Looking for a new car?

R. · 09 Oct 2003, 19:22

Chris · 09 Oct 2003, 23:38

R.,

What have i said about cars? There is only one worth getting

Check these out!!!![/url]

MBrevard · 10 Oct 2003, 04:24

Chris, would you explain to me about Smart Cars? I know you've spoken about them before, but I think we only have 'stupid' ones in the States.

Are they electric or gas or a combination??? I'd never heard of them before coming to this forum.

As for yours, R. ---we just bought a car through e-bay, when my hubby's old junkie finally died. I don't think I'll show him this one. Is that car for REAL??!!

Love to you both,
MB
xxx

shadow1000001 · 10 Oct 2003, 09:42

The smart cars I can deal with!!

R. PLEASE tell me that car didn't go for over $10 000.

If that's the case, I should get at least $30 000 for mine

Maria

Testify · 10 Oct 2003, 11:28

me likes the new smart car. :)

i want this one.

http://www.mcarsweb.com/smart/roadster.jpg

Chris · 10 Oct 2003, 20:55

Hi,

Smart cars are made by the Micro Compact City Car Company based in Hambach, Germany.

They were orginally designed as a joint venture between Swatch (the watch people!!) and Mercedes Benz. When Swatch pulled out at the design stage, Mercedes took complete control.

The cars are built around a 597cc Mercedes Engine (although they are not abdged as Mercs!!!). they seat two people and are designed to be comftable for two 6'6" people.

The basically shell of the car is a Tridium roll cage covered with interchangable plastic panels. This means that you can change panels adn therefore colours/designs freely.

They are currently only on general release in Europe with imports available to the USA. However they will go on sale in the US shortly.

There are several 'flavours' of the car: City (standard) Coupe and Cabriolets, and Roadster Coupe or Cabriolets are currently on sale. Launching shortly will be a five door four seater version named Smart ForFour and next year will see the preview of the Smart FourFour which is a four wheel drive version.

Smart owners are considered to be of far superior intelligence to other drivers and are generally very cool to be around.

We can generally be found lurking at Funkysmart or if you live in Northamptonshire we descend on Billing Aquadrome en masse for a summer camping party in Jun!!!!!

A Typical Smart car owner

BTW, Smart Car Owners are known as Smarties, because we have all the answers!!!

Kitty Kat · 10 Oct 2003, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBrevard

Chris, would you explain to me about Smart Cars? I know you've spoken about them before, but I think we only have 'stupid' ones in the States.

Are they electric or gas or a combination??? I'd never heard of them before coming to this forum.

As for yours, R. ---we just bought a car through e-bay, when my hubby's old junkie finally died. I don't think I'll show him this one. Is that car for REAL??!!

Love to you both,

MB
xxx

Smart Cars - yuk. You may be able to buy them with pictures painted on the panels and park them on a postage stamp but they are so small there isn't room to swing a cat (if you are that way inclined). The one I saw today measured about 5 feet from front to back. I'm not into big cars but I would feel like I was driving a 'Noddy' car. Please note that this is only my opinion and I would not wish to offend anyone who drives a smart car.

MBrevard · 10 Oct 2003, 21:56

Wow!! Thank you, Chris, for coming back and explaining Smart Cars to me!! That was a lot of work!!

It's an interesting looking car. I'll be looking out for them when they hit the US. I wonder what peoples' reactions over here will be to them!

How do they do on freeways? Do they get good gas mileage? Here in California, you can't get ANYWHERE without driving there. Everybody needs a car. And gas prices are outrageous at the moment--well, a month ago, they were even MORE outrageous..but anyway....

Just wanted to thank you for doing all that typing!!!

Chris wrote:

Quote:

BTW, Smart Car Owners are known as Smarties, because we have all the answers!!!

You certainly proved that right this time!!

Take care.

Love,
MB
xxx

ps. Uh oh! Just saw Kitty Kat's response right before I was going to hit the Submit button. Didn't mean to bring controversy to this issue. :P

Guess, from the sounds of it, Kitty Kat, we wouldn't be able to fit the two of us here, plus our 5 dogs into a Smart Car--even if 3 of the dogs are pretty tiny ones!

Thanks again, friends!!

R. · 10 Oct 2003, 22:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

R.,

What have i said about cars? There is only one worth getting

Yeah - and the name is TT.

Chris · 10 Oct 2003, 22:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBrevard

How do they do on freeways? Do they get good gas mileage?

Hi MBrevard, In my Smart a full tank of petrol holds 35 litres of unleaded and that gets me about 350 miles of general town driving.

The european versions have a limiter fitted so that they cannot exceed 84mph (although they can be chipped to get to 127.8mph) this is becasue aboive this, the small engines cannot handle it!!

Kitty Kat, Don't worry, we Smarties get insulted on a regular basis and do not take it personally!! I often get asked when i will be buying the other half, whether it is a kit car that i got bored building, I think you can probably guess the rest!!!!

Famous Smarties include Joanna Lumley, Sir Stirling Moss and Tony Blackburn!!!

Chris

PS> What colour was the one you spotted? If you see a red and black one batting around the area playing the soundtrack to Rocky horror Show at full volume, remember to wave!! it will be me!!!!

MBrevard · 11 Oct 2003, 08:40

Hey, Chris, that's 35 miles to the gallon. Not bad at all. And it would probably do better on freeway commuting. It would make a great commuter car, I think, for those of us who go a distance every day back and forth to work. It'll be interesting to see how Smart Cars do, when they make their way over here.

Any idea of the timeframe we are talking about as to when it will be released in the States?? Just curious....

Thanks again for all the info. Really appreciate it!!

