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Will Americans buy the Smart?
Will Americans buy the Smart? Tuesday January 16, 2007 At this year's Detroit Auto Show, DaimlerChrysler officially announed what we've long been anticipating: The Smart Fortwo will go on sale in the US in 2007 as a 2008 model. The Smart Fortwo is a twoseat microcar with a rearmounted threecylinder engine. At 98.4" long, the Smart Fortwo is nearly five feet shorter than a Honda Fit. In fact, it's shorter than the width of a standard city bus. The Smart is currently sold in Canada, where it's doing well but Canadians, particularly citydwellers, tend to be more Europeanminded when it comes to small cars. The question is: Will Americans embrace the Smart? DaimlerChrysler says, "It is time for the Smart fortwo to make an appearance in the USA; fuel prices are rising, and city traffic is increasing by the day. On most journeys a car carries just a single occupant.... In short [Ed. note: Think that was an intentional pun?], the Smart fortwo is the right car at the right time." So what do you think how will the Smart do in the US? Will American buyers embrace it or snub it? Would you consider purchasing a Smart? Click the "comments" link below and share your thoughts. Aaron Gold 2008 Smart Fortwo photo gallery Photo © DaimlerChrysler Comments (164)See All Posts PrevNext zSB(3,3) Leave a Comment Comments January 16, 2007 at 12:56 am(1) Scott Young says: If it will save them money and help them feel like it will save the planet as an added bonus, they will. January 16, 2007 at 1:40 am(2) rwcmick says: yes, at least in the short term sales will be brisk. there are enough americans who have either fallen in love with the little smart during their travels abroad or are attracted to the relatively low ecological and urban footprint that the car has. now, what will happen, let’s say three years after the car went onsale, when that initial demand has been satisfied? hopefully smart will have something else in the works to keep folks interested. January 16, 2007 at 6:53 am(3) Johnster says: I can’t see myself buying one, but then I can only afford one car and it needs to do everything fairly well for me. One the other hand, I think the Smart would make a great second, third, fourth or fifth car. It would be a great addition to a family fleet for commuting to work or school in an urban setting. January 16, 2007 at 7:25 am(4) DONALD says: I like the smart and would buy one if I could afford one. I just hope they expand the engine lineup so it can run on different fuels. January 16, 2007 at 8:04 am(5) Robert says: My brother bought one last year and he loves it! It is very economical and it is well built. No mechanical problems at all. I may buy my son one for his first car since he can’t race it and a fillup is cheap too! January 16, 2007 at 8:23 am(6) joey says: Have DC indicated what the price structure will be? The convertable is cute, but would you buy a two seat micro for $20K+? That’s only $5k less than my Passat, and that’s the problem they have in Europe…its too expensive. It looks like it’ll be a car for urban folks looking for perpendicular parking. Just hope that the soccer mom in her Hummer sees you while she’s yapping on the phone(I would put a 8ft aerial on it topped with bright orange flag). January 16, 2007 at 8:46 am(7) bob says: The overall sales success of the smart will be directly proportional to the price of gas. January 16, 2007 at 8:48 am(8) hawaiiandonautos says: The car is cute, in in a SharPei kinda way, but would I buy it versus a Honda Fit or a Civic? If it puts up 45mpg on the hwy and comes in at less than 15 grand, I’ll be happy to buy it for my wife, so she can commute from Lauderdale to south Miami every day, but I sure won’t get caught dead in it. Asking a guy to switch to a smart, even from a Civic would be like asking him to switch from Samuel Adams to very berry wine coolers…you’d instantly lose your “machismo gold card” and get sent directly to the “Ed Begley Hall of Shame” January 16, 2007 at 8:59 am(9) eugene says: looks like a commuter winner to me. January 16, 2007 at 9:00 am(10) Dave says: Canadian comment. Yes it will sell. The folks who are buying up here are the same as will be buying in the US older couples with few money problems who use it as a novelty item to drive around the big house neighborhood. A ‘neat’ glorified golf cart for the privileged to feel good about and that is ok by me. I like toys too, but personally wouldn’t like to meet a F150 in a Smart on the road to the cabin. A corolla costs about the same: albeit, a vehicle with a bit less cache but a little more space and protection. January 16, 2007 at 9:12 am(11) Jim says: It is NOT going on sale in the US in 2007 as a 2008 model! It will be available in EUROPE in 2007 at least one year before it appears in the USA. DAVE’s comments are Spoton about who will buying them. Those same people are paying $30K+ for converted ones right now. January 16, 2007 at 9:50 am(12) L.Frissell NYC says: While it might be an excellent car for city folk, but the average commuter needs a comfortable and durable vehicle. Millions of folks have hourlong, high speed commutes. They might consider buying one provided there’s a significant price savings compared to a larger, more sturdy vehicle and provided the ride is reasonably comfortable. No one wants to be packed in a car like sardines in a can for hours on end. So if there’s not much savings in the purchase price and passengers end up worn to a nub from the ride, this little car probably won’t be worth the investment to the average commuter. January 16, 2007 at 10:29 am(13) Warren says: It will not interest any car buff.It’s just inexpensive transportation and not the safest!!!!!. January 16, 2007 at 12:30 pm(14) Lee says: hawaiiandonautos I hate to break it to you but if you are driving a Civic you have no Machismo Gold Card anyway and probably should go ahead and schedule a sex change operation and make it offical . As for the smart it needs to be priced sub $15K or it will just end up being some sort of an elitist niche care like some of the hybrids have become. I would definitely consider it at that price for a commuter adjuct to our other two cars. January 16, 2007 at 12:32 pm(15) Dave says: Although I cannot afford one at the present time, I would if I could, as it would be very economical for my pizza deliveries. Actually, a lot of delivery services will probably buy them. I have heard that the Canadian Government may be testing a slightly latger version, called the ForFour, in much the same way that they did with the ForTwo before releasing DC to put it on the market in Canada, but I doubt that we, the general public will get much chance to try them out before they give their approval. Nevertheless, I think that you will see a fair number of the ForTwo’s in use throughout the US by the year 2010. January 16, 2007 at 12:47 pm(16) Fabio says: Of course they will buy it, it only make sense due to size, great design and fuel efficiency. The Smart has been popular all over Europe for many years. However we should not encourge the dealers to rip people off. This is not a luxury vehicle and should not cost more than $20K. January 16, 2007 at 1:17 pm(17) JOE T. says: It seems to me years ago ,there was a car similar to this,that had a door in the front to exit the vehicle.That car was a death trap on the highway. In town,this may be a great car for a short trip,but,I could not see it as a car to go any great distance in. Personally,from a safety standpoint,Iwould not own one,nor would I purchase it for my wife. January 