Smart cars and hybrids..

[Miriam C.]

I just watched a blurb on if Americans are ready for the Smart Car and got a shock. At $17,000 it gets 33 mpg in the city and 41mpg on the highway.........

So just what is my motivation? My 14 year old Nissan does that and certainly didn't cost that much. Oh and it is bigger too.

Are we being sold a "bill of goods?"

[elmo]

:o I just watched a blurb on if Americans are ready for the Smart Car and got a shock. At $17,000 it gets 33 mpg in the city and 41mpg on the highway.........

So just what is my motivation? My 14 year old Nissan does that and certainly didn't cost that much. Oh and it is bigger too.

Are we being sold a "bill of goods?"

I thought they were kind of neat the first time I seen them, but you are right it seems like not much for a lot of money!!

Your Nissan can hold more than 2 people also!!

[Miriam C.]

:o I just watched a blurb on if Americans are ready for the Smart Car and got a shock. At $17,000 it gets 33 mpg in the city and 41mpg on the highway.........

So just what is my motivation? My 14 year old Nissan does that and certainly didn't cost that much. Oh and it is bigger too.

Are we being sold a "bill of goods?"

I thought they were kind of neat the first time I seen them, but you are right it seems like not much for a lot of money!!

Your Nissan can hold more than 2 people also!!

Yep! My Nissan can go down the highway too. With 4 large people in carpool. I was shocked at the stats. Not sure why they exist other than cute factor.

[angib]

You're right - choosing a Smart is mainly a looks, not a rational, thing. Many 'ordinary' small cars (most of which don't get sold in the US) can do more/better for a lower purchase price.

The one thing that the Smart does brilliantly for a small car is protect its occupants - in a head-on crash with a larger Mercedes, the Smart has no higher driver/passenger risk, despite the weight difference. One way it achieves this is by having the driver/passenger above most of the mechanicals, but that makes the car higher, so greater frontal area, so more drag, so less fuel economy - there (still) is no free lunch.

For sure, a new Smart will be a lot safer than a 14 year old Nissan.

Andrew

[HossHoffer]

The American version uses a Misubishi engine instead of the high-efficiency diesel that the Euro version has. My Focus ZX-5 gets the same mileage with much better handling and power. I could get better mileage but have a problem driving the speed limit. If I could get the SVT 6 speed tranny it might better on the highway.

Hoss

[S. Heisley]

Are we being sold a "bill of goods?"

Yup! I think so; at least, a little. It's up to all of us. If we buy it, that's probably the best we'll get. I used to know someone who had a slogan: "Why give a customer a Cadillac when they'll settle for a Ford!"

...It's all about the money. I'm going to wait a while and see what's next in the auto world.

...S

[Elumia]

the Smart car has one major advantage - PARKING. places like San Francisco and New York are examples of where is makes sense to purchase a Smart car. You can put two in a single car garage!

Mark

[Kevin A]

Here's a different take on a smart car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDU5BU_qSJU&NR=1

[Joe G]

Here's a different take on a smart car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDU5BU_qSJU&NR=1

That's crazy! Here's another cool modified Smart Car:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xLVQtK04lig

Now THAT I would pay $17,000 for.

[Geron]

Recently checked my Hyundai Accent (2000/2001 - can't remember) Cost -- around 8k. --- 37.9 mpg mixed driving but with an eye toward the conservative.

Got 84,000 + and should last me till

I'm happy. Don't think the Smarts are that smart.

g

[SkipperSue]

I would love to have one of these 235 MPG Volkswagens.





Here's a couple of websites about this car:

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/07/laugh-at-high-g.html

http://www.greencar.com/features/vw-235-mpg-car/

This reminds me of those old microcars.

[angib]

I would love to have one of these 235 MPG Volkswagens.

Maybe..... maybe not. That is a real one-off special that has had millions spent on it in wind tunnel time and engine development and shows what a big manufacturer can achieve if money's no object. So it's also a good guide as to what is completely impossible/impractical to achieve in a normal car - little things like there is absolutely no soundproofing inside the car (it would add too much weight) which has an extremely rigid carbon shell, so in reality the driver and passenger must fit ear plugs to travel any distance!

An updated Messerschmitt like this would suit me down to the ground and I'd love to have one too - but I'll settle for the 120mpg practical version that might cost under $20,000.

The car that may yet be able to fit that description is the Loremo:



But it sure ain't as spacious as Miriam 's 14-year-old Nissan...

Andrew

[cs_whypt2]

:o I just watched a blurb on if Americans are ready for the Smart Car and got a shock. At $17,000 it gets 33 mpg in the city and 41mpg on the highway.........

So just what is my motivation? My 14 year old Nissan does that and certainly didn't cost that much. Oh and it is bigger too.

Are we being sold a "bill of goods?"

I thought they were kind of neat the first time I seen them, but you are right it seems like not much for a lot of money!!

Your Nissan can hold more than 2 people also!!

Yep! My Nissan can go down the highway too. With 4 large people in carpool. I was shocked at the stats. Not sure why they exist other than cute factor.

Well that is a disappointment. I thought that the smart car would get better gas mileage then 41 milles per gallon. I just have never looked it up. What I did look up was :
2008 Chevy Aveo 5
Starts at $10,895
Seats 5
Has a trunk
Can go on the freeway
24 city / 34 highway (MPG)
And even though it is not recomended, I bet you could pull a teardrop with it. (A light one maybe.)
I like that it is an American car.
Now I know that there are other cars that are cheaper / seat more / better fuel / look better...but I am just putting what I have been looking at. I kinda like them. But I am in no way ready to give up my truck yet!

Dianne

[mikeschn]

Hey Dianne,

No doubt you saw the other thread where I've been looking at some numbers...

Here's 5 of the top numbers I've been looking at...

Aveo $12170 Max tow(unbraked): ? lbs, 27/37 annual fuel: $1824, 5 year total: $21290
Cobalt XFE $15070 Max tow(unbraked): 1000 lbs, 27/36 annual fuel: $1844, 5 year total: $24290
Ford Focus $14395 Max tow(unbraked): ? lbs, 24/35 annual fuel: $2000, 5 year total: $24395
Matrix/Vibe $16190 Max tow(unbraked): 1500 lbs, 26/32 annual fuel: $1976, 5 year total: $26070
Corolla $17550 Max tow(unbraked): 1102 lbs, 26/35 annual fuel: $1908, 5 year total: $27090

Now I don't know about where you live, but if you were to drive a Geo Metro or an Aveo on the highways here where I live, you're just inviting disaster. Safety is more important here than fuel economy. Having said that, I think the smallest car I would consider is the Cobalt. Just my $02 worth!

Mike...

[chorizon]

Our 2002 saturn L100 w/ a 2.2L 4 cylinder will tow 1000#, and we average 30-32 MPG on the highway. A couple of years ago we were considering getting something new(er) and SUV(ier) but now I think we'll stick with the Saturn for a while. KBB value is somewhere around $5000, so why get rid of it?