• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Smart Car (it's just a name, folks)

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Tralfamadore64

Banned
I came across this while at work the other day, and thought it looked like a pretty neat economy car.

http://www.smartusa.com/index.html

fortwo_pure_head.jpg

smart fortwo pure
starting under $12,000*

All 2008 smart fortwos come packed with standard safety features that are usually reserved for luxury vehicles. This includes the protective “tridion safety cell”, electronic stability program (esp), anti-lock braking system (abs), and four airbags, to name a few.

The base pure model comes standard with convenience features such as a 5-speed automated manual transmission with manual or automatic mode, central remote locking system, 2-spoke leather steering wheel, radio-ready console, and more. Air conditioning, power windows and alloy wheels are optional. Be sure to check out the passion coupe and passion cabrio that offer more standard features at an outstanding value.
Click to expand...

-------

fortwo_passion_head.jpg

smart fortwo passion
starting under $14,000*

The value packed, sporty and well-equipped passion includes all the features described on the pure, plus much more. Additional standard equipment includes a panorama roof, alloy wheels, air conditioning with climate control, 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel with shift paddles, power windows, electric and heated side mirrors, and AM/FM radio with CD player.
Click to expand...

-------

fortwo_cabrio_head.jpg

smart fortwo passion cabrio
starting under $17,000*

The passion cabrio has all the features of the passion coupe plus an upgraded radio and sound system that includes an mp3 compatible in-dash 6 CD changer. The main difference lies in the soft top with a heated rear glass window that is fully automatic and can be infinitely adjusted to any position while driving at any speed. For the full cabrio experience, simply remove the side roof bars - taken out in no time - and stow them in a special compartment in the tailgate.
Click to expand...

-------

40 mpg and tops out at 90 mph! Woot! :\

I don't know. I think it's neat, but I'm not big on cars, so I expect plenty of flaming and whatnot.
 
J

JayDubya

Banned
That looks like a ****ing tiny car. Could I even fit in the damn thing?

FAQ said:
7. What are the exact dimensions?
The smart fortwo is small on the outside and big on the inside.

The smart fortwo that will be available in the United States will be:
o 8.8 feet long (you can usually fit two smart fortwos in an average parking space!)
o 5.1 feet tall (the smart still has as much headroom as most luxury vehicles!)
o 5.1 feet wide (two six foot, five inch plus people can sit side by side with plenty of shoulder room to spare!)
Click to expand...

Which is my exact height, so I guess that answers that.
 
R

R0nn

Member
Wow, they are only just now introducing these cars to the American market? Europe has had these cars for years now. They ARE really small (especially compared to American cars), but awesome for urban environments since they fit through almost anything. Inside it's still big enough to fit in two people fairly comfortably and I heard it's also really save because of a special cage construction.

Still, the Smart Roadster is much nicer than this one.

d3cd263856acb86880a4f86d3e03b169.jpg
 
N

Natsume

Member
My teacher has one of these and is always trying to persuade me to get one when I bother learning to drive. They are pretty cool and would be fine for me since I wouldn't drive far anyway but I've heard they aren't exactly the best car to have a crash in.
 
A

Armitage

Member
I think Emmanuel Goldstein (of 2600) had the first on in NYC (maybe America?). I've seen these around up here in Vancouver for a few years now, weird that they're not popular in the states yet.
 
T

Tralfamadore64

Banned
Yeah, we don't get them until '08. I wouldn't mind picking one up, though.

Of course, I'd much rather have a hybrid or a full out electric... but whatreyagonnado?
 
P

Peru

Member
JunoTaksumi said:
My teacher has one of these and is always trying to persuade me to get one when I bother learning to drive. They are pretty cool and would be fine for me since I wouldn't drive far anyway but I've heard they aren't exactly the best car to have a crash in.
Click to expand...
Wrong, actually. There have been tests showing its surprising strength.
 
A

Armitage

Member
Peru said:
Wrong, actually. There have been tests showing its surprising strength.
Click to expand...

I've heard that the whole car can basically act as a rollcage, which is either really comforting or really scary.
 
B

BobJustBob

Member
I wanted one of these 2.5 years ago when I was car shopping, but the company was under the delusion that America wanted more SUVs instead. Now I'm kinda over them.
 
P

Ponn

Banned
Actually its right up my alley. Anti-social, never being asked to be the one to drive somewhere with friends, never being asked to help move with a truck or large car. Two thumbs up.

Now if only retailed for what its really worth at about 4 - 5k.
 
P

perryfarrell

Member
They are surprisingly roomy inside. Here's an ad making that point.

Also, they accelerate like crazy, cuz they're so light. A little expensive for what you get, but they're definitely nice vehicles.
 
T

Tarazet

Member
perryfarrell said:
They are surprisingly roomy inside. Here's an ad making that point.

Also, they accelerate like crazy, cuz they're so light. A little expensive for what you get, but they're definitely nice vehicles.
Click to expand...

Well, they probably also accelerate like crazy because they have 5 speeds and they're geared to top out at 90 mph. That's rally-car kind of gearing, and it definitely makes the most out of the limited resources the thing has.

