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Yep the Smarts are popping up here every where. I think I have seen them in every trim and color so far. I did see one running down the hwy sideways today. Checked the car front and rear. It was tracking side ways.

Of Note: I now see more Smarts per day then 8th Gen Accords. But I have to tell you. They look down right funny blipping down the hwy @ 75 mph. And utterly lost in the city.

Yep the Smarts are popping up here every where. I think I have seen them in every trim and color so far. I did see one running down the hwy sideways today. Checked the car front and rear. It was tracking side ways.

Of Note: I now see more Smarts per day then 8th Gen Accords. But I have to tell you. They look down right funny blipping down the hwy @ 75 mph. And utterly lost in the city.

Weird, I've only seen 1 on the streets of Boulder so far, but the Prius has saturated the market here, perhaps a Prius and a Smart in the driveway is gilding the lily.

Psy, I don't recall seeing a single Smart in the wild around these parts. Is there a major dealer around there?

Psy, I don't recall seeing a single Smart in the wild around these parts. Is there a major dealer around there?

I don't know if it a major dealer. But there is one in the same complex as the Infinity, Porsche, MB dealers. They are in one big building with the Smarts being right in the middle.

I've seen at least 3 different ones in the wild in the NW Chi-town suburbs.

I haven't seen too many in DFW but did see 3 in one parking lot alone in Austin this past weekend..and then I saw one on a regular route today in a suburb of DFW (still had the temp. tags on it as well!)

I've not seen one here yet but my coworker told me on Monday he saw one while out at lunch (I bring my lunch to work with me).

I really enjoyed seeing them in Italy when I was over there last summer -- if it got Insight numbers I'd be really interested!

maybe i will have to try one when i retire and my civic dies. though with the miles i am putting on now, it still has a lot of life left.....35/day.

I've spotted 5 in the last 2 weeks near downtown Dallas.

My mother wants one. I hope she does a Yaris 3 door myself. If Smart was 7 to 10k it might be worth it. It really is not impressive mpg wise. But my mother really likes tart little cars like that. Hell she liked the NSU my father and her bought after they married. :)

Jeff, the thing about the smart is that it is largely a fashion statement (at the mileage it gets, anyway) -- you obviously get that because of the value you've placed on it.

Depending upon what she's driving now either one could be a substantial improvement in her FE, though.

I've not seen one here yet but my coworker told me on Monday he saw one while out at lunch (I bring my lunch to work with me).

I really enjoyed seeing them in Italy when I was over there last summer -- if it got Insight numbers I'd be really interested!

Ive seen 4 or 5 down in bloomington/edina/494. I think the mercedes dealer between 100 and france sells them.

Really? I may have to take a field trip to see if I can test drive one. :)

Really? I may have to take a field trip to see if I can test drive one. :)

Call that dealer up and see if they do. I see them on american blvd in west bloomington a lot. And that mercedes dealer is on American Blvd....so thats my guess.

I have only seen one near Dayton, but it was on a truck. They have a dealer in Columbus that I would like to visit.

I was in Australia in December 2006 and they had them available for rent near the beach. I would have rented one if I had known beforehand...

Jeff, the thing about the smart is that it is largely a fashion statement (at the mileage it gets, anyway)

The ForTwo is a FSP. Only here. Only here.

-mr. bill

Hi, Bill! I wouldn't name it FSP, but it definitely doesn't deliver on the expectations set by its size. When a larger car can get close to the same mileage at a cheaper price, the advantages of ridiculous parking ability just don't balance out the lack of carrying capacity. That's why I think it is largely a fashion statement. :)

...and the last time you drove for a half hour looking for a parking space was?

-mr. bill

Is there really a 18 month wait or is that a smoke-screen?

11011011

...and the last time you drove for a half hour looking for a parking space was?

-mr. bill

:confused: Seriously? I've never spent longer than about 4min looking for a parking slot. That includes parking ramps, inner city parking, and busy department store parking. I simply park further out if it is outside and if the ramp is full, I go elsewhere. A "close" spot isn't worth it to me.

