Saw my first Smart car...

[cyronman]

I passed one last week on the freeway on my Ducati and felt safer! Colder, but safer.
It was like passing a meter-maid going 75.

[kodiak]

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Take a look at this. Not to bad.;eekr;

[Scott Harness]

WOW!, did way better than I thought it would. I wonder about side-impact?

[Chopper]

It's crashworthy....just not with me in it.

[rowhard]

Mercedes did a fine job designing the Smart car, and I would have one in a New York second if dealers in this country weren't asking for so much blue sky with them. I drove one in England in 2000 and it was a blast, but it is a city car, pure and simple.

[dietz99vcross]

Well I guess I am on the other side of the fence. I just got my e-mail saying mine will be here in less than two weeks. I figure the mileage improvement the smart car gets over the VX would save me about the same as the monthly payment on the Smart, and I could "save" my VX which already has 120,000 miles. Safety is actually very good for the vehicle. In a sick an twisted way the size helps for side impact as the wheelbase is so small the impacting vehicle will hit at least one of the wheels if not both rather than crush the passenger compartment alone. Now if you where to get t-boned by a Tahoe going 65 it doesn't really matter what size car you where in. As for comfort, I drove one in Detroit a while back and the seating arrangement is very comfortable, I am 6' 4" and it has more room for the driver and passenger than my VX, I took the rear seat out of the VX so it is also a 2 seater. Headroom was way better, besides I ordered the cabriolet. Having said all of that I was really disappointed in the mileage to performance ratio. If it got 50 mpg I could accept the ridiculously slow acceleration. At 40 mpg it needs more. I like that it is different as I like that my VX is different. But alas I have decided to say no to the smart, drive my VX for another 100,000 miles and just hope gas doesn't reach $5 a gallon. The only issue is I was really looking for a convertible to enjoy the sun, maybe I can get a sunroof installed with the money that would have covered the sales tax.

[etlsport]

i think they are kinda cool.. i could never drive one though.. at the philly auto show i saw a kid try to pop the hood... and tear the thing right off its (fabric) mounts without exerting too much force... living so close to the city i see 2-3 a week