Love,
MB
xxx

original sin · 11 Oct 2003, 21:02

that is not a car!!!!
and what is soooo smart about a Smart car..........really I ask you

Sin - sculking off and waiting for the come back

Chris · 11 Oct 2003, 22:09

Sin: What is so Smart?? The driver!!!!!!!!!

I am not sure when they willl be launched in US! Smart keep saying soon!!!!! Although I have a feeling that there is a dealership in NYC taking pre-orders for them!

CarolM · 12 Oct 2003, 20:13

smart cars are coolllllllllllll.

Kitty Kat · 13 Oct 2003, 21:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBrevard

How do they do on freeways? Do they get good gas mileage?

Hi MBrevard, In my Smart a full tank of petrol holds 35 litres of unleaded and that gets me about 350 miles of general town driving.

The european versions have a limiter fitted so that they cannot exceed 84mph (although they can be chipped to get to 127.8mph) this is becasue aboive this, the small engines cannot handle it!!

Kitty Kat, Don't worry, we Smarties get insulted on a regular basis and do not take it personally!! I often get asked when i will be buying the other half, whether it is a kit car that i got bored building, I think you can probably guess the rest!!!!

Famous Smarties include Joanna Lumley, Sir Stirling Moss and Tony Blackburn!!!

Chris

PS> What colour was the one you spotted? If you see a red and black one batting around the area playing the soundtrack to Rocky horror Show at full volume, remember to wave!! it will be me!!!!

Chris - it certanly wasn't you but I will keep my eyes and ears open and give you a wave in passing.

09 Oct 2003, 19:22	#1
R. You dig. Join Date: 02.04.2002 Location: On the fothermucker Posts: 7,179	Looking for a new car? Look no further.

09 Oct 2003, 23:38	#2
Chris Mega Loafer Join Date: 14.04.2002 Location: Somewhere in the real world. Posts: 7,527	R., What have i said about cars? There is only one worth getting Check these out!!!![/url]

10 Oct 2003, 04:24	#3
MBrevard Super Loafer Join Date: 06.02.2003 Location: Deceased Posts: 761	Chris, would you explain to me about Smart Cars? I know you've spoken about them before, but I think we only have 'stupid' ones in the States. Are they electric or gas or a combination??? I'd never heard of them before coming to this forum. As for yours, R. ---we just bought a car through e-bay, when my hubby's old junkie finally died. I don't think I'll show him this one. Is that car for REAL??!! Love to you both, MB xxx

10 Oct 2003, 09:42	#4
shadow1000001 Mega Loafer Join Date: 10.07.2003 Location: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,580	The smart cars I can deal with!! R. PLEASE tell me that car didn't go for over $10 000. If that's the case, I should get at least $30 000 for mine Maria

10 Oct 2003, 11:28	#5
Testify ragamuffin Join Date: 21.05.2003 Location: xxx daydreaming xxx Posts: 5,023	me likes the new smart car. :) i want this one. http://www.mcarsweb.com/smart/roadster.jpg

10 Oct 2003, 20:55	#6
Chris Mega Loafer Join Date: 14.04.2002 Location: Somewhere in the real world. Posts: 7,527	Hi, Smart cars are made by the Micro Compact City Car Company based in Hambach, Germany. They were orginally designed as a joint venture between Swatch (the watch people!!) and Mercedes Benz. When Swatch pulled out at the design stage, Mercedes took complete control. The cars are built around a 597cc Mercedes Engine (although they are not abdged as Mercs!!!). they seat two people and are designed to be comftable for two 6'6" people. The basically shell of the car is a Tridium roll cage covered with interchangable plastic panels. This means that you can change panels adn therefore colours/designs freely. They are currently only on general release in Europe with imports available to the USA. However they will go on sale in the US shortly. There are several 'flavours' of the car: City (standard) Coupe and Cabriolets, and Roadster Coupe or Cabriolets are currently on sale. Launching shortly will be a five door four seater version named Smart ForFour and next year will see the preview of the Smart FourFour which is a four wheel drive version. Smart owners are considered to be of far superior intelligence to other drivers and are generally very cool to be around. We can generally be found lurking at Funkysmart or if you live in Northamptonshire we descend on Billing Aquadrome en masse for a summer camping party in Jun!!!!! A Typical Smart car owner BTW, Smart Car Owners are known as Smarties, because we have all the answers!!!

11 Oct 2003, 08:40	#11
MBrevard Super Loafer Join Date: 06.02.2003 Location: Deceased Posts: 761	Hey, Chris, that's 35 miles to the gallon. Not bad at all. And it would probably do better on freeway commuting. It would make a great commuter car, I think, for those of us who go a distance every day back and forth to work. It'll be interesting to see how Smart Cars do, when they make their way over here. Any idea of the timeframe we are talking about as to when it will be released in the States?? Just curious.... Thanks again for all the info. Really appreciate it!! Love, MB xxx

11 Oct 2003, 21:02	#12
original sin Sinner Join Date: 15.04.2003 Location: cyber space Posts: 2,457	that is not a car!!!! and what is soooo smart about a Smart car..........really I ask you Sin - sculking off and waiting for the come back

11 Oct 2003, 22:09	#13
Chris Mega Loafer Join Date: 14.04.2002 Location: Somewhere in the real world. Posts: 7,527	Sin: What is so Smart?? The driver!!!!!!!!! I am not sure when they willl be launched in US! Smart keep saying soon!!!!! Although I have a feeling that there is a dealership in NYC taking pre-orders for them!

12 Oct 2003, 20:13	#14
CarolM Mega Loafer Join Date: 15.06.2003 Location: Near The End Of The Line Posts: 1,498	smart cars are coolllllllllllll.