Your opinion on Smart Cars?

[foraloysius]

~Paging Louis!

I'm here!

Yes, I have a Smart car, mine is from 2001, it's the older model in a Deluxe Passion version. I don't drive very much and most of the time I am on my own in the car so it's perfect for me. It has all the things I need in a car. The downside of the older model is that it's not very steady on the road with a lot of wind. The newer version is much better, I drove one a while ago and I was quite impressed. The newer version also has a bit more interior space, even an oversized friend of mine fitted in the new Smart. If I would make longer journeys by car more often I would consider buying a somewhat bigger car, but for my current situation it's great.

Louis

 

[hydralique]

Nice color combo, Louis . . . it looks very smart (forgive me for that one, it was too easy but the car does look good)!

Regarding dealers, I thought Mercedes dealers were selling them here, at least that's what I've seen. I often pass a big M-B dealer when on the way to one of my projects and if I get caught by a red light I can look into the showroom. This dealer actually has twin connected showrooms, one for M-B, the second for other Daimler-Benz products. In this case it means the second showroom displays both Maybach and Smart, and they usually park a Smart outside of it for good effect. The juxtaposition of huge, overstuffed Maybachs with Smarts squeezed in between is just too funny, rather like the good and bad of D-B's automotive lineup presented for all to see. For all I know they may be giving away a Smart or two to each Maybach customer.

 

[iheartmaytag]

I thought Mercedes dealers were selling them here

Actually Raush, the owner of Raush Motor Sports (The Racing guy) is the sole distributor for SMART in the U.S.

I originally thought Daimler shot them selves in the foot when they snubbed their Chrysler network by not marketing through their already established dealers. But then they dumpped Chrysler and all was explained.

I personally still feel that Chrysler should beg Lee to come back and save their butts again.

 

[jasonl]

Louis

That's the color scheme I ordered. Blue/Silver Tridion/beige cloth seats but mine's going to be a Cabrio.

As far as interstate and power is concerned, the Smart is a go. It accelerates QUICKLY and holds its own on the Interstate.

On the way to work, I saw a blue Smart hauling some serious ass on I-40 to Nashville. I was going 75 so she must've been going 80+. THAT is the kind of person that will say "this car has horrible mileage"... NO, you have a heavy foot.

 

[perc-o-prince]

For all I know they may be giving away a Smart or two to ea

Considering that the cost of the Smart is about the same as the carpets in the Maybach I think that would be fair

Rich

 

[hydralique]

Funny thing about the Maybach . . .

They don't seem to be selling well at all. I'm sure part of the problem is the stratospheric pricing, but I do see the newer and similarly priced Rolls Royces around if not in great number. Contrast that to the current Bentley Flying Spur which seems to be everywhere in sedan, coupe and convertible forms. Of course the Flying Spur is half the cost of the Maybach or Rolls Royce, but at $175,000 or thereabouts it's hardly cheap - VW must be laughing all the way to the bank.

I'm wondering if the big M-B dealership I pass decided to put the Smarts next to the Maybachs so that part of the showroom will actually generate traffic. IMO it has made for a much more handsome showroom, although it takes a lot of Smarts to hide even one Maybach!

 

[scott55405]

What is a "Maybach"? Is it a Mercedes product?

 

[sudsmaster]

I have looked into currently available new small cars, and in my opinion the top offerings in the economy sub compact category would be the Ford Focus (I prefer the 3 door hatch version), the Hyundai Accent, the Nissan Versa, and the Honda Fit. Of these, the Accent and the Focus genearlly seem to be the least expensive. I would avoid the Toyota Yaris - the car mags have given it rather negative reviews - "built to a price point and feels like it". The 2008 Focus is supposed to have a much improved suspension (based on the Euro version).

As for the 55 mph limit.. hmmm.. I disagree. I hated that limit when I rode a motorcycle a lot (and got a lot of tickets for going over the 55 limit), but after driving my 300M both long and short distances, the savings in fuel between 55 mph and 70 mph can be up to 20%. The savings are even greater in my full size pickup truck - the wind resistance being even more of a factor there. The 300M is one of the more aerodynamic bigger cars. Personally I think people drive way too fast on the crowded conurban highways around here - slapping them down with a 55 speed limit would be good.

