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View Full Version : I saw a SmartCar today....



soonerbrat
5/1/2008, 07:37 PM
first one I've seen in the U.S.
they're so cute, where can I get one?

mdklatt
5/1/2008, 07:39 PM
Toys R Us?

soonerbrat
5/1/2008, 07:40 PM
that's where I saw it! well, close by there..at Memorial & Penn

mdklatt
5/1/2008, 07:42 PM
$11500 for the base model!? Are they ****ing kidding?

sooneron
5/1/2008, 08:06 PM
I saw one too. Mine was about 1640 miles ENE of your's, Brat.

Vaevictis
5/1/2008, 08:09 PM
$11500 for the base model!? Are they ****ing kidding?

Not a bad idea in Europe. Simply a non-starter in most of the US.

It's mostly targeted to areas with high population density.

Jerk
5/1/2008, 08:09 PM
I think I ran over one yesterday on I-44

mdklatt
5/1/2008, 08:11 PM
I think I ran over one yesterday on I-44

How could you tell?

mdklatt
5/1/2008, 08:13 PM
Not a bad idea in Europe. Simply a non-starter in most of the US.

It's mostly targeted to areas with high population density.

It's half a car--why does it cost so much? It's like they're charging a self-righteous tax.

sooneron
5/1/2008, 08:17 PM
Yeah that thing should cost about 7K.

Vaevictis
5/1/2008, 08:17 PM
It's half a car--why does it cost so much? It's like they're charging a self-righteous tax.

It doesn't have enough volume to get real economies of scale, it's built in Europe, it incorporates experimental technologies, etc.

Personally, IMO, it's a test-bed for Daimler's experimental technologies and supply chain techniques. The company's never made money AFAIK, but Daimler keeps it open under the auspice of it being strategically important.

mdklatt
5/1/2008, 08:24 PM
MPG ratings: 33/41

Ouch. That's with the more stringent rating rules, but that still seems pretty weak. My real-world mileage with an 8-year-old Civic is 27/34, and I get a back seat and a trunk. Non-starter indeed.

Jerk
5/1/2008, 08:25 PM
It doesn't have enough volume to get real economies of scale, it's built in Europe, it incorporates experimental technologies, etc.

Personally, IMO, it's a test-bed for Daimler's experimental technologies and supply chain techniques. The company's never made money AFAIK, but Daimler keeps it open under the auspice of it being strategically important.


Would it help them meet CAIR standards, or whatever it is, so they can sell more SUV's and high-performance cars?

sooneron
5/1/2008, 08:29 PM
MPG ratings: 33/41

Ouch. That's with the more stringent rating rules, but that still seems pretty weak. My real-world mileage with an 8-year-old Civic is 27/34, and I get a back seat and a trunk. Non-starter indeed.

Hell, a new Mini Clubman gets 28/37, as does the Corolla.

sooneron
5/1/2008, 08:37 PM
My biggest question is, when is Sic'em going to profess wanting to buy one?

soonerbrat
5/1/2008, 08:44 PM
they're definitely handy in europe with those teeny narrow streets, but I think they'd be dangerous around here.

bluedogok
5/1/2008, 08:47 PM
There a good number of them down here, I see a few everyday.

It has a triple about the same size as motorcycle.

royalfan5
5/1/2008, 08:53 PM
I've seen a couple up here in the last couple of days.

LosAngelesSooner
5/1/2008, 09:12 PM
I think I ran over one yesterday on I-44
http://hackerfriendly.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/2006-Smart-Forfun2-Concept-Front-And-Side-1920x1440-1.jpg

No you didn't.

Vaevictis
5/1/2008, 09:26 PM
Would it help them meet CAIR standards, or whatever it is, so they can sell more SUV's and high-performance cars?

Maybe, I don't know. But I'm quite certain that if so, that's just gravy to them. It's not really an important reason.

The Smart unit does some very interesting stuff wrt the supply chain, and I believe it's valuable to Daimler as a testing ground for those things.

Sooner_Havok
5/1/2008, 09:30 PM
I like them. Wouldn't mind getting me one if I had the cash flow

Harry Beanbag
5/1/2008, 09:39 PM
It doesn't have enough volume to get real economies of scale, it's built in Europe, it incorporates experimental technologies, etc.

Personally, IMO, it's a test-bed for Daimler's experimental technologies and supply chain techniques. The company's never made money AFAIK, but Daimler keeps it open under the auspice of it being strategically important.


You don't have much of a sense of humor huh.

olevetonahill
5/1/2008, 10:08 PM
first one I've seen in the U.S.
they're so cute, where can I get one?

