Video link. smart for two. Enjoy!

''enter the SmartCar '' ''you can’t even fit a golf bag in the tiny trunk'' Did he even try?
...................................

by Steve LaFerre


Long gone are the lengthy wheel-base land cruisers of the past. Their highway space has been taken by mid-size cars, compact cars and now mini- and micro-cars.

All of these are smaller than the 1960 Cadillac that could have hauled five NBA starters. After all, it was nearly 19 feet long with a curb weight of 4,722 pounds. My late model 4x4 Blazer only has a curb weight of 3,536 pounds, and my next vehicle won’t be anywhere near that.

Be that as it may, a 1960 Caddy used “high test” gasoline at 30 cents a gallon, put up numbers that were less than 10 mpg and nobody cared. Why would they? Times were good and the U.S. was “the” major global economic superpower.

Today times are not as good, so automakers and tiremakers are on the hunt to relieve household budgets, as well as present an uncomplicated way to get to and from work with reasonable operating costs.

In that spirit, enter the SmartCar – all 8.8 feet of it – with miles per gallon set at 40 or 41, depending who you talk to. The pint-sized two- or four-door car also features different front and rear tire sizes: 155/60R15 on the front and 175/55R15 on the rear. Without the driver, this hummingbird of a car sports a curb weight of 1,653 pounds and the two-door model can handle a payload of just 507 pounds. The wheelbase on this mighty mite is just 73.5 inches – about the length of a very short NBA guard.

This vehicle was first spotted in Europe in 1994, the product of a Daimler Benz and Swatch Watch project. So small is this car that stories abound when it comes to parking the little ride. Here goes: If the car won’t quite maneuver into a parking space, lift it up with your buddies and carry it into the space. Two will fit side-by-side comfortably in a standard American parking space.

Here’s the problem with this car, if there is one: If you and your passenger each weigh 200 pounds, you only have a margin of 107 pounds to haul something. Heck, you can’t even fit a golf bag in the tiny trunk, if that’s what the cargo space can be called. The good news here is that the SmartCar is visually interesting. The bad news: it screams lack of load carrying capacity.

No wonder the SmartCar only requires a three cylinder, 1-liter engine that generates the 71 horsepower needed to push it up to 90 mph.

When it comes to replacement or upgrade tires for the SmartCar, all you have to do is check the maximum weight allowed by the manufacturer and be sure you don’t overload the tires. You’ll find this information in the owner’s manual.

Still, there are a few twists to the SmartCar’s tire and wheel package. Although it is expected to cause no problems, the OE wheels come with a three-bolt pattern. But because of the wheel size differences – 4.5 on the front and 5.5 on the rear – tires cannot be rotated as usual.

You can rotate side-to-side, keeping the fronts on the front and rears on the back, but that’s it. When a customer comes in with strange wear patterns and tread depths that are on the borderline, you have no choice but to tell the customer he or she has to replace all four tires.

You can, of course, rotate side to side, but this is not always advisable given the oddities of tire wear patterns. The owner will most likely come back with ride complaints.

Another surprise from SmartCar makers, operated by Penske Auto Group in North America, is the fact that premium fuel is required. This isn’t particularly good news with the availability of other micro-cars that offer higher mpg on regular unleaded fuel.
......................
Source.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/automobi...4crash.html?hpw



Yikes! Watch the video...

I only twigged to this because I got an email in my inbox retaliating smart's position on the issue, saying that these types of crashes make up less than 1% of those encountered in real life.

-Iain

Lesley Wimbush
Published: 03 04 2009

Smart vehicular passion for two

My first test drive in 2005 was memorable not only for the novelty of the car itself, but for the attention it garnered. As a tool for attracting and initiating conversation with people, the Smart was better than a basketful of puppies.

While the Smart Fortwo has been around Europe since the late ‘90s, it only made its way to our shores in late 2004. The first Smart introduced in Canada was powered by a three-cylinder diesel engine delivering only 40hp and was notable for its fairly lacklustre performance and primitive, lurching gear shifts.