 

[jonv112]

Maybach is Mercedes' answer to BMW's Rolls Royce, but it's basically a souped-up S-Class. Pretty nice nonetheless.

I've seen tons of Smart cars here in Toronto, and I saw even more when I was in Quebec a couple of years ago. I like the concept of the Smart car, but I'm not really not fond with the interior or design. I'm more of a BMW/Lexus/MB design guy.

 

[volvoguy87]

55

55 is fine for highways in urban areas and through mountains, but out on the open road, I admit I like to open up the throttle and watch the miles fly by. My 2002 Saab 9-3 actually gets better fuel economy at 70 than at 55. The gears are pretty tall (notably taller than my friend's 1999 9-3). At 55 the engine is below its sweet spot in 5th gear. At 70, it just purrs along (my record is 43 mpg over 10 hours at 70+).

I think people could increase their fuel economy by exercising more patience and civility while driving. Here in Manassas there is a 5-mile stretch of road where the speed limit goes from 25 to 35 to 45. If you change speed to stay current with the speed limit signs, AND DON'T EXCEED THE SPEED LIMITS, you will have about 5 miles of green lights. I just putter along slowly and never have to stop, which increases my fuel economy and saves a fortune on brakes too. I don't understand why people feel so compelled to floor the gas and accelerate like mad just to slam on the brakes at the end of the block. My driving really annoys those behind me, but I always let people pass. Speeding in town really isn't faster, just more expensive.

Slowly (unless on the open road),
Dave

 

[hydralique]

Exactly, Volvoguy. Whether or not a car gets significantly better mileage at 55 versus 70 or 75 is pretty dependant on the car. For trucks and SUVs, which universally have poor aerodynamics due to excessive ground clearance and large frontal areas there is no doubt that slower is better, but this is less true for cars.

I'm perfectly happy for people to drive 55 in the slow lane if they wish to do so, but can't understand why they would want everyone else to be forced to do the same as they do. Ultimately it is a personal decision based on driver comfort and the value of one's time. I once had two days to drive from Dallas to LA during the days of the 55 limit. I started one evening and made it to west Texas. The next day took me from there through New Mexico and Arizona and just into California, probably 800 miles. I wound my Fiat X1/9 up to 80 and had a comfortable and safe trip, getting close to 30 mpg, marred only by a visit with a lady cop somewhere in Arizona who thankfully let me go. I got to LA on time and made my business appointment. No way could I have done that at 55 unless I had forgone sleep.

 

[Cybrvanr]

I have heard some people complain that their Priuses are getting only about 35mpg's, while others are saying that they are beating the EPA numbers, and getting over 65 mpg's. A HUGE part of this has to do with the driving habits of the vehicle like you guys are talking about. Trekking up and down I95 through Northern VA, I have noticed the differences in the way Prius drivers drive their cars. Some will just floor it, using both the gas and electric motors for that extra bust of acceleration, only to waste all that energy with a hard, late stop, while other drivers take off nice and easy, letting only the electric motor get them moving, and then coasting nice and easy to the next stop. Out on the interstate though, I have noticed that just about all Prius drivers are generally fast drivers. I try to keep it about 65-70 in my company Freestar van, and I have gotten blown off the road like I was standing still by Priuses on many occasions....and they always look back over at you and give you a funny look like "why are you driving so slow, trying to save fuel or something?!?!?!"

It just seems ironic that someone that bought a vehicle to save gas is driving it in such a way that it is less efficient. I guess since one is saving gas, they feel that they can go that much faster! Probably the same with the insanely fast smart-car drivers too!

 

[conate]

55 is annoying, but

55 mph is annoying, but....

Consider this:

One a 300 mile trip, 65 mph will take 4.6 hours. 55mph will take 5.45 hours.

We are talking about 50 minutes here, on a trip of 300 miles.

On a trip of 60 miles, the difference is about 6 minutes.

Yet the fuel savings are enormous. Further, the kinetic energy in your vehicle (which is based on the square of the speed) is much less. This says to me "I am more likely to survive an accident."

