Thoughts on the Smart Car - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Dr. Kill · 05-02-2008, 01:52 PM

My understanding here is that real world gas mileage figures for this car are much lower than expected with actual highway driving because the small engine just has to work so hard to keep up.

If you are mostly concerned with fuel economy and want another car to keep the miles off of your Porsche, have you considered a diesel? There are many new ones coming out over the next couple of years. I personally am a big fan – you can get all of the fuel economy of a hybrid with the robustness of a diesel engine and none of the unknowns of purchasing a car powered by a transitional technology.

Grizzly · 05-02-2008, 04:20 PM

Nick! You're serious about this? Have you actually seen one on the road? My neice hit a Smart Car with her Barbie Corvette car last week, totalled the Smart Car and killed the driver. Remember the commercial a few years ago where the guy rents the two-door Speck...yeah, that'll be you.

Seriously, the Smart Car is not for this market. In Europe, they're probably the perfect thing, but here? Nah. The Country is too big. Our locations are too spread out. The traffic flow is too fast.

I did a search for a thread about the Smart, posted on another forum. I couldn't find the thread, but this was the gist. The guy ordered one and waited for delivery. When it came in he loved it. He loved the novelty and the attention he received. After the first few weeks he realized that the car didn't get anywhere near the advertised gas mileage because it had to be pushed so hard just to keep up. He averaged around 30mpg, I think. He was in constant fear for his life while driving it. He couldn't carry his mail to the Post Office. It went 0-60 by Tuesday...etc., etc., etc. In the end, he decided to sell it immediately, before the novelty wore off.

Oh yeah, my wife is begging me to buy her one.

AUDIOGUY · 05-02-2008, 04:27 PM

Smart car = Death mobile....

I cannot believe that the NHTSA allowed this vehicle on our roadways. I am a director of a large collision facility and if this thing was hit half as hard as most of the normal wrecks we fix, there is a serious chance for injury.

No thanks!!

Grizzly · 05-02-2008, 04:38 PM

See the mast sticking out of the car. It caught that little metal awning. Nuff said...

TimAustinW · 05-02-2008, 04:41 PM

This is what I consider the Smart Car to be and how I personally would feel driving one...

and $12K??????? These cars should cost less than $5K. Go find a used 1992 Honda Civic Hatchback VX. It gets 49 mpg on the highway

Fuel Type
Regular

MPG (city)
39

MPG (highway)
49

MPG (combined)
43

Cost to Drive 25 Miles (not with today's gas prices)
$1.97

Fuel to Drive 25 Miles
0.58 gal

Annual Fuel Cost
$1185 (not with today's gas prices)

NickCats · 05-02-2008, 05:21 PM

C'mon guys, don't sugar coat it, tell me what you REALLY think

I will say, you guys have successfully convinced me NOT to buy one.

Max, thanks for putting it in terms of dollars and cents. That was probably the most compelling arguement of all...

You guys rock !

Nick

Grizzly · 05-02-2008, 05:27 PM

I just wish they'd have stuck to the prototype. I always like the prototypes better than the production version...

Tom Blue · 05-02-2008, 05:34 PM

Most of the replies seem to be right on. There are many cars out there with better milage. Now safety; The Smart car has no crumble zones. It depends on the other vehicle's crumble zone to cushion the impact. That's great unless you hit a wall, rock, Jersey barrier, or tree. Just something to put into the "for what it's worth catagory".