Seriously considering a SMART when they come to the US next year

S4to335 · 08-06-2007, 04:30 PM

over 90 mph...mileage about 40 miles/gallon...price $12-17K US...this would be a sometime commuter car...

S4to335 · 08-06-2007, 05:02 PM

I have a leadfoot in my 335i.

spacedogg · 08-06-2007, 05:53 PM

I take it you don't have other diesel engined cars down there because of California emissions control? Up here you can buy a TDI powered Volkswagen...like a Jetta or Golf/Rabbit...which will get good mileage and have more seats/be more practical...

I think I would really hate driving the SMART...but that's just me.

EDIT: I think I'd even get a Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit instead...comparable mileage, costs less, seats four in a pinch...

spacedogg · 08-06-2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenB

I don't know how comfortable I would be on the freeway, it looks a little fragile next to the SUVs and commercial vehicles on the road...I would feel safer on a motorcycle.

It does amazingly well in crashes apparently...the little thing is like an impenetrable egg-shaped shell. 5th Gear did a crash test on a SMART and there were basically no intrusions into the cabin. Passenger and driver probably wouldn't have survived at the speeds they tested at...but the structural integrity was good.

S4to335 · 08-06-2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacedogg

I take it you don't have other diesel engined cars down there because of California emissions control? Up here you can buy a TDI powered Volkswagen...like a Jetta or Golf/Rabbit...which will get good mileage and have more seats/be more practical...

I think I would really hate driving the SMART...but that's just me.

EDIT: I think I'd even get a Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit instead...comparable mileage, costs less, seats four in a pinch...

Yeah..my friend has a diesel golf..and drives a TON in it..up and down the western coast..I think he put on 50K miles in one year.

ward · 08-06-2007, 07:59 PM

you can park them perpendicular to the curb in parallel parking spaces

that kicks ass

BMW F22 · 08-06-2007, 08:08 PM

just get a Yaris or Corolla- they get about the same MPG as the SMART.

mds82 · 08-07-2007, 12:42 PM

it would be pretty cool to have one, save so much $$..

bartman32 · 08-07-2007, 02:29 PM

They are very cute and cool. I'd do it if I lived in a big city but here in So Cal no way! Here I think I'd go for a Prius.

just4kickz · 08-07-2007, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ward

you can park them perpendicular to the curb in parallel parking spaces

that kicks ass

no more paralleling!

E90330iS · 08-08-2007, 05:59 AM

I think the Mini Cooper is small enough...

voltron1011 · 08-08-2007, 12:27 PM

My wife used to own one when we were living in Germany. It was a cool little car that made parking in any downtown area a breeze. We were averaging about 40mpg's on it.

///Matt · 08-08-2007, 12:36 PM

I saw a Brabuss SMART here the other day. I liked it. Wide fender flares, deep wheels (THREE LUGS! lol) the seats were intersting... kind of a combo between sporty and ergonomic. (think crazy mesh support).

I'd drive one. Or I'd drop a Hayabusa engine in one, anyway. =)

bartman32 · 08-08-2007, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Matt

I saw a Brabuss SMART here the other day. I liked it. Wide fender flares, deep wheels (THREE LUGS! lol) the seats were intersting... kind of a combo between sporty and ergonomic. (think crazy mesh support).

That freakin nuts!!!

Quote:

I'd drive one. Or I'd drop a Hayabusa engine in one, anyway. =)

Wouldn't that kind of defeat the purpose?

08-06-2007, 04:30 PM	#1
S4to335 Brigadier General 465 Rep 4,380 Posts Drives: 2014 Audi A4 / 91 Track Miata Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i sedan [8.00]	Seriously considering a SMART when they come to the US next year over 90 mph...mileage about 40 miles/gallon...price $12-17K US...this would be a sometime commuter car... __________________ Car is now gone .... :-(
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08-06-2007, 05:02 PM	#2
S4to335 Brigadier General 465 Rep 4,380 Posts Drives: 2014 Audi A4 / 91 Track Miata Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i sedan [8.00]	I have a leadfoot in my 335i. __________________ Car is now gone .... :-(
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08-06-2007, 05:53 PM	#3
spacedogg Colonel 205 Rep 2,816 Posts Drives: Debadged Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	I take it you don't have other diesel engined cars down there because of California emissions control? Up here you can buy a TDI powered Volkswagen...like a Jetta or Golf/Rabbit...which will get good mileage and have more seats/be more practical... I think I would really hate driving the SMART...but that's just me. EDIT: I think I'd even get a Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit instead...comparable mileage, costs less, seats four in a pinch...
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08-06-2007, 07:59 PM	#6
ward Major General 159 Rep 6,158 Posts Drives: F Join Date: May 2005 Location: T iTrader: (0)	you can park them perpendicular to the curb in parallel parking spaces that kicks ass
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08-06-2007, 08:08 PM	#7
BMW F22 Major General 3666 Rep 9,783 Posts Drives: ///M235i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (8)	just get a Yaris or Corolla- they get about the same MPG as the SMART.
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08-07-2007, 12:42 PM	#8
mds82 Major General 372 Rep 5,842 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Central Connecticut iTrader: (40) Garage List 2006 325xi Snow Pics [0.00] 2006 BMW 325xi [0.00]	it would be pretty cool to have one, save so much $$..
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08-07-2007, 02:29 PM	#9
bartman32 Colonel 108 Rep 2,317 Posts Drives: F87 M2 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The OC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 M2 [0.00]	They are very cute and cool. I'd do it if I lived in a big city but here in So Cal no way! Here I think I'd go for a Prius.
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08-08-2007, 05:59 AM	#11
E90330iS Major General 148 Rep 6,333 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arcadia, California iTrader: (56) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I think the Mini Cooper is small enough... __________________ 2017 BMW M4 DCT Lease Transfer: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...8#post23736398
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08-08-2007, 12:27 PM	#12
voltron1011 Colonel 124 Rep 2,909 Posts Drives: 2011 135i, FJR-1300 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wiesbaden iTrader: (2)	My wife used to own one when we were living in Germany. It was a cool little car that made parking in any downtown area a breeze. We were averaging about 40mpg's on it.
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08-08-2007, 12:36 PM	#13
///Matt United States Marine 337 Rep 2,748 Posts Drives: 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (8) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I saw a Brabuss SMART here the other day. I liked it. Wide fender flares, deep wheels (THREE LUGS! lol) the seats were intersting... kind of a combo between sporty and ergonomic. (think crazy mesh support). I'd drive one. Or I'd drop a Hayabusa engine in one, anyway. =)
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