As the title says, I want to know what FF thinks of the Smart car. Flame, praise, discuss.[driving]

and here are some pics, for any of you who doesn't know what car i'm talking about
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/wheels/472_2004smartcar.jpg

http://www.mrfs.net/trips/2004/Italy/Tivoli/smartcar.jpg

http://www.mycrazycars.com/images/police_smartcar.jpg

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:V-I6xqBVNyn7WM:http://images.tomshardware.com/2006
and the "sedan"
http://www.smijer.com/blog/archives/smartcar.jpg

http://www.edmunds.com/media/news/column/letterstoeditors/04.mar/smartcar.500.jpg

I just think that if there was a collision between that and an F250, I'd like to be in the F250

I think there has been a thread about this but hey, this one's more official.

I laugh because my parents ordered one. I don't see how it is really that useful in the US other than for the fact that it gets good gas mileage. In Europe and Japan it is completely useful because of relatively few and very tight parking spaces, but obviously we really don't have that problem in the vast majority of the country.

I wish more car companies would take more initiative in making more fuel-efficient cars, but I know the reason for it and we don't need to get into that discussion. It's just a great shame, that's all.

But anyway the car could be alright, maybe I'll just have to wait and drive it for myself, and then post about it [:)].

I think there has been a thread about this but hey, this one's more official.

I really did search, but the topics were not what i was looking for, and they were mostly single page threads.

That's cool man, rather have one that's dedicated to just this anyway! It's an interesting topic.

Weird little cars......I kinda like the sedan one though.
Especially the last pic that was posted.

aww crap, i just found two pretty good 3 page threads discussing the car. one i dug up from the dark ages (2005, lol) and another one before summer this year.
oh well, it's not the first redundant thread on FF, so i won't beat myself up about it too much. the thread is on the boards now,might as well use it [dunno]

Agreed...and what's with the goat??? (sorry, off-topic...answer and continue discussion [thumb] heh)

haha..i'll pm you about the goat

What do I think of it?

Seriously, when I first saw a picture of one I thought to myself 'That's so cute!'[:D] the typical female response. LOL.

it resembles a kitchen appliance.

Ive wanted to test drive one for soo long. The little diesel engine one lol

I think this car should be mandatory in big citys.

why would i want 40mpg in that Small thing when i get 38mpg in my ZX3.
And i have a ton more room.

why do you ned a car you an pick up and take with you, lol.

I'm excited to see if they can deliver on their price promise. For something like $12,000, they're offering up a rear engine, RWD, 1600 pound car. If you let that sit on the used market for 4 years, you'd have a good, cheap drag racing platform, assuming anyone can figure out anything to do with the 3 cyl engine in them. Of course, there are videos out there of the hayabusa swap...

i say turbo ut and blow the litlle bastard up!!. lol.

I'm excited to see if they can deliver on their price promise. For something like $12,000, they're offering up a rear engine, RWD, 1600 pound car. If you let that sit on the used market for 4 years, you'd have a good, cheap drag racing platform, assuming anyone can figure out anything to do with the 3 cyl engine in them. Of course, there are videos out there of the hayabusa swap...

i was thinkin the same thing lol

I love it...and there is more room inside then in focus.....i mean front seats room of course ;-)

i would love to have one.... in damn LA traffice you need one, if you do not want a motorcycle or a bicycle...

I would be scared to drive one of the freeways in California... with all of the ridiculous SUVs out there you would be killed. In an urban environment they are ok, but here in the states we have huge expanses of open road... you need a cruiser for that.

Also I've heard that they do not handle well at all, something about the short wheelbase and high center of gravity.

I really want one lol...... the accidents with them go fairly well (by watching them on Youtube.)

An absolutely brillant design both aesthetically and engineering-wise. I took a look at the diesel ForTwos they brought to Canada when they first came out. Every little bit is so well thought out for its purpose. I wouldn't mind any part of the car to be sitting on my fireplace...it's all just so well thought out.