Is it worse for you? If not, I'm not sure I follow...

the smart is a niche car - I predict they'll sell 20,000 to 35,000 cars a year in the US

The smart fortwo is such a niche car. Unlike the Insight, which sold worldwide under 20,000 - total.

Anyhow, there are places in the world where getting *any* space within a few kilometers of your destination takes major effort. Which explains this snap in Paris:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/mrbill05/04-25-08_1736.jpg

One thing I don't miss about the over dozen years of driving a full size Ford Van was finding a parking space for the beast. I do miss the fuel savings - over 100,000 gallons.

-mr. bill

Jeff, the thing about the smart is that it is largely a fashion statement (at the mileage it gets, anyway) -- you obviously get that because of the value you've placed on it.

Depending upon what she's driving now either one could be a substantial improvement in her FE, though.

She is driving a Sentra right now. And yes its a MT. My mama ain't no AT fool. :)

She just likes quirky little cars. She liked the Metropolitans in her youth. Her and Dad bought a NSU Prinz when I was a embryo. She drove the Fiat 850 Coupe Monday thru Friday and Dad raced it on the weekends. Her CRX-Si is a treasure. She wanted a Mini. She wanted one back in the day. But father had to much fun beating the brit boxs with his cheapy Fiat. When the new Minis came out they just cost to much. So the Smart does fall into her line of thinking.

I talked to her today and forward her info and pics on the Fiat 500. She really liked it. But who knows if it will make it to America. She would buy it over Smart. She really likes Yaris until she see's the Sombrao. She did own a Camry at one point. Nice car but boring as wall paper paste. And she also has a feeling of violation when leaving a Yota dealer. That stuck up Yota purchasing processes has kept her from buying Yaris.

I just find it intresting how many Smarts are showing up here.

Haven't seen one around here yet.


--des

Hi All:

___I think the Smart ForTwo is a lot of fun but it is not for everyone is all … Being the third most fuel efficient vehicle in the US is a good start but we need a much more advanced 1.0 in her to make it to the top of the charts. The Mitsubishi mill just doesn’t cut it in terms of its FE is all :(

___The fun factor let alone its ability to park just about anywhere is great though :)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/SMART_Fortwo_-_side_by_side_in_San_Jose_Medium.jpg
Room for three anyone ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I just got back from Europe and among other things, test driving (from the Würzburg dealer) a turbocharged gasoline version of this car, which makes it QUICK.

I was also in the heart of smart-land along with 10 other Canadian smart enthusiasts (and one American enthusiast) and we got a factory tour and boy was that interesting. This is the only factory that I've been to that does not have any smokestacks. It looks more like a hospital. Love the new smart!

My next smart will be a turbo gasser I think. I will keep the diesel forever (I bought some new stuff for it in Europe too), but the novelty of one that has - say - 98 HP in the beck would get me back into the showroom sooner or later. People in Europe with these report about 35 US MPG (on spritmonitor), even with the BRABUS' super wide wheels and tires.

Hi All:

___I think the Smart ForTwo is a lot of fun but it is not for everyone is all … Being the third most fuel efficient vehicle in the US is a good start but we need a much more advanced 1.0 in her to make it to the top of the charts. The Mitsubishi mill just doesn’t cut it in terms of its FE is all :(

___The fun factor let alone its ability to park just about anywhere is great though :)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/SMART_Fortwo_-_side_by_side_in_San_Jose_Medium.jpg
Room for three anyone ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne


What gets me about Smart is the price and mpg. One way to high and the other way to low. Something was lost. Maybe if it makes it in the US market something can be done about these two major issues.

I do like that the front of the car kind of has a smile to it. :D

They're basically sold out in the USA for over 12 months, so the FE can't be all that dismal and the price that unrealistic!

Who else makes a car of that price which has ABS, ESP sidebags all standard?

They're basically sold out in the USA for over 12 months, so the FE can't be all that dismal and the price that unrealistic!

Who else makes a car of that price which has ABS, ESP sidebags all standard?