16, 2007 at 1:42 pm(18) Mike Davidson says: This is the perfect car for liberals. Al Gore should love this thing. They’ve been telling us for quite a while how the SUV’s are killing the environment. Of course, they continue to drive the gas guzzlers themselves, but that’s different. We’re supposed to do as they say, not as they do. Everyday, you read in the liberal press how SUV’s kill people (I guess no human is ever responsible). So here it is boys! Come and get it! Finally, a car any liberal can embrace! “AL This Can’s For you!” January 16, 2007 at 1:50 pm(19) Rich says: I’d buy one in a heart beat! January 16, 2007 at 1:54 pm(20) Don Phillips says: I don’t think this is a car for me. I am a big 6′2″ tall, weigh 250 lbs.. When buying a car I consider safety a big factor, if you get hit in that little car and it don’t matter where, the out come is not going to be good. January 16, 2007 at 2:42 pm(21) GBTtown says: Americans want F150s and Hummers. They need to be Smart. But if D/C prices them so high that no matter how good the gas mileage you can’t recoup your investment in the first year or two then, why bother? January 16, 2007 at 2:44 pm(22) Derek says: Why doesn’t Chrysler try selling the larger 4door Smart car in the U.S. Americans might actually buy that one. January 16, 2007 at 3:31 pm(23) Mike says: Uugh. I can’t see this car selling at all in the US. Sure, there will be initial sales beacuse of the hype. When all is settled, it is still a small, ugly, tiny car that is too expensive for what it is. I wouldn’t sacrifice safety for gas mileage that compares with a VW deisel or Prius. I would use this the way I would use a golf cart. This can be the golf cart of choice for PGA pro’s, but that’s about it. Plus, most men won’t want to be seen in it, let alone drive it. With small Hyundai’s selling for under $10k after discounts, and getting mid 30’s mileage, why buy a Smart? Even a Civic will hit 40 mpg for under $15k. And have great resale value. Even though many people might use it initially as a commuter car, there will be many times they will kick themselves when they need to do more with it. January 16, 2007 at 4:35 pm(24) Rick says: Smart? This car has the dumbest market timing possible. With oil prices falling off a cliff, it will need a stupid human trick by congress to make this piece of detrius economically viable — but I forgot, they just elected the adolescent partay to be in charge. Maybe it will have the life of Jimmy the Peanut Farmers’ Synfuel Corporation. Maybe it will be a bonanza for the trial lawyers, when all the econuts get crushed in colllisions with SUVs. January 16, 2007 at 4:39 pm(25) bob says: I’d much rather have a BMW 335i!! January 16, 2007 at 4:53 pm(26) Big Old Cat says: If this article from The Car Connection is right and the guy seems to know what he’s talking about the answer is No, the smart won’t sell here. Which is too bad. It wouldn’t do for me, since I live in the country and it’s definitely an urban vehicle, but I’d like to see it succeed. January 16, 2007 at 5:15 pm(27) Aaron Gold Cars Guide says: Big Old Cat: I think this article misses one major point: Most households in America are twocar families, and in many of them, that second car is a smaller vehicle. For families in that situation, I think the Smart makes a lot of sense. January 16, 2007 at 5:39 pm(28) kevin says: To see how the smart car “survives” a 70MPH accident, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6tyyoU8s January 16, 2007 at 6:10 pm(29) Reeking Havoc says: It needs to be priced no more than 15K and have more reliability than German cars generally do, then, YOU BET I’d buy it! I Like small cars, the smaller the better, and their good mileage. January 16, 2007 at 8:10 pm(30) wjp says: Will the Smart sell? Initially yes, but after a year or two, no. I own two cars, a Honda Accord 4cylinder with a 5speed manual transmission and a Honda Fit also with a 5speed manual transmission. (What can I say, I like Hondas.) My commuter car, the Fit, gets about 38 mpg. Assuming the Smart gets 45 mpg, gas sells for $2.50/gal. and I drive 12,000 miles per year I would save less than $7 a month. I can also carry 5 people vs. 2 for the Smart and can stuff 21 cu. ft. of things in the back with the rear seat up. Fold the rear seats down and I have 41 cu. ft. I resently remodeled my bathroom and except for the bath tub everything fit in my, uh, Fit. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.) All this for less money than what the Smart will probably cost. Also, remember Honda had a 2seater that got over 60 mpg. People lined none deep to buy it. Yes the Smart will sell fine until the novelty wears out. January 16, 2007 at 8:28 pm(31) Jack says: Sure they’ll sell some (remember, some people bought the Yugo). But at the price Mercedes will want, the average person with a brain will stay away. January 16, 2007 at 10:16 pm(32) Parvonet says: No, I wouldn’t buy it, I need to feel safe in a car, esp. when other people drive SUV’s, Monster Pick ups etc. Get hit in that thing & you’re done for. Plus it looks too small for holding any shopping, grocery bags. I am considering a Nissan VErsa, roomy & full of air bags… I’m close to 50, not in college! although I really do hate to give up my lovely roomy Caddy! but the gas consumption is killing me! January 16, 2007 at 10:26 pm(33) DB says: There’t a limited market in the US, probably as big as for the Corvette. Corvette sales run about 35,000 per year and they support a manufacturing plant with that. The Smart only needs a spares supply system and some dealer mechanic training so could make it with fewer sales if done intelligently. DC can limit sales to high population ares of the country and cut down on the number of dealerships that will need to train mechanics. They won’t sell well in pickup country anyway. January 16, 2007 at 10:59 pm(34) Hoohoo says: People love the Smart in Paris, but it’s a lot more expensive here in the US! January 16, 2007 at 11:58 pm(35) Mark Masi says: These cars are all about commuting and running erands. Most passenger cars on the roads at any given time are used this way. Why haul around a three or four thousand pound mass of metal just to get to work, or the post office, or school? What I would love to see happen is for cities to encourage using these cars (and I hope, others to follow) by setting up special parking and waived parking fees for the first few years, by allowing the use of carpool lanes, even with one person on board. In other words, to encourage critical mass transit. These cars are about using less to better serve more. It’s time already! January 17, 2007 at 5:07 am(36) Les says: I am a Canadian living in Japan and have been wondering why the Japanese “Kei” cars are not available in North America. They are very small cars with very small engines and very light weight. I personally own a Mitsubishi Pajero mini 4×4 which has a 660cc engine. These cars are every where here and with the price of fuel in North America closing in on the Japanese prices I am sure they would sell extremely well there too. January 17, 2007 at 8:22 am(37) hawaiiandonautos says: sorry lee, my daily ride is a dodge p’up, wife’s got the commuter civic…but you don’t have to get sensitive because i poked fun at your cousin(ed begley,jr)…your not responsible for his goofy electric cars! January 17, 2007 at 9:35 am(38) Gary G says: I agree that Sales will be directly proportional to the price of gas. But if you think gas will be staying at $2.05/gal for even the next six months you are only kidding yourself. (Opec is, even now, slowing production to