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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
06-26-2006, 01:04 PM
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#21
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,005
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Quote:
Originally Posted by lazygood4nothinbum
so of course we can drive little underpowered smart cars; we have nothing to hide and even less to prove.
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So what does that say about me, as a Honda Civic driver (and not afraid to admit it!)?
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
06-26-2006, 01:06 PM
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#22
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,895
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
either you're a grower, not a show-er, or simply living below your means. (there, now aren't you sorry you asked?)
__________________
"off with their heads"~~dr. joseph-ignace guillotin
"life should begin with age and its privileges and accumulations, and end with youth and its capacity to splendidly enjoy such advantages."~~mark twain - letter to edward kimmitt 1901
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
06-26-2006, 01:10 PM
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#23
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,005
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Quote:
Originally Posted by lazygood4nothinbum
either you're a grower, not a show-er, or simply living below your means. (there, now aren't you sorry you asked?)
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I'm not 100% clear on what the 1st and 2nd terms connote, so I'll go with door #3, LBYM.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
06-26-2006, 02:15 PM
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#24
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 52
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
When the car is that small, and you intend to use it only for local commuting, maybe an electric car would be a better alternative.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
06-26-2006, 02:27 PM
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#25
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Okanagan Valley
Posts: 808
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Quote:
Originally Posted by justin
I have kids, so it's a no go right now.* I checked out the stats on the Smart car - looks like a no-go based on the numbers, too.* Comparing it to a Honda Civic -
Smart Car (base model):
Base price (in U.K., converted to US dollars) - $12,339
Power: 50 hp
Weight: 1606 lbs
Weight/Power ratio: 32.1 lb/hp
0-60: 18 seconds*
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The Canadian version of Smart car may be a better comparison than the UK version, but I still agree that it's way too little value for the bucks. I was amazed how you can load it up though with options...and the price takes off with those options. This is really no more than an inner city commuter car and may not be that bad of a choice for inner city dwellers, e.g. New York, where space is a premium. I wonder if they'll market it through Chrysler??
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
06-26-2006, 02:32 PM
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#26
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 8,827
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Quote:
Originally Posted by AltaRed
The Canadian version of Smart car may be a better comparison than the UK version, but I still agree that it's way too little value for the bucks.
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Space for parking convenience is the issue here. Can't argue with that. Other than price, everything else about this vehicle doesn't make sense most places here in the USA.
Might see it differently if I lived in a totally urban world with severe parking chaos and never took it on the highway.
My car gets 55-60mpg on my mixed commute. It's midized with most of the bells and whistles, air bags, standard length and width, 5 seater if a bit cramped with 3 in back. Cost about twice what the smart car costs but I really like it.
__________________
Rich
San Francisco Area
ESR'd March 2010. FIRE'd January 2011.
As if you didn't know..If the above message contains medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any purpose. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
06-26-2006, 06:36 PM
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#27
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 52
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Is it really that much better when parking is a problem? I mean, normally there's either a full space available or no space. Once in a while you might squeeze in if someone happened to leave too much space.
The only time the car is an advantage is when you find a spot with another smart car taking half the spot, and you get the other half. Right?
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-03-2006, 05:51 AM
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#28
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,713
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
there were some other threads about this..
http://early-retirement.org/forums/i...p?topic=6645.0
http://early-retirement.org/forums/i...7791#msg137791
There is something to be said for consuming 50% of the gas you currently consume. If you are in a crowded city it also makes sense:
In Italy, and in much of Europe I imagine, they don't draw individual spaces for each car on the street or have individual metered spaces; there's a parking "zone" along the street and you pay by buying time from a ticket kiosk and displaying it on your dash..
The Smart car you can park head on to the sidewalk if you find a gap:
http://tinyurl.com/lzzzb
Quote:
Inner-city developers may finally get their wish of offering a free micro car with inner-city apartments, saving them providing expensive garage space.
The egg-shaped Smart micro car is the latest weapon in the city apartment war. One Docklands developer is offering the "free" car for those willing to spend $25,000 for a half-sized parking space for it at the Condor development.
According to Condor developments general manager Rod McDonald, the 2.5-metre-long Smart is an ideal way to use otherwise useless garage space while offering a unique incentive in an apartment market that has softened over the past year.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-03-2006, 10:25 AM
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#29
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,194
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
I would not want the one coming over here.... but would be interested in the convertable if priced right... but it is not going to be offered...
