Smart Cars
According to their owners' smug faces, Smart Cars are the energy-saving answers to rising gas prices and global warming. According to everyone else, they are over priced novelty baby strollers.
Just The Facts
- 'Smart' is an automotive division of Daimler AG, formerly DaimlerChrysler, that produces microcars.
- If you're driving one, the hippies have already won.
- Smart Car accidents often result when drivers of real cars fail to see them, or when pedestrians step on them.
Not-So-Smart Cars
In the late 1980s, CEO Nicolas Hayek of Swatch brand watches figured he could use the same strategies that made Swatch a success and apply them to manufacturing automobiles. They would be small, clean, efficient, and completely ridiculous looking.
If you are really worried about emissions and their effect on the environment, it is recommended that you take the bus, buy a bicycle, walk, or simply shout "Look at me! I care about the environment!" at passersby before you buy a smart car.
"Look at me! "
You can't argue with the Smart car's marketing scheme. Call the car "smart". People want to be smart. Smart people should own Smart cars ... AND BAM! That's how they get you. Soon after proving their intelligence, it is recommended that such "smart" people memorize a list of counter-arguments to deal with friends and family trying to convince them they've done something very wrong.
Arguments Defending Smart Cars
1. At Least It's Safe
Sure it's smaller than every other car on the road and the occasional baby stroller but its revolutionary sleek and functional design allows it to take the impact of a crash better than your average car. Right...?
Pictured: Safety
When the Smart car was introduced, it was awarded 3 out of 5 stars for Adult Occupant Protection. Feel safe yet? In April 2009, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety pitted the Fortwo model Smart car against a Mercedes C class in a frontal offset crash test at 40 mph. Apparently, when two objects collide, the smallest one will take the most damage, which also explains my high school football try-outs.
"Am I popular yet?"
The Smart car does receive great marks for pedestrian injury reduction which is better than comparable vehicles for very obvious reasons.However, the IIHS rated the Smart Fortwo "Poor," noting that "Multiple injuries, including to the head, would be likely for a real-world driver of a Smart in a similar collision."
2. It's Cost Efficient
As far as the regular Smart Cars go, their performance is nothing too special. Smart's microcars get less average gas mileage than the Toyota Yaris. The savings on gas costs that Smart claims to offer aren't miles above the competition as they'd like you to believe. The real savings come from the low price to purchase these vehicles which is around 10k depending on the model. Of course, you get what you pay for. Which brings us to...
Arguments Against Smart Cars:
No trunk, only 2 passengers, poor handling around corners, can flip from turning or braking too sharply, unsafe in accidents, low top speed (90mph), slow acceleration, really stupid looking, freeway driving is dangerous, lacks durability and versatility.
Its only plausible function is as a commuter vehicle and only during perfect weather conditions, if you weigh less than 150 pounds, don't have children or friends and never need to move or carry anything other than your own body.
American like big truck just to show off.
ReplyI personally prefer Mid-Full Size Sedans and Coupes over trucks
There is no Smart Fortwo ins the crash, who did this post??? A not so Smart person. Hahahahahaha
ReplyCriticize the smug people, not the innocent car! A Semi-truck pulled over as far as it could at an intersection, a smart car got through on trucks left side just fine. Other cars could not.
ReplyOH, good gawd!!! That's NOT a Smart Car under that truck. THAT car has a 5 lug wheel. SMarts have only 3 lugs. How desperate are you for attention?
ReplyIts a f*****g hubcap you tard.
Gooooooooooooooodddddddddd Caaaaaaaattttttttcccccccchhhhhhh. Boy did you show off article's IGNORANCE !!!!!. This photo shows markings that read "CRQ"
While there are some good points made here, I don't understand why 90mph is considered a 'low top speed'. No sane person should ever drive nearly that fast in the first place, and since going that fast is illegal just about everywhere, why design that capability into a car? It's just a waste of engineering resources.
Reply Hide All See All 3 RepliesBut for me, I'll just keep my 1999 Saturn SL2, with its 37mpg city (at least the way I drive it).
It's not really illegal everywhere as you claim. driving above 90 is best on reaching your destination if you're travelling on highways. my dad does a minimum of 80 mph when travelling on highways
Even if you insist on never going above 90 mph, a top speed of 90 mph would mean the engine is working harder, and at higher rpm, than the average car at say, 65 mph (which is a very reasonable highway speed) which would result in less mpg's.
