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Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-25-2006, 09:09 PM   #1
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Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

Appears Daimler intends to start selling Smart cars in USA in 2007. For those that don't know, this is a micro-car 2 seater sold in Europe that is so short 2 of them can park in a 'normal' parking space. I've seen many of them in Europe in major urban settings as a commuter vehicle.

They may be great in major urban settings with continuous congestion, e.g. Manhattan, San Fran, etc. but I cannot see anyone wanting to put them on the Interstates. Would seem like a higher probability to meet your demise prematurely. Would you consider owning one of these for your daily commute (for those of you still w*rking)?

http://www.smart.com
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-25-2006, 11:42 PM   #2
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

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Originally Posted by AltaRed
Would seem like a higher probability to meet your demise prematurely.
So, in a head-on collision, do they rebound or submarine?
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 05:21 AM   #3
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

I have seen one on an interstate (I assume from Canada, it was going the other way) looked a bit scary.

There were pictures posted a few weeks ago on the net where a Smart Car was hit by a large vehicle and it bounced and rolled over a few times but looked like it was a survival crash with all the airbags. This was a stagged crash no humans in cars.

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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 05:49 AM   #4
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

I barely feel safe in my 3500# car now. No freakin way!
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 07:11 AM   #5
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

Cost and Mileage?
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 07:20 AM   #6
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

That might be okay for buzzing around town but there is no way I'd commute to work in that, the SUVs would run right over me.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 07:58 AM   #7
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

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


Honda Civic Sedan (4 seater, base model):
Base price - $14,700
Power: 140 hp
Weight: 2628 lbs
Weight/Power ratio: 18.8 lb/hp
Fuel consumption: 30mpg city/39 highway

Plus, what do you really want, Japanese/Honda quality or German/Daimler "quality"?

The lack of power and acceleration in the Smart car is also a no-go. I don't really care how powerful a car is, as long I can out-acceleration most school buses and 18-wheelers. The honda civic is no muscle car, but it'll git-r-done.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 09:16 AM   #8
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

Here's a Smart car and a comparison to Hummer in size.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg smartcar.jpg (1.9 KB, 125 views)
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 10:19 AM   #9
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

I'd like to see the hummer and smart car collision pictures.

Although I used to have a miata, and thats a lot closer to a smart car than a hummer in size and weight. The nice thing about a small car vs a larger vehicle in a collision is that theres less (mass x speed) involved and the smaller vehicle is more likely to be pushed along than hold its ground. Sometimes that inertia reducing benefit is mitigated by local environmental conditions, like cliffs or large bodies of water...

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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 10:54 AM   #10
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

Last time I was in Italy we rented a smart car for a few days. It was alot of fun to drive and we never felt unsafe. Of course cars are much smaller in Italy.....
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 11:33 AM   #11
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

I was open to the idea (11 mile commute) until Justin's post. Why would I pay almost as much and lose the back seat, real trunk space, and only get a few more mpg than a Honda Civic? In my mind, the Civic is the "smart car".
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 11:35 AM   #12
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurence
I was open to the idea (11 mile commute) until Justin's post.* Why would I pay almost as much and lose the back seat, real trunk space, and only get a few more mpg than a Honda Civic?* In my mind, the Civic is the "smart car".
Yeah, but the Smart Car comes with a whole life policy!
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 11:48 AM   #13
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

Plus the Smart car in Europe was bought mostly by gays. That is true. I saw it with my own eyes. It's a gay friendly car.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 12:20 PM   #14
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurence
I was open to the idea (11 mile commute) until Justin's post. Why would I pay almost as much and lose the back seat, real trunk space, and only get a few more mpg than a Honda Civic? In my mind, the Civic is the "smart car".
If it was half the price and twice the gas mileage, I'd probably bite (except for the kid issue). Maybe in 20 years. Unless we have flying cars by then.

I was surprised at just how bad of a comparison it makes to what I know: the honda civic. Given that there are smaller/cheaper alternatives to the civic (Yaris, Fit, etc), that makes the choice of a Smart car less intelligent. Add to that the fact that there's a honda/toyota dealer or specialist within spittin distance of everywhere you go these days (for maintenance and service). Where would the nearest Smart dealer be? How much would maintenance and repairs be for such a unique car?

Maybe the gas price differential in EU vs. US seals the deal. Don't they also assess a "per kilo" vehicle property tax in some jurisdictions in the EU to encourage smaller, more enviro friendly vehicles?
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 12:24 PM   #15
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

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Originally Posted by justin
Where would the nearest Smart dealer be?* How much would maintenance and repairs be for such a unique car?*
A local dealer used to have a deal years ago-- buy a Honda, get one free. It turned out that the "free" was a Honda lawnmower.

Maybe Daimler is giving away a SmartCar with every Benz purchase!
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 12:27 PM   #16
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

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Originally Posted by Nords
A local dealer used to have a deal years ago-- buy a Honda, get one free.* It turned out that the "free" was a Honda lawnmower.

Maybe Daimler is giving away a SmartCar with every Benz purchase!
Yeah, this way everytime your MB breaks down you have a spare.

Great idea Nords.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 12:31 PM   #17
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nords
A local dealer used to have a deal years ago-- buy a Honda, get one free.* It turned out that the "free" was a Honda lawnmower.

Maybe Daimler is giving away a SmartCar with every Benz purchase!
I seem to recall a Caddy dealer back in the day had a similar gimmick: buy a Cadillac, get a Yugo free.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 12:36 PM   #18
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

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Yeah, this way everytime your MB breaks down you have a spare.
Great idea Nords.
Hey, if it was a Hummer you could carry the SmartCar in the trunk.

GM & Daimler might be able to work together on this one...
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 12:42 PM   #19
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

I wonder if you could negotiate with the caddy dealer to pay extra for the caddy and have them keep the yugo.
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA
Old 06-26-2006, 01:02 PM   #20
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Re: Daimler to Sell Smart Cars in USA

Quote:
Originally Posted by OldAgePensioner
Plus the Smart car in Europe was bought mostly by gays.* That is true.* I saw it with my own eyes.* It's a gay friendly car.
speaking of a hummer, there is a wonderful scene in dancer of the dance (circa probably 1970something) where author andrew holleran describes walking into a crowded party and knowing the size of everyone else's dick.

so of course we can drive little underpowered smart cars; we have nothing to hide and even less to prove.
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