It didn’t seem to matter - the Smart’s faults only added to its cachet with urban dwellers and the eco-conscientious, who piously revelled in its drawbacks as a symbol of sacrifice and awareness.

Now a more common sight on our roads and highways, the Smart is no longer the object of open-mouthed stares and pointed fingers.

And if the first generation Smart was an envelope-pushing experiment in a market that traditionally idolized horsepower and speed, it really wasn’t a very good car. It was however, an important one. More than just a quirky novelty - the Smart helped us to re-think our personal transportation needs - moving away from gigantic gas-guzzling, rolling rooms, towards more economical and environmentally responsible choices.

Eager to see how the latest model had evolved (particularly welcome was the news of a completely updated tranny) I set forth from Smart headquarters in downtown Toronto embarking on a 100 km journey on Canada’s busiest multi lane highway.

Most people are now familiar with the Smart Fortwo’s formidable crash test ratings, made famous by television’s Top Gear and featured in many Youtube videos. And yet - several friends questioned the sanity of driving a Fortwo on the 401.

Although negotiating six lanes of high velocity chaos flanked by forty-foot semis, in a cartoony glorified golf kart sounds like vehicular suicide - really, inside the Smart you feel no more vulnerable than in any other small car. One huge improvement is the increase in horsepower - the new conventional gas engine puts out 70 horsepower - nearly double the output of the old model. Merging and passing are executed with far more confidence, and it’s now entirely possible to get a speeding ticket in the new Fortwo. Unfortunately - that increase in horsepower adds up at the pumps too, with the new Fortwo requiring premium fuel.

My tester is a “Passion” model Fortwo - which has all the standard equipment of the base “Pure” (15-inch wheels, keyless entry) and adds power steering, air, glass roof, sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, power heated mirrors and CD player.

It’s amazing how much room there is inside this motorized fishbowl. The sloped windshield is vast, the side windows are bigger than a widescreen TV and there’s plenty of head and legroom for the lofty of height. The overall feeling of open airiness is greatly enhanced by the panoramic glass roof. The initial impression– that there’s nothing between you and oncoming traffic– is eventually dispelled by the enormous expanse of foam-padded dash twixt wheel and glass.

The upholstery on dash, door insets and seats is a vivid red – striking, but firm enough to bounce a quarter. The passenger seat now folds flat to increase cargo space. The instrumentation is hilarious; think iMac meets the Jetsons. The clock and tachometer are housed in globes atop swivelling stalks.

The Fortwo handles well, with firm suspension and good (if a trifle numb) steering. As luck would have it, my initial journey home was plagued with high gusting winds and keeping the tall Fortwo tacking straight required both hands on the wheel.

As for the new and improved transmission ... new it may be; improved it surely ain’t. Dropping from six speeds to five, the gearbox still features autostick, and in my tester - paddle shifters. Drivers will surely want to initiate their own shifts, since the transmission still displays the horrible lag n’ lurch automatic upshifts of its predecessor. Using the autoshift to hasten the delay between 1st and second somewhat alleviates the lurching, but it’s still highly irritating and is the biggest Achilles heel of this car.

I still have a fondness for the Smart Fortwo despite, or maybe because of, its quirkiness. As the second car for a downtown dweller, the Fortwo makes a lot of sense. It’s a snap to park, and highly manoeuvrable in heavy traffic. But during my week spent with it, I was frustrated and inconvenienced by its lack of versatility.

Bringing home a newly acquired office chair meant busting my pickup truck out of winter hibernation. A trip to the gym with my best gal pal required that we stuff our gym bags, and our purses - out of reach in the tiny trunk.

In comparison - competitor Honda Fit not only ferried me and three friends with copious quantities of food to a Christmas potluck - it endeared itself mightily by easily swallowing my mountain bike. And though there’s little cachet to driving a Hyundai Accent, it’s far more versatile, shifts gears better, and is almost half the price.

