Smart fortwo: Whats so smart?
With gas prices at an all time high, the American public is finally ready to dump gas-guzzling SUV’s for more sensible gas efficient vehicles. Enter the Smart Car. But don’t get too excited about that title, because there really aren’t as many “smart” features as one might think. First of all, the term “Smart” isn’t a description of the vehicle, its the brand of the vehicle. The term comes from the Watchmaker who originally designed the car, Swatch and Mercedes. The term specifically comes from S-Swatch, M-Mercedes, ART-Art. Swatch Mercedes Art, SMART. Now, don’t get wrong, Mercedes is an awesome carmaker, and they are going to make good quality cars, but what bothers me is the price tag attached to those quality cars. The Smart Car is no different in this area, and makes the Smart fortwo, not as smart an option as it could be. For more details about the car, head inside…
The Smart fortwo starts at $11,590, just low enough to ALMOST sound reasonable. Of course you’d get no AC, no power windows, now power locks, no keyless entry, and basically no extras at all. This is still America after all, and despite the penny pinching gas is causing, people aren’t going to buy cars without at least A/C, Power Windows, Power Locks, and a CD Player. So, you’re first real “Buyable” option is the Smart fortwo Passion Coupe, which starts at $13,590, of course thats before tax, title, registration, destination charge, options and other dealer fees. So you pretty much figure destination charges and other dealership fees will kick that price up to a minimum of 15G’s. Oh, and the starting price for the high end model, the Cabriolet, will set you back $16,590, again plus destination charges and other dealership fees.
My personal belief on bringing this type of vehicle to the US is to bring a cheap alternative that is excellent on Gas. So this pint sized car has an overpriced tag, but can you make it up with something crazy like 80 mpg? No, Hell no. It’ll get you a whopping 33 mpg in town, and 41 on the highway. Seriously? That’s it? My little 2 seat, 3 cylinder, half car only gets 33-41 mpg? What is so smart about that? If it was somewhere between 60-100 mpg, you could at least justify that steep pricetag at the dealership.
Okay, so I’ve been pretty negative about the vehicle. I have seen a lot of these up close and personal at my place of business, and I must say, once you get over its odd shape, it is a cool looking little coupe. As small as it is, it is well designed inside and out, and even a big guy like me could fit comfortably inside. The Smart Car has also received very high crash test ratings. It does have a lot to offer if you can get past the steep pricetag, and the not as much as you’d think gas mileage.
But with the brand being “Smart” and the steep price tag, I expected to look inside the car and see all kinds of Smart features like navigation systems, and other technological gadgets and gizmos inside. So don’t be fooled by the brand name. If you have the money, it does have a lot to offer and a lot of advantages to having one, but if you can afford the Smart Car, why not go buy a real car that will get just as good a gas mileage?
It is amazing isn’t it. How we can’t seem to match the fuel economy that cars in Europe have had for years. The Volkwagen Jetta 1.8 TDI was a 50 MPG car. But Nooooooo they had to take it back and de-tune it to comply with emissions.
It is a big joke. We have the technology to make 50 mpg cars but someone is saying no, don’t do it.
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my girlfriend just got one for a work car, they are pretty cool although I am 6′5 so I won’t be riding around in it much.
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@BigPappa: With all the technology today we should EASILY have come up with a way to get at least 100mpg cars by now. Its ridiculous. Wouldn’t surprise me if oil companies were slipping auto makers backdoor money to keep it down.
@Cuzzy: Yeah I don’t imagine it being too comfortable for a 6′5″ person, although one of the guys who brought one around was probably close to that and said he could fit fine, but who the hell knows.
The bottom end car DOES in fact come with power windows and locks, they all do. Furthermore, you’re stating the fully loaded cars as being under 20k. How much then for the average 3 door econobox with similar options? After all the added fees? I’ve always wondered why Americans get the same cars for up to five grand less than Canadians even when our dollar has a higher value. Odd isn’t it? Lets face it, talking about added fees as though they’re only applied to this car does make your review sound rather hollow. Smart cars are remarkably well engineered with road holding powers that are almost magical. My nerve fails the curve long before the car does. When I want to suddenly jog sideways and back to avoid an obstacle, the car does it like a bunny in perfect response. While it feels the wind, it’s never yet actually been pushed by it, it just rolls a bit. Braking? I have to watch out who’s behind me before I can brake firmly, it stops that fast.
The seats. Oh my gosh the seats. I have sciatica and driving my smart is as good on my back as seeing the chiropractor!
The interesting thing about bad smart reviews is how few of them sound like the reviewer has actually done research or driven them. Who’s paying you guys to slam the cute new car?
First of all, this isn’t a review. The is more a commentary about where are all the “Smart” features and value for a car called “Smart.”
The other thing I want to comment on is your comment on the Canadian Dollar. The American Dollar plummet is a very recent event. The Canadian dollar has NOT been worth more than the American dollar for very long at all. So Market adjustments take time.
I should also say, I do like the Smart car, and most of what it offers. My Major gripes are stiff price tags, and low MPG for a car that probably should get 80-100.
It is ashame the US and Canada don’t permit the diesel version of smart to come. It is OK for a gas car (Hummer for an example) to get terrible mileage but tiny diesel engines can’t come without very expensive scrubber technology added. My Canadian 2005 smart diesel gets 50-60 MPG (US). During Katrina I drove it from Toronto to Bentonville, Arkansas, on to Knoxville TN then back to Toronto. Total trip 5,030 kms (roughly 3,000 miles). Diesel fuel was running $3.50 a gallon. I spent $205 on fuel averaging 51 MPG. All of the trip was highway. Had I backed off to 55 MPH I could have gotten that up closer to 60 mpg. Scooting around at 50 mph tends to get the best result.
Another interesting aspect of smart is how well it does in a crash. Realize there are over 10,000 smarts in Canada for over 3 years now and NO serious injuries or deaths. NONE
Many have been in accidents including large SUVs as well as tractor trailers hitting them but no one has been seriously hurt.
If you see the picture of a “crashed smart” that says “cancel my smart” that is a VW Crossfox accident in Brazil.
That’s pretty awesome. I’ve been hearing too that there are a lot of cars overseas that get a LOT better gas mileage than we do, but we won’t allow them here because of our emissions laws. Ridiculous.
[...] Smart fortwo: Whats so smart? First of all, the term �Smart� isn�ta description of the vehicle, its the brand of the vehicle. The term comes from the Watchmaker who originally designed the car, Swatch and Mercedes. The term specifically comes from S-Swatch, …Mr. Pappagiorgio DOT COM - http://www.mrpappagiorgio.com [...]
[...] Smart fortwo: Whats so smart? So don�t be fooled by the brand name. If you have the money, it does have a lot to offer and a lot of advantages to having one, but if you can afford the Smart Car, why not go buy a real car that will get just as good a gas mileage?Mr. Pappagiorgio DOT COM - http://www.mrpappagiorgio.com [...]
[...] Smart fortwo: Whats so smart? It�ll get you a whopping 33 mpg in town, and 41 on the highway. Seriously? That�s it? My little 2 seat, 3 cylinder, half car only gets 33-41 mpg? What is so smart about that? If it was somewhere between 60-100 mpg, you could at least …Mr. Pappagiorgio DOT COM - http://www.mrpappagiorgio.com [...]
[...] Smart fortwo: Whats so smart? The Smart Car is no different in this area, and makes the Smart fortwo, not as smart an option as it could be. For more details about the car, head inside� The Smart fortwo starts at $11590, just low enough to ALMOST sound reasonable. …Mr. Pappagiorgio DOT COM - http://www.mrpappagiorgio.com [...]