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[Funky Papa]

Finally you'll get to drive one of them. As a guy living in a big european city these little cars are PERFECT, I love them to death.

And because this thread is worthless without pics...

Smart Four Two (the one you'll there see first)

Brabus tuned

Smart Four Four

Brabus tuned

The dead sexy Smart Roadster

And for those worrying about its safety, the Smart is designed to bounce in case of crash, so it won't turn into a death trap.

BTW, how are the US emission standards? I always thought ours were harder, but that news piece is confusing me.

 

[Future Trunks]

Finally you'll get to drive one of them. As a guy living in a big european city these little cars are PERFECT, I love them to death.

And because this thread is worthless without pics...

Smart Four Two (the one you'll there see first)

Brabus tuned

Smart Four Four

Brabus tuned

The dead sexy Smart Roadster

And for those worrying about its safety, the Smart is designed to bounce in case of crash, so it won't turn into a death trap.

BTW, how are the US emission standards? I always thought ours were harder, but that news piece is confusing me.

They vary by state. Some don't even have them (i.e. Florida). Some are more stringent (i.e. Colorado because of the elevation). A state comparison may answer your question better.

 

[hobart]

OH FUCK YES!!!! Prices?!

(I'm putting 20s on mine... STOP ME.)

 

[Funky Papa]

They vary by state. Some don't even have them (i.e. Florida). Some are more stringent (i.e. Colorado because of the elevation). A state comparison may answer your question better.

Right. Where I can find some figures? google is pwning me.

 

[Future Trunks]

OH FUCK YES!!!! Prices?!

(I'm putting 20s on mine... STOP ME.)

Don't stop there! Get some spinning rims too!

EDIT: I would imagine typing in "<insert state> emission standards" should take you to the state Dept. of Public Safety website within the first few links. It worked when I typed in Texas.

 

[hobart]

I was warming up the thread...

I saw a four two with floor effects in London... I almost flipped. Thinking about the mods that will be done on a SMART car has me giggling like a small girl...

...in her Pink T-top four two that is!!!! (With matching iPod and seats... thnx dadddyyY!@!!!)

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

Ugly.

 

[Great King Bowser]

Damn, might have to make a Smart car my first car. That is when I get lessons and erm, pass my driving test. :lol

Seen a few around London, they look pretty nice in the flesh.

 

[Tim]

Well, out of months of personal experience I can tell you that the original, un-tuned version of the for 2 drives like shit. The semi-automatic gearbox takes like 6 fucking seconds to change gears and the suspension is terrible. Just so you know. It's fun to drive though, and once you get to know the car the driving definitely gets better.

 

[mCACGj]

I love these cars! I really wanted to take one of these to my driving test for parallel parking, but I did fine anyway.

I have wanted one of these ever since I've been visiting Europe. I hope I can afford one.

 

[DopeyFish]

I see these cars everyday in toronto... they look so small!

 

[Jill Sandwich]

Someone at work has a black Smart Roadster, it looks damn fine in real life despite it's diddyness!

 

[galeninjapan]

People drive that thing? It looks like a plastic lawnmower.

 

[Justin Bailey]

I don't think the "golf cart in space" model's gonna do well over here.

 

[pestul]

I'd like to see how that vehicle holds up driving in the Wreckhouse region of Newfoundland. Constant 70km/hr winds with gusts up to 150. :lol

 

[Kola]

On the Autobahn (Highway) we use to love about them. But in the streets of big European cities they ARE very convenient. Their acceleration is pretty fast and sometimes I've seen two of them using one parking lot. That was cool actually. =)

 

[Rlan]

Is there any real reason why Electric Cars are so small? Can they just not go very far with a lot of weight? I'd love to go to Electric cars for pollution sake, but if I ever go on trips you'll barely fit anything into those piddly things. is it just something that's not really in the budget range yet?

Also, how long does it take to 'recharge' these things?

 

[Nerevar]

This would actually be extremely useful in Boston. It's certainly the most European-like city in the US (IMO), and parking is a bitch. They might be able to sell it to women, but I don't see men buying them at all.

 

[AlphaSnake]

What's with the roadster bitting of the RX8 rear design? :|

P.S. Those things are hideous.

 

[Claus]

They are designed to bounce in case of a crash? How's that work?

