Smart Car

[Dave Shepard]

Smart Car

Not really alternative in the sense of a different energy source, but alternative in the inexpensive and economical department. I've seen two of these around town. In Europe they put a turbo on them and they get almost 70mpg! Who is going to be the first Forum member to get one? 


Dave

[Timburr]

Dave, it'll be someone else.  I personally think they are hideous! 

One of our motoring programs made a report on the Smart Car and the consensus was, due to it's very short wheelbase, it had some very obscure handleing characteristics when cornering at speed.  Primarily designed and built as an urban car.

Daily, I see quite a few here, so their popularity must be increasing.  I think people are buying them for their 'safety cell' feature and fuel economy.  Not very practical as a touring car for a family greater than two though!

[sawguy21]

We see them too. Seem to be a useful urban commuter but some apparently want them more for the funky factor. As Timburr said, handling would be scary at speed and I sure would not want to be in it in a wreck.

[Bill]

A buddy of mine took me along to check one out ( he'd put $99 down to "reserve" one ).

First off the US version has this tiny Mitsubishi ( ? )   * *   gas  * *  engine that gets 3X mpg. Hardly any kind of award winning mpg. The EU or Canadian versions got ( turbo ? ) diesels so they could get 7X mpg.

They're small . Around town is about the only thing they seem to be good for - though I suspect a young'un could take a trip in one.

He got his money back - he'll be waiting for the next round of clean diesels ( EU has small Volvo wagons that get 70+ mpg and diesel vw's that get 50 - 70 mpg depending on model ) . Why Chevy and Ford can't do it is hard to tell.

[Dave Shepard]

I didn't realize the US versions had gas engines, big thumbs down on that idea. For only 30~ miles per gallon, you could buy a much bigger car that seats four. They've sold close to a million of the diesels so far, and it makes sense- 70mpg+ $12k, = cheap local commuter.


Dave

[Tom]

I just looked at the picture in that link.   ............Where's the rest of it?

[StorminN]

Why is it that we always seem to get the worst versions of every car here in the US? Instead of a cool turbo diesel, we get a gasser. The more I travel outside the US, the more I realize how much cooler (and smarter, and more efficient) everyone else's cars & trucks are. On my recent Japan trip, I saw TONS of cool diesel trucks and vans... from familiar names... Isuzu, Toyota, Nissan... why can't they import them here??

Let me guess... "the big three" have lobbyists that make sure this isn't done, right?... OK, so why can't Toyota, et al build some cool ones here in the US like they do with their cars?

-Norm.

[Gary_C]

There are many small diesels you can buy that get over forty MPG. Problem is they are available only in the rest of the world other than North America. The reason is not because of any conspiracy or oil companies blocking them from the US. It is simply because we or rather the EPA  has chosen clean air over fuel economy and the ultra low sulfur emission regulations are preventing any of those very high mileage diesels from being sold in the US.  The Volkswagon diesel just barely passed for this year and may be in trouble in the US for next year.

[breederman]

We passed a smart car at 75 m.p.h. on I95 around Richmond Va a couple of weeks ago, I said to my wife "that boy ain't right"    It looked to me that not much would have to go wrong at that speed and the boy was dead.

[LeeB]

We passed a smart car at 75 m.p.h. on I95 around Richmond Va a couple of weeks ago, I said to my wife "that boy ain't right"    It looked to me that not much would have to go wrong at that speed and the boy was dead.

Was he doing 75 and you passed him?  He's not the only that's not right.

[breederman]

It was on I95   Heck I passed him on the right. Sure am glad I don't get on those highways very often!

[LeeB]

I suppose 75 ain't really that fast. I jsut hardly ever go that speed any more. Living out away from all the rush and hurry sure is nice. As far as that goes, I hardly drive at all any  more. Lindy does most of the driving while I'm home.

[breederman]

That is nascar speed to me. I drive these hills all day every day for a living and hardly ever get up to 55.

[Warren]

I work for a Toyota affiliate, and I am frustrated by the fact that Toyota markets diesel vehicles in every country I have ever visited outside the U.S.  But will not market them in the U.S.  I would love to have a Toyota Hi Lux pickup (old Tacoma) with 4wd, 5 speed and diesel 4 cyl. (available in Kenya and El Salvador).  Or a diesel Yaris (avaialble in U.K.  and EU).

As  I posted in a separate thread, why not a Hino 5 or 6 cyl diesel in the new Tundra ?

I am not generaly a conspiracy theorist.  But something ain't right...

Warren

[LeeB]

toyata marketed a diesel PU here about 20 years ago. My dad had one. Good engine but the transmisssion weren't so great.

[Dave Shepard]

The TD version has a top speed of 90mph! I wouldn't want to venture out onto the highway with it, but ugly or not, it's cheap transportation. I don't like commuting in a 3/4 ton gas sucking gutless pig.


Dave

[Tom]

I don't like commuting in a 3/4 ton gas sucking gutless pig.

Me either, but I wouldn't like running around in 1/2 of a car either. 

[Dave Shepard]

It'll look just fine with two Arky Super Sticks from LogRite in the ski rack! (Which are longer than the car, by the way.)


Dave

[Bill]

Now I'm sure not a rocket scientist but let me see if I got this epa thing down right.

A Hummer [1,2,3] can get say 15 mpg and let's say thats 100 units of pollution for that gallon.

A diesel has 150 units of pollution ( way too much - probably only 15% higher than gas ) but gets 45 mpg.

So if they both drive 45 miles

the gasser puts out 300 units of pollution
and the diesel puts out 150

hmmmmm  methinks the EPA is worried about the pollution per gallon and not the pollution per mile       

Guess they know what they're doin - wish I could figure it out . . .

[Dave Shepard]

I believe it is particulates that they are after with the diesels. Ever see someone stand on the throttle on an old Mack? That's particulate matter.


Dave