I don't know about being sold out nation wide. There on the lot here. And won't be sold at over MSRP. Take that to the local Yota dealers that claim we never sell over MSRP. But have track record worse than the Honda dealers of selling way over MSRP id the idiot walks on the lot. My mother is thinking of buying her smart in Tulsa cause the PHX dealer/dealers are screwing the crap out of folks. And claiming long lead times. and she is not seeing a glut of Smart. its all a marketing whiz bang worthless marketing drive up... Maybe its Tulsa,,, It can be a funky town.

The car thats impossible to get off the lot here is the BMW 135I. The BMW dealer cant keep any 1 series on the lot. Last I checked they had 4 M3's. The new Accord is selling awful. And the HCHII and PII even in the face of 4 buck gas is slow.... Two weeks ago when I glanced at a Tulsa Yota we want to rip you off dealer. They had PII's stacked up like cord wood. Honda dealers only keep afew HCHII's.

Funny thing, I had said I hadn't seen one. Then yesterday I saw my first real life one. Even though I had seen the pictures I did a big double, even triple take. I'm sure he/she gets quite a lot of stares, waves, honks, etc.

--des

Haven't seen any in Cincinnati yet.

Penske will revoke the dealership of anyone who tries to sell at over MSRP. He made this perfectly clear over a year ago and is sticking to it. That's why they're not.

Most dealers in the west and east have a 12+ month waiting list. The dealers are screaming for cars.

I was on a factory tour three weeks ago, and the tour guide said that they are going to have to open the plant longer - extending the working week - to meet US and other demand. After that, they may still have to get a third shift on line. Even at our local dealer in Canada, where the smart has been available for nearly 4 years, there is a 4-5 month waiting list.

I saw my first Smart on Friday! In truck-loving Columbia, SC! Cute little thing.

Hi All,

I have seen two here in the western Chicagoland suburbs. One was black, and the other yellow and black. I liked the looks of the yellow car. The all-black one blended into the shadows, and and I am sure its going to get hit by one our Yahoo drivers out here.

I was able to walk right up to the yellow and look all around it. OMG, the Prius is a bloody SUV compared to this thing! But, if your just putting around a highly dense area, its probably a good deal. Especially if your paying for overnight parking in a garage. They should be able to get two of these in the standard sized parking space.

I think I would be quite nervous in this car, on a 40 mph gusting cross-wind day, on the interstate portion of my commute, with all the 18 wheelers, and dancing hippos (that is what SUV's look like on one of these days).

I just saw one several weeks ago, and yesterday I saw 2. I'm guessign maybe they are starting to come into the showrooms or getting shipped in. The last one was a sweet little convertible which I honked at and waved. I am guessing they get a lot of that.

--des

There are close to 10,000 of them on US roads now.

And there are about 12,000 in Canada, so they're a lot more common here. People here tend not to get excited unless I have my cabriolet's soft top all the way down.

There are close to 10,000 of them on US roads now.

And there are about 12,000 in Canada, so they're a lot more common here. People here tend not to get excited unless I have my cabriolet's soft top all the way down.

Yes, they are very cute that way. Reminds me sort of the OLD VW beetle convertible.

--des

1) The EPA MPG numbers seem low. There might be a flaw in the EPA testing procedure which penalizes the Smart ( key word might). Our very own, Mike T. gets 60MPG out of his. 60 MPG is close to what one would expect. Mike T. says he drives in a 'normal' style.

2) At the rate the Smarts are selling, they'll sell 18-22,000 this year. That is quite an achievment given the tiny dealt network, the radical nature of the car, and its other niche appeal.

3) The quality of fit and finish are significantly higher than a Yaris. Recall that this is a M-B product designed for European Urban Professionals who can afford luxury cars.


One can expect the Smart to sell no more than 30,000 annually in the US. It will fill a specific niche market - like my hometown.

The reason mine gets 60+ US MPG is that mine is a diesel (2005 model); the gasoline new models that are sold in the USA would typically be about 20 MPG less than that, without hypermiling.

Thansk for the correction.


But I recall that you have described your style as normal North American driving.

It would be good if we could attract some Smart USA drivers to post their MPG stats on the logs here - It would clarify matters.

Yeah it's pretty normal, I drive at the speed limit (generally 55-62 MPH around here), and accelerate moderately. No hypermiling techniques. Mixed urban/suburban/rural. A careless driver who drove much faster might be in the low fifties with my car.

