Parents of teenagers....a Smart Car? Really?

[hrh_disney_queen]

As for comments about larger cars and SUVs not paying attention to smaller cars, the same can be said for little cars zipping in and out in front of those cars. Seems like some small car owners think they are on a cat and mouse chase and THEY don't give a rip about who they cut off.

Bottom line is there are safe drivers and bad drivers. I never know what kind of driver I will encounter out there on the road so I want protection against them. So if I am in my SUV (not even a big one) and get into an accident with a Smart Car, my bet is on my SUV protecting my family better.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My teenager won't be driving a car other than mine until he can afford to buy one, and then I guess it will be up to him.

However, if I had to choose, my guess is that an SUV with a backseat full of friends (aka distractions) is less safe than a SMART Car that fits 2.

 

[Christine]

Interesting. This guy on about.com rate the Smart as the #8 pick for the Top 10 Cars for Teens.
http://cars.about.com/od/helpforcarbuyers/tp/Topten_teen.htm

 

[luvmy3]

My teenager won't be driving a car other than mine until he can afford to buy one, and then I guess it will be up to him.

However, if I had to choose, my guess is that an SUV with a backseat full of friends (aka distractions) is less safe than a SMART Car that fits 2.

Many States have laws regarding how many passengers a teen is allowed to have in their car while they are driving.

FTR, back in the day a 2 seater car wouldn't have stopped some teens from packing it to an unsafe capacity. Not that anything like that would happen with teens today.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Many States have laws regarding how many passengers a teen is allowed to have in their car while they are driving.

FTR, back in the day a 2 seater car wouldn't have stopped some teens from packing it to an unsafe capacity. Not that anything like that would happen with teens today.

It's against the law to do what the OP described as well. If we're assuming that the teen won't be using the car innappropriately or illegally, then I think a SMART Car is a great choice.

 

[Elmo9607]

I drive a Chevy Cobalt...not really all that small, but even I still get nervous when I'm being tailgated by a F-350 with a 6 inch lift kit and mud tires, or a Duramax fitted out in a similar fashion (I live in big truck country obviously!)

I could imagine that if I was driving a SMART Car they could just drive right over me, but I'd probably rather just blow me off the road as they pass me on the highway at speeds over 80 mph.

If I got hit by a huge truck in my Cobalt, they would hardly feel it and my car would get destroyed. I'd imagine that if a huge truck hit a smart car...well...I can't imagine the carnage that would ensue.

It's not a matter of the driver of the SMART Car being safe or not...other drivers simply don't see them.

 

[luvmy3]

It's against the law to do what the OP described as well. If we're assuming that the teen won't be using the car innappropriately or illegally, then I think a SMART Car is a great choice.

I do assume at some point that my kids are going to be reckless and maybe even do something against the law, I wouldn't put them in that death box even if I didn't though. I want them to be in the safest car for all scenerios and the Smart car just doesn't cut it for me.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I do assume at some point that my kids are going to be reckless and maybe even do something against the law, I wouldn't put them in that death box even if I didn't though. I want them to be in the safest car for all scenerios and the Smart car just doesn't cut it for me.

I haven't looked into all car safety stats so I can't say whether I think a Smart Car is safe. However, my comment was that I don't think it's safe for kids to carry multiple passengers. I won't allow it, but the SMART car would pretty much guarantee that it won't happen. You said that it was illegal to carry multiple passengers, as if that meant that your teen would never do that.

 

[luvmy3]

I haven't looked into all car safety stats so I can't say whether I think a Smart Car is safe. However, my comment was that I don't think it's safe for kids to carry multiple passengers. I won't allow it, but the SMART car would pretty much guarantee that it won't happen. You said that it was illegal to carry multiple passengers, as if that meant that your teen would never do that.

Oh no I didn't mean that my teen would never do that, I was just saying that there are laws in place to protect teens in regular cars. I won't allow it either and I hope they don't break that law, but I'm not going to count on it never happening because like I said, back in the day we would cram as many people as we could in a 2 seater, it was 4 BTW It was stupid and irresponisble and doing stupid and irresponsible things isn't out of the ordinary for teen drivers. I wouldn't let my teen drive a smart car for a few reasons, because of their (lack of) driving experience and because I don't believe that car would be safe in a high speed crash against the large SUV type vehicles that dominate the roads where we live, no matter what the rating it got at 35MPH was.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I'd like to see a smart car try to get up my driveway Good luck trying to even get home in the snow none the less the getting up the driveway

Smart cars only seem smart if you drive 35mph or less, in a city, in a warm climate were it doesn't snow, with no more than one passenger (ever), with very little to no baggage and if your #1 concern is gas mileage. Oh yea, and from what I've read to get the 40mpg with the smart cars it's only on highway driving

 

[Planogirl]

I had one of the old Beetles when I was a teen and they were pretty small and light. I got hit at a high rate of speed by a car easily 2 times the weight of mine and the bug's front end was gone but the cabin was actually in pretty good shape. I don't know about SMART Cars though, they are awfully tiny.

 

[Lanshark]

If everyone were driving Smart Cars or a Prius then I'd have no problem making the switch. As long as there are Hummers, Expeditions, Excursions, Suburbans and the like on the road I won't be driving a Smart Car.

 

[Tweevil]

I don't think I would... as a matter of that the plan is for him to restore an old Ford truck. It's like our motorcycles - you put that much blood, sweat, and tears in it and you don't drive like a fool. And, the rule is if you want to drive you have to be responsible.

I also wouldn't blink at putting in a speed kill, GPS, and a vid cam...lol

He has one chance with me, if he screws it up the keys are gone.

But back on topic... I wouldn't feel comfortable in a small car like that, I couldn't see my son in one.

Responsible driving is the key as most PP have stated.

 

[disfan07]

You couldn't PAY me to get into one of those cars.

My honda accord was totalled in an accident where I was going 35MPH and she was going between 40 and 45MPH. My car was totalled and I spent more than a week in the hospital.

No way do I believe at all that a smart car would hold up better than my accord.

I won't get into anything smaller than a honda civic (it's what i have now). Never, ever, ever.