artifically increase demand so prices will increase. It’s basic economics and big dollars. In 2 to 3 years look for gas to be $3$4/gal. This will drive up sales and make the Smart profitable for DaimlerChrysler. January 17, 2007 at 11:40 am(39) Matt says: As someone who lives in NYC, I would buy this car in a second. It’s like owning a Vespa with a roof… January 17, 2007 at 12:40 pm(40) Mark Masi says: It’s like someone is holding up the cure for blindness and no one will look! I just moved from Manhattan back to LA. Both cities are choked to a crawl much of the time, and as I’d weave my bike (or my Honda scooter) through the bloated SUVs (LA)and Ford taxis(NYC), I can’t help but wonder DO THESE PEOPLE LIKE DOING THIS? DO THEY LIKE WASTING RESOURCES AND MAKING OPEC RICHER? January 17, 2007 at 1:02 pm(41) Chip says: It will sell as well as the Isetta did in the 50’s. It may sell here, but not to me! If I want a puddle jumper, I would rather buy a Motorcycle or scooter. January 17, 2007 at 1:05 pm(42) gop says: I should buy one for a toy I like my hum v better Who cares if gas goes to five bucks a gallon It will keep all you liberals off the road who make min wage January 17, 2007 at 1:33 pm(43) Blair Colquhoun says: Please, do me, and other nondrivers a favor. DON’T SELL US ANY CARS! January 17, 2007 at 1:48 pm(44) Ian Jay says: I have owned a 2005 smart cabrio since Feb 2005. I live in Toronto, Ontario. It is a perfect city car easy to park, economical to fuel and insure and very well made. It is also fun to drive on the highway. It carries a surprising amount of groceries! It is certainly not another boring little economy car. Someday, if we are even allowed to drive at all, we may all be driving something along these lines. I only wish companies like General Motors and Ford would stop pretending that all they can build are pickups! This is the kind of car that the Saturn should have been. Cheers January 17, 2007 at 1:55 pm(45) Elizabeth says: I hope it does very well. I would be most interested in having one provided of course that it is affordable. The very least, I’ll go for a test drive. January 17, 2007 at 1:57 pm(46) Joe says: Nope, I would not buy it. The cost savings in fuel are negligible. The safety is lower due to its size. The comfort for the long trip stinks(hard ride), for the larger man impossible to fit. It may be a great run around car for Manhattan or L.A. but it will be a novelty item not used by the masses. In prior posting small cars sold in Japan and Europe are not sold in the U.S. due to the following reason, Can not pass safety standards without modification or research shows that there is not a big enough demand to make enough money. We LIKE our big cars. Deal with it. Make me a BIG SUV electric car and I will buy it. January 17, 2007 at 2:07 pm(47) LizO says: No way! If someone rear ends me or runs a red light & hits me and I’m driving this??? I’m toast! There’s absolutely no protection from those monster SUVs, delivery vans, semis. Sometimes you just have to think of your own safety! January 17, 2007 at 2:19 pm(48) Francie says: If the price is right, i.e., reasonable, I would love to have a Smart Car. January 17, 2007 at 2:25 pm(49) cici says: I think smart Americans will. I live in L.A. but I am from Rome. In Italy we had it for years and not only from Mercedes Benz, other brands make cars like it, and I don’t know why it’s being introduced here in U.S. so late! Gas prices are NOT falling like some Wonderland’s dreamer is indicating and I think people here are a bit (I mean very) spoiled and used to waste a lot, energy, money, resources, everything. Time to grow up, folks! January 17, 2007 at 2:28 pm(50) Lesleyann says: I just came back from the UK where they are a big hit. I drive a Mini Cooper myself and I would definately buy a smart car. In Los Angeles it would be the best investment gas wise and parking wise. January 17, 2007 at 2:38 pm(51) Diana says: I have been waiting for 2 years to buy a Smart Car. Have traveled to Canada to test drive and can’t wait to buy one in the US. However the ones on US market today are “gray market” cars and there is not “network” of dealers. In what month 2007 is CD starting sells? January 17, 2007 at 2:40 pm(52) Steve Sallis says: Until there is a viable, INEXPENSIVE alternative to the current small cars, I will continue to buy small sedans. Give me a $7500 ecologically friendly car and I would buy it. January 17, 2007 at 2:40 pm(53) Beaters says: I might consider one, after the SUVs are banned and not until. It looks like a deathtrap for US streets & roads. January 17, 2007 at 2:46 pm(54) Beaters says: My bad. It’s a Chrysler product. They burned me once already and don’t get another chance. January 17, 2007 at 2:54 pm(55) Tom Head says: My gut feeling was that the biggest drawback to this car would be perceived safety, and that’s going to be the hardest thing to sell American consumers on. I think many people who buy SUVs do so largely on the belief that they’ll be better protected. If the Smart can be pitched as being as safe as, or more safe than, larger sedans, then it might be workable. If it can’t, then it’ll probably go the way of the revived VW Bug. Cheers, TH January 17, 2007 at 3:02 pm(56) Jim says: I’d buy one for 15 grand, no more than that. Safety is relative, my favorite mode of transportaion is a motorcycle, Smart will be a little safer so I would go for it. January 17, 2007 at 3:05 pm(57) Tim Trask says: Good idea ! I have often driven one here in Switzerland. Economical and easy to drive. Not too good for long journeys on the motorway however. January 17, 2007 at 3:08 pm(58) Violet says: The vehicle is too small. If you want fuel efficency, ride a bicycle, motorcycle or a moped. Taking public transportation will offer about as much room and be safer. What good is a vehicle if it can’t carry much and does not protect you in an accident??? It looks like an expensive toy. January 17, 2007 at 3:24 pm(59) Philip Elliott says: The idea of the Smart Car is a great one. I live in Toronto, Canada & you do see a fair number of them. Personally, I’d go with a Toyota Yaris, or Honda Civic if I was buying a car January 17, 2007 at 3:48 pm(60) Heather Diodati says: I’m a Canadian living in Montreal, Quebec and I’ve owned my little smart car since August. I just want to say that I absolutely love it. My husband drives a Dodge Ram 1500 with a Hemi engine and he loves driving my smart, calling it his legalized gocart. My husband, bytheway, is 6′ 200 lbs and finds the smart very roomy and comfortable with the both of us in it. We do our grocery shopping every week for the three of us, last count so far has been 28 bags of groceries which confirms the comment, “What fits in the cart, fits in the smart!”