REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
I've seen lots of discussions of late on small, fuel efficient cars. Consumer Reports just published a mini-review of the new Smart For Two, the Daimler-Benz mini-car CR describes as "an ostrich egg on wheels".
Pluses:
+ Lots of glass provides good driver visibility
+ High seating position and good interior design gives the feel of a small SUV
+ Extremely short turning radius allows a U-turn in a typical driveway
+ Scored a 'Good' in frontal and side impact tests
+ Real world tests averaged 38 mpg.
Minuses:
- Cabin is narrow and makes for 'an intimate driving experience' for two occupants
- Ride is 'horrendous' and driving on choppy urban streets 'pummels occupants mercilessly'
- 'Handling is not very responsive and it takes a lot of wheel winding to coax the car through corners'.
- The engine is 'slow, noisy' and takes premium fuel
- The auto transmission 'shifts in an uncomfortable way, with pauses and heaves between gears'.
Bottom line: "A car like this should be fun and zippy. Sadly, the Smart is neither".
Pluses:
+ Lots of glass provides good driver visibility
+ High seating position and good interior design gives the feel of a small SUV
+ Extremely short turning radius allows a U-turn in a typical driveway
+ Scored a 'Good' in frontal and side impact tests
+ Real world tests averaged 38 mpg.
Minuses:
- Cabin is narrow and makes for 'an intimate driving experience' for two occupants
- Ride is 'horrendous' and driving on choppy urban streets 'pummels occupants mercilessly'
- 'Handling is not very responsive and it takes a lot of wheel winding to coax the car through corners'.
- The engine is 'slow, noisy' and takes premium fuel
- The auto transmission 'shifts in an uncomfortable way, with pauses and heaves between gears'.
Bottom line: "A car like this should be fun and zippy. Sadly, the Smart is neither".