wilber1
Abbotsford B.C. Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 12/16/2002
View Profile
|
RoadWarriors2 wrote:marvmarcy wrote: They did score very well in the crash testing.
I doubt they did rear crash testing - My neighbor has one and I could not be PAID to ride in it! Get hit from behind with no back seat or trunk to protect you and you're TOAST!
It's all relative, if you run over someone in your DP will it really matter that much if they are in a Smart or a Malibu?
"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice" WSC
|
stevelv
FullTimers at Last!
Senior Member
Joined: 05/24/2006
View Profile
|
roster2 wrote:OK, I'll bite, what's a "SMART'? My guess is it is some sort of a hybred car. If that is the case, then no it would not be towable. Most hybreds aren't.
This is a Smart car
Yes they are towable 4 down - the manual is being rewritten (it was written for the Euro market where no-one flat tows.
However, you have to be extremely careful as the transmission is changed electrically and so you MUST put it in NEUTRAL with the engine running and then turn the engine off. Failure to do that will result in the transmission not being correctly in neutral and you will wreck it.
You can even tow with them
However, whilst they are very economical, they are expensive, a little uncomfortable and a Toyota Yaris makes more economic sense. Of course I love mine 
RV Park Finder
Fulltimers
2002 Beaver Santiam 38DST + Banks + 99 Jeep GC
DH,DW,Jake and Indie
|
MCrankyPants
Dayton OH USA
Senior Member
Joined: 04/17/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
I fell in love with the smart cars 10 years ago when we were in Ireland...I grew up wrenching on musclecars, so this video does my heart good!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4gseTGwppbg&feature=related
2007 Teton Experience Sunrise pulled by 2003 Dodge 3500 Cummins HO 6-spd. 4x4
'61 VW Double-Cab
|
jauguston
Bellingham, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/03/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
For fun there is a conversion made to put a Suzuki Huyabusa motorcycle engine in one. They are a rocket.
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
1999 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 31' ISB Cummins 210 uprated to 275
Trippe-Lite 1800w inverter 4-6v GC batteries
3- Kyocera 130w solar panels
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
|
stevelv
FullTimers at Last!
Senior Member
Joined: 05/24/2006
View Profile
|
jauguston wrote:For fun there is a conversion made to put a Suzuki Huyabusa motorcycle engine in one. They are a rocket.
What, you mean this one
|
|
|
rjstractor
Auburn, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/20/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
jauguston wrote:For fun there is a conversion made to put a Suzuki Huyabusa motorcycle engine in one. They are a rocket.
That's awesome! I especially liked the video where the Smart whipped a Ferrari 430 in a drag race.
1998 Gulfstream Ultra B/H Ford E450 V10
2005 Chevy 2500HD 6.0 w/ Maxidump insert
6x12 Interstate enclosed trailer
7x16 Bulldog flatbed hauling a 2006 Kioti CK20 TLB
2003 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer
1998 Saturn SL2 toad
|
Dennis M M
Geneva, IL
Senior Member
Joined: 11/06/2004
View Profile
|
Quote:I doubt they did rear crash testing - My neighbor has one and I could not be PAID to ride in it! Get hit from behind with no back seat or trunk to protect you and you're TOAST!
Now you are just showing off your ignorance - see the silver part of the smart (lower case "s" is correct)? That is called a Tridion Safety Cell, basically a roll cage that encircles the entire car.
It's called physics and safety is engineered into the smart. A lot safer from any angle compared to anything you are driving - but then again, I don't plan on getting hit no matter what I'm driving.
'99 Volvo VNL610 - 425 HP Volvo; Super 10 Spd
'05 smart fortwo on Volvo
'05 Newmar Mountain Aire 35 BLKS
Trailer Saver; Bigfoot; Pressure-Pro;
Optima Batteries
|
stevelv
FullTimers at Last!
Senior Member
Joined: 05/24/2006
View Profile
|
I love the Smart and it's a cute car with a big following - rememeber that with gas prices the way they are, we are going to downsize whether we like it or not.
However whilst the Smart car did pass the government tests with very good results - independant tests at speeds in excess of the NTSB tests did show that the Smart does not fare as well as larger vehicles at speeds of 50+ mph. The Tridion safety shell does work well but the lack of crumple zone allows significant shocks to be transmitted to the occupants - the car bounces off other vehicles rather than crumpling and that would result in significant injuries.
They are intended for city driving where impact speeds are typically lower - I have driven mine 450 freeway miles in a day at speeds of 60-80mph and you get out needing a vacation afterwards - but we did do over 50 mpg
|
kannonvaggon
Shorewood, Illinois
Full Member
Joined: 03/31/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Big cars crush better than little ones. Who knew?
Little cars bounce better than big heavy ones. Who knew?
:-)
We LIKE our Smart Cabrio and carry it snuggly in our garage coach... not outside in the weather draggin it like a sack of potatoes .....
The Smart is most assuredly able to be towed four-down. Several vendors have spiffy tow-bars for em such as Blue-Ox , etc.. I've seen this setup a couple times already. Folks think they tow just peachy. If I was choosin a TOW rather than a PASSENGER, I would use a larger car... but for carrying in our garage coach the Smart is perfect for our use.
JMHO
Jay and Joyce
'07 Damon Outlaw Garage-Coach /WH
Real-deal-steel-2WD-military-sidecar-rig: The dreaded Frog-of-War
AND
Smart Cabrio for when goggles and rain gear are beneath our dignity.
|