. It has great traction and I am absolutely loving it this winter even with all the snow we’ve been having lately. Absolutely no complaints city driving or highway driving I drive it to work every day and find it fits me like a glove ~ Heather from Montreal ~ January 17, 2007 at 3:50 pm(61) Michelle from Iowa says: Yep, we would love to get one. Whether we can AFFORD it is another story, but if we could, we definitely would. They are cute, fun, and definitely perfect of those of us who do minimal highway driving. January 17, 2007 at 3:56 pm(62) Ron. Tataryn says: I personally am a truck & Hemi man, however my wife came home with one and I just couldn’t get over it. Immediately I ask her to push over and I tried it out. That just sold me on it. Since then, we go everywhere with the cute little car. The car is very practical and does not cost a lot to run In fact a gas tank will last you THREE WEEKS and that is only $14.00 Great for doing all those little jobs around town like doing the groceries or running out on an errand. January 17, 2007 at 4:01 pm(63) Chris Terry says: I’ve been waiting for the Smart Car to come to the US for years. Living in Hawaii, with lots of stop and go driving in Honolulu, it makes perfect sense. I just hope the service portion of the equation arrives at the same time… January 17, 2007 at 4:11 pm(64) H Biggins says: If it stood up well to safety tests, I’d be tempted to buy it. If it didn’t fare well, I wouldn’t. January 17, 2007 at 4:12 pm(65) Heather says: YES! My husband and I were in Paris in 1999 and fell in love with the Smart Car. We actually went to a dealership but were told we couln’t get them in the US. One reason Americans would never buy such a small car. That is crap! I want one! They are so awesome. So, I bought myself a matchcar version until the real one finally gets here. January 17, 2007 at 4:19 pm(66) Joseph Duvernay says: You ask, ‘Would I consider a purchase of a ‘Smart’?’ I must, since a concern for the whole of we here on Earth has to ‘drive’ one in this direction. Conscience, the Ancient Egyptians said, resides in the Heart, which weighed at death, gives the balance of a life’s good and bad deeds. Preference here is to a positive balance, which again, a proper concern for all is key, and even though Daimler Chrysler is not fully on my list of Earthfriendly Corporations, I currently will support this. January 17, 2007 at 4:23 pm(67) Marcos R. says: I am very happy about the smart car comming to USA, am been waiting long for this great miracle. I absolutly 100% will buy the smart card. Also I hope they make it hybrid Thanks Marcos Romero System Eng. January 17, 2007 at 4:44 pm(68) Jim says: What does this thing weigh? How does it handle wind at 65 miles per hour? How does it handle upstate New York winter driving conditions? January 17, 2007 at 4:54 pm(69) John says: It’s a cute car, but if you think you can drive in New York, Chicago or LA in one of those and not have a heart attack, good luck! Shorter than a city bus is wide? The bus could back up over you and not even feel it. Give me my Expedition in that kind of traffic. January 17, 2007 at 5:16 pm(70) Seamus says: I would buy it. It’s about time it was offered to us here in the states. Nessesity brought the Smart to Europe while curiosity is bringing it here. I hope it does well. January 17, 2007 at 6:04 pm(71) Bob says: Never would I buy a death trap like this & continue to live & drive in Las Vegas, Nevada. January 17, 2007 at 6:15 pm(72) Hugh S. says: No and for the same reason that many older Americans won’t. Try fitting a walker or wheelchair in that thing, not going to happen. January 17, 2007 at 6:17 pm(73) Fabio says: I agree 100% with Cici #49. Unfortunately most Americans have the mentality that bigger is better which is not the case at all in other countries. Is the Smart trendy? Of course, but it’s well made by Mercedes and very safe. If you have any doubts visit zapworld.com (Zap Cars), check safety tests, etc. I guess most people here don’t realize than driving in Rome or Paris is as challenging as driving in LA or NY. Get real people. Smart is the way to go. January 17, 2007 at 6:24 pm(74) Tom says: The Smart looks fun and will likely hold its purchase value. It has been very successful in Europe. I expect gas will be at $5/gal in 5 years and fuel efficiency will be in high demand. We downsized to a MiniCooper and it is in very high demand within the family. My wife and I camp out of it. My son took it on a two week rock climbing trip. We live in the west. Expect more cars like it to arrive and legistlation to encourage their use. January 17, 2007 at 6:59 pm(75) dave says: it will sell until they start showing news clips of accidents. ie. headons with yugo’s. good god, they would’nt be able to id any body parts. where’s ralph nader these days? January 17, 2007 at 7:09 pm(76) Smart Zap says: From Zap Cars website: “8) The Smart Car Americanized by ZAP is so small; is it safe? The designers of the Smart Car applied simple laws of physics to create a smaller car that takes automotive safety to a whole new level. In a collision, the car reacts in a different way than larger, conventional cars. The spherical geometry of the vehicle’s “tridion safety cell” is an aluminum safetycage with steel reinforcements that is designed to hold its shape like the crashcage of a racecar. The lighter weight, combined with wheel wells in the four corners, safety features like dual airbags, antilock brakes and more, results in a car that is safer than much larger cars.” This should give Dave and others a better idea, this is NOT a Yugo. January 17, 2007 at 7:19 pm(77) Palmax says: My wife and I were in Phoenix in October and there is a dealer selling the Smart right now. $28,000 and they say that’s because of all the extras that have to be added for the US market. Everybody who says they’d buy one, there’s your chance. I’m sure they have lots of cars unsold. January 17, 2007 at 7:44 pm(78) bill says: Just as wonderful as the Iseta … useless and dangerous. What will you look like after a head on at over 7 mph?? A bordering gift for waders? January 17, 2007 at 8:17 pm(79) Ben says: I would think that the biggest drawback in the American market is simply that Americans have, on average, more children than either the Europeans (or the Canadians.) Even if you could theoretically fit a child into the back (in the ones that even have more than 2 seats), having a child onboard would make buyers even more cautious about the safety factor… January 17, 2007 at 8:59 pm(80) Dan says: The car is not very attractive. Too goopy. Needs to be cleaned up and made interesting. January 17, 2007 at 9:14 pm(81) Tom says: If i was zipping around New York, Boston, SanFran, this car would be appealing. Struggling with I95, Florida’s Turnpike, etc. makes me skeptical. January 17, 2007 at 9:38 pm(82) Ben says: I believe that this car will do well for the first two months, but then it will be a good year until sales start to kick up again, but soon American will become more European. January 17, 2007 at 9:48 pm(83) David says: Why doesn’t GM revive the EV1 ? It would be perfect for my local driving. Is it “Thou shalt not own an electric,” even if you want one ? ? ? While we are at it, make the VW Bug where it can pass the emissions standards. I had two bugs and they were the best ! ! January 17, 2007 at 9:51 pm(84) Charlie says: Love the “Photo Gallery brought to you by Honda”. January 17, 2007 at 10:08 pm(85) Pat Hewitt says: I’ve been waiting for this car for 3 years. It makes perfect sense for those of us living in major metropolitan areas. Great on gas and more importantly, perfect for fitting into tight parking spaces. January 17, 2007 at 10:30 pm(86) Laura Frederick says: I can’t wait to buy one … not just for the gas mileage, but for the parking! You know, you can park one of these sideways, they are so short … think of the number of DC parking spots that will open up to Smart drivers )))) January 17, 2007 at 11:14 pm(87) UL says: It can help solve traffic congestion as long as all the cars in the street are of similar size with smart… January 18, 2007 at 12:55 am(88) D. Long says: I would never consider a car that small and that ugly! As if the Scion XB isnt bad enough someone comes out with an Uglier car! Its going to be a hard sell to most Americans. January 18, 2007 at 1:47 am(89) Diane says: I don’t think this car is suitable for the US, it’s too vulnerable amongst large vehicles. It is very