Smart Car USA Debut

Post by **ARCHINSTL** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:03 am

I see that the Smart Car will debut (in quantity) in the USA late next year.

NOTE: IT HAS LESS HORSEPOWER THAN THE TERCEL 4WD ! ! !

It has 50, whereas we have 62 (at least 20 years ago, anyway)...
However, it is faster than ours, doing 0-60 in 15 seconds.
'Course, we give away a lot of weight and we can seat 5 folks and haul a lot more stuff.
But anyway, it is good to know that we have more power than one NEW car...

I think you folks in Uppermost North America have been getting the car for a year or so, right? But only the diesel version? We in the USA are supposed to get only the gas version, at least for a couple of years.

So - do any of you Canadians have any experience/seen/driven the Smart Car?
Tom M.

Post by **Mattel** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:19 am

I first saw them in Spain in '99. but we got the Smart here about 2 years ago, but there mostly used for publicity, you can actually get one free if you prove that you drive a lot around the inner city and park on the street etc... ohh and you don't mind driving around in a car completely covered with advertising placards.. Think I'll ride my pushbike for now.

haven't driven one but have seen one on the freeway doing about 110kays and it was doing fine. low power to weight I guess, apparantly very safe (haven't tried this out either) as they are made by Mercedes..

waynehoc · Post by **waynehoc** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:05 am

Have been seeing a few of them on the road for the past year or so. Every time I see one it reminds me of the Isetta, years ago. They seem to get along quite well and keep up with traffic. Have not seen one on the freeway yet, and have no idea how good they are, or cost, etc.

dcn · Post by **dcn** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 9:02 am

Yeah, they've been here for a while, I don't see too many of them around but there are a few in the area. On highways too. Was in to the Mercedes dealer with my dad last year to check one out and our shoulders were just about touching when we sat in it. I thought I heard about them having some quality issues but other than that I think they're what you see is what you get; Little car for two that gets decent MPG and is easy to park.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 9:31 pm

I'll try to remember to take some pics of the local dealership. They've been selling them here for about a year. 3-cyl, 700cc Turbo. So the rep said.
Wait... I think Mountain View Motors went out of business... Well, I'll try to snap some of the local examples.

Oh yeah, they are gas.

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:36 am

they are diesel dude, at least here they are. the smart roadsters were gas.

i guess they are OK, but they don't suit my lifestyle and they are more than i am willing to pay.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:13 pm

http://akasa.ca/smart/smart_car.png

Is exactly what they were selling. They were very much gas. Though there are both versions in Europe.