The Smart gets at least 41 City. Author above took you and the rest of us for a "hyped article" ride, Blatantly not telling the truth, just for "HYPE" and "SENSATIONAL SARCASTIC" good read! Hmmm mmmmm. Sacrificed truth for your amusement.
The saddest thing is the 32 miles per gallon. A Toyota Corolla does a lot better than that and it comfortably seats 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 kids. It can also accelerate comfortably to highway speeds and handles very well.
Replyyeah, and that means, if fully loaded, it gets over twice the mpg per person
Saturn's sport-y cars get better gas mileage, even when you drive them like you aren't 80 years old.
When it comes time for my class's senior prank, I think we should find the geography teacher's smart car and flip it over/duck tape it to a pole or something :D
Replyput it on top of the school
My father, who worked for Chrysler for 30 years, refers to Smart Cars as "dumb cars" or "coffins with wheels". Both are accurate descriptions of such cars.
ReplyIf smart cars were meant for Europe, then why the hell are they being marketed here?
ReplyBecause they forgot Europe includes Germany which has the Autobahn......could you imagine a smart car on the Autobahn? yikes
My 91 Jeep Cherokee gets 12 miles to the gallon, has an exhaust leak, it's perpetually filthy, seats only five (not great for an SUV) and leaks oil. But I love it. Especially when I'm using my 4x4 to pull these little smart cars out of the snow in montana. Oh, also offroading is awesome. You can't take that away from me.
ReplyAs an owner of a 90 Jeep Cherokee, I'd be more surprised if you said it DIDN'T have an exhaust leak. BTW, 5 people in an SUV is more than enough. If you consider a Suburban an SUV, you clearly don't love your Jeep enough.
So, basically you're saying that you need a wash (or at least some rain), a new exhaust manifold, and probably a new head-gasket. Congratulations.
As a rule, I don't drive cars I can beat up.
ReplyThat really doesn't say much. Depends if you are really Bruce Lee (walks everywhere) or Justin Bieber (last seen on his new rollerskate. No "s").
These cars are built for Europe where parking is absurdly tight and most roads are narrower than jogging trails.
ReplyNot helpful in much of the USA
they're pretty much over glorified Segways
ReplyI see a lot of comments stating that the car pictured in the crash is not a smart. Does it matter? Same s**t would happen to a smart car whether that is or not.
Reply Hide All See All 3 RepliesI'd say so, it has the flat(ish) back and the s**t small wheels.
"Same shit" would have happened to almost any car.
"same shit" would NOT have happened to any car. Maybe to a mini Cooper or even some smaller sedans, but not to a truck or suv. The engine bay would be messed up leaving the car (probably) totaled. But the front seats should remain fairly intact. Also that crash was only at 40mph. Pretty slow to send the front wheeles into the drivers lap.
'94 Ford Escort, 35 miles per gallon, KBB 1,000$. Yeah baby.
ReplyThe smart car isn't supposed to be anywhere but inner-city roads.
ReplyJust like how my car is being shitted on and scraped by every other car around here (inner city hell), the wrong car in the wrong place is always rubbish.
If I could get a diesel civic here in the states we wouldnt need smart cars. My gas version alone got 36mpg with the 5speed. Im assuming a diesel would push that into the 45+ range easily.
ReplyIn addition to the fact that I enjoyed a drunk, more airbags than a porn video, and those handy things called crumple zones which make a huge difference in impacts.
Two errors:
ReplyThe car in the accident with the semi is not a Smart. I can't tell what it is from this angle, but Smarts have funny shaped taillights, the glass at the back of the car wraps around to the side and the area behind the door is a different color.
Also, Smarts cost more than $15k, not $10k.
Gratz, now that you have pointed out those two errors, you can go back to living in your parents basement playing error nazi. While the real writers go on to make more funny articles.
Full disclosure: I own a smart (small s, you dopes).
Reply Hide All See All 8 RepliesThe crushed car in the picture is not a smart car as anyone who can count could tell you. smart cars have 3 wheel bolts, not five.
