cute factor with 4 usable seats you can't beat a Mini, but their gas mileage pretty much stinks given the size of the car getting 22/32 (manual) 22/30 (auto) mpg. A Civic is rated at 25/36 with an automatic. Fun and cool factor is definitely higher with a Mini though.
MPG info from edmunds.com
"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts for ever." Lance Armstrong
I saw my first Smart Car in Rome a few years back. I've wondered how long it would take to catch on here. They're just wonderful -- looking forward to taking one out for spin. Or better: parking it. It's so tiny, I can park it anywhere!
Welcome JaneSez, as Conrad states we can just fold it up into our purse. I would love to have one. Might be hard for long trips and luggage. I wonder if a luggage rack would fit on the top.
Lights Out, If you read the WSJ link I posted you might rethink the long trip idea with a SMART car. They are really an around town commuter car. Highway speed is a stretch for these things. They aren't made for running at 65 to 70 mph for hours on end. I'd opt for a more traditional compact car for that kind of traveling. Adding a roof rack to this already high center of gravity car wouldn't be a great idea and would drop your mileage significantly.
"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts for ever." Lance Armstrong
I think Lights Out was making a joke, about long trips and luggage racks.
We saw them all over the city, the last two trips to Paris. They seemed to do just fine on the by pass highways around the city as well as the city driving/parking. I'm pretty sure most Europeans have used them mainly for commuter cars, and rented larger vehicles for long trips or multiple passengers.
Posts: 3395 | Location: Nebraska | Registered: Jun 08, 2003
Conrad you are right. Way back in the 70's with our very small Toyota Celica we made a trip to the Midwest. Whoa! We were totally bent into the shape of the car when we got out. Hah! Not just that back then Coors did not come past the Mason Dixon Line. We brought back cases of Coors to friends. Fond memories were made then.
Originally posted by Sparky: Lights Out, If you read the WSJ link I posted you might rethink the long trip idea with a SMART car. They are really an around town commuter car. Highway speed is a stretch for these things. They aren't made for running at 65 to 70 mph for hours on end. I'd opt for a more traditional compact car for that kind of traveling. Adding a roof rack to this already high center of gravity car wouldn't be a great idea and would drop your mileage significantly.
Thanks Sparky, I was making a joke. I think this car might be good for commutes. I think everyone has heard of the liquor cycle and hope we can get more of those on the road for trips to the grocery store etc. We were driving by the liquor store the other day and happened to notice a liquor cycle coming out of the liquor store. Really hope they take the stigma off those so that others will choose to buy and drive those around when gas gets more and more expensive. I quite frankly would love to have one for short haul trips. Cost for a used one is around $500.00 and below but I think new ones go for around $3000.00
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lights Out,
Originally posted by Lights Out: Conrad you are right. Way back in the 70's with our very small Toyota Celica we made a trip to the Midwest. Whoa! We were totally bent into the shape of the car when we got out. Hah! Not just that back then Coors did not come past the Mason Dixon Line. We brought back cases of Coors to friends. Fond memories were made then.
The Mason Dixon line had nothing to do with Coors Beer. The Mason Dixon line is the border between PA and MD, and MD and DE. Mason Dixon Coors didn't used to ship east of the Mississippi. See "Smoky and the Bandit" for details.
"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts for ever." Lance Armstrong
OK Conrad you gave me a laugh early this morning. 
