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

[zerocool84]

Evidently no one in ATOT lives in a crowded city.

So you'll buy a car that gets worse gas mileage, reliability, and less utility then other cars in its price range because of parking? Everyone in the city pretty much parks tight or there are metered parking spots. I don't see how a car this size is really going to change how you park in a city.

 

[stlc8tr]

So you'll buy a car that gets worse gas mileage, reliability, and less utility then other cars in its price range because of parking? Everyone in the city pretty much parks tight or there are metered parking spots. I don't see how a car this size is really going to change how you park in a city.

Yeah, like I figured, no one here lives in a crowded city.

No, people don't park "tight". People are assholes so they don't care how many spaces they kill. They just park and leave without checking to see if they are leaving enough space for the next guy.

A local TV station did a survey and found that there are about 320,000 parking spaces (meters, regular residential parking, etc.) for about 500,000 cars in the city.

 

[thesmokingman]

Yeah, like I figured, no one here lives in a crowded city.

No, people don't park "tight". People are assholes so they don't care how many spaces they kill. They just park and leave without checking to see if they are leaving enough space for the next guy.

A local TV station did a survey and found that there are about 320,000 parking spaces (meters, regular residential parking, etc.) for about 500,000 cars in the city.

Yea those super sub compacts are great for city use but the OP was talking about crash worthiness. And in that context they rather suck because they are too small and negate the much needed crumple zones to be small.

The silly thing is I see those things in suburban neighborhoods a lot. That's a whole topic I suppose...

 

[Gunbuster]

I imagine a crash in a Smart car is equivalent to putting a watermelon and dozen eggs unsecured in a one meter square crate and shipping it cross country via fed-ex.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Any car in a high speed accident is going to be bad, even hitting a moose in a pickup truck can end pretty badly. That said I would probably not want to drive a smart car at highway speeds, at least not at night when it's harder to see wildlife. It's a great car for in (small) town though, well, it would be if it got better gas mileage, apparently it's not all that great for it's size. Really something like a smart car would be a great candidate to be electric, you would probably get decent distance with it even with a smaller battery pack.

 

[flexy]

>>
I cannot think of a single reason to buy one
>>

Don't get me wrong, the (US) Corolla is AWESOME. I love this car.

But here is the reason: "EVERYONE" has a Corolla or a X or a Y, but not many have a Smart. This is why women, Hipsters etc. sometimes like the Smart.

And, come here to EU, and see how 95% of compact cars look the same, at least the Smart stands out. You always look when you see one, maybe because it's "funny" or odd or whatever. It's different, and this is why some people like it.

 

[ElFenix]

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.

often this video gets posted without the commentary starting at about 8 minutes. the lady presenter explains that though the car came through ok, a passenger would likely be dead

 

[thesmokingman]

often this video gets posted without the commentary starting at about 8 minutes. the lady presenter explains that though the car came through ok, a passenger would likely be dead

You mean this nice lady?

https://youtu.be/Hps-IANTRIk?t=118

 

[ElFenix]

You mean this nice lady?

https://youtu.be/Hps-IANTRIk?t=118

probably. never did watch much fifth gear. i like my motoring shows with a sort of hypermasculine buffoonish quality to them.

 

[thesmokingman]

probably. never did watch much fifth gear. i like my motoring shows with a sort of hypermasculine buffoonish quality to them.

Oh poor Jeremy...


I do like me some Vicki when she gets super excited though.

 

[Imp]

We talking bout Smart cars, or smart cars like smart phones...

 

[Elixer]

Any car in a high speed accident is going to be bad, even hitting a moose in a pickup truck can end pretty badly. That said I would probably not want to drive a smart car at highway speeds, at least not at night when it's harder to see wildlife. It's a great car for in (small) town though, well, it would be if it got better gas mileage, apparently it's not all that great for it's size. Really something like a smart car would be a great candidate to be electric, you would probably get decent distance with it even with a smaller battery pack.

