"Smart" Car For Two? Maybe not...

[Meadbh]

[happy2bretired]

Originally Posted by Midpack

Didn't know that, why on earth?

Our local paper had an article about small cars that take premium fuel...the mini cooper was also listed along with the smart car.

[cantlogin]

Her's a Smart car with a motorcycle engine.

YouTube - Smart with Hayabusa engine

[Cruisinthru]

I think they are cute, but I prefer my Yaris. The difference in the MPG isn't much. I get 38 MPG. The yaris, though small, can haul enough for our needs. We have the hatchback and keep the rear seat down. My husband has gotten so much in the rear of that little car! The Smart Car has no space. We originally got the Yaris so that we could fit it and the golf cart into one side of the garage. It works beautifully! We are glad we did now that gasoline has gone thru the roof.

[Cruisinthru]

There was a problem here in the Dallas area when some yahoo decided to import ForTwos from Europe and sell them prior to the US versions being available. Seems there was a big difference in them and people didn't realize just how much until they took them in to local dealers for warranty work. The local dealers were not equipped to do the warranty work, so the new owners are out their warranties unless they can get the vehicles back to Europe for the it. The article in the local paper indicated the engines are completely different.

[Trek]

I guess they don't sell these models in the US, but here the Smart Roadster is pretty popular.

http://faimg1.forum-auto.com/mesimages/11976/smart.jpg

and the more family practical Smart forFour

http://car-reviews.automobile.com/im...2861/alt11.jpg

[Nords]

Originally Posted by REWahoo

+ Scored a 'Good' in frontal and side impact tests

I wonder if that's a rating of occupant survival, vehicle damage, or how far it bounces down the fairway after impact...

As for the comment about qualifying for American emissions standards, the Prius "has" to run its engine after a cold startup just to warm up the catalytic converter to EPA zero-emissions standards. The dashboard also lacks the "EV" button that allows drivers to kill the engine for trips under 35 MPH.

So of course one of the most frequent topics on the Prius discussion boards is how to hack the ECU and where to buy an EV button.

[ERD50]

[quote=stargazer08;676279

If I were in charge everyone would ride horses instead of driving cars. [/quote]

No!

http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...0&postcount=49

I posted the above when WAGS made the same wish. We need to learn from history.

-ERD50

[Texas Proud]

Originally Posted by Trek

I guess they don't sell these models in the US, but here the Smart Roadster is pretty popular.

http://faimg1.forum-auto.com/mesimages/11976/smart.jpg

and the more family practical Smart forFour

http://car-reviews.automobile.com/im...2861/alt11.jpg

I kind of liked the look of the Roadster and was thinking about buying one to make the short commute to and from work.... but they decided to either stop making it or at least to not import it into the US.... stupid move IMO..

[saluki9]

Originally Posted by stargazer08

With the price of gas and less people buying premium I'm fairly certain that this grade of fuel will eventually be phased out.

Not likely in the near future considering many European and Japanese cars require it.

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Someone in the next town over has one, I've seen it twice. Last time it was at a stop light in front of a mini cooper. Made the mini look like a huge car.

[Purron]

A neighbor got one. Reminds me of a clown car.