Behind the wheel of a Smart car

Mercury News ^ | 6/23/08 | Bruce Newman

[NormsRevenge]

San Jose Mercury News columnist Bruce Newman cruises on Highway 101 in San Mateo recently in his new convertible Smart car. (Maria J. Avila / Mercury News)

[CharlesWayneCT]

I really don’t get the Smart Car, but if people like it, they should feel free to buy it.

I guess it’s a pretty cheap car, but not as cheap as it looks like it should be.

My Prius acts like a normal car, average in acceleration and handling, and gets much better gas mileage than the Smart Car. But my Prius did cost more than a Smart car.

[MrEdd]

Behind the wheel of a Smart car golf cart.

Fixed it.

[goldstategop]

Its a chick magnet and well - you can park it almost anywhere downtown. Its no speed demon but its no slouch either. Its just a tad smaller than my VW New Beetle.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Peter W. Kessler]

I saw one on the road the other day.

It looked ridiculous.

...and I drive a Honda Element.

I’d be scared to death to take on of those roller skates out on an interstate.

...and I drive a Honda Element.

[ConservaTexan]

If it truly was a ‘smart’ car it would come from the factory with handles for the pall bearers to grab.

[556x45]

My insurance agent calls them ‘coffins on wheels’. :) I think Ill just stick w/ my non-politically correct PU.

[Philly Nomad]

A golden retriever is a chick magnet as well, and can probably get to 60 faster than a smart car, and carry more stuff. :)

/Live in NYC
//Subways FTW.

[Slings and Arrows]

I wonder how it would look with NRA bumper stickers?

[ozaukeemom]

Saw one at the Post Office the other day. There are 2 in our little community!

[Tijeras_Slim]

EPA lists this thing at 36 mpg.

We got 40 in a Subaru Outback Sport and it carries a lot more stuff and has AWD.

[facedown]

[AntiKev]

I’m waiting until they import the roadster that I saw all over Germany. That is one sexy SMART. Otherwise, ho-hum.

[irishjuggler]

I guess it’s a pretty cheap car, but not as cheap as it looks like it should be.

Right. Not as cheap as it ought to be. The Smart is basically an overpriced toy. Any number of "real" cars (e.g., Toyota Yaris, Ford Focus, Chevy Aveo) are actually much more practical and less expensive to own.

[martin_fierro]

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[thackney]

you can park it almost anywhere downtown

That depends on which option package you buy.

[amadeus]

I pick cars like that out of the grill of my Titan.

[elmer fudd]

I’m another one that doesn’t get the Smart car. It’s not particularly cheap or fuel efficient or sporty. You could buy a Yaris for less money and get nearly the same fuel efficiency, plus you’d have room for passengers or groceries.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

[RepoGirl]

So you drive an Element, you say? My hubby wants one. Pros? Cons?

This from a proud driver of the Honda Mommobile, the Odyssey. I attempted to retain some of my former cool by placing one of my Misfits stickers on the back window, but peeled it off when I realized I'd reached the point of no return.

As far as smart cars go -- what's a woman to do when she needs to haul her five year old to the pediatrician and her 70 lb rottweiler to the vet? I don't see the three of us peacefully co-existing in one of those clowncars.