So small, even a caveman could parallel-park it
That's not a beetle, it's a Smart ForTwo!
(Credit: DaimlerChrysler)If you ever thought the Mini Cooper wasn't mini enough, listen up. Last year, DaimlerChrysler announced that they'd be making the Smart ForTwo, the uber-compact car that it's been selling in Europe for years (and more recently Canada), available to U.S. customers by 2008. Looks like they're still on track for that. Now, us Yanks can put our names in the hat for a $99 reservation.
The "Pure" basic model of the car sells for $12,000. There's also a "Passion" version with a souped-up stereo system (and more) for $14,000. And for $17,000, you can get a "Passion" convertible.
But before you reserve a spot for one, here's the deal about the Smart ForTwo. (In Europe, there's also a slightly larger Smart ForFour, FYI.) All this talk of green cars, smart cars, hybrid cars, etc. can be a bit muddling. DaimlerChrysler's Smart ForTwo runs on traditional gasoline, and it's not a "smart" car in the sense that it has any fancy chips or automatic parking features built in. It's just really freaking little. The two-seater measures in at less than nine feet long, just over five feet tall, and less than five feet wide. It's also light: the Mini tips the scales at 900 pounds heavier. (Lose some weight, fatty!)
Then there's the fact that it doesn't go very fast, capping out at 84 miles per hour, which that makes its highway mileage of 70.6 miles per gallon kind of a moot point. (You don't want to be driving this thing in the Southwest.)
But hey, if you're in a city, where you still will get over 45 miles per gallon, the Smart ForTwo could be a potentially smart (ha, ha) driving option. But something tells me that exorbitantly-priced Manhattan parking garages won't let you pay for half a spot with this little guy.
(Via PSFK)
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on the Autobahn (I was pottering along at 75), and it wasn't struggling in the
least.
Perhaps more surprising, it's got one of the strongest, stiffest chassis of any car
or truck. This means the passenger compartment stands up to collisions better
than many larger cars. With full airbags it could be safer than most cars out
there.
on the Autobahn (I was pottering along at 75), and it wasn't struggling in the
least.
Perhaps more surprising, it's got one of the strongest, stiffest chassis of any car
or truck. This means the passenger compartment stands up to collisions better
than many larger cars. With full airbags it could be safer than most cars out
there.
And, comparing that to the $25K-$30K one has to pay (today) to legally obtain a SMART in the US, who could wait? I think i'll put my name on the wait list right away!
See more at our local reatiler for these cars:
http://www.greencarco.com/
The bad press this car has gotten in some parts of Europe is due to that there are other small (but larger) cars that are less expensive and from many perspectives, better; Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris. Both fine cars, but not at all as FUN as the SMART. As comparing a Nissan Micro to a VW Beetle!
SMART also initially had some serious problems with cracking intake manifolds (intake and exhaust manifold were combined with the turbo charger) that led to expensive repairs after jusat a few years. Should have been fixed as per my sources at SMART in Scandinavia.
And as for passive safety, there is no doubt that in most cases bigger is better. But the SMART has great deal of "active" safety and hopefully one can use that to avoid accidents!
And, comparing that to the $25K-$30K one has to pay (today) to legally obtain a SMART in the US, who could wait? I think i'll put my name on the wait list right away!
See more at our local reatiler for these cars:
http://www.greencarco.com/
The bad press this car has gotten in some parts of Europe is due to that there are other small (but larger) cars that are less expensive and from many perspectives, better; Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris. Both fine cars, but not at all as FUN as the SMART. As comparing a Nissan Micro to a VW Beetle!
SMART also initially had some serious problems with cracking intake manifolds (intake and exhaust manifold were combined with the turbo charger) that led to expensive repairs after jusat a few years. Should have been fixed as per my sources at SMART in Scandinavia.
And as for passive safety, there is no doubt that in most cases bigger is better. But the SMART has great deal of "active" safety and hopefully one can use that to avoid accidents!
(bigger does NOT EVER mean BETTER) fyi
(bigger does NOT EVER mean BETTER) fyi