DaimlerChrysler = Smart car ? or Silly Car ?

[Robb]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060604/bs_nm/auto_daimlerchrysler_dc

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler (DCXGn.DE) is leaning toward launching its Smart minicar in the United States, DaimlerChrysler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche said in a newspaper interview on Sunday.

 
"At the moment, the tendency is clearly positive," Zetsche said in an interview with Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

A final decision on whether to sell the car in the United States will be taken this month, he said.

Zetsche repeated that he expected the loss-making Smart unit to turn a profit in 2007.







Have any of you "guys" seen or heard of the "Smart Car" ?

I had the opportunity to spend most of this Winter and Fall in Germany and I got to see alot of these on the road, and I can tell you....   they just aint gonna work here in America.       They arent much bigger than a fancy golf cart and have almost no luggage/grocery capability.  As an American in Europe, these cars looked absolutely silly.

Their greatest value is that on the narrow streets in Europe, where you otherwise have to park parallel, the Smart car, because it is so short and narrow, can fit in the parallel spots, perpendicularly. (  = 2 cars in one spot )

There are a couple of different versions and about the only one that looks 1/2 way near normal was the roadster.



This should be an interesting marketing plan/ad campaign at the very least....

[Andrew]

I see quite alot of them - horrible things.

Not particularly safe either, not only could most SUVs run one of those over, but your feet are directly behind the front bumper, so if you happen to be in a head on crash, bye bye toes (and feet too)

[Chryco Psycho]

1000s of them in Canaduh, kids flip them over for kicks , I would never take one on a highway I cannot see them being safe in a crosswind or in a draft as a Semi blows by , probably works ok as a city commuter , a jetta by comparison gets better fuel milage + has room for 4 people & can be safely driven on a highway 

[Oldschool]

If I lived and worked and played in the big city, then I might look into something like that.  But I don't, so I won't......................    

[ChallengerHK]

Saw them (and almost worked on a program for them) when I lived in Detroit. I think the market for these are the same people who buy Segways, except that they need a place to put a bag of groceries. More power to them (or less power, as the case may be). I doubt that the people who buy these will ever think about taking them on a highway 

[JRoss22]

If there werent all those "Mall Crawlers" around I would say that the Smart car would make a good first car for most driver when they are learning... But then again I wouldnt realy feel to safe in that car.. and not enough power for my liking....

[HemiDog]

When I was in France, I got to see a lot of those also.  But the really big suprise was about three months ago, I saw one on I-35 in Kansas City.  I did a double take and my buddy I was with had never seen one.  He was totally amused by it.  It had Canadian plates, so definitly not sold in the USA.   

[71fish]

no different than a a motorcycle w/ training wheels. Although the semi blowing by could be kinda hairy. I would def cruise around in that thing on the counrty roads.. as long as it could get out of its own way.

Maybe it could evolve into having a trunk to put stuff and maybe another seat so a passenger could also ride along. And,.. maybe put the engine in the front w/ a firewall. make it a little bigger for saftey reasons.. 

Hey, wait a MINUTE.. that would be a CAR!!   

 

[challenger72rt]

altho I don't like them, my best friend has one.  He's about 5'3, so it is funnyto see, but I'm 6'2", and fit comfortably in it.  Also, even for a mini 2 seater, there IS some decent storage room in the back, surprisingly.  We fit a computer tower, large monitor and a collapsible table in his last year.  It gets AMAZING fuel mileage (compared to his full size Ford Explorer) and since he lives in the country, and works downtown, mileage is important.  He went from over $500 a month in the Explorer, to $80 amonth with the Smart car...altho the dealership SCREWS you in oil changes.  $300!!!

[HemiOrange70]

Mercedes sells them here in Canada. they can't keep them in stock. Of course we pay 5 bucks for a gallon of gas

[Andrew]

Just found this (Yes I know its an old topic but I didnt want to start a new one)

http://www.smartsrus.com/interceptor.htm

[highspeeddirt]

Just in case anyone was thinking of purchasing on of these pregnant roller skates..............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s&mode=related&search=car%20crash

[bordin34]

I saw one a couple weeks ago they are as big as a golf cart. It had red targets all over it. It may be a Target store car or a highway crash test.

[Super Blue 72]

Just found this (Yes I know its an old topic but I didnt want to start a new one)

http://www.smartsrus.com/interceptor.htm

It's so small I must've missed seeing that in the beginning chase scene with the Night Rider! 

[torredcuda]

The Segway was touted as something that would replace cars as transportation in citys.I have seen maybe two of them in downtown Manchester and they biuld them locally.The smart car will be the same thing,very few people will give up thier nice cars far something only usefull as a commuter.If I want 40-50 mpg I`ll just ride my motorcycle to work.