The Observation Deck

Remember last summer Jim posted about the Smart car?

It was reported this month in Automotive News more than 30,000 Americans put down the required $99 deposit to get one (Jim?). The official launch is next month. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Smart parent, Daimler AG, said the first year demand of this small car exceeds the number that will be built for the U.S.

The Smart ForTwo car is a small two-seater that has a 1 liter engine and can get up to 45 mpg. The Smart car is built in Hambach France. There may be a deisel powered Smart for the U.S. in the future.

Roger Penske will be selling Smart cars in the US through a division of the Penske Automotive Group. 50 Smart dealerships will be open for the launch. Eventually there is supposed to be over 70 dealerships. Over 30 of those dealerships are supposed to be paired with Mercedes-Benz franchises.

770,000 Smart cars have been sold world wide in the past 10 years. I wonder if anybody in Lakewood will be buying one. I also wonder in anybody tried to get a dealership here in Lakewood to sell Smart cars. Anybody know?

Joe,

Great questions. I have considered getting one, despite its goofy appearance, because in many ways it is the perfect car to get around town and to squeeze into Lakewood's often crowded parking situations, etc.

You can even park it perpendicular to the curb, e.g.,

http://www.unitednathanproductions.com/ ... ng_lrg.jpg

Would parking like this even be legal in Lakewood?

Stephen Eisel wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5S1NAMnYKM

13.4 for the F440? Doubt it, closer to 4.2 I believe.Never been in a F440, but the 360 is around 4.3 ,and we did have one of the Lakewood Motoring Society Members giving rides in one two years ago while the police hit it with radar.

We were all amazed.

The Smart is a perfect Lakewood car, only weak point I see, and it is a big one is side impact.

Looking at the videos, they all compare head on crashes. The Smart is very safe with that. I have seen it tested with a Benz, and it kicks butt against big sister. But as it comes to rest, look at the side door protection, if that word can even be used. It is a small channel piece of sheet metal.

I would buy one, right after I get a WRX STi, still my dream vehicle. Sick fast on snow just appeals to me.


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You can even park it perpendicular to the curb....

I have looked into Lakewood's on-street parking ordinances for other reasons (cough cough bicycles) and they require your "vehicle" (note I did not say "car") to have its wheels parallel to the curb no more than 12 inches away. So parking a Smart car perpendicular to the curb would be illegal. Just a quick FYI.

Great idea, would be fun to own.

It would be useful as an extra car for many when just going out on the town and such, but I am assuming a larger car would be needed by most for hauling larger items or items in greater quantity.

Anyone know how they handle in the snow/ice?

Add a sheet of plastic, and one of foam, and I doubt it will stop much.

But I love the car.


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13.4 for the F440? Doubt it, closer to 4.2 I believe.Never been in a F440, but the 360 is around 4.3 ,and we did have one of the Lakewood Motoring Society Members giving rides in one two years ago while the police hit it with radar.

I thought the clip was a spoof..

Stephen Eisel wrote:I thought the clip was a spoof..

I thought so too, then I saw another clip about a Smart with a "?" engine in it.

The car weighs nothing, but I think you could fit a Ford BDA engine in it, or maybe a Renault Turbo. A R5 Turbo 2 does it in 4.7 seconds, A Formula Atlantic would be much faster, so in a SMART it would be pleasantly insane.


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:pleasantly insane.
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It's all about the power to weight ratio.

Those cars are all huge!

I don't know how to do the clicky thing, but check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mio5fTKqWgM

100 MPG.

Makes JOB's fleet look like SUVs