 

[Dilbert]

People drive that thing? It looks like a plastic lawnmower.

Have you ever driven in Europe? If so, you'd understand.

 

[Funky Papa]

What's with the roadster bitting of the RX8 rear design? :|

P.S. Those things are hideous.

More like the RX8 bitting the Roadster's design, that thing has been over here for quite a few years. Ah, and you just have absolutely no taste in cars neither good taste in music

BTW there is a video over there of a souped up Smart Four Two taking a crap on a Ferrari. Nuts. The Brabus Roadster biturbo is something to behold too.

They are designed to bounce in case of a crash? How's that work?

They are built around a super strong security cell, due it's light weight in case of crash the car bounces while the airbags and the security cell protects the passengers. Watch the video I've linked in my first post (Smart vs Mercedes S class)

One of the coolest things about this car is that you can change the colors and faceplates just like you change your cellphone's carcase.

 

[Zaptruder]

Think you could pull a chick with that kinda cute baby car...

 

[Claus]

They are built around a super strong security cell, due it's light weight in case of crash the car bounces while the airbags and the security cell protects the passengers. Watch the video I've linked in my first post (Smart vs Mercedes S class)

One of the coolest things about this car is that you can change the colors and faceplates just like you change your cellphone's carcase.

How well is that going to work against larger vehicles though?

 

[galeninjapan]

Have you ever driven in Europe? If so, you'd understand.

I have driven in Japan (which might even be worse). But I dont think this idea will take off in america.

 

[Funky Papa]

How well is that going to work against larger vehicles though?

Quite good, but almost anything turns into shit if it's ass ramed by a Chevy Tahoe or other road beast, it is not like you are going to find something smaller than a 18 wheeler and capable to survive to a high speed crash against a SUV. Just try to avoid slamming it into some Hummer's grill =P

 

[Richard Cranium]

They are built around a super strong security cell, due it's light weight in case of crash the car bounces while the airbags and the security cell protects the passengers. Watch the video I've linked in my first post (Smart vs Mercedes S class)

Doesn't that make the impact twice as harsh, though? Cars are designed with crumple zones for a reason.

 

[Funky Papa]

The Smart is very low weight, so it's balanced by this (the crash is less brutal)

 

[Dilbert]

I have driven in Japan (which might even be worse). But I dont think this idea will take off in america.

I would agree that it's not a concept which will resonate with Americans. But you asked why people would drive those things...and, as you know, the answer is SPACE.

 

[Macam]

I have driven in Japan (which might even be worse). But I dont think this idea will take off in america.

Japan's bad, but Europe, from the parts that I've been, is worse if only because there seems to be a greater dependence on cars alongside mass transit, whereas Japan seems to be far more mass transit focused. These cars live up to their name, and there's no reason cars need to be as big as they do, especially when you're dealing dense, urban areas. They'll do fine here I suspect, just as the Mini Cooper and VW Bug have, and I suspect the more affluent people will probably end up using them as a primary transit car to work and such rather than go taking these things on road trips or anything.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Yes, but the occupants are still going from 60-0 in an instant and none of the impact is being absorbed aside from airbags.

Edit: Just watched the video. I suppose the S-class is absorbing much of the impact. However, I still think this thing would be a death trap if you hit a tree or wall.

 

[Alucard]

I see these more and more in my area. (Southern Ontario Canada) They're pretty cool and parking is AMAZING.

 

[Pochacco]

I'm also seeing more and more here in Toronto.
I think they're quite ugly looking.
And they're not cheap either - I would never buy one, at least not here in Canada.

 

[radioheadrule83]

Best thing about these lil guys is you can park almost anywhere

the sports models are amazing!

 

[bishoptl]

They're everywhere in Vancouver - and I like the look. If I didn't do any off-roading and just lived in the city, I'd buy the roadster for sure.

 

[Funky Papa]

Yes, but the occupants are still going from 60-0 in an instant and none of the impact is being absorbed aside from airbags.

Edit: Just watched the video. I suppose the S-class is absorbing much of the impact. However, I still think this thing would be a death trap if you hit a tree or wall.

Here you have the European Crash Test results for the old model (which are by far harder than the US ones)

BTW the minicars Renault Modus and Peugeot 1007 have five stars in the crash test. Small cars are only death traps if they are not well engineered.

