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02-05-2010, 08:15 AM | #1 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 73805
Join Date: Nov 2004
Vehicle:24 TypeS ZO6 White |
Sales of the Smart Fortwo Plummet
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02-05-2010, 08:19 AM | #2 |
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Member#: 46277
Join Date: Oct 2003
Vehicle:H1 Viper LP640 FGT |
Well the shock of it being released in the US has worn off.
Nick |
02-05-2010, 08:21 AM | #3 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 44501
Join Date: Oct 2003
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Yeah, well, you know
Vehicle:that 's, like, your alternate facts, man. |
Quote:
Smart USA has already misguided millions of Americans into thinking it's a safe car when it isn't. |
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02-05-2010, 08:45 AM | #4 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 18151
Join Date: Apr 2002
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Somerville, MA
Vehicle:04 Impreza WRX STi JBP |
Something oddly satisfying about that Mercedes symbol hanging in the air for a second.
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02-05-2010, 09:03 AM | #5 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 11671
Join Date: Oct 2001
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Gilbert, AZ
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Quote:
But yeah, there are cheaper, safer, nearly as efficient alternatives on the market. Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta, etc. Other than being a conversation piece, I really don't see the appeal of these cars. The whole urban environment/parking aspect works in Europe, but not so much here in the US. |
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02-05-2010, 11:41 AM | #6 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 204920
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Somewhere
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02-11-2010, 12:18 PM | #7 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 22863
Join Date: Aug 2002
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: The Land of Mary
Vehicle:2015 WRX, 2022 Fozzy Painted fender collection |
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02-05-2010, 08:48 AM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 72042
Join Date: Oct 2004
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Sunshine
Vehicle:2002 V7 Impreza WRX The Blue Mammoth |
Ya, the smart car was always crap, I don't understand how people bought into it. Now they are probably kicking themselves.
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02-05-2010, 09:03 AM | #9 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 44010
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Springfield, VA
Vehicle:2004 Cayenne Turbo Black |
Wow, I much rather be in the C300, which is not a large car, than the Smart. The C300's grill was pretty much inside the Smart's cabin. Also, the driver in the C300 barely seemed to move when the Smart's driver was flailing around.
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02-05-2010, 09:10 AM | #10 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 72042
Join Date: Oct 2004
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Sunshine
Vehicle:2002 V7 Impreza WRX The Blue Mammoth |
Now thinking back, remember the video Mercedes showed demonstrating the S class slamming into the smart car. That demonstration is now proven staged.
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02-05-2010, 09:19 AM | #11 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 56731
Join Date: Mar 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Akron, Ohio
Vehicle:2004 STi, 00 Insight 10 Volvo C30R-d 11 F150 |
I hate the idea of increasing mass for safety reasons. Its not ecological.
Unfortunately, the smart may be incompatible with our transportation system (dodge ram 1500's barrelling down the highway at 80mph) I dont really have a problem with the smart's safety rating. If everyone drove Smart-like cars, its relative safety would obviousy increase and fatalaty/injury rates normalized by # of smart cars on the road would decrease. There's nothing wrong with the Smart from a safety standpoint. The problem is with every other large vehicle on American roads. That being said, I wouldn't drive one. They feel chincy for how much they cost, they idle too fast, and i can't get used to the bottom-pivot brake pedal. There needs to be an additional safety crash test. Whats the result of the OTHER driver involved in the accident. using some normalized vehicles, one from each class. Our current crash testing standards are selfish. |
02-05-2010, 09:39 AM | #12 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 191994
Join Date: Oct 2008
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The smart is nothing but a toy for the rich. its like an accesory, like those stupid tiny annoying dogs famous people have.
People pay $20k!!!! for those smarts COME ON. I would take an accent over that thing any day an it would even save me like $2k over the smart's base model oh yeah and it fits 4 people. |
02-05-2010, 10:02 AM | #13 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 35105
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MWSOC
Location: nati
Vehicle:2003 AP stg 2 AT wgn salty |
Even ignoring the safety issues, a car that small should be doing MUCH better in fuel efficiency. If you are going to compromise all practicality of ownership, there should be a greater gain than you see with this little bugger.
