Gadgetopia

Have you seen the video where a Smart was driven into a wall at 70mph? Nobody in it, so no telling how someone would fare in a crash like that, but the car did amazingly well. Both doors even opened & closed afterward. Link.

You know, I've seen stuff about the Smart Car all over the place, and browsed through the smart.com website, but I still don't know if it's front engine/front drive or rear engine/rear drive. The thing is so small, it's not obvious from looking at the outside.

I'm with you though; I'd love to have something like this for getting to work & back. I don't know if I'd be willing to pay $12-15k for it though.

i'm wondering why it took so long for them to make it over here. they (and variations) have been around for quite some time in europe.

Definitely watch the crash-into-a-wall video. Then note how carefully they DON'T show you what became of the space between the driver's seat and the front of the car. Don't get me wrong, the car did VERY well in the crash, and you'd probably survive, but you wouldn't have anything below your thighs.

I was in a head-on crash at 55 mph once and walked away (hurray for the solidity of a 1966 Volvo and its three-point seat-belts). I'm kind of safety concious.

Check out the Smart Roadster. Its a rearwheel drive, mid engine two seater. Convertible and turbo charged. Its a 0.7litre 3 cylinder engine. Due to the lightweight chassis and plastic panels it has a better power:weight ratio than a porsche 911 :) It also happens to be my favourite car. Sadly its going out of production.

Link to smart roadster homepage

Upcoming? It's been around for years!

Upcoming? It?s been around for years!

In your country, maybe. They're just introducing it to the United States.

They were introduced into Canada a about 3 years back. Great little cars. I haven't heard any complaints about them even during the winter months. I thought they were kinda pricey for what you get. They were right on par with a basic Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. They way gas prices are going, I would consider it a little more seriously if I were to do it again. (I got the Corolla instead. Great car, wrong color.)

How fun would it be to trick one of these out with hydraulics? I don't imagine you'd need much force to send one bouncing down the street in sync with ?Gold Digger (but she aint messin? wit no broke?)?

Well i just saw one on the streets of Denver today and was amazed to see one. I remember seeing them in Munich and Paris about 4 years ago and taking pictures of it because it was so cool looking. Found out after that they did not have them in the U.S. because they did not meet the safety specs for the government. Either they worked on that or the government relaxed a little because of the high fuel costs. I am going to look at one pretty hard. Onlyl draw back for me would be not being able to put a car seat in one. I think it's a law that you can't have one in a front seat. What kind of price are we looking at?

It's not going to get 60mpg... that's the diesel version, which won't be sold in the U.S. The gas version that will be sold here will get a combined 40mpg (city/hwy), and cost around $15K. I was hoping for much better price and MPG, but will probably wind up with a Yari. 4 seater, 3mpg less and thousands of dollars cheaper.

Bought one 1 (yes one ) year ago and have 40,000 km on the clock. That is DOUBLE what the average driver drives. Price is no objection, as now I can buy what I want. I missed out on the 2CV, the Citroen DS, the ORIGINAL Mini, etc, etc, so who cares. 20 smiles to the mile. Service is on the pricy side, but after initial break-in the car's computer system decides when the next service shall be. At 32,000 I was getting worried, but the dealer told me, don't as it will come up. One can also find out by pressing a button a few times. I would recommend snow tires for the winter ( and I have them) ( I live in Canada ) and no problem. Again don't drive in a blizzard 'cause even then a Volvo won't help you ( I had four ).

I am pretty sure I saw one of these in SF today. Blue Wire Technologies plastered all over it. Interesting - but I am pretty sure if you were in any kind of accident that thing would fold like tin-foil, and the guys driving it didn't look exactly comfortable.

Yeah, BlueWire has one. I know someone over there -- maybe they'll let me drive it? Wishful thinking...

What sequence of countries would you recommend for the introduction of this smart car?

I own a Smart car for over 2 yrs now and love it. I live in Vancouver, Canada. The car I have has heated leather seats, great stereo system, automatic convertible, it even tells me if there is frost on the road. Although I am tall, I have more than ample room in the car. I would not trade it in for anything. The only complaint I would have is that the defrost could be improved.

I completed my dream, I put a smart car with hydraulics

But I am considering one for a second "city" car. I have been watching Smart cars with some interest as the diesel with high mpg or low litre/100km is enticing. I want to see some independent reliability reports first as any fuel cost savings can dry up fast if they die in 5 years needing a $2500 repair.

I will say this, at -10C (14F) or lower, with more than a few centimeters of snow you can drive 1100 kilometers and not see a single one. The same trip last summer, I saw at least 10. My suspicions are these are fair weather condition vehicles only.

They also seem to disappear from the road in the city at -10C. Saw one once though, frosted windows in rush hour traffic...

I for one will not give up my 4x4 V8 as at least one vehicle needs to be designed for all around use where I live. My employer is not going to like it if I don't go to work because it is -35C with 20cm snow. But still considering one in the long term during fair weather.

i live in seattle. what about buying one in vancouver?

I was told I-5 Motors in Fife now carries these

Got smart car and love it . Got it secondhand had 81000km on it.Service came up and they told me engine is shot.how long should engine last , went to look and 4 more were in for engine changes .