NY Times trashes the smart car

[tmp]

They don't like it.

They really don't like it

[regfootball]

well see, this is what happens when the greenies take over. stupid things happen.

[Intrepidation]

If the smart had a diesel it would be a hell of a lot more appealing.

[Robert Hall]

36mpg is pathetic for something that small.... what a joke. It really has no place outside of large, congested city inner core areas.

[Guest aatbloke]

A Smart ForTwo in the USA makes as much sense as a Ford F-250 does in Europe: none whatsoever.

The Smart's appeal isn't fuel economy; in petrol versions particularly, there are superminis which are better. Where the ForTwo comes into its own is dealing with the horrendous parking problems and traffic congestion in major European cities ... and that's the whole purpose of it. In addition, the chic appeal of a tiny European urban runabout fits the culture and ambience of Rome, or Paris, or Turin, or Prague, or Turin, or London - but not New York City.

[Guest aatbloke]

36mpg is pathetic for something that small.... what a joke. It really has no place outside of large, congested city inner core areas.

Nor was it designed to.

[Guest aatbloke]

Quote from the article:

"As Smart tries to jump on the Mini’s bandwagon, some myths need to be addressed ..."

The NY times isn't kidding; one of those myths being the Smart is jumping on the Mini's bandwagon - because the ForTwo was developed (and went on sale) three years before BMW's Mini.

[The O.C.]

Quote from the article:

"As Smart tries to jump on the Mini’s bandwagon, some myths need to be addressed ..."

The NY times isn't kidding; one of those myths being the Smart is jumping on the Mini's bandwagon - because the ForTwo was developed (and went on sale) three years before BMW's Mini.

Everyone, including the writers of the article, are forgetting the real point of the SMART in the U.S.A.

Relatively-speaking, for the numbers they are planning on selling, I STILL predict that this car will be a success.

People won't buy it for the fuel economy, or how well it fits within a tight city core (I'm amazed how many I've already seen out here in spread-out Southern California.) What they will buy it for is the sheer novelty factor......for right, or for wrong.

How long will that novelty factor keep sales alive? That's the question yet to be answered. But it's hard to speculate because there has never been a car like this sold over here in this market.

Yes....the mileage sucks relative to what you could get in a Fit, Yaris, or some other comparable subcompact. And yes, the transmission is pure junk. Frankly I'm surprised the car has soldiered on as long as it has in Europe with such a crap transmission. With a 3-pedal 5-speed manual, this car would most definitely be way more enjoyable to drive....quicker....and most likely more fuel-efficient.

But we've seen in this market that people don't always make the most rational of choices when it comes to purchasing an automobile. In one sense, the SMART is no less rational than the housewife with one kid that drives a Suburban or Excursion....or any other myriad of large SUVs......

[Camino LS6]

Far too many Americans simply find this car to be wholly laughable - it is thusly doomed to a very, very, short shelf life. O.C. is right, its only true appeal is as a novelty.

[PurdueGuy]

I've gotten 36mpg out of the last few tanks of gas in my '99 SC2, in a mix of town & highway driving, and I drive zippy. A car half the size getting the same economy is just sad.

[daves87rs]

I don't think the Smart will last long here.....a bike would make more sense....

[deftonesfan867]

Guess a SMART car isn't such a smart idea after all.

[MyerShift]

Parking rules need to be changed, fuel efficiency increased in order to help the smart be more successful.

Plus, the forfour that was cancelled would have been a much better propostition for the U.S. in so many ways.

[CARBIZ]

They sell around 2k of them a year in Canada. Even after all these years, I can't help but smirk when I see one drive by, especially on the freeway. They could've bought a 4 cylinder Malibu for the same price and not gotten much worse gas mileage - and at least had a trunk. The Mini is a great little car (but still about $10k more than a Smart Car!) and I would pick that over the Smart any day.

[siegen]

I wonder what the engine revs are at 80mph in this thing. 5,000 rpms?

[Guest aatbloke]

They sell around 2k of them a year in Canada. Even after all these years ...

All four of them eh? What an old stager!

[regfootball]

the original mini has been around far longer than the smart. LOL

the US smart should have had a 1.0l 4 popper with like a 6 speed manual. and a diesel option.

a car such as the old ford escort EXP/Lynx LN7 would make so much more sense today than the smart, excepting the tightest packed urban areas. for a city dweller that never intends to get on freeways or highways much and simply just needs a getabout with shelter and easy parking, if they wanna pay the price, i am ok with that.

[Duncan]

Parking rules need to be changed, fuel efficiency increased in order to help the smart be more successful.

Plus, the forfour that was cancelled would have been a much better propostition for the U.S. in so many ways.

If Mitsubishi was smart (something they stopped being a long time ago), we'd already have that car.

They call it a Colt, and it's supposed to be one of the better small cars out there. There's even a semi-hot turbo version...

[MyerShift]

If Mitsubishi was smart (something they stopped being a long time ago), we'd already have that car.

They call it a Colt, and it's supposed to be one of the better small cars out there. There's even a semi-hot turbo version...

Yes, indeed. I had forgotten about that at the time, but the Colt is a nifty looking little bugger.

I like the 3-door!