40 MPG SMART Car Arrives in U.S. (Glorified Go Kart)

AP via Yahoo ^

[Slapshot68]

"The Smart's base price is $11,590, and a fully loaded Smart Fortwo Passion convertible goes for $16,950. The 1,800-pound car gets 40 miles per gallon."

[Juan Medén]

I agree. Nothing smart about that insect.

[advertising guy]

two problems.......I can post to but don’t know how to ping and 2. is pissant un banned yet ?

oh and howdy

[abner]

I don’t know.

I know that they are about the only thing though that fits on Rome’s streets comfortably.

On the Autostraade, or any major highway I would be terrified!

[sionnsar]

and never travel on the freeway

I've seen these haul pretty fast on the Autobahn.

[OCCASparky]

late March.

Try mid-May. This is NH, after all.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

That answers my question!....if you can stand it on end, you sure as hell can roll it over, Thanks!

[Restore]

Post above refers to whay my car nut brother has on order....in addition to his Smart Car.

I'd like to have one of those for sure.

[DoughtyOne]

Exactly right. I wouldn’t own one for a commute of any distance, but running around town, you better believe I’d own one. Why not? I think it would be a blast to tool around in.

[adorno]

why in the hell would you drop $17,000 on this glorified go kart

Don't overlook one apparent advantage of that go-cart. If you for some reason were to run out of gas, you could easily push or pull it to your nearest gas station. Singlehandedly!

[Mad Dawg]

There’s one in the arkinglot of the church I attend most Sundays. I view it as kind of an all-weather motor-scooter.

[niteowl77]

My mom's non-supercharged, manual transmission Mini is getting 40-45 MPG on the highway, depending on the speed limit and whether or not she is/isn't hammering it. Another Mini owner in the same town was getting 42.

This is using premium gas, FWIW (so far, nobody who I've talked to recommends using anything else).

They are FUN cars, and surprisingly solid.

Mr. niteowl77

[RoadKingSE]

Looks like a small coffin with wheels? What a piece of crap.

[Squawk 8888]

I must admit though I DESPISE SUV’s!

I don't despise SUVs but I do despise the overwhelming majority of SUV drivers. The worst are the Hockey Moms from Hell who hog the left lane juggling a cup of Tim Horton's and three DVDs while yelling at the kids in the back. I really think the idea of selling vehicles as living rooms on wheels will kill us all.

[retrokitten]

I’ve seen a few of these around here (western Chicago suburbs). The people driving them always have a look on their face like they dare you to make a smart-alek comment about it.

[woollyone]

Toyota Yaris...40/34 mpg

With back seats that 60/40 fold flat, seems like a better value for the $

[dearolddad]

I wonder how this baby will hold up when it gets banged into by a Hummer or an Escalade.

Or... A skateboard or a bicycle?

[AngelesCrestHighway]

I need more out of a car than an overbuilt shopping cart to tootle around town in. This is the future if the democrats get in charge!

[silentreignofheroes]

Durn,,,you could do a 360 and never leave your side of the road..

Does it come in a 4wheel drive model..?

[jmyrlefuller]

They'd be better off bringing back something like this:

[DoughtyOne]

Actully they had a tall basketball player sit in one yesterday at the LA Auto show and he stated he felt comfortable in the seat.

In the spot where I saw this, they showed the car broken down, and Mercedes has put a lot reinforcement all the way around. It’s not the death trap some would think this small car to be.