Summary:

Year/Make/Model 2009 Smart Fortwo Price as tested $18,555 Trim level Passion Price range $14,990-$24,900 Freight $550 Options Dashboard instruments ($160) Front fog lamps ($145) EnerGuide fuel economy ratings 5.9 /100km city; 4.8L/100km hwy Observed fuel economy 6.3 L/100 km combined over 360 km Warranty (basic) 4 yrs/80,000 km Warranty (powertrain) 4 yrs/80,000 km Competitors BMW 135; Honda Fit; Hyundai Accent; Mini Cooper; Toyota Yaris
Strong PointsWeak Points- Eye-catching
- maintains cachet with the eco-conscientious.
- Lack of cargo space
- herky-jerky transmission


Editors Rating:

Fuel consumption not as good as previous diesel model; requires premium fuel
Value for price Fairly pricey for small car with little cargo capacity
Styling Cute; original; still a head-turner
Comfort lots of head and leg room
Performance although quite peppy, it's severely hampered by transmission
overall An important car that deserves an update
................................
Source.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

By Sherry Williams / 11 News

HOUSTON -- Car salesmen say that seeing customers on the showroom floor is rare these days.

"In my 33 years in the business, I've never seen the business come to a dramatic halt as it has," said Jim Janke. He's the chairman of the Texas Auto Dealers Association.

But records show that sales haven't halted for the Smart Car.

The tiny vehicle is getting a lot of attention from buyers, said Kaitlynn Derner with Smart Car.

The latest auto numbers put it at the top of the heap with an 83 percent increase in sales over this time last year.
................................
Source with video link.

''auto critics doubt it can hold its own in a serious crash''
This article demonstrates why I hate some journalists. Jumps to a lot of conclusions and spreads misinformation.

Personally I am only too happy that my teen age daughter is now driving my smart car. I am not concerned about her safety in the least.I would be more concerned if she was driving an over powered Mustang. Hell, the family mini van has way more power than is needed on the road.

Isn't that more of an issue for inexperienced drivers? Too much power?
The papers are filled with stories of teen aged drivers who are involved in single car mishaps. I remember the story from last year of a teen who was driving his daddy's BMW M3 and wiped out 4 of his friends and himself when he had the high speed rollover...
I challenge the author to provide real stories of teens getting in trouble with smart cars, or any smart fatalities!!!!

Enough of the and I'll let you be the judge....

.............................

By Nadeem Muaddi

Every parent knows that what kids think is cool isn't often safe, and cars are no exception. In fact, according to an aggregated report by Allstate Insurance, collisions "are the leading cause of death among American teenagers, killing between 5,000 and 6,000 teenagers every year for the past decade." And while there is no substitute for responsible driving, the reality of the situation is that many of the vehicles popular among teens today are simply too dangerous for inexperienced drivers to operate. More often than not, it's because teens tend to value what's hot over what's safe -- but the two qualities don't need to be mutually exclusive.

By analyzing crash test results published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as what hundreds of auto critics have written about today's most popular cars, we created a short list of dangerous vehicles that you should think twice about before buying for your young driver. And, in the interest of compromise, we provide a safer alternative that both of you can live with.

Smart Fortwo
Sure it's cute, cool, and economical, but the Smart Fortwo isn't safe for everyone -- let alone inexperienced drivers. Because it's much smaller and lighter than most vehicles on the road, auto critics doubt it can hold its own in a serious crash. Many also note that strong gusts of wind can make controlling the Smart on the highway a difficult task. And while the IIHS rates it well in both frontal offset and side impact crash tests, NHTSA has issued a "safety concern" for its poor performance in side impact testing, in which "the driver door unlatched and opened." What's more, the Fortwo's debut was mangled last year when Smart issued a recall after an adhesive problem caused some drivers' windshields to fall out.

A Safer Alternative: For a ride that's just as quirky-looking, but performs better in crash tests and features loads of standard safety equipment, consider the MINI Cooper. It's a bit more expensive, but is probably a safer bet for a new driver.

