Smart Cars Coming to Canada and U.S.

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Smart Cars Coming to Canada and U.S.

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Saturday October 9, 2004 @12:04AM from the golf-cart-gone-feral dept.

AgniTheSane writes "Most importantly the Smart Car looks cool. It also gets 60 mpg, is four feet smaller than a Mini Cooper (you can park two in a standard parking spot), the plastic panels are easily swappable and one color all the way through (so you can't scratch the paint), the steel frame makes it safe in an accident, and you can get it with in-dash Bluetooth (and in Europe can read and write email via the car speakers and a microphone). The Smart car is coming to the US soon, and will cost as little as $12,000. You can read about it in Wired or on MSNBC, or you can go straight to ZAP who will be selling them in the US soon, or the smart car website in the UK. "

10 of 605 comments (clear)

Heh by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-09 00:06 · Score: 5, Funny

Yanks won't give up their monstrous SUVs for these. Too insecure about their sexuality.
1. Re:Heh by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-09 00:28 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Big European familes seem to be able to cope with http://vauxhall.co.uk/showroom/search/brand.jhtml? brand=Zafira&vehicleType=Carsub compact people carriers like these which can seat 7. Is the averge american family that large or is it more to do with status really?
Safe in an accident? by jrumney · 2004-10-09 00:09 · Score: 5, Insightful

the steel frame makes it safe in an accident
Provided the accident is a frontal collision with a Mercedes Benz sedan, like in the publicity video, with the Mercedes' crumple zone absorbing all the impact.
1. Re:Safe in an accident? by Omega+Leader-(P12) · 2004-10-09 00:17 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  The short wheelbase ensures any side inpact will hit an axel and not intrude into the passenger cabin. Far better than many other vehicles. (Like the king of fatal side impacts the Ford F-150)
It is a safe car by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-09 00:23 · Score: 5, Informative

For all those screaming about security - this car has been specifically designed to be safe despite it's size; to achieve this, there are certain tricks involved, eg sliding the motor under the chassis in case of a crash.
It _has_ been rigourously tested.

You know, we here in Europe do make more out of less and don't need a 2 Ton SUV to have a save car.
Not so cool by Lomby · 2004-10-09 00:27 · Score: 5, Informative

I live in Switzerland and had the possibility to test drive one of the two seats model.

Positive points:
- looks cool
- each passenger has a lot of room (really)

Negative points:
- automatic shift is very slow, it is dangerous and reduces confort (it brakes the car during the shift)
- the vertical construction implies rather hard suspensions, with reduced confort (you feel every bump in the road in your spine)
- noisy inside
- pricy

In Europe you can find lots of small cars that have a comparable MPG (or better km/l), have 4 seats and are cheaper.

To sum it up, coolness factor aside, I would not reccomend it.
Style issues by StateOfTheUnion · 2004-10-09 00:36 · Score: 5, Insightful

Many of the style issues that I'm reading on /. are the same ones I heard from European comsumers when the SMART car was first released. Too small, too silly, girly looking bright colors. Just not a macho car.
A few years later I heard things like great mileage, funky distinct design, low price, reliable, and most importantly able to park it in the tiniest of spaces.
I don't think that the SMART will ever be the cross country driving car of choice, but as a second car in the city for the 2 parent working family I think its a brilliant idea . . . Why drive a 4000 pound SUV to pick up a gallon of milk at the supermarket if you don't have to?
1. Re:Style issues by CreationLtd · 2004-10-09 01:51 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Here in Madrid, Spain there are masses of Smart Cars. It is definitely a success here especially due to the appalling parking problem. There is so much double parking that the sound of someone honking their horn trying to get their car free is a hourly occurrence.
  Smart Cars are so short they can park nose in parking spaces that aren't wide enough for a Hummer to park laterally.
  As for style, my wife squeaked in delight for months on seeing them and often wanted no more than to "hug" them. They've even turned into small art and advertising billboards in the case of rental and corporate vehicles.
  They're definitely a cool car by most Spaniards' measurements.
Re:Looks cool?? by BenjyD · 2004-10-09 00:52 · Score: 5, Interesting

The American 'aesthetic' sense rears its ugly head again.
Re:bah - there is no safety argument by radiotalent · 2004-10-09 02:56 · Score: 5, Insightful

Everything else aside, this vehicle is safer because it's lighter.

Which is why we hear of so accidents involving Mack Trucks and Yugos that end badly for the over-the-road truck driver.