Smart car ?

[Big Rig]

Test drove the Smart car today

can be had for less than 15K

More room than you think with tons of headspace and of course great mileage

3 cylinder Mitsubishi

Salesman claims it keeps its value


Any opinions ?

 

[James_kw]

the smart car is expensive to maintain, every little thing you have to take it the dealer, mercedes dealer by the way

 

[Brill]

You have to use premium gas, same with the Mini.

Other than that, it's a practical car for the city.

 

[ig-88]

not enough trunk space, imo

what happens when you have a lot of groceries, or even the occasional furniture or large electronics purchase?

i would look at a prius

 

[Anynym]

And they remain popular targets for vandals.

 

[Lou Siffer]

You'll have to change your terb handle. Better to get a Suburban.

 

[phail]

i leased one while living overseas and loved it.

 

[Mr. Piggy]

I have some pics of 2 different smart cars that were involved in accidents. Don't know how to post pics on here or I would put them up.
My personal opinion, I would feel safer riding a motorcycle.

 

[mrdc]

the smart car is expensive to maintain, every little thing you have to take it the dealer, mercedes dealer by the way

I heard the same thing.
If you do get one, get it used with the diesel engine.

 

[champcar]

I have some pics of 2 different smart cars that were involved in accidents. Don't know how to post pics on here or I would put them up.
My personal opinion, I would feel safer riding a motorcycle.

Same thing could happen in a Corolla or Civic or Accent etc.

Everyday on the road is a gamble

 

[Mr. Piggy]

Same thing could happen in a Corolla or Civic or Accent etc.

Everyday on the road is a gamble

This is true but I've never heard of anyone being cut in half from being in an accident driving one of those.

 

[blank_dave]

I have some pics of 2 different smart cars that were involved in accidents. Don't know how to post pics on here or I would put them up.
My personal opinion, I would feel safer riding a motorcycle.

I do question the safety of those little cars. Watched on crash video of a Smart vs a midsized sedan. The Smart was just picked up and spun 180 degrees before it hit the ground. It did the remaining 180 degrees when it hit the ground. Let's just say the dummy wasn't a happy camper

Then there is also the issue of being an easy target for vandals looking to go Smart tipping.

 

[The Fruity Hare]

From a web blog:

All the body panels of a smart car are made of plastic, not metal, so when a smart car hits something at high speed, the body panels disintegrate into a spray of chips as this smart car crash test video demonstrates:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJHpUO-S0i8&feature=player_embedded

 

[C Dick]

It might be doable as a second car, with a pickup for when you have to haul something. But I doubt I would ever buy one. Do they really have Mitsubishi engines? That surprises me. Maybe Briggs and Stratton?

 

[out4fun]

I've also heard of kids tipping them over - sort of like "cow tipping", but "car tipping". How would you like to park somewhere and come back and find your car lying on its side.

http://forums.canadiancontent.net/news/86185-new-sport-tipping-over-smart.html

 

[afterhours]

I would much rather buy a Mini, it's a drivers car that can actually be enjoyed (including winter time - I test drove it through a pile of snow and it went through like a tank; my ex who asked me to test it ended up buying something else though
smart is a piece of crap imho
15K should buy you a decent Mini, although not a new one; and Mini is a BMW

 

[The Bandit]

It's a yuppie-mobile.

 

[tool_man05]

Where do you put your hockey bag? LOL

 

[WoodPeckr]

can be had for less than 15K

More room than you think with tons of headspace and of course great mileage

3 cylinder Mitsubishi

This is the same 1 liter engine the GM Geo Metro had that only cost $9000 and got 45-51 mpg in '98. I owned one back then. Great little second car that cost only $5 to fill up when gas prices dropped back then. Used to get 500 miles to a tank of gas.

Looked at the Smart car and don't know why it should cost 15K!
The '98 GM Geo Metro was bigger, roomier and cost 9K.

 

[djk]

And they remain popular targets for vandals.

Really? Never heard of this... not doubting you, just never heard about it before.