The downside to driving slower is???

Nate

 

[hydralique]

Downsides . . .

The downsides are exactly what you said: slower and often annoying. Try doing the 300 mile trip twice in one day (600 miles round trip) and that 50 minute savings per leg becomes 100 minutes, or over 1 1/2 hours. That is a huge difference on a long day. Again, it comes down to what your time is worth vs. the cost of fuel.

I have no problem if you want to go slow, that's your right and nobody should be forced to go faster than they want to. My problem is with someone trying to force me and most other drivers to go much slower than is comfortable. Having a bunch of bored, tired, and annoyed drivers doesn't promote safety either.

The 55 mph limit was abolished because it was literally unenforceable on a widespread basis on interstate highways. Those interstates are by a wide margin the safest places to travel in the US, so you're less likely to be injured or killed in a wreck there than on much slower roads. It is interesting to note that German autobahns, which have many stretches with unlimited speed, have an even better safety record than our intersates. There they spend a significant amount of time and money on promoting and enforcing driver training, lane discipline, and vehicle maintenance while here all we ever hear about is speed enforcement.

 

[conate]

Perhaps...

Perhaps we, as Americans, are too addicted to stress and feeling like 'oh I just need 10 extra minutes!' I see your point about driving 600 miles in a day - but realistically, most of us DON'T. Assume you have a 60 mile commute - long, but not unreasable. You're talking approximately 6 minutes, and (let's be conservative), a 10% savings in fuel.

Okay, now assume have a 15mpg car/truck at 65mph. For 120 miles, that is 8 gallons of fuel, for an approximate price at this point of 26.50. Now, saving 10% of that is $2.65 -- not a huge amount of money, no, but over the course of a week, that's over $13.

The extra time required? 1 hour.

For some people, $13 is peanuts. But for others, that is their PRE-TAX wage.

Personally, in my case, the fuel savings are more like 20%. I found, while towing a trailer in Canada, that I got 8% better fuel economy at 100 kph than 60mph. And that was only ~3mph difference.

What I"m trying to say is different situations mean different things. But don't automatically say "Oh well it isn't worth the savings."

Personally, I HAVE investigated car accidents. And I can tell you, when you hit something at a high rate of speed, you are more likely to be injured or killed than if you are driving slower.

Perhaps if we as a nation decided not to always be stress pups we wouldn't drive so fast, eat so much fast food, have bad health, and need tranquilizers or antidepressants. Oh heck, I have my issues there too with stress and etc. -- I'm not saying I'm perfect.

But using less fuel is a good goal too - even if it takes more time.

(Oh yes: Regarding states setting the speed limits and being bullied by the federal government: I agree. However, when you take someone's money for a project, they DO have a say in it. I'm all for states rights, but if you want to do it at federal expense, well, you might end up having to listen to them. If Connecticut (one of the largest net (per capita or absolute) contributors of tax money due to the wealth of the populace) wants to go it alone, way cool. But I would think New Mexico (one of the largest net recipients of federal funds per capita) would have to think twice. TANSTAAFL!)

Nate

 

[mielabor]

Here in Amsterdam, Smart cars are frequently used by delivery services and medical doctors because of their manoeuvrability in the city environment. Even the fire brigade has them:

 

[mielabor]

Vespacars are increasingly popular too. These cars may be parked on the kerb without having to pay a parking fee!

 

[mielabor]

Last summer I noticed a Smart car with a license plate that does not conform to the Dutch scheme. I wondered at the time whether it was illegal to use this car on a public road:

 

[iheartmaytag]

About the Prius

Not to hijack, but someone had mentioned the milage of the Prius. Last summer my Aunt and Uncle borrowed my cousins new Prius and drove from Eldon, MO to Minn, and then from Minn. to Wichita and back home to Eldon.

In this trip they drove like a 70 year old couple and averaged 66 MPG. Your mileage may vary. . My Uncle was ready to trad in his Roadmaster right then and there.

 

[jasonl]

My father in law is 70 and he drives 80!

You can really get 60+ mpg if you follow this link.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1510