In the accident I posted about, the speed limit was only 35, and while they could have been speeding (45? maybe 50?--this was in the city limits), it still shows that these cars are just no match for basically anything they hit.
I didn't see any real damage on the cadillac.

These things sell for $12K-$27K, and I am thinking insurance would be jaw dropping with these things. I just don't seem them coming out of any crash, no matter the speed with only minor damage.

 

[Captante]

Any car in a high speed accident is going to be bad, even hitting a moose in a pickup truck can end pretty badly.

Would you rather hit a moose in a Smart or an F250?

did you watch the video?

even at the 70mph test the cage that surrounds the vehicle was about intact.

but at 70mph you'd be dead no matter what

Seen the linked video several times ... no doubt the frame of that tiny thing is strong but it absorbs very little crash energy with near zero crumple zones.

My bet is they would be scraping the passengers off the dashboard with a popsicle stick!

 

[Red Squirrel]

Would you rather hit a moose in a Smart or an F250?

With the smart car you might just slip between it's legs and keep going. But my point was that even in a big car does not mean you're 100% safe. Driving is a risk we take no matter what vehicle we do it in. It's just that with a smart car IF you get into an accident it might be a slightly worse result.

But yeah it's kinda like sending a hamster ball down the stairs with the hamster in it. D:

 

[Strk]

So you'll buy a car that gets worse gas mileage, reliability, and less utility then other cars in its price range because of parking? Everyone in the city pretty much parks tight or there are metered parking spots. I don't see how a car this size is really going to change how you park in a city.

That's why I won't go smaller than my Corolla (2015). While I kind of like the looks of a Fiat 500, there's just no real benefit. Once you go that small or smaller you're getting pretty negative benefits from crashes that even something as small as my Corolla can do fine in. It is always a trade off the smaller you go for safety. But the fuel and utility benefit hardly exists once you go subcompact, it seems.

 

[thesmokingman]

That's why I won't go smaller than my Corolla (2015). While I kind of like the looks of a Fiat 500, there's just no real benefit. Once you go that small or smaller you're getting pretty negative benefits from crashes that even something as small as my Corolla can do fine in. It is always a trade off the smaller you go for safety. But the fuel and utility benefit hardly exists once you go subcompact, it seems.

Watch this, a member on nabisco, bongmaster!

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

 

[ultimatebob]

I always liked the Mini or Fiat 500 more than this car. Similar price point and MPG, but much more practical!

 

[Linux23]

These cars still being made? Have only seen one in my life. I felt sorry for the owners/drivers.

 

[Genx87]

Dont understand them at all. The one thing they should have going for them is gas mileage and they somehow screwed that up as well.

 

[Thump553]

I always liked the Mini or Fiat 500 more than this car. Similar price point and MPG, but much more practical!

Mini is at least 50% higher in cost, completely different market. Plus you pay BMW rates for service and premium gas required. That said, I'd love to have one-the most fun to drive, it's like driving a go-kart.

I followed the Smart since Steve Martin drove one in the Pink Panther remake, which was prior to them being introduced in the US. And no, they were never a good deal here. Overpriced for what they were and poor gas mileage. I'm very surprised they have lasted here as long as they have.

 

[ultimatebob]

Mini is at least 50% higher in cost, completely different market. Plus you pay BMW rates for service and premium gas required. That said, I'd love to have one-the most fun to drive, it's like driving a go-kart.

I followed the Smart since Steve Martin drove one in the Pink Panther remake, which was prior to them being introduced in the US. And no, they were never a good deal here. Overpriced for what they were and poor gas mileage. I'm very surprised they have lasted here as long as they have.

The cheapest Mini is $20k, and the cheapest Smart car is $15k. The cheapest Fiat is around $17k. You get a lot more for your money for the Mini.

Hell... You can get a Chevy Sonic for even less than $15k and that thing is the size of a real car!