Do 'smart cars' owners know what they are getting in to?

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Elixer

Elixer

Lifer
May 7, 2002
10,371
762
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I have seen these smart cars pop up more often, and I always thought to myself that, if that thing ever got into an accident, the driver is pretty much doomed. It looks like a glorified golf cart.

Well, today, saw first hand what a collision looks like when one of these crashes into a '88 Cadillac. Holy crap, if you thought the car was small normally, after this accident, it completely totaled it.

Anyone here drive one of these, and if so, do you feel safe at all in them?
 
zerocool84

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
Safety yes and it's not cheap either for what you get. Spend a little more for a car and you'll get infinitely more utility, space, safety, and yes, even better MPG. For the size of it, it doesn't not get good gas mileage . You'd think it'd get awesome MPG but Honda Fit is the almost starting price and slightly better MPG. It's one of those odd cars that people buy because it's different, not because it does anything good.
 
DesiPower

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
126
Its has one of the worst IIHS ratings, its a know fact, if someone is oblivious to that fact and expects it to be safe , well, its owners fault. Its safer than a hayabusa, sure, that that's pretty much it. The lack of the front engine takes away the impact absorption that it provides makes it even unsafer than smallest cars like Hyundai Accent and Mazda 2
 
DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Looked to do fairly well in the video posted above. But, if there's a head-on collision between that thing and an F-150, I think I'd rather be in the F-150. Conservation of momentum is a law.
 
SparkyJJO

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
13,357
7
81
I cannot think of a single reason to buy one of those except to park it in some ridiculously tight places. Everything else it is either just mediocre or plain sucks.

I shake my head when I see someone careening down the highway in one of those things o_O
 
thesmokingman

thesmokingman

Platinum Member
May 6, 2010
2,302
231
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DrPizza said:
Looked to do fairly well in the video posted above. But, if there's a head-on collision between that thing and an F-150, I think I'd rather be in the F-150. Conservation of momentum is a law.
Click to expand...


It looked well enough, in fact amazingly for its safety cell. The problem is that your organs would have turned to mush due to the massive g load from the deceleration. The car just does not have enough crumple zones to absorb the crash impact, slowing the forces for your organs. That F150 yea, loads of crush zones, but more often you'd just crush and ride over everything probably killing everyone else in the process.
 
flexy

flexy

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
8,464
155
106
DrPizza said:
Looked to do fairly well in the video posted above. But, if there's a head-on collision between that thing and an F-150, I think I'd rather be in the F-150. Conservation of momentum is a law.
Click to expand...

The good thing is that in Europe, where MOST of the Smarts are, you won't find any F-150s, SUVs or Hummers. NOT saying that thing is "safe" or "unsafe", TBH I would have to go research accident statistics to say anything about this.

I personally actually "like" the Smart, it makes sense to me for typical European, high density towns etc...a car you go shopping with etc...settings where SUVs or Hummers don't make too much sense. And it looks better, more unique than some of the other "off-the-mill" small cars here. I mean it's a Hipster-car sort-a thing.

"I shake my head when I see someone careening down the highway in one of those things"

That's the cool thing :) I'd laugh my ass off in a Smart seeing how some people (such as Americans :) ) "shake their heads", but I could also shake my head someone trying to get around in some European town with a Hummer :) That being said I wouldn't want a Smart for anything BUT short trips in urban areas, NOT on any highways or larger trips.
 
Captante

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,337
10,855
136
I refer the them as "Dumb-cars" ... much more accurate when only slightly more cash gets you a Civic or Corolla.

Inner-city use is about the only justification I can see.
 
DaTT

DaTT

Garage Moderator
Moderator
Feb 13, 2003
13,295
120
106
zerocool84 said:
Safety yes and it's not cheap either for what you get. Spend a little more for a car and you'll get infinitely more utility, space, safety, and yes, even better MPG. For the size of it, it doesn't not get good gas mileage . You'd think it'd get awesome MPG but Honda Fit is the almost starting price and slightly better MPG. It's one of those odd cars that people buy because it's different, not because it does anything good.
Click to expand...

I think when they were first released, their fuel economy was great in comparison to other cars. Now, not so much.
 
P

Pardus

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2000
8,197
21
81
Seen one of these try to pass an 18-wheeler, the truck driver had to slam his brakes to avoid slamming into them.
 
Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
50,086
6,356
136
Elixer said:
I have seen these smart cars pop up more often, and I always thought to myself that, if that thing ever got into an accident, the driver is pretty much doomed. It looks like a glorified golf cart.

Well, today, saw first hand what a collision looks like when one of these crashes into a '88 Cadillac. Holy crap, if you thought the car was small normally, after this accident, it completely totaled it.

Anyone here drive one of these, and if so, do you feel safe at all in them?
Click to expand...

My neighbor has one. It's basically a golf cart. Not sure why you'd get one, when a Nissan Versa is $2,000 less brand-new.

Side note, I saw a huge bodybuilder driving a Smart Car the other day on the highway, it was like seeing a sardine packed in a can :D The only scenario I can think of for that is for getting out of tight parallel parking situations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrAMZyxsEMU

:awe:
 
waggy

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
My wife looked at one and wanted it.

Considering we lived in the country where snow drifting and wind is a major concern i told her not a good idea. I said lets drive it out to the house (16 miles of country road).

she was all over the road. even a semi going by would make it shake. Also EVERY little bump in the road you felt in the seat. By the time we got to the house she was dead set against it.

I couldn't imagine driving that small thing in the winter time.

Not to mention you could get a larger car with better gas mileage for cheaper.
 
clamum

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,252
403
126
SparkyJJO said:
I cannot think of a single reason to buy one of those except to park it in some ridiculously tight places. Everything else it is either just mediocre or plain sucks.
Click to expand...
To drive the piece of shit off a cliff (rolling out beforehand, preferably) is all I can think of.
 
DrunkenSano

DrunkenSano

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2008
3,892
490
126
SparkyJJO said:
I cannot think of a single reason to buy one of those except to park it in some ridiculously tight places. Everything else it is either just mediocre or plain sucks.

I shake my head when I see someone careening down the highway in one of those things o_O
Click to expand...

I would buy it as a gift for someone I hate if they needed a car.
 
Charmonium

Charmonium

Lifer
May 15, 2015
10,334
3,412
136
The nice thing about smart cars is that if you get in an accident, you don't need a tow, just a vacuum cleaner.
 
madoka

madoka

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2004
4,344
712
121
I live about 3 miles from a Smart dealership, so yeah, I see them all the time. Usually it's a girl or hipster guy driving them.
 
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