The mileage is so bad because when they brought it to the states they decided Americans didn't like diesel so they gave you the gasser. They also modified it to give you a PRNDL, because they were worried Americans couldn't figure the shifter out. The Germans must think you are stupid or something. Mine is Diesel (Canadian) and I get 55-60 MPG (American Gallon). But you probably didn't know our gallon is bigger. Hey maybe the Germans are right.
Real world accidents show that people do survive very high-speed accidents as the car typically bounces off to the side and possibly rolls but does not expose the passenger or driver. They typically step out after the crash. But in actual fact the car is so maneuverable you can avoid most accidents. To get an idea of the strength of the car, you should know the firefighters can't use the jaws of life to cut into them. But that is okay because even after 60 MPH crashes straight into concrete walls the doors are still fully functional. There is a lovely picture on the web of a Hummer/smart crash. Let's just say the Hummer designers could take some tips from the smart designers.
Top speed is 84 MPH but that is because there is a limiter not because it couldn't go faster. Again something they added for the Americans. Did you guys do something to the Germans in the past?
Living in Canada I get to drive in a lot of snow. I can pass just about anything in the snow, including most 4WDs. The car simply will not slip or spin the wheels. Just stomp the gas and away you go, no slipping, no sliding. It's called traction control. Turn off the TC though and instant 360s and 720s. Wheee.
For those that think you can't corner in these let's just say that is the one place that I can beat most sport cars. I love coming off the highway, no matter the radius of the corner and leaving the vettes in the lurch.
I've driven the Rockies towing a trailer and regularly passed other larger cars going up-hill. The seats are so firm and comfortable I drive 18 hour days when on vacation and step out no worse for wear. Try that in most other cars.
Again full disclosure: The air conditioning connectors are the worst in the world in my opinion and you will need A/C servicing every spring to keep it working. Some folks have problems with the turbo bearings but that is on the Diesel so you don't need to worry about it.
You're right, Smart Car owners really are smug ass-holes.
Agree with Dr. Best
Not to mention retarded enough to deserve a pat on the back and a "you did good" for trying.
Totally full of it. I've driven one. Handled like crap, was uncomfortable as hell, and I could barely fit one grocery bag in it. Functionality is not it's strong suit. And yes, ANY car gets better mileage when it is diesel.
"Real world accidents show that people do survive very high-speed accidents as the car typically bounces off to the side and possibly rolls"
So, the car bounces off to the side into even more traffic? Possibly rolling as well, allowing another car to slam into the roof of the smart car?
Yeah, seems like a good tactic right there.
"Hurr-durr! Americanz is dumbz LOL!!"
At least I was smart enough NOT to buy a freakin' "smart" (Small "s." Happy, douchebag?) "car" (Calling it a car is really stretching the truth. It's more like a suped-up golf-cart).
Do Germans pronounce "retarded" as "smart"?
Did you seriously say you "love leaving vetted in the lurch?" you've GOT to be kidding. So you think Germany's f**k up beats America's super car? Stop f*****g saying whatever bullshit comes to mind.
Something like a Prius would certainly be better in just about every way, but the point isn't so much for environmentalism, I don't think - it's a matter of cost. The damn thing costs $12,000 new. It's the netbook of the car world, designed to be small, cheap, and reasonably efficient. I also take issue with the top speed bit, since you shouldn't be doing 90mph in the first place. >_>
Reply Hide All See All 4 RepliesOh, and small parking spaces, small roads, etc.
You can really get that dinky thing up to 90 mph???? I would be terrified!
I have the smart roadster. Top speed approaches 200 km/h. Which, yes, a person living in regulated society can't do. In reference to the Prius, it is NOT more environmentally friendly than the smart, though I don't deny that there are more efficient cars out there (such as the VW Polo Blue Motion). The Prius' nickel batteries and the process that produces them render the Prius more environmentally harmful than a Range Rover. A Prius owner will own their vehicle for 20 years before it even begins to pay off its carbon footprint. The smart does so in a matter of a couple of years.
Truth is apdlabrat, smart car smooth-out around 80mph. Ive done 93mph and engine was humming for sure, but not unstable at all. I think front-end goes a little air-born like popping a continuous Wheeley. This article got us all by the balls because it stated too many miss-truths. Shamefull! Sorry it was my first article (not a good first impression). Can I trust anything else I read?