Also, can we keep these jerks out of the "fast" lane? |
02-05-2010, 10:44 AM | #14 | |
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MWSOC
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Vehicle:Will Woollard Fan Club |
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02-05-2010, 02:04 PM | #15 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 102793
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Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Vehicle:2016 WRX Ugly Sedan |
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02-09-2010, 01:59 AM | #16 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 110979
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Sacramento, Ca
Vehicle:2010 FJ Cruiser 1999 Miata |
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02-09-2010, 08:27 AM | #17 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 56731
Join Date: Mar 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Akron, Ohio
Vehicle:2004 STi, 00 Insight 10 Volvo C30R-d 11 F150 |
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02-05-2010, 10:34 AM | #18 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 169223
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Quote:
and again - the crash test video was smart vs c300 which isnt considered as a "large vehicle on American roads". it would be a different story if they try smart vs hummer of course.... even though i do want to see a video like that just to see the outcome |
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02-05-2010, 11:03 AM | #19 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 56731
Join Date: Mar 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Akron, Ohio
Vehicle:2004 STi, 00 Insight 10 Volvo C30R-d 11 F150 |
Quote:
its not a moot point. your metaphor of walking across the highway is not accurate. The reason we have crash tests is because traffic fatalities was a real systemic problem (still is). Vehicle on pedestrian fatalities are not a widespread issue (its usually on purspose). if you want to look at what causes traffic fatalities, u need to look at both sides of the coin. But on the subject of safety, IMO all the cars sold in the USA are plenty safe. Its the drivers that need improved. A 16 year old that just passed their drivers test (memorize this book and write it down on this piece of paper, ok, now drive around the block) is unsafe in any vehicle. and it only gets worse from there because, as they get older, they realize what they can get away with and start to become a typical sloppy rear-view-mirror-preening, texting while driving, distracted american driver. so if you have a poorly educated, poorly trained driver, out on the road with you, would you rather they be driving a Smart or a C300 @65+mph? Its bad enough we allow such poorly educated and trained drivers get licensed to drive a 2500lb machine that can achieve speeds of 80mph, but its even worse that with the same certification they can drive a vehcle 4000+ pounds capable of 100+mph. What other machinery of that power can you become licensed to use at 16 years old in less than 30 minutes and less than a few hundred bucks? /rant and I apologize for getting a little off topic, but americans fear of smaller vehicles for safety reasons is taking us and the automotive industry in a bad direction. |
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02-05-2010, 11:37 AM | #20 | |
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TXIC
Location: undisputed COMBAT! champion
Vehicle:of TXIC I also like (oYo)!!!! |
Quote:
I thought for a split second about getting behind her and letting her hear the hellas, but meh, she'll kill herself eventually and doesn't need my help. |
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02-06-2010, 06:51 PM | #21 | |
RIP 1/19/64 - 7/23/11
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Yup; I had a C as a loaner a few times and it was not much bigger than our Impreza |
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02-05-2010, 11:46 AM | #22 |
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RMIC
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Vehicle:08 Impreza,80Vette 68 Impala, 15 SantaFe |
The novalty has worn off. The car is not practical. If you are looking for a small efficient car better suited for city driving, a Honda Fit, Chevy Aveo, or Mini Cooper would better suit your needs and not have to sacrifice a passenger to carry groceries.
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02-05-2010, 12:13 PM | #23 |
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Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Vehicle:Head donkey meat distributor in USA |
Every time I see one on the road, I laugh.
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02-05-2010, 12:06 PM | #24 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 95600
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Pittsburgh
Vehicle:2003 WRX wagon Silver |
Cars like the smart cannot be as safe b/c they don't have room for crumple zones.
Mass is a separate point. If they put a roll cage in it like a racecar so there was no intrusion into the passenger compartment the lack of a crumple zone would still negatively affect the safety b/c deceleration would be so swift. |
02-05-2010, 12:27 PM | #25 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 56731
Join Date: Mar 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Akron, Ohio
Vehicle:2004 STi, 00 Insight 10 Volvo C30R-d 11 F150 |
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