Aint there one In every Box of Cracker Jacks ?

mynameisjoe
5/1/2008, 10:55 PM
I would only buy a Smart Car if I lived in NYC and I really really wanted a car

Scott D
5/1/2008, 11:06 PM
I saw three of them in the span of 15 minutes when I was working down in Monroe, MI. I laughed and told my co-worker, "How am I supossed to fit in that?" when she mentioned that they are gaining popularity.

Boomer.....
5/2/2008, 08:27 AM
The inside of them is actually spacious. There is no back seat and the trunk/cargo area is tiny though. I never understood the basis of them being "smart". It only has a 3 cylinder engine and 71 hp. There are many cars out there with better gas mileage, bigger engines, and not that much more expensive.

sooneron
5/2/2008, 08:29 AM
On the flipside, you could prolly fit 6 of them in a two car garage.

C&CDean
5/2/2008, 08:46 AM
I see them all the time in Baltimore/DC. And every single one of them I've seen has some fat, ugly hippy looking chick with one of those really clever "I hate George Bush" or "Obama" or "Hill 2008" bumper sticker or something like it.

They're perfect liberalmobiles. All show, but when it gets down to it, they ain't worth a ****. Something that small should get 60-70 mpg.

Sooner_Bob
5/2/2008, 08:56 AM
I saw one up by Western and Coffee Creek the other day . . .

Sooner_Bob
5/2/2008, 08:57 AM
<Obligatory>

Can you have sex on it?

</Obligatory>

Beef
5/2/2008, 08:59 AM
I see them all the time in Baltimore/DC. And every single one of them I've seen has some fat, ugly hippy looking chick with one of those really clever "I hate George Bush" or "Obama" or "Hill 2008" bumper sticker or something like it.

They're perfect liberalmobiles. All show, but when it gets down to it, they ain't worth a ****. Something that small should get 60-70 mpg.

Not if they're hauling around heffers.

I saw one yesterday with a vanity license plate that said "DUMB". Sounds about right.

Scott D
5/2/2008, 09:09 AM
damn LAS a link woulda sufficed ;)

stoops the eternal pimp
5/2/2008, 09:15 AM
My kid drives something the same size and it gets better mileage..

http://www.babyborrowrental.com/furniture_opt/Flinstone_car_opt.jpg

mdklatt
5/2/2008, 09:56 AM
<Obligatory>

Can you have sex on it?

</Obligatory>

It's certainly too small to have sex in it.

frankensooner
5/2/2008, 10:03 AM
My 5 year old saw one a few months ago. He went ape over it. (I think he thought it was a powerwheels)

hurricane'bone
5/2/2008, 11:23 AM
first one I've seen in the U.S.
they're so cute, where can I get one?

Tulsa (http://www.smartcentertulsa.com/)

RFH Shakes
5/2/2008, 11:45 AM
get the fun version!

Smartuki (http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e2e_1202061482)


smartuki.com (http://www.smartuki.com/)

LosAngelesSooner
5/2/2008, 12:40 PM
damn LAS a link woulda sufficed ;)
sowwy... :O

LosAngelesSooner
5/2/2008, 12:47 PM
I see them all the time in Baltimore/DC. And every single one of them I've seen has some fat, ugly hippy looking chick with one of those really clever "I hate George Bush" or "Obama" or "Hill 2008" bumper sticker or something like it.

They're perfect liberalmobiles. All show, but when it gets down to it, they ain't worth a ****. Something that small should get 60-70 mpg.
Why to own one in a city like NYC or LA:

http://www.unitednathanproductions.com/blog/images/smartcarparking_lrg.jpg

Now...this version of the Smart Car doesn't bug me that much:

http://www.exclusiveaudio.de/bilder/roadster3.jpg

http://www.direct-vehicle-leasing.net/images/car_images/Smart%20Roadster%20Coupe.jpg

http://www.smartsrus.com/images/batman/batman_1_500.jpg

Lamborgini Smart Car:
http://www.smartcarpictures.com/2007/08/lambo-doors-must-be-popular.html

Jimminy Crimson
5/2/2008, 02:40 PM
I've see two pretty frequently in the Western area and sometimes downtown.

There's also a company that has one as a delivery/service car.

SicEmBaylor
5/2/2008, 03:39 PM
I want one.

C&CDean
5/2/2008, 03:41 PM
Waaaay too much car for you.

Harry Beanbag
5/2/2008, 05:53 PM
I parked next to one today at work. Seriously, I think I could have picked it up and put it inside my company van.