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-03-2006, 01:54 PM
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#30
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 524
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
I hope this is the start of a new trend toward smaller more fuel efficient cars. Does anyone know what the expected mileage is? It's a turbo-diesel, so that should help too. Plus, it'll run on biodiesel. My old Honda civic had 92 hp which was plenty powerful for my needs.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-03-2006, 02:12 PM
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#31
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: South Texas~29N/98W Just West of Woman Hollering Creek
Posts: 6,668
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Quote:
It is a queer looking car, thats for sure.
__________________
Part-Owner of Texas
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx
In dire need of: faster horses, younger woman, older whiskey, more money.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-03-2006, 02:18 PM
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#32
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,049
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Quote:
Originally Posted by ladelfina
The Smart car you can park head on to the sidewalk if you find a gap:
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In Paris, they just park it on the sidewalk.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-03-2006, 06:02 PM
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#33
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Okanagan Valley
Posts: 808
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Yes, you would be surprised how Smart cars get parked in Europe. Seen them in just about every situation, from right angles..like the pic in this thread, to the sidewalk, to the median, etc. Especially in Rome. They seem to get away with it too... as if it is socially acceptable to be driving this car. Having said that, Daimler has yet to make a profit on that division.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-03-2006, 06:29 PM
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#34
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 699
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Someone at my workplace drives one of those things. Looks like an overpriced gimmick to me -- conspicuous consumption for the eco-minded. There are much cheaper micro-cars available if one truly yearns to become road-kill.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-04-2006, 10:30 AM
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#35
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: South Texas~29N/98W Just West of Woman Hollering Creek
Posts: 6,668
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
One of the worst films of the year IMHO was The Pink Panther with Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau. He drove a Smart car in that movie (I'm sure, for comic relief) and viewing that car was the funniest thing in this entire lame flick.
__________________
Part-Owner of Texas
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx
In dire need of: faster horses, younger woman, older whiskey, more money.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-04-2006, 04:48 PM
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#36
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 717
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
This sounds very much like the conversations I heard as a child about VW's. I don't think Detroit ever did wake up and see the trend. "Those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it"
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Random Reinforcement is Highly Addictive.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-04-2006, 06:31 PM
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#37
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 699
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Quote:
Originally Posted by riskaverse
This sounds very much like the conversations I heard as a child about VW's. I don't think Detroit ever did wake up and see the trend. "Those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it"
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Except that the VWs were genuinely cheap at the time. The Smart car isn't. Cheaper alternatives exist for those who are truly budget- or ecologically-minded, and don't care about safety.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-05-2006, 12:12 AM
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#38
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,194
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Quote:
Originally Posted by bpp
Except that the VWs were genuinely cheap at the time. The Smart car isn't. Cheaper alternatives exist for those who are truly budget- or ecologically-minded, and don't care about safety.
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Bpp...
I do not think it has been tested by the Insurance Institute, but I have read that this car is a lot safer than bigger cars... something to do with their shell... it is NOT as unsafe as some much bigger Hundai's or Suzukis or other unsafe cars... and some bigger SUVs are much more unsafe as they roll over easier..
I do agree that there are alternatives that are better at the same price... but for some reason people keep buying the Mini and I think that is way overpriced..
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-05-2006, 06:36 AM
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#39
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,645
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
That isn't great fuel mileage. I get 42-44 mpg with the diesel Jetta I drive. It's small, but has a back seat and a huge trunk.
Fun to drive too!
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
07-05-2006, 10:06 AM
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#40
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Losing my whump
Posts: 22,708
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Two plusses to small cars is that they usually have lower rollover risk and they tend to get pushed rather than hold their ground. Its a bit better to take out some of that (mass x inertia) on the tires and road rather than have a heavier vehicle stand its ground and absorb it in the vehicles frame.
Miata's have pretty good crash ratings. Big hairy metal beams in the key crash zones, almost no chance of rollover and something striking it will probably just push it somewhere. Hopefully somewhere good and not a wall, another vehicle or a pond.
That having been said, I dont think I'd like being in one when a hummer or a yukon or a jacked up pickup truck hit it and rode over the crash bars like a speedbump.
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Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.
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