[Kim]

Bought this Friday for work. Want to try to reduce the use of my cars for around-town driving and also have something to attach company decals. Has a 0.8 litre diesel engine, 6 speed auto/man transmission that seems to have some sort of "electric clutch" - no pedal but the something engages a clutch, cuts off fuel, re-engages a clutch and fuel supply when gears are changed. Not the least bit like a tip 968 at all. First tank of fuel - 79.6 mpg. Actually rather fun to drive as you are definitely "one with the car".

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[Johannvb]

I love the smarts...I actually think they sound a lot like an old 911. Here in Europe we also have the option of buying a tuned version from Brabus. A little over the top, but I love them.

have look...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GKIxtxwt2A

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[Kim]

Yeah, this one is a bare bones base car. But they are rather well equipped even so - air, power locks/windows, rear wiper, CD, tach, ABS, airbag. I think that for a company called Happy Homes Indoor Environments, with homeowners as the customer base, a decal-filled little dinky-mobile will be just great.

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[flash]

those things are cute

i assume the 79.6mpg is canadian - that works out to about 66mpg here in the states - still VERY good - we passed because they said the one sold here only got something like 44mpg - may have to rethink that now, but i don't know if the the turbodiesel came here

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[Cloud9...68]

And the odd thing is that the gas powered Smarts require premium fuel [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif[/img] . How absurd is that? The diesel sounds like a nice alternative, but I don't think they're available in the States. Despite its popularity in Europe, diesel just hasn't caught on in the US, and based on an article I saw recently about the plans of several major automakers, including Honda, to cancel their diesel programs, the future doesn't look good for diesel in the US.

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[flash]

the part i don't get is why they can't get more power out of the engine - why don't they just stick in a motorcycle engine? same CC, but 50% more power

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[Johannvb]

Well...some folks in the UK has been playing with that idea already [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img]

http://www.smartuki.com/

The videos are mind blowing!

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[Fox944]

if the diesel smart car was availabe in the states, i'm pretty sure i'd be driving one right now.

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[Cloud9...68]

If you want a diesel in the US, your choices are limited: VW, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes (pretty much covers all the German brands). Oh, and of course several American monster trucks.

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[DaveN]

They (Smart) didn't go into the states because of the relatively low acceptance of diesel vehicles. What they did, IMHO, was ruin a good car buy pandering to the American publics perception of what they want in a car which is so outdated in a global sense. Smart new the car would never be accepted unless it was larger and had a bigger engine; the USA car buyer still believes - bigger is better or go home. Hence the loss of the efficient 800cc engine with great mileage and in with the gas guzzler. Well for a car this size we can call it that [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

I know I'm stirring the pot but I think the big 3 proved last year that they are out of touch with what is required on the road these days. Calif should have embraced the Smart and it would have been readily accepted elsewhere sans change.

I just want to know what size of snowies Kim is going to get for this baby? It's not like you live here on the wet coast. Actually I'm a big jealous, just wish they weren't so over-priced.

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[Fox944]

Here is a canadian Smart CDi a member of another forum i frequent owns.

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[stewhatch]

If I'm not mistaken, the motor in the Smart car is built by Mercedes. It's a 3 cyl. diesel I think. I wasn't aware they were available as reg. gas models till now. They cannot be sold new (in Pa.) but only as used, so any listings for a Smart car in my state shows an odometer reading of a few hundred miles. I travel to Canada all the time on business and these little critters are everywhere, sometimes passing me at over 70 mph.

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[rustech]

I have one of the 2009 gas powered models (Smart Fortwo Passion). It is a 3 cyl 1.0 liter. It's funny because my 2007 Triumph Speed Triple has a bigger motor with twice the power. I've read that they are bringing the electric version of the Smart to the states for 2010.

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[tom968]

I don't understand why the American Smart doesn't
get better mileage. 44 mpg is about what the old
Geo Metro got.

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[flash]

i am continually dismayed at the failure of the industry to significantly improve on economy

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[Kim]

The car has Blizzak snows in the OEM size (not sure, think 15 inch rims, rears are wider). I would not have bought the gas model - diesel not available here now either, so I bought a used one - as the fuel mileage is not good enough on the gas to justify this over, say, a Honda Fit if one just wants a small efficient car.

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[rustech]

Only reason I bought one is because it's so rediculous looking. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img]



Edit: BTW, Mitsubishi makes the 1.0L motors.

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[rhudeboye]

Not a fan. I'm all for creating a car thats good gas but not at the sacrifice of its appearance. That thing is a trashcan on wheels and I cant imagine that their safe or comfortable either.

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[Kim]

first comment - can't answer. Second one - drive one first before you conclude anything.

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[stewhatch]

This Car was designed by VW and built in China. "Another Volkswagen first"

This will beat all the low fuel consumption cars in the world!


NEW CAR- FOR $600------- New Single Seat VW


If you could go to Shanghai for a vacation, buy two or more of these cars, one for your wife and one for yourself, and one for each of your kids, have them shipped to Canada and still spend less money than if you bought a car in Canada. Getting the car(S) into USA , still an ordeal.

This is not a toy, not a concept car. It is a newly developed single seat car in highly aerodynamic tear-shape road-proven real car. It is ready to be launched as a single-seater for sale in Shanghai in 2010 for a mere RMB 4,000 (US$600)!

Interested? Wait till you learn that it will cruise at 100-120 Km/Hr with an unbelievable 0.99litre/100Km (258 miles/gallon)!

Impressed? Totally, after you have read all the details below about the hi-tech and space-age material input into this car!

The Most Economic Car in the World will be on sale next year




Better than Electric Car - 258 miles/gallon: IPO 2010 in Shanghai

This is a single seated car

From conception to production: 3 years and the company is headquartered in Hamburg , Germany .

Will be selling for 4000 yuan, equivalent to US$600..

Gas tank capacity = 1.7 gallons

Speed = 62 - 74.6 Miles/hour

Fuel efficiency = 258 miles/gallon

Travel distance with a full tank = 404 miles

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