The interior is really nice too. It feels fairly upscale with the cloth covered dash, and jewel like instruments mounted up on top of the dash.

The four door however is just a Mitsubishi Colt with a rather untidy body.

BTW, I would take this car over an F250. It's so tiny, the truck will probably miss it;)

I test drove an '08 Fortwo yesterday - they're surprisingly roomy (and I'm 6'2")
But the little bugger's loud.

They're very fun to drive too with the paddle shift! All in all, it's a city car, more than anything else. There's gotta be a reason why MB Canada sold a load of them :)

I think those cars are fine for European cities, where there are tiny streets and the cars are driven at low speeds and short distances, but IMO it would be downright stupid for the average American to own one. Not only do they scream "gay" (no self-respecting straight guy would drive one), but they could not hold their own in an accident (especially the hatchback). lol my Ford E350 would drive right over it.

fast_ryda said "I think this car should be mandatory in big citys."

That's BS. This isn't China. The government has absolutely no authority to ban certain cars from big cities.

....Not only do they scream "gay" (no self-respecting straight guy would drive one....
i gotta disagree with you on that one. many people think the miata looks "gay"as you put it, but it's a driver's car and many "self-respecting straight guys" drive them on the track and kick ass..
i live in a country that has a traditionally "macho" society, and that doesn't really translate to cars here. mostly for economic reasons (the fact that cars cost a lot more here than in the U.S., and people get paid a lot less) you will see a lot more small cars here that you will in Cali. There are A LOT of Yaris, Fits, CRXs, Echos, Suzuki Swifts and other small cars on the streets here. I heard recently that the Smart would be available here soon, and knowing how things work here, if they are at a decent price a lot of people will buy them. If a car defines someones masculinity, I would think that's the least of his worries.
I think the car could be an alternative in cities and places prone to heavy traffic. Not to mention it could do something for the air/environment. I just wonder how stable it is at around 70 MPH.

It was "cute" and "fun" 7 years ago. Not interested now. lol

Japan makes a lot of good small cars but they don't import them to the US since they are difficult to sell here. I don't mind "small" but the look of the car really makes me cringe... it is anything but sleek and sexy.

You can buy a honda civic that is moderately roomy and a bit larger and gets as good or better gas mileage... and looks a hell of a lot better than the Smart.

Check out the Daihatsu Copen. They make a sport version that has racing seats and BBS wheels... that one is killer looking to me and is about the same size as the Smart.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/93/230668943_cc23f72603.jpg?v=0

http://www.diariomotor.com/imagenes/daihatsu_copen_zz_3.jpg

i would not want that small of a car

I just think that if there was a collision between that and an F250, I'd like to be in the F250

Actually the crash tests for the smart car had very good results, better than most cars on the road.

^^^^ against an F250?

This is the latest version of the Smart car...the Brabus edition!

http://www.allcarwallpapers.com/wallpapers/cache/allcarwallpapers.com/800x600/brabus-smart-fortwo-brabus-xclusive-11234.jpg

^^^^ against an F250?

HAHA not against an f250, but against a jersey barrier at 80 mph.

I drove one in canada, with the diesel - you may have seen my thread in a search. It was so fun!

And handled really quite well, I was surprised given the shape, but it was a trooper.

and highway speeds aren't scary in it?

Not quite an F250, but they did test the Smart v. the S Class. It turned out well for both cars.

http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/Projects/c2c/channel/images/178089_279865_381_254_offsetcrash.jpg

Here in Montreal, I only see men driving Smarts. I think women don't buy them because of the fear of accident factor. Men with an appreciation for engineering can overlook that.

Surprisingly, I see just as many in the 'burbs as in the city...On the highway, the engine annoys, but the car is safe up to its top speed...I think 80 mph or so.

nice.. i haven't had a chance to see one, but from what i've read and seen online it seems to be well built and engineered. a friend of mine had an early model 3cylinder swift, and i think i'd rather crash in the Smart than in that car. anywhere over 65 mph, you were literally scared for your life..lol....