Smart Car

[TheAxeman]

I had to do it....I reserved one of the yellow and black cabrio's. :yahoo:

Please do not post any more items which may result in me spending more money.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation....

 

[huron52]

We had them in Canada, ... I think for at least one model year... Company was surprise to see them bought up so quick. From what I have heard they are going to retool and make a bigger smart car and that has a gasoline motor in it... So far all here they are all diesel powered.

 

[feejer222]

We have had petrol versions for about 6-7 years, we also have a sexy 700cc Smart 2 seater soft top sports car shaped thingy.

 

[PapaUtah]

I believe there are some places in Europe that pull the anemic motor and replace it with a GSXR 1000 engine for a little more "scoot".

 

[feejer222]

Took these today at Oulton Park race track in Cheshire UK

Not sure where the ladder goes.

 

[TheAxeman]

Alright, how about this....

 

[05fjrBluedevil]

Wow, what a golf cart combo that would be!

Might have to have one of these, one day.

 

[mcatrophy]

You can even go motorcyle touring in Scotland in a Smart car. this is what you'll be following:

 

[Inlaw1]

Here's a little more on the roll out of the Smart. The trailer in the picture is one of the trailers my buddy will be pulling around the country promoting the car.

Smart Car On The Road

 

[Silent]

First thought.... Why??? :dntknw:

Second thought..... Dayum! That looks like fun! :grin:

Bet the tire guy loves him

 

[Wanderer]

Here's a little more on the roll out of the Smart. The trailer in the picture is one of the trailers my buddy will be pulling around the country promoting the car.
Smart Car On The Road

here's another example of what can be done to a smart car.

 

[Mrs. Scab]

Took these today at Oulton Park race track in Cheshire UK
Not sure where the ladder goes.

That's just tooooooo cute! Ina strange kinda way.

 

[FJRocket]

I changed my car specs online when smartUSA added some options. Was a little disappointed about the reduction in mileage, even with the change in regs/calculation methods. Probably going to get the smart passion anyway, though. My Subaru was smashed, and I want something with better gas mileage for commuting to work.

I emailed my dealership and told them I'd take an "orphan" smart if they had any cancellations because of my auto accident (7 weeks ago, car STILL in the shop....). No reply from them. Several days later, I got an email from smartUSA with a VIN number, telling me my smart would be either shipped to my dealer or delivered to me before the end of this month. It'll probably show up just in time for my other car to get out of the shop.

Man, I've been spoiled. Between the FJR and my Sube (not that great), my fuel consumption was acceptible. Now that I've been driving my 14mpg pickup for 7 weeks (only on the feej ONCE), I'm really starting to feel the gas pinch.

Wonder if shifting the smart will be harder to get used to than the AE? :blink:

 

[Ford68xl]

Does anyone know if the older Smarts can be imported into the US now that Smarts are being sold here? The reason I ask is that there is a company out of the UK that sells kits to build what they call a Smartuki. It allows you to put a GSXR 1000 engine into the original engine bay of the smart. Unlike the 'Buse conversion, you lose no functionality of the original Smart. I would hate to have to buy a brand new Smart to do this conversion. The Smartuki web site says you can buy older Smarts in Europe with blown or bad engines for something like $5K.

 

[FJRocket]

I finally got smart. Picked up my car last Friday. 36.9 mpg first tank with combined driving in high winds. Not bad. Not great like some hybrids, not even as good as my FJR, but still better than my truck. By far.

The great thing about this car is that it fits on one side of my garage with my two motorcycles and my riding lawn mower... and there's still room!

It's a nice, well made little car. Quiet, responsive, and comfortable. So far, I'm quite pleased with the car, and plan on using it for my daily commutes (only 9 miles).

I just wish the "manumatic" transmission shifted as nicely as my AE!

 

[user 213]

Does anyone know if the older Smarts can be imported into the US now that Smarts are being sold here? The reason I ask is that there is a company out of the UK that sells kits to build what they call a Smartuki. It allows you to put a GSXR 1000 engine into the original engine bay of the smart. Unlike the 'Buse conversion, you lose no functionality of the original Smart. I would hate to have to buy a brand new Smart to do this conversion. The Smartuki web site says you can buy older Smarts in Europe with blown or bad engines for something like $5K.

Yes, it is legal to import the older petrol/gas Smarts to the US, (not the diesels). Can't import the Canadian diesels either, btw. However!! They have to be 'converted' to US specs for DOT and EPA before you can register them. Only one company does this, G&K in California, and it costs $4k-$5k depending on model. Unknown if you could pick it up from customs and do the GSXR conversion, then get it approved by EPA and DOT. Side impact is one mod, as are lights. The biggie is OBDII ECU conversion, which would be moot for the GSXR.

Best case, you'd have to import a cheap used one, then pay to have it converted, get it registered in your home state, then do the GSXR conversion. Depending on the EPA regs and testing in your area, it could be no problem, or you could end up with an "off road only" vehicle. Either way, it's too damn expensive to get a cheap little car, eh?

The grey market cars are the ones you've seen that are pre-08 models and going for $22-30k. They have the 700cc motor and 6-speed trans. The 2008 cars use a 1L Mitsubishi motor and a new 5-speed trans. Older cars got 60+ mpg, newer ones seem to be doing no better than 45 mpg after break in with 37 being about average for the first couple of tanks. '08 cars start at just under $12k, going up to $15k+ for the pimped out convertible version.

I have one due in June-Sept or so, but may orphan it. Like the starter of this thread, I wanted a diesel. It's still better than my 22-26 toyota, but not enough that I want to spend the money on it. Still...

 

[Tim05fjr]

A dealership opened up a few months ago in my town. They had one of each model avail. for test drives. I think they started delivering them a few weeks ago because I started seeing different ones around.

Cheryl and I took one out for a drive. It was the Passion model. Hard top w/ big glass roof.

radio a/c and paddle shifter. I was not impressed. Other than the cool factor, I cannot see spending 15,000 on a car with poor accelleration and not much storage space. Here on Long Island you could get yourself killed not being able to get up to highway speed fast enough.Plus it only gets a few more mpg than my 18 year old Honda accord.

I can see it being useful for city driving though. If I worked in Manhattan, that would be interesting. Would have to get up a good head of steam before merging onto the LIE.

I think these things will go the route of the YUGO. Better of with a good used car than a new Smart.

Tim

 

[RatoneMuerto]

Not really fond of spending over 20k to buy a car without a lot of storage and mileage not much better than my Carolla.Rather spend it on a new Can-Am Spyder

 

[user 213]

I think these things will go the route of the YUGO. Better of with a good used car than a new Smart.

You might be right Tim. They didn't step up the first year and after the 'something different' crowd moves on, they had better be able to offer real mileage improvements over the competition or they won't sell well, imho.

 

[Scab]

I parked next to one of these Smart things when I stopped at Best Buy on my way home from work today. It is maybe 12 inches longer than my FZ6. :huh: