Smart cars coming to U.S. - Printable Version

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Smart cars coming to U.S. - tom968 - 04-03-2006

Has anyone seen these micro cars? It was featured in the new Pink Panther movie. I saw some a few years ago in Europe, where gas is over $5.00

a gallon and parking is impossible in big cities.



A California company called Zap is importing them. They had a tough time meeting emissions. Daimler-Chrysler or Mercedes in a joint venture with

swatch makes them. Mercedes did'nt want them imported, and I believe it was settled in court. Also, I believe they're were crash test and rollover issues in

the past. Mercedes has lost a lot of money on this car.



They are starting a drive across the U.S. to New York to promote it starting

tomorrow. I don't have a link, but you could read about it at Zapworld.com.



I'm ready to trade in my 968 for one <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Seriously, the cars may sell as a novelty but we're not ready for them. They

are way too small and underpowered.



It gets about 40 mpg. With a 1.2 litre turbocharged 3 cylinder engine and about

62 h.p. you figure the mileage would be better.

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Smart cars coming to U.S. - josephsc - 04-03-2006

IMHO, the best part of Smart cars is the ease of parking. It'll be great in places like San Francisco and New York, where I'd opt for a motorcycle except it's miserable when it rains.



I saw this little fella in Rome last year:

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Smart cars coming to U.S. - TheMirror - 04-06-2006

They should consider opening dealerships in Berkeley and Madison, Wisconsin. That's about it.



[quote name='tom968' date='Apr 3 2006, 03:47 PM']Has anyone seen  these micro cars?  It was featured in the new Pink Panther movie.  I saw some a few years ago in Europe, where gas is over $5.00

a gallon and parking is impossible in big cities.



A California company called Zap is importing them.  They had a tough time meeting emissions.  Daimler-Chrysler or Mercedes in a joint venture with

swatch makes them.  Mercedes did'nt want them imported, and I believe it was settled in court.  Also, I believe they're were crash test and rollover issues in

the past.  Mercedes has lost a lot of money on this car.



They are starting a drive across the U.S. to New York to promote it starting

tomorrow.  I don't have a link, but you could read about it at Zapworld.com.



I'm ready to trade in my 968 for one <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Seriously, the cars may sell as a novelty but we're not ready for them.  They

are way too small and underpowered.



It gets about 40 mpg.  With a 1.2 litre turbocharged 3 cylinder engine and about

62 h.p. you figure the mileage would be better.

[right][post="18484"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

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Smart cars coming to U.S. - Richard - 04-06-2006

[quote name='TheMirror' date='Apr 5 2006, 11:01 PM']They should consider opening dealerships in Berkeley and Madison, Wisconsin. That's about it.

[right][post="18632"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



The Mirror,



Thanks for making me laugh out loud this morning! You are dead-on with that statement.

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Smart cars coming to U.S. - RPM - 04-06-2006

A dealer here in Raleigh NC has one. Saw it yesterday. They claimed it was the 3rd imported to the US. Cute little thing. Substantial and yet flimsy all at the same time. A curiosity, not a real car for this country's roads.

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Smart cars coming to U.S. - Mark - 04-06-2006

I'm waiting on









Carver finally has signed up a US dealer so I am waiting to see the pricing. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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Smart cars coming to U.S. - Lemming - 04-06-2006

I saw quite a few smart cars in Athens last summer. Pull the engine and drop in an Hyabusa engine and have some fun. There was a video clip floating around of one and it looked like fun!!!

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Smart cars coming to U.S. - ether_joe - 04-06-2006

[quote name='Mark' date='Apr 6 2006, 08:45 AM']Carver finally has signed up a US dealer so I am waiting to see the pricing. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />[/quote]



looking at those pictures makes my head hurt. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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