suited to tiny, narrow streets, like Boston, Lincolnshire {UK] and Spain, and incity parking eg London where parking space is at a premium. However, on freeways, motorways etc, I think it is far too dangerous to drive one as there is not much protection in a crash. January 18, 2007 at 2:34 am(90) Mark says: I would be happy to drive one, even being 6′2″. Living in Los Angeles city, my only holdback would be driving one around all the SUV’s. It would simply be too hard to see around them, or better yet, they would’nt see me. When I see fewer SUV’s…and distracted cell phone users…I’ll definitely consider one! January 18, 2007 at 3:18 am(91) Chris says: I do not think it will do as well in the south or western US. For a city vehicle it would be ok, but most families are 3 or more people. If you end up taking a second vehicle– how are you saving. Come out with a four seater & it might do better in the South & Western US. We have spralled out locals & I do not want to be cramped! January 18, 2007 at 8:06 am(92) Bob G. says: I’m now retired but commuted all my working life. The Smart would NOT have satisfied my needs….. I live in an area that was once very rural but over the years has become mre surburban Still The Smart would not be my choice unless I lived in a Urban Area which honestly I could never be happy doing… January 18, 2007 at 8:36 am(93) Willy the impeached says: Its the oxymoron of vehicles! You’d have to be a moron to drive a “smart”. Explains the eurpoean and canadian angle I guess. Lets see how much gas would I save if I need 4 of these to transport my family? Ah… idiots! January 18, 2007 at 9:11 am(94) bob says: saw many in nice fr in 04. glad its here. it will be good in the big cities January 18, 2007 at 9:44 am(95) Captain Chuck says: I wouldn’t mind having one to tool around the neighborhood, but there’s no way I’d drive it on the highway, even though I have a 100mile roundtrip commute. I wouldn’t even be able to see over the tires of those big rigs… January 18, 2007 at 10:29 am(96) John J Kilker says: Backed over by a Pinto, Crushed by a “BUG”? Anyone who drives this car is suicidal! January 18, 2007 at 10:45 am(97) JEFF says: First off, to the gentleman claiming they’ll be released in Europe as 2007s, a full year before American, THEY HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE IN EUROPE FOR OVER 4 YEARS. I’m from the South, and haven’t not owned a truck since I was legal to drive. I love the Smart. I test drove one in Europe, where it’s shown to be more reliable in a crash than a Ford Focus, and as to space, my 6foot3inch frame had plenty of space. The driver’s cockpit was actually more roomy than my VW, though not some spacious as my Silverado. I need a truck, so I keep one around, for all other purposes–errands and every day needs– I’d gladly have a Smart, debating price… January 18, 2007 at 10:51 am(98) Matt says: Unless it’s a Harley, I’ll never buy anything that small. I need at least a midsized SUV. January 18, 2007 at 11:16 am(99) babyblues55 says: It will definately sell in the States. I was in Germany in 2005 and they look too cool and very efficient. This is what everyone needs to drive. They are very spacious and get fantastic mpg. January 18, 2007 at 11:33 am(100) Al says: It’s a sin that people don’t read up on a car before making ridiculous, idiotic comments like it would be “suicidal”! It is one of the safest cars on the road, with it’s Tridion Safety Cell, and has lots of room inside. Though the outside is small, hence minicar, it is stylish, pratical and a good city or around town vehicle. It also has good highway tendencies. I would buy one but I’m sure the price would be outrageous for it’s first year. They are estimating around $15K for the base car but I’m expecting it will be a good bit higher in the U.S. due to it being a Daimler/Chrysler product. The top of the line will probably top out over $23K right off the bat. Is that too much for a minicar? January 18, 2007 at 1:02 pm(101) Croco says: You have got to be kidding me. $15K for a glorified gokart? Sounds like typical Mercedes arrogance to me…I wouldn’t pay any more than $5K for something like that where it’d literally be a crapshoot if I make it back home alive. Especially considering that I live in Detroit, which in my mind is the home of the worst drivers in the WORLD. I’m sorry, but you’d sooner see me in a Prius before that. January 18, 2007 at 1:13 pm(102) Mike K says: I saw a Canadian Smart Four Two last year and I would seriously like to test one out. Price is a big concern though. The Chevy Avea has a starting price of under $10,000. I won’t buy a Smart if it will cost much more than that. January 18, 2007 at 1:21 pm(103) TomKattt says: Will Americans buy this? Is it asking too much to get performance, mpg, and cost figures before answering that question? You can buy a Honda Fit for around $15k and a Yaris for around $14k and they have more seating and cargo room. This Smart car will probably need to be less expensive. If they try to sell it for $20k, I think it will flop. January 18, 2007 at 2:44 pm(104) Jeanette says: Lived in Bruxelles for 3 yrs. drove the Smart one day as my little Mercedes (step above the Smart) was being worked on. Loved it for getting around the city (lived on Ave Louise). Parking was great and maneuvering in and out of traffic wonderful. Very small but would think seriously about buying it here for short trips about town. Live in San Francisco Bay Area now. I think Americans could embrace the Smart ForTwo over time. One of our neighbors has one and we were very surprised to see it come around the corner one day! Have to find them and ask questions. Did you know that it was designed by Swatch (watches) and Built by Mercedes? January 18, 2007 at 3:19 pm(105) Nick says: I noticed that in the article safety was not mentioned. If it is proven safe and feels safe I jump to buy it. January 18, 2007 at 3:29 pm(106) slimspoda says: You won’t need a garage for this car. You can park it in your rectum. January 18, 2007 at 3:30 pm(107) Kayle says: Well, it is a little bigger than the BMW C1: http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcbmw/c1.html January 18, 2007 at 4:18 pm(108) Rob says: The Smart will not be a good seller in the US. No storage space, No room for children, not safe on roads with SUVs, and most guys won’t drive a car like that. There’s just no hope for it. January 18, 2007 at 5:49 pm(109) Slinky says: It may be smart for the gas, but I can’t see myself commuting to and from work in that car. I already have a small car myself, and in my car I am worried about dying in an accident. I commute a long commute to work, and I would hate to hit a truck in my little car, we have too many SUV’s and big heavy trucks on the road for me to even consider going smaller than what I already have. The smart I would say isn’t smart in the safety aspecs. