Post by: Harold Tuttle on June 28, 2006, 09:44:58 AM
Daimler to launch Smart car in US in 2008
Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:22 AM ET
FRANKFURT, June 28 (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler
http://www.us.smart.isc4u.net/index.php
60 hp, 3-cylinder, rear-mounted turbo engine
sequential 6-speed transmission
automatic or manual mode selectable
Tank Capacity: 8.7 gallons
50 MPG
Post by: Nathaniel Firethorn on June 28, 2006, 09:49:03 AM
Terry Gilliam already did it in Brazil.
- NF
Post by: Guest on June 28, 2006, 09:50:59 AM
Post by: K Frame on June 28, 2006, 09:54:27 AM
Post by: Sindawe on June 28, 2006, 09:57:11 AM
Quote
Daimler to launch Smart car in US in 2008
What? 2008? There is a dealership in Loveland CO. selling the cars. Not cheap though, priced at around $23k.Some video of crash testing of the vehicle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s&search=Smart%20car
Post by: Harold Tuttle on June 28, 2006, 10:02:56 AM
this announcement is by Daimler Chrysler
Post by: Nathaniel Firethorn on June 28, 2006, 10:05:31 AM
Quote from: c_yeager
Did it have to be so ugly?
Nope. It could have been even uglier.
Click here for some more automotive nightmares.
- NF
Post by: DrAmazon on June 28, 2006, 10:50:01 AM
Quote from: Sindawe
Quote
Daimler to launch Smart car in US in 2008
What? 2008? There is a dealership in Loveland CO. selling the cars. Not cheap though, priced at around $23k.Some video of crash testing of the vehicle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s&search=Smart%20car
I'm not sure the American public will "get" the smart car. There will be a niche market who will like them, some of whom will be very self righetous about their vehicle choice, but the average buyer probably won't. No room for packages, no room for a car seat for kids. Makes me think if a watertight motorcycle-but not as pretty too look at or as fun to operate!
Post by: K Frame on June 28, 2006, 11:13:09 AM
Looks vaguely like "The Homer" from the Simpsons episode where Homer bankrupts his brother's car company.
This one, on the other hand, is kind of cute.
Post by: Harold Tuttle on June 28, 2006, 11:55:20 AM
corbin merlin:
Post by: Nathaniel Firethorn on June 28, 2006, 12:12:53 PM
BTW, the "bubble car" is, believe it or not, a Messerschmitt.
- NF
Post by: Lo.Com.Denom on June 28, 2006, 12:44:00 PM
I dunno, they sort-of serve a purpose, I suppose -- an economic city ride for singletons. OK if you just want to get from A to B within town, but pretty limited elsewhere. A friend's mother and his wife both have one and seem to be happy with them, but they're both rather undemanding customers and their husbands have bigger cars when they need to hit the motorway or haul stuff about. I strongly suspect that a lot of Smart Car drivers have another car like that.
Now this is a bit more like my cup of tea! http://www.uniquemotorcompany.co.uk/qtrunner.php
Fugly, but in a good way...
Post by: lee n. field on June 28, 2006, 01:29:46 PM
Post by: Ben on June 28, 2006, 01:56:45 PM
Post by: jefnvk on June 28, 2006, 02:49:45 PM
Quote
You guys don't have Smart Cars in the US? I thought that they were everywhere...
I never seen one until I went to Canada last year. Quite a few around Toronto.Didn't think much of them. Two of the guys in our group would have a problem fitting in one. Didn't seem like they would go too fast, either.
Post by: m1911owner on June 28, 2006, 02:57:09 PM
Post by: Live Free Or Die on June 28, 2006, 03:00:38 PM
Quote
60 hp, 3-cylinder, rear-mounted turbo engine
sequential 6-speed transmission
automatic or manual mode selectable
Tank Capacity: 8.7 gallons
50 MPG
To be honest, I'm not sure why these specs are impressive, or even noteworthy. Obviously the intent is a small, fuel efficient vehicle. So what? I could have bought something from GM almost 2 decades ago that was nearly as ugly, almost as impractical, and with the same fuel economy:sequential 6-speed transmission
automatic or manual mode selectable
Tank Capacity: 8.7 gallons
50 MPG
1990 Geo Metro
And there are many such econo-boxes that have been made over the past few decades. Heck, you could get a brand new VW Jetta TDI -- a real car -- with that MPG rating. It would be slightly more difficult to drive on the sidewalk, but I would much rather get in an accident driving the vee-dub.
Oh well, I guess we'll let the market decide whether this thing succeeds here.
Post by: The Rabbi on June 28, 2006, 03:22:17 PM
Quote from: jefnvk
Quote
You guys don't have Smart Cars in the US? I thought that they were everywhere...
I never seen one until I went to Canada last year. Quite a few around Toronto.Didn't think much of them. Two of the guys in our group would have a problem fitting in one. Didn't seem like they would go too fast, either.
Oh, I did see the cars bombed in Germany and Mercedes is pulling them.
Post by: Bogie on June 29, 2006, 04:05:39 AM
I think the things were MADE for people who do the RV thing...
Post by: Harold Tuttle on June 29, 2006, 04:16:23 AM
http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/whattadrag.html
Post by: jefnvk on June 29, 2006, 12:42:17 PM
Quote
A friend of mine from Germany visiting told me they will do like 120mph.
