Smart Cars...

[WILMASBOYL78]

Saw one of these today for the first time at one of my dealer clients....it's about half the size of my Tahoe. The guy driving it was 6' 4" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif...they are supposed to get 45 mpg....not sure if they come with a big block http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


www.smart.com (http://www.smart.com)


http://www.yenko.net/attachments/329387-tn_DSCN1081.JPG

[firstgenaddict]

I saw one of those things the other day and just couldn't imagine putting someone I cared about in it... how would it fare against the Tahoe in an accident??? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

[Late BrakeU2]

I would not want to take a side hit from a 70 Eldo in that thing.it looks like something Dave Deal could have drawn forty years ago.
http://www.bigdealart.com/

[WILMASBOYL78]

I'm gonna' buy one and keep it in the back of the Tahoe...if I break down or run out of gas I'll pull it out and keep going http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[300deluxeL79]

[ QUOTE ]
I saw one of those things the other day and just couldn't imagine putting someone I cared about in it... how would it fare against the Tahoe in an accident??? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
my feelings exactly! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif

[WILMASBOYL78]

There is room for "one Tastykake" in the back....only one!

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

[Charley Lillard]

Probably as safe or safer than a motorcycle.

[Verne_Frantz]

Gotta hand it to the guy though.....REAL NADS, unlike most of the customers in that dealership who are trying to buy some! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[Mr70]

I'd rather take my chances on a motorcycle.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r46/Motorbiker_photos/NewsPics/Smart-Cruiser.jpg

[68z302]

Apparently they're quite safe as the cockpit is inside a safety cage. They've been selling in Canada for a number of years with a turbo diesel for power.

My thoughts about getting hit in one by an SUV is that it will behave like a ping pong ball & shoot you clear! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[COPO_Anders]

In the house in Gothenburg where my mother lives, there is a family who has two smart cars which they park in the same parking space. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Chris396]

My daily driver is a Geo Metro. I'd drive one of those to work.

[mockingbird812]

Good morning Anders,

Those Smarts are prolific in Europe and are right at home on the tight European city streets - very practical.

My family and I will be in Gothenburg on the 24th and 25th of July for a short visit, then on the auto ferry to Kiel, DE the evening of the 25th. Can you recommend a good restaurant for lunch on the 25th? We should be staying at the Radisson Scandanavia Hotel on Sodra Hamngatan 59-65.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[MosportGreen66]

Been in Europe for years too! The success of the Smart Car in Europe is almost totally based on high gas prices but I would also imagine its because SUV's in big European cities do not exist. My neighbor has a smart car as the "Geek Squad" mobile for his company. I'll try to snag a photo of it.

[Paul D]

You Tube has several videos of the crash tests done on the Smart car. It has an extremely ridgid steel cage, front and side air bags, and energy absorbing technology. After a high speed crash test, with everthing scattered about, the door still opened. But at 1700 #'s it still would change directions pretty quick in a head-on with and SUV.
Paul

[427TJ]

Hey, when China really begins to guzzle up oil in a few more years, driving world oil prices higher and higher, the demand for these little cars and other fuel efficient makes will only go up. Besides, the chances of getting hit by someone in an SUV are very small and not enough reason, for me anyway, to avoid driving one. An SUV could just as easily torpedo you in your old musclecar during a nice Sunday drive and there are no safety cages, airbags, or any other real safety devices in most old cars. Imagine getting t-boned at an intersection by a Ford Expedition while in your '60s musclecar. Yeah, a real bloodbath and your funeral would probably follow a few days later.

Gas will be five, six, seven bucks a gallon (and up?) sooner or later (while wages remain stagnant for most Americans) and fuel efficiecy will be forced on most of us one way or another. The rest will drive whatever vehicle they want to and just pay at the pump--what we Americans call Freedom of Choice!

[68z302]

[ QUOTE ]
The success of the Smart Car in Europe is almost totally based on high gas prices but I would also imagine its because SUV's in big European cities do not exist.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was in Rome in Summer '06 & was surprised at the number of Jeep Grand Cherokee's & Grand Caravans (both Turbo Diesel) that were there. Also gasoline Chrysler 300 Hemi's, PT Cruisers & the odd Jeep. Chrysler was the only North American company I noticed. Probably sold through MB dealers?

[ktownkid]

Hey Tom.....
What color is that Tahoe......????

I really like it. Thanks.