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if this turns out to be one of those trendy cars that people buy so that they can look all cute in it. Of course it will be nothing but a chick car filled with little lady bug decor inside of it. I figure that is what it will be, considering my husband wouldn’t even want to have that thing in our drive way. January 18, 2007 at 5:57 pm(110) NoNo says: This is a dangerous 4 wheel motorcycle. Never consider it. January 18, 2007 at 7:37 pm(111) Ron David says: Loved this car in the UK. (I’m 6′3″ and fit in it just fine) and PRAY that because it is no longer than it is wide some city’s will allow it to back into narrow parallel parking places nobody else can use (which motorists ARE allowed to do in the UK) January 18, 2007 at 9:34 pm(112) T LA LANDE says: JUST AS SOME BOUGHT THE VW BUG,THE GREMLIN OR THE PINTO, THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO’LL BUY THE “SMART”. HOWEVER IT WON’T SUPPLANT THE LARGER VEHICLES AMERICANS ENJOY. BUT IT MAY SPUR THE BIG 4 TO GREATER EFFORTS IN FUEL EFFICACY,WHICH IS STALLED AND LONG OVERDUE. January 18, 2007 at 10:00 pm(113) jahaara says: I have seen it at a dealership in my area ( Milwaukee, Wisconsin )priced at $26,000. NO WAY IN HADES would I pay that price! January 18, 2007 at 11:01 pm(114) Texas Smart says: Bought a Smart ForTwo in June 2006. Drove it home to Texas and now have over 13000 miles on it. Drive it in all kinds of weather, freeways in Houston and Austin, and 700 mile round trips. Averaging 40 mph, feel very safe and handles great. Love It! January 19, 2007 at 12:53 am(115) dave says: Totally would buy it if the price is right. As for you “safety conscious” folks: small cars have less mass, but (1) they handle better and (2) they’re subject to stricter door and body strength safety standards. Of course, we’re ALL excellent drivers so losing control would never happen to you or me. But seriously, if I were buying for a teen, this is totally the way I’d go. It’s definitely damned if you do, damned if you don’t but if you insist on buying fatbutt buses that you can’t even see around, you’re only contributing to the safety problem. January 19, 2007 at 3:02 am(116) Angele says: Are you Americans every going to get out of SUV’s and consider global warming, and the USA’s massive contribution to it? Yes, Im talking to YOU! YOU are responsible for 25%+ of the worlds emmissions. Get your heads out of the sand (or your SUV’s and WAKE UP! Or perhaps you don’t give a toss about your kids having a future? There will also be a Smart four seater available, again very cheap to run, and suitable for most families. Be honest, totally totally honest, how many of you really NEED an SUV? Okay, you might want one because everyone else has one (what are you sheep?), but very few people NEED one. My family of 5 (3 teenagers) travel quite happily around in my SMART four seater. And, if we need something bigger, (for a holiday perhaps) well, with the money we save from using our SMART car, we can easily afford to rent out a bigger vehicle. My kids deserve a future? Do yours? I don’t think so, the way you are all acting. January 19, 2007 at 7:03 am(117) teensy says: i live in holland, and they have loads of these cars here, and they’re the tallest people in the world. it’s just transportation, it’s not your penis size, so get over it. the future of being safer is not for everyone to drive big cars, but for everyone to drive smaller cars. stop being so paranoid. January 19, 2007 at 9:35 am(118) Tim says: Why is it that people even NEED a car in these tightly packed cities? Can’t they walk or ride a bike or take public transportation? It is silly to drive in a crowded city. No wonder people are so fat here… January 19, 2007 at 1:04 pm(119) Tiffany says: if it were more affordable (lets say, about 12 grand, like the scion xA base model) i would be ready to buy right away. i live and work in Atlanta and public transportation is terrible here. i work only 4 miles from where i live, and i run many errands several days a week for my job. i don’t know if i would want to do much interstate driving with this one. my husband works 15 miles away from home and takes the interstate and uses my prius every day because its much cheaper in gas than his 99 eclipse. i am forced to drive the old car. i would love to have this as my lil mini commute car and the prius as our main driving car. the problem? price. i can get another putt putt type car for much less. January 19, 2007 at 1:47 pm(120) Patrick says: Death Trap on the highway. Tiny. Rollover prone. Honda Fit is inexpensive, sips gas and is a real car. January 19, 2007 at 3:03 pm(121) teedubya says: Ugly POS. Not at any price! January 19, 2007 at 3:21 pm(122) Ted says: I rented one in St.Barth. It was surprisingly roomy, and plenty of storage space. However, it struggled to make it up hills. There was a couple of times I thought it would start rolling backwards on me. It would never work in a city like SF. Also, going around bends, I felt like it was going to slide out from under me and off the road. January 19, 2007 at 3:58 pm(123) Elizabeth says: I think these would be a grand improvement over the gas wasting SUV’s and the like that are so prominent now. It is cute and practical and will eliminate the problem of finding parking in any city January 19, 2007 at 4:14 pm(124) Normandy says: I saw a photo of the newest Smart Forfour, that will be for sale in Europe. The proportions are a little easier on the eye; it looks like a big Fortwo. This cars will be selling at price points currently inhabited by some very good cars; the competition will be tough! January 19, 2007 at 8:57 pm(125) michael says: try and get me out of my 740il for a smart…unless of coarse i lose my job,my trust fund, or my wife takes everything in a divorce… January 20, 2007 at 12:11 am(126) sirensong says: I’ve been waiting for the Smart car to be sold in the U.S. for two years! I’m so happy it finally made it because I will be among the first to buy one. Economical, compact, efficient and more earth friendly. Can’t wait! January 20, 2007 at 5:22 am(127) Tom says: This car is gay. January 20, 2007 at 9:42 am(128) Skeets says: Alls I can say is: I would buy one. January 20, 2007 at 1:00 pm(129) Sami says: absolutely! Being a college student it will be less of a worry to pay for gas. And it isn’t hideous. I would’ve bought it instead of the toyota corrola I have now. January 20, 2007 at 6:09 pm(130) mathew says: I’d buy one if we needed a second car… but we don’t. January 20, 2007 at 6:36 pm(131) jc says: Wrong about safety above. Smart is much safer than you can imagine, even in collisions with large vehicles. Somebody I know totalled a Mercedes S head on with a Smart the man and 2 yr. old son in the Smart were fine. I ws glad to get back to my Accord though, after using a Smart (I have no parking problems). January 21, 2007 at 9:53 am(132) Linda says: I’d buy a Smart ForTwo in a heartbeat. To “wip”, who said: “Also, remember Honda had a 2seater that got over 60 mpg. People lined none deep to buy it” — I own one of these (Honda Insight), and people did indeed line up to buy it, took 46 months to order and get delivered right up ’til the end b/c of waiting lists. Got mine by accident — went to buy a Fit and found an Insight that was a “dropped” order — LUCKY for me. So yes, Smart Cars will sell. Personally I can’t wait. January 21, 2007 at 1:39 pm(133) mayuli says: I think the Smart Fortwo is ADORABLE! I would love to own one(Convertable) as a second car. It’s perfect for me since I am 4′11″ and for my 120lb doggie to cruise in. My husband will never fit because he is 6′2″. I am in bergen county and I know it would be definitly great for parking in Hoboken and the City. I just wonder how much it’s worth?? I don’t think I would pay more the $10,000 for a such a small car and a two seater. So when and where is the Contest to win one?? January 21, 2007 at 2:04 pm(134) mayuli says: One last comment…this Smart Fortwo is definitely great for parents to buy for their kids when of driving age considering all the drinking and driving accidents. Two seater + limited passengers = less passenger deaths with kids drinking and driving underage. Maybe they should also consider designing a Smart ForOne as well. January 22, 2007 at 10:50 am(135) AncientUno says: Let me know