Who has a Smart car and do you like it? It seems to me that they would make a good toad. For those who don't know what a Smart car is; go to smart.com on the internet.
Paul
2005 Coachmen Sportscoach Elite 401TS
2006 Pontiac Torrent on a dolly
Eat a live toad in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.
Something that I find amazing. Its rated very high on the crash tests. But, the jury is still out on how it fairs when crashing into a 6,000 lb SUV.
Really, its a pretty neat toad even if you have to trailer it.
hershey - albuquerque, nm Someday Finally Got Here
My wife does all the driving - I just get to hold the steering wheel.
Expedition - Suzuki Grand Viagra
I have a Smart car and love it. It is towable 4 down. Blue Ox makes a base plate and tow bar. Smart is also expected to come out with one of their own in the near future. Do a search for smart car on this website and read the posts for "smart car inside a Damon" "got passed by a smart yesterday" and "can you tow a smart 4 down". Lots of good information.
hershey wrote: Something that I find amazing. Its rated very high on the crash tests. But, the jury is still out on how it fairs when crashing into a 6,000 lb SUV.
Really, its a pretty neat toad even if you have to trailer it.
I guess it would really be at a disadvantage if hit by a 40,000 pound semi, wouldn't it? If survivability in a crash with an SUV was the only factor to be considered, I would drive the semi.
Being a life long automotive engineer (40+ yrs) and having attended over 50 crash tests personally, I will share this with you.
You need to understand how a crash test is specked and regulated. The parameters employed whether it's a front, side, rear, or diagonal crash test. A 2,000 lb vehicle is impacted into a 2,000 lb barrier. A 3,000 lb vehicle is impacted into a 3,000 lb barrier and so on. Apples to apples is the mantra. Crash test ratings as they pertain to the actual "real world" road traffic scenario's as generally encountered are speculative at best and should only be viewed as a reference guide. Meaning that you only want to hit or be hit by a vehicle of your own same weight or less to realize the crash ratings as specified. Pick and choose comes to mind! Speed differences of the two colliding vehicles is also a huge factor in the impact results as well. You'll look hard and long to find a similar weight vehicle to the Smart Car on any North American roads today and that's with not even including the overwhelming number of: Vans, SUVs, Pickup trucks, or any commercial trucks, or vehicles pulling trailers. I'm always dismayed at how many families will load their loved ones into a very small light weight vehicle and subject them to the horrors of death or injury by thinking they will save a few bucks on fuel with the compromising of safety! Surely, the lives and well being of all humans are much more valuable than that!!!!
2004 Chev 2500HD D/A crew cab LB 4X4 - Air Bags - Loaded
915 Lance Camper with 2'X 8' rear porch (my own design n build)
29 ft Carri-lite 5th wheel - 1 large slide - specially built
36 ft Carriage Commander - 3 axle 5th wheel - 2 slides -NOW SOLD-
They are becoming fairly common in Ontario.
That being said, you could not give me one.
Sooner or later, someone will post pictures of a Smart Car after it was run over by a loaded semi or a Redi mix truck.
I am going to stick with my Crown Vic.
At least if I get hit, the other guy might get a couple of bruises instead of a flat tire.
But they sell for more than my Corolla did new, have far less room and don't get that much better MPG if any than my car.
I drove them. A very small engine with lots of shifting that requires premium fuel just like the Mini (very expensive) which I also drove.
I have a trunk to store things in securely, they don't.
I got the 08 Corolla on close out when the new '09s came out for under $12K with manual transmission PW, CC PL. Not a bad deal.
And at the price of fuel I was not interesting in paying more for premium with a smaller motor in either car.
I have not made 40 MPG yet but 39 on the HWY is normal with the AC on at 75.
I also worried about size in a crash. They test out well but you are still going to get knocked around in any lighter car. The Corolla on weighs in at some 2400# so it's light too.
I might also add that our Corolla rides better than the Smart For Two or the Mini. They both reminded me of an MG Midget that we had many years ago for a ride. Fun to drive but they are choppy and it can get old after awhile.
Soon to be full timing
2003 Winnebago 38G MH~2008 Corolla toad
The only advantage I see with the smart car is a daily communter who parks in an area that has limited parking or....the fact that they may drive in a City area like the five boroughs of NYC.
I drive a 03 5 Spd Chevy Tracker 4x4 everyday. Great in the winter. Still small enough to get through traffic with ease. Never a problem parking, although the Smart Car is quite short in length. Yes, I only get 22 City and 25 Hwy but I get 22 when in 4 wheel drive....and we average about just shy under 24.
But, with gas getting higher everyday I am looking for better. I actually like the two door Yaris over the Smart Car. Similar MPG on regular gas. Plus its cheaper.
But you have to admit...those Smart Cars look pretty interesting.
At least the Yaris can squeeze in a couple of extra people if needed.
As for safety. Can never put a price on safety. You also can never put a price on health.
Yet not everyone has health insurance - who could pay for it.
Sir Buffalo!
2006 Zinger by Crossroads 27BHS
2007 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 5.7
Some of these "huge, bloated, overweight, SUV's and trucks" achieve relatively close to the same fuel economy as a regular sedan. What it is, how it's equipped, and how it's driven, makes so much difference. Is your view such that everyone should put their families in a sedan or stuffed into a little vehicle like a Smart Car so they will have an equal opportunity to be killed or injured? What a sad sad view! I choose to error on the side of safety for my loved ones because "I care" and go with the known odds well in our favor. Stopping all sales of anything larger than a regular sedan will not have any bearing what's so ever on the millions upon millions of the large vehicles presently on the roads. To think otherwise is pushing one's head deeper into the sand!
A typical family sedan is a far cry from a little "Smart Car". You might note a "Smart Car" only has enough room and seats for 2 people. The fuel mileage stinks for it's size as it's only about half a normal car/sedan. I have driven them in England as they have been sold there since 2002. After you have actually been in one and driven it, then come back and talk. Nothing like knowing your subject before you expose what you don't know!
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