car gets 46 - 73 MPG.... but would you buy it?

[Papa Deuce]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/06/26/smart/index.html

Look at the picture of it on the right.

It is attractively priced at 11K - 14K, but I would be afraid to drive it anywhere except in my neighborhood.

 

[binny]

we saw a tonneof these in Victoria last year. They remind of that car that Eurkel drove in Family Matters

I dont think I would drive one, where do you put the kids? In the trunk???

 

[Cinderella Fan]

The Smart Car. They have them in Canada and Europe. DF and I have a Mercedes, and we have looked into these (they are made by Mercedes-Benz, who owns Chrysler). They won't be selling them at the MB dealerships, but they will create a new dealership.

They aren't the most attractive, or for that matter luxurious, but they are great on gas.... And isn't that the point...

 

[aidensdad]

my volkswagen beetle TDI turbo diesel Get 42city 50highway about 800 miles per tank on A 14 and half gallon tank

 

[pyrxtc]

I ahve actually seen that car at my grocery store. Looking inot my photo folders, it was back in November. I thought it was very starnge looking then but not to bad in person. Looks weirder in your picture.

 

[Evil Genius]

Yeah I'd give it serious thought. It's definitely not a family car, but if dh and I could fit in sure why not!!

 

[pyrxtc]

It's somehting I would encourage my Dh to get to commute.

 

[rayelias]

If I read the article correctly, it said that the JAPANESE sub-compacts run $11-14k. This one pictured is a Mercedes and the article did not mention the price.

If it was in that general range, and had some decent appointments, I'd definately buy one as a 2nd car. But, I need my stereo, A/C, heated seats, and other toys.

 

[Papa Deuce]

They aren't the most attractive, or for that matter luxurious, but they are great on gas.... And isn't that the point...

Yeah, I love the MPG, but I wonder how safe they are on the highway? Actually, I don't really mind the look too much.

 

[Papa Deuce]

If I read the article correctly, it said that the JAPANESE sub-compacts run $11-14k. This one pictured is a Mercedes and the article did not mention the price.

If it was in that general range, and had some decent appointments, I'd definately buy one as a 2nd car. But, I need my stereo, A/C, heated seats, and other toys.

Right you are. But I imagine it won't be so much different here.

 

[JimFitz]

I would buy it for my commuter car.

 

[swankybeth]

DH is obsessed with them for some reason and he really, really wants to get one. Me, on the other hand, well...

 

[Steffi]

I think it's adorable and I wouldn't mind driving one around town. I'd be afraid to drive on the highways, though, with all the bigger, faster cars whizzing by!

 

[TXTink]

I saw one of these on the road for the first time this past Saturday. It sure didn't look safe to me! I'm sure the MPG is great, but I don't think it would be worth it if you were hit by another car/truck going 70 MPH down an interstate (like the one I saw).

 

[Caradana]

If they souped up the interior - great stereo, great sound, heated seats, cruise control, side-impact airbags, etc ... I'm in.

 

[pjpoohbear]

In Europe there is a forfour, that model in the article is a fortwo There is also a sports model. The twofour would get great as a run around town family car. Do a search for smart car and look at the UK site and you can build and price all the models. Here in Canada we only can order the fortwo right now, if they bring the forfour to the market, I think a lot more families will look at it.

Pj

 

[bavaria]

The Smart Car. They have them in Canada and Europe. DF and I have a Mercedes, and we have looked into these (they are made by Mercedes-Benz, who owns Chrysler). They won't be selling them at the MB dealerships, but they will create a new dealership.

They aren't the most attractive, or for that matter luxurious, but they are great on gas.... And isn't that the point...

In Canada Smart Cars ARE sold at MB dealerships - they just added a sign and a seperate area for them. They are hugely popular in the big cities. FWIW, there is a sports car version in Germany; but Smart Cars will no longer be for sale there due to the proliferation of super-economy cars by almost every car maker (ie VW Lupo is a more 'normal' looking car)

Mercedes also makes an A class car type for sale in Germany; it is essentially a giant Smart car, and having just driven one for two weeks I can tell you that I would never buy one for use on the highway/autobahn. I had my foot stomped on teh floor all day long - one day a 1970's model SuperBeetle even zoomed by me in the left lane. They have no pickup and are poor driving uphill.

Gas mileage on the Diesel A class was also poor as compared to a VW diesel - 750 km/tank vs 1000 km/tank

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Where I live, almost everyone has a large SUV, and the SUV still is king of the road around here. Most people I know don't care at all about fuel efficency. A tiny car like that is an accident waiting to happen! All the Yukons, Suburbans, Expeditions, Excursions, and Escalades won't even see it!

 

[maddiel]

Yeah, I love the MPG, but I wonder how safe they are on the highway? Actually, I don't really mind the look too much.

They are quite popular here - I know two people who each own one and have seen at least ten different colour combinations around town.

I believe they are quite safe - I read somewhere that their compact size means they are effectively a capsule and the structure to volume ratio is really high.

My daughter's religion teacher owns one and I would conservatively estimate him at 6 foot 2 and 300 lbs. He seems to find it quite comfortable as a commuting car.

I hope the four-seaters are available in Canada by the time we buy our next car.

M.

 

[bavaria]

May I say that driving the car I mentioned above reminded me of driving this stellar vehicle years ago.

However, I once got a speeding ticket while driving the 2CV pictured above - I was never in danger of getting one last week in the Mercedes A class!