I know two people with the same diesel car that are into maximizing FE and they both have lifetime averages of over 71 US MPG. They don't hypermile but they drive extremely carefully.

I think the new US-type smart with the gas engine can deliver 40+ US MPG in mixed conditions, if driven like I drive mine. I know a few people who have them and are doing a little better than that.

I finally saw one around here on the roads a few days ago. Neat! :)

I saw my first the other day merging onto the interstate just slightly ahead of me. I was really excited that I was finally going to get to see one on the road, but with me doing 45 in a 60, he left me in his dust. :(

I got over my disappointment by reminding myself of the hit my mpg would take if I accelerated just to get a better look.:D

I took one for a test drive 2 months ago. I'm pretty big about sustainability in all parts of life so the thought of a car company that manufactured in a "smart" way (excuse the horrible pun) was really attractive. i drove two hours south to the only dealer in michigan (AFTER setting up an appointment to test drive). I arrive at the dealership right on time (7pm, the time SHE suggested). She then has the nerve to tell me that they stop taking test drives after 6:30pm and that I would have to come back another day. Needless to say I was upset, talked to the manager, they refused to let me take one for a drive (I did get to putz around the lot though!).

Not only that, the NEXT day the sales associate sends me a horribly unprofessional email (no capital letters, one big run on sentence, etc.) asking what I thought of the car!

Sadly, a large part of the reason I was turned off of the smart fortwo is because of terrible salesmanship. (or saleswomanship as the case may be)

I have seen maybe four different colored ones north of Dallas on 121. These cars make my New Beetle look like a limo. I hope the diesel ones make it to the US.

I hope the diesel ones make it to the US.

I wonder what it would cost to bring one from Canada to the US.

It's not possible, legally. A few are there, but the EPA is probably after their owners ;)

On another topic about smarts, it is amazing how many people will think they're being clever by asking me online why I didn't get a Yaris or Fit instead of a smart. I have never had that question in person though. Anyway......

Mine is a convertible and yes it is a two seater. I take it to the racetrack (or will do in 3 weeks). Plus it has averaged over 60 US MPG, day in, day out, with no effort, over 60,000 miles.

I wonder how many people ask Miata, Solstice or Corvette owners why they didn't buy a Yaris or Fit. HOLY CRAP DUDE, THAT THING ONLY HAS TWO SEATS!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!

A lot of people seem to think they're a cheap little sh*tbox and that the buyer couldn't afford anything "better" (meaning bigger), has rocks in his or her head because it's a two seater, and should get a little 4 seat hatchback instead.

Oddly enough, I never had anyone ask me why I drove Renault 5s (Le Cars) all those years ago. They are damned small too.

Something about the smart makes people feel like you're fair game, sort of like those horrid Earth Mother types who walk up to a pregnant woman they don't know and feel the hump. It's just plain annoying and a more than a bit creepy too!

Psy, I don't recall seeing a single Smart in the wild around these parts. Is there a major dealer around there?

I think the local dealer is the dealer for all of Oklahoma and Arkansas.

My mother will be here the week of the July 21st I know she wants to go car shopping. So I will spend a day with her poking around and then she will spend the next week with my brother. If she orders or buys anything it will be the week she is with him Im sure.

She hates the smart rep in AZ. She just refers to them ass smarts azz's. So if she orders or buys a smart it will be from Oklahoma. She also wants to look at Yaris. My brother will have to take her to the Yota dealerships. I feel I need a bath in bleach water after I leave there dealerships around here. And she wants to check out a Fit. That threw me for a loop.

I went a week or so ago and looked over the smarts again. They are really camp little cars. A pure coupe I set in the the dash vent pod register thingy fell off in my hand. Not good. Does not look good that they need higher octane fuel. And she will not like the manual matic tranny mess they have. Does not look like you can get them with a 5MT in the USA. Thats bad. Mom will want a MT.

So I would not be surprised if she ended up with a Yaris. I know I would rather have a Yaris over a smart. Now if they bring a 5mt oil burner into the states that could be a car to have.

They are still selling well here. I see several every day. And there showing up in parking lots. Folks are buying them here.