if it is still around when gas reaches 5 dollars a gallon. Cudo’s to those that buy one. Just pray that nothing hits you. January 22, 2007 at 12:14 pm(136) O. Neimon says: It’s a great car, and will sell well here as long as (a) it’s geared so people can go stupidillegally fast, say, 8090, because goodness knows, 65 MPH isn’t fast enough for anyone, no matter how dangerous and (b) it costs less than $12,000 and/or has a 5 year warranty. Otherwise it’s an expensive toy that will appeal only to trophy wives and young heiresses. January 22, 2007 at 1:58 pm(137) Patrick says: To all the safety “naysayers” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6tyyoU8s January 22, 2007 at 4:39 pm(138) lola says: I think it’s great that they’re in the US now. We have a suburban and it uses so much gas. I would love to buy one, as soon as I can get the money! January 22, 2007 at 5:16 pm(139) JoeSchmo says: Heck no. I love my 4door sedan. It’s comfortable, doesn’t get THAT bad gas mileage and has “safety” written all over it. I cringe when I see a Geo Metro, having been in a serious accident, and having family members been in serious accidents. This little speck of a socalled vehicle would never make it with all the oversized SUV’s on the road today. Even with gas prices soaring, most people still didn’t give up their “tanks and boats”. It’s never going to make it in the US. MAYBE L.A.? But then there were the Hummers… January 22, 2007 at 5:28 pm(140) JoeSchmo says: Patrick Watching the YouTube video, they still said that it would have been very unlikely that any passengers inside either car tested would have survived the 70mph crash into the concrete. I don’t think anything could make me feel safe inside anything smaller than a civic, especially with all the 18wheelers and huge SUV’s out on the road. January 22, 2007 at 10:00 pm(141) Jared says: Americans can afford to get what they want; therefore, this will not sell except to the treehuggers. January 22, 2007 at 11:37 pm(142) Bobo Monkey says: Yes!!! these will sell in the US maybe not in Hicksville USA, where you all drove your f350’s and boof your sheep. yes I’m an American, and I can’t believe how shallow, narrow minded, and homophobic some of you dumb rednecks are all because of what kind of car you drive. I will actually look into buying one when they become available here stateside for my commuter ride (I’m tired of the excessive miles and High gas prices to keep driving my Z71 4×4, yes I too own a truck) but I also deal with driving in the city everyday for work and trust me parking a full size truck in Portland Oregon is a nightmare. they will be great for the commuters like me and the ecofriendly Prius owner type. As for there prices I’ve heard they are starting in the 11k to 17k depending on options January 23, 2007 at 3:12 pm(143) Shaz NZ says: They didn’t sell here,in New Zealand. So I cannot see them doing too good in USA. Priced to high for what they are, you can get just as great a small 4 door for less cost, and just as cheap to run. They are a city run about, could not see me travelling out on the open road in it(not that I would buy one). January 23, 2007 at 10:08 pm(144) eLLEN says: There’s NO WAY I’d even THINK about getting on the freeway here in Atlanta at rush hour in that tiny little thing with tractortrailer rigs doing 70+ mph! January 24, 2007 at 9:38 am(145) Steve K says: I think the naysayers who say it won’t sell here will be proven wrong. I currently drive an SUV but have been giving a lot of thought to downsizing lately. I just don’t need all the extra space for going back and forth to work and, frankly, am tired of filling the tank every few days. Would I drive one of these? In a second. I’m sure I will get laughed at occasionally, but so what. January 24, 2007 at 2:20 pm(146) AncientUno says: After looking at the specs of this thing my couch is bigger than that. The technoligy is available to get todays cars much better gas mileage than they are getting. I’d only be caught dead in that thing if all vehicles were taken off the road that got less than 40 miles to the gallon. This tin can is nothing more than a 4 x 6 coffin and those that do buy it will get a auto transmission so the thing can’t get out of it’s own way. But hey, it’s your life, go for it. January 30, 2007 at 10:37 am(147) Larry Harts says: I will take one, it will fit right behind my mini in the garage February 3, 2007 at 7:10 pm(148) Morgan says: My partner and I were in London back in 2001, and when we saw our first SMART CAR we fell in LOVE!With gas prices in this country changing everyday and climbing higher and higher,how can you NOT afford a car like this! People with SUV’s think they own the road cos they are so damn big and obnoxious, they eat gas up like crazy and honestly, when I look thru my rearview mirror and only see a “GRILL” from one of those monster SUV’s, I start praying! If most of us that drive normal sized cars ever got slammed by one of those oversized SUV’s, we’d have almost a zero chance to live!It’s like sharing the road with one of those Monster cars! Smaller is much better, so don’t like SIZE fool ya…The Smart car is named just right…SMART!!! I’ve been hoping that they’d bring it over here, and YES I will be looking at buying one. February 17, 2007 at 10:14 am(149) Caroll says: The Smart Car is only going to appeal to people who are educated and with IQ’s over 90. The large overweight SuuVees (Calling Hogs) are giving a false sense of safety. Many of them have worse safety records for the drivers than my wife’s Audi A4. After seeing the video from 28 I would say the Smart is quite safer. It would be safer than my motorcycle and it would probably get better fuel economy. Who should turn in there macho gold card, someone who drives a motorcycle through a South Dakota thunderstorm or someone who doesn’t take their Hummer on a dirt road?? There is nothing macho about driving an air conditioned pig of a SuuuVeeee. I would buy a Smart Four Two. February 28, 2007 at 1:51 pm(150) Riel says: The smart cars probably the ugliest car yet. I’ll never buy one. My daily driver is a 1955 Ford Custom. It was built to comfortably seat six or more adults and has a huge trunk. Best of all, it gets close to 30 MPGs, so if one’s going to carry more than two people and three grocery bags, its much more efficient. My other vehicle’s a 1977 F250. It gets pretty bad mielage, but I only use it to carry big loads. I’m happy with what I’ve got. March 17, 2007 at 12:08 am(151) Tim says: I used to buy small cars. then I bought a plymoth grand voyager and fell in love. It got 25 to 29 mpg the first 175000 miles now at 206000 miles it has droped into the 1822 mpg range. Still I would have considered the smart untill I saw what happened to a guy at work when he was hit by a pickup in a geo metro. April 5, 2007 at 8:53 pm(152) Jack says: I’ve reserved a Smart Car to buy and based on all the comments I’m glad I did. Thanks April 6, 2007 at 10:57 am(153) MRogers says: As a third car maybe, price would have to be low enough to justify the added insurance and maintenance plus get over 40 real world MPG. Here in the NE snow belt (Rochester NY) AWD would have to be available too. Our facts: My 2007 Trailblazer LT – 16 MPG not so good but I need the trailering capacity. Wife’s 2007 Subaru Impreza 24 MPG could be better. My 2006 HD RoadKing and her 2006 Honda Shadow 45 and 51MPG respectively both good economically but only practical on nice days. Conclusion; a sipper with heat, roof and reasonable safety would be nice for commuting since I have an easy back road commute where I rarely need to see