Huh, although I guess there isn't much weight there. Don't know that I would drive at 120, whenever I hit that with my Cavalier (which didn't do much worse for mileage, and you could fit four people and luggage comfortably in), it got interesting in regards to vibrations and instability. That thing looks a bit topheavy as it is.
Post by: charby on June 29, 2006, 12:44:46 PM
-C
Post by: Iain on June 29, 2006, 01:02:28 PM
Post by: Brad Johnson on June 29, 2006, 01:13:38 PM
They are so proud of their "small but very efficient crumple zones and extremely rigid passenger compartment" but lament that the combination mght "transmit more energy to the occupants during a collision".
Sounds a lot like the robin's egg blue '75 Bel-Air station wagon my parent's had when I was in high school. Didn't we just spend the last 30 years in a govt mandated move away from that?
Gimme an Excursion any day. 4x4. Diesel. Black.
Brad
Post by: auschip on June 30, 2006, 09:32:20 AM
Post by: Nathaniel Firethorn on June 30, 2006, 10:20:23 AM
The Corbin Merlin is the thing that looks like it needs a proctologist to snip it.
The Sparrow, OTOH, looks like Old Mother Hubbard's ride.
- NF
Post by: Dannyboy on June 30, 2006, 10:34:49 AM
Post by: K Frame on June 30, 2006, 10:44:00 AM
BBBBBWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Post by: Harold Tuttle on June 30, 2006, 02:20:56 PM
I'm Sorry Mike, I can't do that
Post by: Guest on June 30, 2006, 08:09:43 PM
Quote
A friend of mine from Germany visiting told me they will do like 120mph.
60 HP and lets say 1500 lbs.Thats gonna take a lot of gearing... and a runway.
Post by: Iain on July 01, 2006, 12:49:01 AM
Post by: Perd Hapley on July 01, 2006, 01:26:58 AM
Quote from: Dannyboy
One advantage of the Smart car.
How much narrower is it than, say, a Neon or other small car?
Post by: Iain on July 01, 2006, 01:33:27 AM
Post by: Harold Tuttle on July 01, 2006, 03:27:45 AM
drive up to the freeway,
engage the automerge, and forgetabout traffic delays on the thruways
its really the only way i can see further capacity expansion on the daily commute
Can we merge with this memory byte?
Post by: Firethorn on July 01, 2006, 04:44:16 PM
Quote from: Iain
It's not much narrower, but there is an awful lot of difference in the length of a smart car and a Neon. The point of that picture is that the Neon or similar would sticking out well into the road.
Yeah, but I can see that being a good way to get a ticket or a wrecked car. I know I'd be pissed if I was the driver of one of the vans.Heck, could 3-4 people tip the sucker up onto it's back?
Hmmm 1600/4=400 pounds each. Engine's mounted in the rear, and probably the heaviest part. Heck, two people might be able to do it.
Put it on it's roof or side, out of my way to move my vehicle.
Post by: Dannyboy on July 01, 2006, 05:26:57 PM
Quote from: Firethorn
Yeah, but I can see that being a good way to get a ticket or a wrecked car. I know I'd be pissed if I was the driver of one of the vans.
Heck, could 3-4 people tip the sucker up onto it's back?
Hmmm 1600/4=400 pounds each. Engine's mounted in the rear, and probably the heaviest part. Heck, two people might be able to do it.
Put it on it's roof or side, out of my way to move my vehicle.
I don't know if they actually give parking tickets in Nice. Considering what I saw, I'm thinking that they don't. I just happened to have my camera on me for that picture but I saw that same thing a few times over that week. Heck, could 3-4 people tip the sucker up onto it's back?
Hmmm 1600/4=400 pounds each. Engine's mounted in the rear, and probably the heaviest part. Heck, two people might be able to do it.
Put it on it's roof or side, out of my way to move my vehicle.
The front of that car was dead even with the left sides of the two on either side. And there's maybe a foot parked on the sidewalk. One advantage for a tiny little car like that. The only advantage, as far as I'm concerned.
Post by: Chuck Dye on July 01, 2006, 05:30:59 PM
Post by: Perd Hapley on July 01, 2006, 05:31:54 PM
Quote
pregnant roller-skates
Nice.
Post by: Firethorn on July 01, 2006, 07:49:06 PM
Quote from: Dannyboy
The front of that car was dead even with the left sides of the two on either side. And there's maybe a foot parked on the sidewalk. One advantage for a tiny little car like that. The only advantage, as far as I'm concerned.
That's why I figure that vandalism might also be a problem. If the smartcar guy blocks the wrong guy in, he might find his little auto in a different orientation than what he left it in.
Post by: Dannyboy on July 02, 2006, 04:00:01 AM
Quote from: fistful
But Dannyboy, we are talkin' about Smart Cars here in the States, so those advantages might not translate. Especially with our stricter laws on traffic and parking, more open territory, wider streets, and what-not.
Point taken.
Post by: mfree on July 02, 2006, 08:39:44 AM
Actually, that's why I've been looking at motorcycles, trikes, Citroen 2CVs, etc. But all the used stuff is beyond my budget (used gets bought cash, newer gets a loan) and motorcycles are going to take training and extra equipment.
I'd love to lay hands on one. Heck, I'd love to lay hands on a geo metro 2 door with stick shift and AC but they're scarce these days...