[marty_mcfly]

Originally Posted by epbrown

Think of every crappy thing that you've ever heard of happening to a car in a big city, and this car has been designed from the get-go to withstand it or lessen the effects. Delivery trucks blocking most of the street while they unload, people double and triple-parked, or parking to take up a space and a half. The Smart will fit in spaces and down streets and alleys a Yaris, Civic, Focus, even a Mini, can't. It can resist the abuses of city life because the entire body is dent-resistant plastic panels, and all of the panels can be replaced by the owner fairly cheaply. ($900).

Because the panels are all plastic, someone trying to key the car for whatever chickenshit reason will have trouble marring them, and if they do it's less noticeable because under the plastic is... more plastic of the same color.

If someone came in complaining how their Porsche Carrera GT3 was cramped, got poor mileage, and was a lousy commuter, they'd be flamed and laughed off the forum. Not because the car isn't bad at those things, but because we all know that's not what it's for, and we don't expect it to be good. But most of the criticisms of the Smart are equally baseless - it's considered bad because it's not good at things it wasn't intended to do, when it's darned good at what it was built for: 2-person urban commuting.

epbrown.... they wont understand

this thread makes me wanna go out and take it for a spin though
we got a red/silver trim/black interior and powdercoated the wheels black (lol). also, you should look into one of the touchscreen headunits

[chuck92103]

Originally Posted by epbrown

Think of every crappy thing that you've ever heard of happening to a car in a big city, and this car has been designed from the get-go to withstand it or lessen the effects. Delivery trucks blocking most of the street while they unload, people double and triple-parked, or parking to take up a space and a half. The Smart will fit in spaces and down streets and alleys a Yaris, Civic, Focus, even a Mini, can't. It can resist the abuses of city life because the entire body is dent-resistant plastic panels, and all of the panels can be replaced by the owner fairly cheaply. ($900).

Because the panels are all plastic, someone trying to key the car for whatever chickenshit reason will have trouble marring them, and if they do it's less noticeable because under the plastic is... more plastic of the same color.

If someone came in complaining how their Porsche Carrera GT3 was cramped, got poor mileage, and was a lousy commuter, they'd be flamed and laughed off the forum. Not because the car isn't bad at those things, but because we all know that's not what it's for, and we don't expect it to be good. But most of the criticisms of the Smart are equally baseless - it's considered bad because it's not good at things it wasn't intended to do, when it's darned good at what it was built for: 2-person urban commuting.

Wow, you studied the Smart sales booklet well and memorized verbatim.

FYI Saturn use to use plastic panels as well. One issue, over time the sun deteriorates the panels. Plastic has never held up well in the elements.

[marty_mcfly]

Originally Posted by chuck92103

Wow, you studied the Smart sales booklet well and memorized verbatim.

FYI Saturn use to use plastic panels as well. One issue, over time the sun deteriorates the panels. Plastic has never held up well in the elements.

why do you hate the smart car so much? i dont get it? who cares if people buy them its their money and not yours?

just curious thats all

[chuck92103]

Originally Posted by marty_mcfly

why do you hate the smart car so much? i dont get it? who cares if people buy them its their money and not yours?

just curious thats all

Because for a car so small the MPG should be double and the price half as much. That's all. I think they are a gimmick short lived in the U.S.

[marty_mcfly]

Originally Posted by chuck92103

Because for a car so small the MPG should be double and the price half as much. That's all. I think they are a gimmick short lived in the U.S.

is $11k not cheap enough? like i said... its just hyped up right now because americans think its such a "cute" car - give it a few years it's just gonna be another "ehh" car (if not already for some)

i dunno about epbrown but if we wanted MPG we would have gotten a prius instead. my dad just has a thing for collecting "weird/cool/fun" cars.

this thing is like a clown car... how can you not laugh when you see one?

[MMMazing07]

dont get any ideas epbrown lol

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by chuck92103

Wow, you studied the Smart sales booklet well and memorized verbatim.