 

[AlphaSnake]

More like the RX8 bitting the Roadster's design, that thing has been over here quite a few years. Ah, and you just have absolutely no taste in cars neither good taste in music

No, see...these are good looking cars:

......

And *I* have no taste?

Right...

 

[Meier]

The Roadster is the only one that doesnt look hideos (I quite like it).

 

[AlphaSnake]

The Four Four is the only decent looking one.

 

[Funky Papa]

It was just a joke, let it go man.

PS: Acura and Lexus designs suck ass. And this time I am not joking =P

 

[Warm Machine]

I just saw the roadster in the flesh at the Vancouver car show. Looks really good.

The regular Smarts are seen around quite a bit in downtown Vancouver. They are pretty efficient little cars and quite a bit bigger inside than you might think.

I only have one parking space where I live so I was considering getting 2 Smarts and parking them end to end so my GF and I could both use the same spot.

 

[AlphaSnake]

It was just a joke, let it go man.

PS: Acura and Lexus designs sucks ass. And this time I am not joking =P

*sighs*

You Euros are a scary bunch of folk.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Here you have the European Crash Test results for the old model (which are by far harder than the US ones)

BTW the minicars Renault Modus and Peugeot 1007 have five stars in the crash test. Small cars are only death traps if they are not well engineered.

I'm not saying that these cars are deathtraps in all situations; I'm not even saying that small cars are death traps. I only meant that having an indestructable safety cell is dangerous in certain situations.

I looked at the site you linked, and it seems that the front impact test uses an offset deformable barrier, which is different than hitting a wall or tree head on. If the car basically has no crumple zones, the occupants will bear the full brunt of the impact due to the laws of physics. In fact, the impact will be worse if the car bounces straight backwards.

 

[BigJonsson]

I want one of those roadster types

There is a Smart dealership near my house and everytime I go by I want one! Parking would be so easy in on of the first types of smart cars

I'm in Canada btw

 

[Funky Papa]

I'm not saying that these cars are deathtraps in all situations; I'm not even saying that small cars are death traps. I only meant that having an indestructable safety cell is dangerous in certain situations.

Just because I am such a Smart fanboy

Smart and crash absorption in test

 

[SickBoy]

Is there any real reason why Electric Cars are so small? Can they just not go very far with a lot of weight? I'd love to go to Electric cars for pollution sake, but if I ever go on trips you'll barely fit anything into those piddly things. is it just something that's not really in the budget range yet?

Also, how long does it take to 'recharge' these things?

Just to be clear, these cars aren't electric. The forTwo runs on diesel.

I have no problem with the way the car looks, although I often wonder if its crash performance is overstated. I think it's many times safer than a lot of people think, but I'm not convinced it's 100% pure safety. In my eyes, there's just not enough crumple space.

If I needed a new car and had the money, I'd still consider one.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Interesting read, but I'm still not completely convinced. I was mistaken in my notion that the safety cell was just an indestructable cage, though. Apparently, there are collapsible structures built into the car itself. However, I still believe it would fare worse in a head-on collision with a wall compared to a sedan because it must be built so rigidly. (I also believe that many SUVs would fare worse than a well-designed sedan)

 

[SickBoy]

I don't disagree, but one of the advantages of the Smart in running into a solid object, is that it doesn't have a 500+ lb block of steel death (aka the engine) that has nowhere to go but into the driver (engine is located low in the mid/rear of the vehicle, I believe)

 

[Pimpwerx]

I like the looks of that Smart roadster. Just 1750lbs *drool*. That's some potential to work with right there. I wonder what can be done with that 3-cylinder engine though. Or if a small 4-banger might fit. Probably needs suspension work too, though I don't know for sure. Is the Roadster being sold here? That Zap site was useless. PEACE.

 

[Pimpwerx]

Interesting read, but I'm still not completely convinced. I was mistaken in my notion that the safety cell was just an indestructable cage, though. Apparently, there are collapsible structures built into the car itself. However, I still believe it would fare worse in a head-on collision with a wall compared to a sedan because it must be built so rigidly. (I also believe that many SUVs would fare worse than a well-designed sedan)

Less energy to dissipate. Isn't that why they say SUVs are more dangerous than compact cars in single-car accidents? PEACE.