Volkswagen New Beetle
Popularized by the hippies of the 1960s, the VW Beetle is loved for its free-spirited nature and odd-ball design. Ironically, test drivers find its bug-like shape to also be the source of great concern. To revamp the bulbous shape of the original Bug, Volkswagen extended the New Beetle's windshield and dashboard into the engine cavity, creating an elongated dash with blind spots around the front pillars. Add to that poor to mediocre performance in side impact crash tests conducted by the IIHS and NHTSA, and it's easy to see why the New Beetle shouldn't be your teen driver's first choice.

A Safer Alternative: Retain that old school feel and free-spirited appeal with the VW Rabbit. Not only does it come equipped with a wide array of safety technology, but it's also an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

Mitsubishi Eclipse
Aggressively designed to tempt drivers and passers-by alike to challenge the limits of its capabilities, the Mitsubishi Eclipse is probably not the safest place for your teen driver. While it's true that other sports cars easily outperform the Eclipse, its sporty looks alone are enough to make drivers want to speed -- which is never a good thing. And although it features a long list of safety features and even performs well in IIHS crash tests, test drivers warn that the Eclipse's rearward visibility poses a serious danger. In addition to thick rear pillars that create blind spots in both the coupe and Spyder, reviewers complain that the odd placement of the side mirrors makes it hard to see vehicles alongside the car.

A Safer Alternative: You don't have to sacrifice looks for safety. With the Scion tC, you get the best of both worlds: exceptional crash test scores, a long list of standard safety features, and that hot look teens crave. But note that, according to a survey conducted by ISO Quality Planning, tC drivers are among the most ticketed -- which probably has to do with the fact that tC drivers tend to be on the young side.

Jeep Wrangler
Loved for its open-air design and off-road capabilities, the classic Jeep Wrangler is a staple of high school parking lots -- as its rugged nature speaks to teenagers' sense of freedom and adventure. Parents, however, should be wary of its troubling crash test scores. While the IIHS rates it well in frontal impacts, models not equipped with optional side airbags earn poor to marginal scores for their performance in side impact crashes. Even more concerning is the Wrangler's performance in NHTSA rollover tests, in which it only earns three of five stars. No doubt, a vehicle that flips is not a safe one. A study published in the journal Academic Emergency Medicine found that fatal rollovers were significantly more likely for teens in SUVs than in cars, while NHTSA reports that in 2003, nearly 25 percent of teens who died in car crashes were driving SUVs.

A Safer Alternative: If safety is the top priority in your teen's SUV, be sure to add the Honda CR-V to your short list. In addition to being an IIHS Top Safety Pick, it performs better than the Wrangler in NHTSA rollover tests. What's more, critics find that it provides great all-around visibility and features the latest safety gadgets, like electronic stability control and side curtain airbags.

Chevrolet Aveo

Though the Chevy Aveo pales in comparison to class leaders like the Honda Civic and Mazda Mazda3, its good looks, low sticker price and competitive warranty give it a lot of parent and teen appeal. However, numerous safety concerns ensure that it's anything but kid friendly. For starters, the Aveo earns mixed crash test results, with NHTSA rating it well and the IIHS awarding marginal to acceptable scores for both front and side impacts. And while test drivers find its unobstructed visibility from the driver's seat to be a major asset, many are still left disappointed by its lack of standard and even optional safety equipment. It lacks side curtain airbags, electronic stability and traction control, and anti-lock brakes are only available as options for its higher-end trims.

A Safer Alternative: For a bargain-priced ride that doesn't skimp on safety, consider the Suzuki SX4. Not only is it good-looking, but boasts top-notch safety scores and a compelling list of standard and optional safety features. And, unlike low-cost alternatives such as the Chevy Aveo, Nissan Versa, and Kia Spectra, the base trim comes equipped with standard anti-lock brakes and electronic brake force distribution.
...........................................
Source.