around trucks/SUV’s. I will admit that there are too many people here driving large trucks and SUV’s that don’t need them. “Did you really need the Excursion with the V10”? Your trailer hitch is pristine and the back seats look like new, both rows! I see a lot of this and it is ridiculous excess. World fact: China is now the #1 polluter. And to you Europeans, we may have more and larger vehicles but our emissions standards are also considerably more stringent than yours so quit yer bitchen’. Comparatively your vehicle pollutes more than mine. April 11, 2007 at 1:12 pm(154) NJ says: This car is interesting, and just take a look at this month’s Town and Country Mag to see that (FINALLY!) Americans are waking up and realizing our responsiblity to reduce the impact of our excessive lifestyles on the planet! psstarting price on fortwo will be around $14k. April 19, 2007 at 1:30 am(155) Kevin says: Okay. The smart is actually really safe. Thanks to its Tridion Safety Cell, it acts like a nut shell and protects its occupants by activating any crumple zones. Plus since the engine is in the rear and the transmission is under the floor, the car is designed like a sandwhich where the transmission and the engine would slide under the car to act as an ‘added’ crumple zone. The base smart ‘pure’ is starting at under $15k, the upperend ‘passion’ is under $14k, and the ‘passion’ cabriolet is under $17k standard. Top speed on the smart is 90 mph. Respectfully you should not be speeding which the highest speed limit is 75. Yeah call me a goodiegoodgood but you all base your facts on assumption and the looks of the smart. So stop badmouthing the smart and learn how to gather your own facts. April 19, 2007 at 1:30 am(156) Kevin says: Okay. The smart is actually really safe. Thanks to its Tridion Safety Cell, it acts like a nut shell and protects its occupants by activating any crumple zones. Plus since the engine is in the rear and the transmission is under the floor, the car is designed like a sandwhich where the transmission and the engine would slide under the car to act as an ‘added’ crumple zone. The base smart ‘pure’ is starting at under $15k, the upperend ‘passion’ is under $14k, and the ‘passion’ cabriolet is under $17k standard. Top speed on the smart is 90 mph. Respectfully you should not be speeding which the highest speed limit is 75. Yeah call me a goodiegoodgood but you all base your facts on assumption and the looks of the smart. So stop badmouthing the smart and learn how to gather your own facts. go to www.smartusa.com and LEARN April 19, 2007 at 1:36 am(157) Kevin says: go to smart USA and learn your facts. plus is there a reason why smart named their smart model ‘fortwo’? the car is designed to transport you to and from work and little things in between. NOT for full family escapades. oh. and click on smart TV while there too, and you’ll see two massively obese men enter various ‘microcars’, then they enter the smart. both fit inside comfortably. so being 6′2″ or 5′1″, 90lbs or 250+ the smart WILL fit you inside. so get your butts in gear and get your facts straight. April 23, 2007 at 1:23 am(158) XARA says: I SAW THIS CAR THE OTHER DAY AT THE DMV IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA! AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT!! I WOULD LOVE TO PURCHASE ONE! ITS PERFECT FOR THE SINGLES IN AMERCA, JUS TWO SEATER!! WHEN THEY GO ON SALE?? I LOVE IT!! June 21, 2007 at 12:21 am(159) Sisao Tresed says: The Smart is long overdue. However, like so many things in life there are tradeoffs. We need high MPG cars more than ever, but too often while I’m at a stoplight in my Civic I turn to see the bumper of a Ford F 250 with oversized tires and a lift kit. All too often the trucks are filled with young guys who are just having a good ole time. A closer inspection will often find beer cans in close proximity. Don’t forget those Surburbans or Tundras either. Again, I love the small cars, I always have, however until we can even the playing field set in motion by the laws of physics my kids will drive SUV’s, and I’ll bite the bullet on gas prices. Sincerely, Sisao Tresed August 27, 2007 at 3:19 pm(160) Paul Thompson says: The base models are not offered and though the MB version has the three cylinder turbo it is not diesel for better economy and torque performance. I currently run 2 diesls and wouldn’t have anything else! December 13, 2007 at 9:29 pm(161) John Bates says: My wife drives a Hummer because she believes its safe. We were in Berlin & Paris last year, and over there, the Smart’s are very popular indeed. I’m getting tired of spending lots on gas for her Hummer and the worst part is finding parking in Los Angeles, where we live. The spots are all so small, and her car is gargantuan! It makes no sense. I think there is certainly alot of practicality in a Smart car. December 13, 2007 at 9:50 pm(162) Thomas Meet says: The Smart Car scored very well on the German ADAC crash test. Germany has some of the most stringent crash tests in the world. You could certainly survive a 50mph crash in a smart. Two years ago, the Chinese tried to introduce a SUV into Europe, and when the German’s tested it, they were shocked, their words were (translated): “The Landwind SUV catastrophically failed the crash test”. The Germans scored is a Zero (0). A 15mph crash in the Chinese SUV would be fatal for the occupants. So that goes to show, that just because you drive an SUV, it doesn’t make it safer than a small car. Here’s a Video of the Chinese Landwind SUV crash test. March 22, 2008 at 1:00 pm(163) Randy says: I have one on order and can’t wait for it to arrive(single, urban professional, 43, male). I’ll admit I first fell in love with the car when I saw it while traveling in France. It really challenged my thinking about what a “car” can be. I currently have a Mazda 3 which was a downsize from a Tribute and now I’m ready to downsize even further. I don’t remember the last time I had more than 1 other person in the car with me and probably drive solo 85% of the time. I think we as a culture need to reevaluate how we think about driving. It’s amazing how many cars that can seat 5 or more are on the road at any given time with no one but the driver. There are better solutions out there to satisfy those times that we “need” huge amounts of space in the vehicles that we drive. So do I think it will sell? Yes, but better yet I think it will continue the movement to change our perceptions of the need for the big American vehicle. April 24, 2008 at 9:20 pm(164) mike says: the smart car won’t sell very well. at first, curiosity and hype might create sales, but realistically, it can’t happen. disadvantages include 23 seconds 060, no luggage space or real creature comforts, $30,000 dollar price tag, the risk of not being seen by a large car, and the reality that a wheelbase that small isn’t safe at high speeds. so what outweighs these sacrafices? Novelty? Not for long. The obvious advantages are parking and gas mileage 68 highway 46 city. the toyota prius hybrid with 4 doors plus trunk space and a real engine costs less and gets 60mpg city driving and 51mpg highway. My advice is if you’re that desperate to save money on gas, don’t buy a $30,000 two seater with no trunk, buy a damn moped; cheaper, safer, faster Leave a Comment Leave a Comment Name Email (never displayed) URL Your Comment Line and paragraph breaks are automatic. Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title="">, <b>, <i>, <strike> Say It! gEI("commentform").style.display="none"; var l=getElementsByClassName("leavecomment",gEI("comments")); for(i=0;i