Nah, just stating some of the ideas that went into my decision. When I researched the car, all the reviews said things similar to what's been posted here. The car is a pretty specialized tool, and too many people don't seem to understand that. The real issue is that in the US, the urban driving experience it's built for doesn't apply to about 90% of the population. Despite having a few big cities, most Americans live in the rural areas, suburbs and small towns - the chief advantages of the car are lost on someone that parks in shopping malls or their own driveway.

[laidback]

nice

Originally Posted by epbrown

I bought a washing machine.

[Epik]

I think they're priced a little too high to become as popular as civics.

How safe are they anyway?

[kronzprinz]

Google a video of a smart crashing at 70 mph. pretty crazy. I think it's fifth gear show

[Jaypod]

Congrats! Have had the opportunity to drive them a few times and they are a blast. Last winter at a Benz winter driving course they had a few along with the other Benz's and I have to say I was amazed how well the manage to get through the heavy snow and ice!

Have fun with it!

One word - BRABUS!!

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by kronzprinz

Google a video of a smart crashing at 70 mph. pretty crazy. I think it's fifth gear show

There's no passenger car on the planet where you can run into 20,000 pounds of concrete at 70mph and say "Eh, that'll buff right out," including my M Coupe - in which I'm much more likely to be doing 70mph, given it's got quadruple the horsepower of the Smart.

[iqwertyi]

Cool

Personally, I like them.
I just wish they cost a little less.
I really don't care about 0-60 times because I'm stuck in traffic daily anyway.
And if I feel the need to compensate for my manhood, I'll pull out the P-car.

I also hear they are making a full electric smart, less two rear seats (that's where they would keep the battery).

[E90330iS]

the hermes interior is nice

[mmm def]

Cool car yo!

[marcus1701]

Ok....I will give my honest opinion. My neighbor's wife at the end of the block has one. When I first saw them I thought....she has one because it's cute. Now I can't say they are the safest things out there but for 13k that isn't bad to have something unique. Here's what makes it cool...they come at a time where people are socially conscience of pollution and mileage, they have fun colors, they're small, and the best thing is they are german built. What's not so cool is that they don't look like much fun to drive, the way a Mini does, and also mpg isn't that great either for a car that has like 100hp and no weight, but hey they are cool right now. As for the guy with a Coupe-SUV who called it a gimmick, c'mon man you're car isn't?? SUV's in and of itself are a gimmick designed to appeal to people who like the idea of outdoor freedom but still way too conservative to ever do it.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by marcus1701

Ok....I will give my honest opinion. My neighbor's wife at the end of the block has one. When I first saw them I thought....she has one because it's cute.

The cute thing kinda bugs me. Every woman in my office yesterday started the day with "There's the cutest car outside!" With the M Coupe, I get "Nice ride, man" from guys or "Hot car" from girls. "Cute" seems a big step down. But when I came out after work, there was a lipstick print on the driver's window. Which was cool.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by marcus1701

Ok....I will give my honest opinion. My neighbor's wife at the end of the block has one. When I first saw them I thought....she has one because it's cute. Now I can't say they are the safest things out there but for 13k that isn't bad to have something unique. Here's what makes it cool...they come at a time where people are socially conscience of pollution and mileage, they have fun colors, they're small, and the best thing is they are german built. What's not so cool is that they don't look like much fun to drive, the way a Mini does, and also mpg isn't that great either for a car that has like 100hp and no weight, but hey they are cool right now. As for the guy with a Coupe-SUV who called it a gimmick, c'mon man you're car isn't?? SUV's in and of itself are a gimmick designed to appeal to people who like the idea of outdoor freedom but still way too conservative to ever do it.

Dude I completely agree.

[The_AMG_Hunter]

nice I know someone who did a K20 engine swap with a 100 shot of nitrous on one of those, that thing FLIES now it beats my JB3 335i like nothing!!

[koreez88]

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[OBI_agent]

Nice car man....congrats to the op!

[COR Photographer]

lol