If all you need is a transportation pod for one or two people, then this is going to be the cheapest and most fulfilling way for you to turn heads and make passersby smile. Personally, I'll pass because I kinda just need to have one car that does more than the Smart ever could in terms of hauling stuff and folks.
 
T

The Take Out Bandit

Member
Actually, last time I checked Smartcar pricing isn't really . . . very smart. :\

You could buy a Yaris for the same, or slightly more and have more room. The only loss is you can't brag about your fuel efficiency; but at least you'll have plenty of room in back for dead hookers!

Edit: Okay they've actually lowered pricing. Before it was in the $15-16k range.

Current pricing isn't terrible; but again - you can get a nice used non-smart car for way less.
 
S

SteveMeister

Hang out with Steve.
I'd love to get one, just for the contrast of parking it next to my truck :)

It's an adorable car that puts a smile on my face whenever I see one.

But I'm really holding out for the Chevy Volt hybrid, which GM says they want to start selling by 2010.
 
S

Saitou

Banned
Smart's are all over Europe, and have been for quite a few years.

It's actually a great car to have if you live in a heavily urbanized area. I remember when I was visiting France and London, I'd get freaked out by how small it was everytime. You can almost fit two of them in a regular parking slot.

Definitely not a car to take on a long trip (i.e: anything over fifty kilometers at a time =/)
 
Dommel

Dommel

Member
They can't even give them away for free here (Yurp). When it was released the car was a hype and you saw a lot of them on the streets but that quickly faded away when everyone realised you were basically driving a souped up lawn mower with a roof on it.

I saw one in California in 2001. Everybody else was looking like they just saw an UFO land or something. And we were like, hey a Smart :D

They were also used in Dark Angel (the TV series with Alba), probably cause they looked futuristic.
 
T

the year 20XX

Member
The Take Out Bandit said:
Actually, last time I checked Smartcar pricing isn't really . . . very smart. :\

You could buy a Yaris for the same, or slightly more and have more room. The only loss is you can't brag about your fuel efficiency; but at least you'll have plenty of room in back for dead hookers!

Edit: Okay they've actually lowered pricing. Before it was in the $15-16k range.

Current pricing isn't terrible; but again - you can get a nice used non-smart car for way less.
Click to expand...

You could get a Chevy Aveo or a Kia or something for less than $10k, and they're regular size. Seriously, if the Smart was priced proportionately, I'd be all over it.
 
K

KINGMOKU

Member
the year 20XX said:
You could get a Chevy Aveo or a Kia or something for less than $10k, and they're regular size. Seriously, if the Smart was priced proportionately, I'd be all over it.
Click to expand...
I just checked, and this for that price?

"The vehicle is designed to achieve 40 plus mpg under normal driving conditions and current standards."

Um, try 70-100mpg for that size and price. There are MUCH nicer(Reliability goes to the Japanese) cars that get that.

5,000$/70mpg=I buy 2.
 
V

Variable

Member
I see Smart cars all the time here in Canada. I'm not sure why they have not made their way down to the United States yet?
 
A

AntoneM

Member
I know there is a dealership in the Phoenix area that sells Smart cars on the "grey" market. Meaning it has no affiliation with Daimler Chrysler and must modify them before selling them, but I don't know what the modifications are.
 
T

Tarazet

Member
Ninja Scooter said:
didn't steve urkel drive one of those?
Click to expand...

He drove a BMW Isetta, one of those wonderful old reminders of how badly Germany got walloped in World War II, and how far they had to come to bring themselves to the level of respectability again.

bmw_isetta.jpg
 
G

Gav

Member
Thats what i was wondering, theyve been about for years over here.

You can also get a Smart ForFour!

smart-forfour.jpg
 
Parallax

Parallax

best seen in the classic "Shadow of the Beast"
while i dont think i would get that 2 seater model, that forfour looks pretty cool
 
G

Gav

Member
Just remembered a Top Gear from a few years back when Richard and James spent 24 hours in a forfour, and weren't allowed out of it.

Apparently theres lots of room inside. Seem to remember something about the back seats being like a living room?
 
B

Beer Monkey

Member
I drove a forfour for 10 days, plenty of room, drove it 160km/hr on the autostrada (that's 100mph), nice and stable. Honestly I'd take one over a Civic.

My favorite is when people claim that they wouldn't be able to see around traffic in a fortwo, you are actually much higher up than a Civic.
 
X

xsarien

daedsiluap
I can't speak for Europe, but here in the U.S. I'd really hate to be on the business end of an accident in one of these things.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Gran Turismo 7 update 1.48 features 5 new cars, Café Menu, and World Circuit Events
News Hype
37
3K
ShaiKhulud1989 replied
The Holiday Sale promotion comes to PlayStation Store on 12/20
Deals Platform
45
5K
graywolf323 replied
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.34 adds 3 new cars, Engine Swap, extra Cafe Menus and more
News Platform
24
3K
Con_Z_ǝdʇ replied
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.31 goes live today with 5 new cars, 2 new layouts for Nurburgring, and a new Scapes location.
News
42
3K
sncvsrtoip replied
Forza Horizon 5 |OT| Are you a Mexican, or a Mexican't?
|OT| 42 43 44 45 46
2K
213K
MagnetoWasRight replied
Top Bottom