[StriperSS]

They've been here for a couple of years, and make great city cars. There are a lot of people who commute in from outlying communities as well, but I would think that side winds on prairie roads would make that an adventure.
Here's a shot of a row of Smart cars with my wagon for comparison.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c155/StriperSS/My%20Cars/Smart2.jpg

[StriperSS]

They like engine swaps too. Here's a video of one with a Suzuki Hayabusa engine at the drag strip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV1zQMcSsk0&feature=related

[Jeff Murphy]

Europe is going a little green crazy, especially central London, where from October this year they will charge you the equivalent of $50 per day to drive anything with a 3.0L or larger engine (if the fascist, pinko, car-hating mayor is re-elected).

These deathtraps are increasingly common and make the Smarts seem like an E-Class Mercedes by comparison:

http://www.goingreen.co.uk/xs_i/gwiz-i-header-vert.jpg


Dimensions: L 2.6m, W 1.3m, H 1.6m. Wheel base 1.7m. Just multiply by 3 for feet for you non-metric guys in the audience.

I actually feel physically ill whenever I see one on the road... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[kwhizz]

[ QUOTE ]
Europe is going a little green crazy, especially central London, where from October this year they will charge you the equivalent of $50 per day to drive anything with a 3.0L or larger engine (if the fascist, pinko, car-hating mayor is re-elected).

These deathtraps are increasingly common and make the Smarts seem like an E-Class Mercedes by comparison:

http://www.goingreen.co.uk/xs_i/gwiz-i-header-vert.jpg


Dimensions: L 2.6m, W 1.3m, H 1.6m. Wheel base 1.7m. Just multiply by 3 for feet for you non-metric guys in the audience.

I actually feel physically ill whenever I see one on the road... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]



Hummmmmmmmm!!!!!......Seems Charley was ahead of the curve with "The Chicken Egg" car...........

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[WILMASBOYL78]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey Tom.....
What color is that Tahoe......????

I really like it. Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't know the Chevrolet color name, but it's a charcaol grey. I put the Z71 wheels on a few years back. This truck has 195,000 miles on it and still going pretty strong. Had to put a GM tranny in it last year, but the engine keeps purring even with the piston slap noise when you first start it http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif It really gets used a lot for work and pleasure....hope I get another 195k out of her http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

wilma

[kwhizz]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hey Tom.....
What color is that Tahoe......????

I really like it. Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't know the Chevrolet color name, but it's a charcaol grey. I put the Z71 wheels on a few years back. This truck has 195,000 miles on it and still going pretty strong. Had to put a GM tranny in it last year, but the engine keeps purring even with the piston slap noise when you first start it http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif It really gets used a lot for work and pleasure....hope I get another 195k out of her http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

wilma

[/ QUOTE ]


How can you put so many miles on a Vehicle and never be anywhere......... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif


Ken http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[WILMASBOYL78]

It's easy, when you're always driving in circles http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

NuYawk http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[COPO_Anders]

Sam, when we go to Gothenburg in business and stay over night we live at the Gothia Towers Hotel. They have a restaurant at the top that I like. Check out www.gothiatowers.com (http://www.gothiatowers.com) . It takes 5-10 minutes with a cab from Radisson Scandinavia.
I´ll ask my friends in Gothenburg what else they recommend and get back to you.

Welcome to Sweden, land of the midnight sun !

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[mockingbird812]

Thanks Anders. Appreciate your suggestions. Just got your email. I am already getting hungry.....


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Late BrakeU2]

Won't be playing soccer anytime soon but i'm impressed!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcuimw8ql_A

Leave it to Tiff,lol

[Hylton]

So I'm driving home yesterday in my Yukon and pull up at a light next to this woman driving a Smart car. My lane ends about 200 ft ahead and I have to merge into her lane.

Naturally, when the light turns green, I am going to blow ahead of this dog cage. She is looking over at me, staring me down like I am the Devil driving this big bad SUV. I can just tell that she is going to do whatever she can to prevent me from getting ahead of her. Light goes green and she guns it. I calmly leave the line because I want to see what this thing has (I was quite surprised actually as it has some go).

As soon as the dog cage gets up next to me, I punch the gas and the 6.0 Vortec does it's thing and just smokes her. She starts laying on the horn as I blow past her because I guess she hates big bad SUV's. I was nowhere near her when I merged. She eventually caught up to me in traffic and started riding my bumper. I was thinking about turning her front bumper into a mold for my trailer hitch and ball but she calmed down and backed off.

[Xplantdad]

Stupid women drivers http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[WILMASBOYL78]

...careful Bruce, Karen may be reading this http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Canucklehead]

Is'nt it always the smallest dog barking the loudest!

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]
...careful Bruce, Karen may be reading this http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[COPO_Anders]

I now realize they are actually using more than one parking space for those two Smart-cars.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[COPO_Anders]

I was in Gothenburg this weekend, so I took some pics. Here is the hotel, Radisson Scandinavia, in the old town surrounded by defence canals.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif