how "smart" is a smart car?
I put a $99 reservation fee on the smart car, but then, in thinking about it
I wondered how "smart" it ws to buy one. I had thought t hat, given the
tininess of it, it would get at least 1.5X the mileage of a Toyota Prius, or that
it would be a hybrid and get at least the same. I found out since that it is
a normal gasoline engine, and it gets a mere 35 mpg, which in view of the
latest gas prices, ain't quite what it was cracked up to be in my eyes. I thought it would be smarter, then, to put a sunroof in my Honda Fit, rather
than be on the hook for another $16,000+ tax for the cabriolet model.
It should be noted that I also have these 3 vintage cars: a silver1971 BMW 2800 CS I call Robocop, a 1976 BMW 2002 emerald green sedan (the Green Hornet) and 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer gas-guzzler I call "The Beast"
I wondered how "smart" it ws to buy one. I had thought t hat, given the
tininess of it, it would get at least 1.5X the mileage of a Toyota Prius, or that
it would be a hybrid and get at least the same. I found out since that it is
a normal gasoline engine, and it gets a mere 35 mpg, which in view of the
latest gas prices, ain't quite what it was cracked up to be in my eyes. I thought it would be smarter, then, to put a sunroof in my Honda Fit, rather
than be on the hook for another $16,000+ tax for the cabriolet model.
It should be noted that I also have these 3 vintage cars: a silver1971 BMW 2800 CS I call Robocop, a 1976 BMW 2002 emerald green sedan (the Green Hornet) and 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer gas-guzzler I call "The Beast"
Views: 14
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ken Wagar on -
I don't think it is a question of whether the car is "smart" it's a question of does it fit your needs. It was never designed to be a hybrid. Most are getting close to 40 MPG. This doesn't mean it's right for you. Only you can make that call.
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Permalink Reply by Lovie on -
Well yesterday a prius owner barged into a conversation I was having with people gathered around my smart, just to tell me he got better mileage than me. I had to tell him his car was at least 5k more than my smart convertible and he had to drive with a ROOF! I doubt that I will spend an extra 5k in gas to make up for the difference in mileage between the two. Besides, I was the one with the crowd of fans after fitting in a spot that was 10 feet long! I also only pay a motorcycle monthly rate at my garage...a savings of $50 a month! So all in all, I find the smart to be a smart deal overall.
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Permalink Reply by Eric on -
I agree with you. I had a reservation, but pulled out because I just can't justify the mpg versus the size and performance. It seems like SMART should realize that people aren't going to want to sacrifice size AND performance AND price for LESS mpg than you can get on much larger and better performing cars. The Toyota Yaris gets something close to 35+ and is a lot bigger and quicker and is the same or better price.
The IDEA of the SMART car is sound, but one thing has to give - either make it CHEAP, with some of the bells and whistles, and the same mpg; or make it the price it is, (fully loaded), and give better performance and better mpg. A car this size and performance should be getting 60 mpg. It's TINY. People expect it to be better mpg than the Prius.
Personally, if it got 50 mpg and was the top of the line cabriolet model, I would be willing to pay $14,000 tops. If it got 35-40 mpg I would spend $12,000 fully loaded. If it were the cheapest model and 50 mpg, I would spend $11,000. Cheapest model at 35-40mpg, $9,000.
Too bad, cuz I really wanted this car, but the mpg and price combo just don't cut it for me - especially since the performance isn't there to justify it. At the very least it should have great performance, but even then, $16k+ for a tiny little car that's just OK on gas? No thanks.
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Permalink Reply by deborah bauer on -
I agree with you. I originally wanted to ditch m y other cars and get a Prius, but
a) there's no sunroof because all of the power is up there, b) there's no leather
interior, either, yet, and c) they jacked up the price $5,000 from $21,999 to
$26,999 when gas went up and everyone wanted them. I made it a matter
of principal not to get one. When Smart came out, I thought it would be good
going back and forth over t he canyon, when it's just me Monday-Friday, but
read that the gas mileage is the same as I have now, so why would I want to
take on another car payment when my Honda fit is not paid for yet?
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Permalink Reply by deborah bauer on
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The reason I wanted the Cabriolet was the rag-top sunroof, too cool for school.
But, as I mentioned, I have a Honda Fit and have had it about a year, and the
mileage is the same as with this Smartcar, so perhaps it's better for me to
spend a little more to put a sunroof in the Fit and keep what I have, rather than
sign up for another $16,000+ loan commitment. It IS cute, but I have a family
of 5, so perhaps it's even more selfish than my having 3 vintage cars and one
go-to-work-good-on-gas-car. The Fit seats 5 comfortably and gets same
mileage as the SmartCar. Usually I have to be first on the block with the
new car, as I was with the new Mini Cooper, but in my old and wise age, I
find that when I act impulsively, it comes back to bite me you-know-where.
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Permalink Reply by deborah bauer on
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That's true. It draws the attention, to be sure, but I would have thought that a
car that seats 2 and looks like THAT, would get much better mileage. Even so,
the ragtop sunroof is very cool and at least it can have one, where the Toyota
Prius cannot. Still, I have 3 vintage cars and my go-to-work-car, and for a
family of 5, it would be real self-indulgence. I am getting less selfish and
more selfless, not necessarily in my old age (although that is true, too), but
in light of what everyone is losing, which is happening on the news 24/7.
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Permalink Reply by angel on
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I can get up to 48 mpg.
If I was just concerned with MPG I could have got most any vehicle.
If you're only getting it for MPG and you're having doubts then it's probably best to do more research.
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Permalink Reply by deborah bauer on
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Thank you for your input. I guess I will make up my mind when or if anyone
calls me to tell me that they have a car for me to check out and I actually
drive it. I will leave my reservation on it in any case, and I am looking to
sell my two vintage BMW's anyway. I will never get out of The Beast what
I put into it, so it's kind of like an annoying relative that you've grown fond
of...
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Permalink Reply by Glenn Elliott on -
Sure, the Yaris can get 35 mpg, but smart cars are getting 43-45. So if you're going to use "real world" mileage for the Yaris you need to compare it to "real world" mileage for the smart car.
According to the EPA, the Yaris gets 29/36 and the smart car gets 33/41. That's actually a better showing for the Yaris than the real world reports.
Besides, bigger isn't necessarily better. A Yaris wouldn't fit in my garage behind my truck like my smart car does, and I have no need whatsoever for a useless back seat. More power? Also useless... stop-and-go commuting doesn't require power.
Americans are great at rationalizing the need for bigger and more powerful when they really don't need it. But hey, it's your money, waste it as you see fit.
If you need an only car, a smart car probably isn't the right answer. It's just too small to be an only car for most people. But if you're looking at a second or third car for whatever reason, the smart car is an excellent choice.
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Permalink Reply by Jim Yedor on
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Yes- it is a very SMART car- SMART is an achronym for "Swatch Mercedes Art Car", a joint venture between Swatch Watch and Mercedes-Benz. No, it isn't the highest mileage car made and no, it's not for everyone. The high seating position contributes to interior room, safety, and road visibility. It is murder on mileage. The bigger engine in the US SMART delivers good performance with US smog regs but mileage is considerably less than the smaller European engine in the previous SMART.
Is it the be all and end all? No. Is it a blast to drive? Yes. I just took a road trip in my SMART followed by a couple of hundred miles in my Yaris and back to the SMART. The Yaris holds a lot more, goes faster, gets good mileage, and is more comfortable on the freeway. The seats are lousy and you get a really sore butt far too soon.
The SMART is choppy on the freeway, has less power, and feels better at 70 than 85. 85-95 in the Yaris is no problem. I can't put the top down on the Yaris without a metal cutter. The cabrio top goes up and down, even at freeway speeds. The seats in the SMART are a joy. Around town it is the perfect car-but then again, that's what it was designed for. I also have several vintage cars and each is fun in it's own way-as is the SMART. Every car is a compromise. The question is whether those compromises suit your individual needs. Or not.
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Permalink Reply by George MacDougall on -
I own a 2005 smart CDI it gets around 53 US MPG. When I first got it I was usually asked 3 questions (1) how is the mpg (see above), (2) how safe is it, I explain that it has the tridon cell which is like a full roll cage like in nascar, (what happens if you git hit by a semi? same as you i die!), (3) how fast will it go, same as a lamborgni at 5:00 on the port mann bridge (say I5 through LA) I also remind them it is for back and forth to work,not hauling 7 people to the market.
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Permalink Reply by Fish on -
I really think they need to get on board with getting the diesel to work over here and selling it. People in the U.S. market typically want a small car for mileage. I like the safety, the look, the comfort of the smart and the parking is wonderful. 70+ mpg, as advertised in the current eurodiesels would really be icing on the cake.
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