Re: Daimler-Chrysler may bring this to the US, but would you consider buying one?
 

The car is surprisingly crashworthy for its apparent size. The passengers sit relatively high up, and the passenger cage is extraodinarily well designed for protection. Of course, the heaviest vehicle often wins - simple physics - but your survivability in a smart ForTwo is better than in a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado - even against each other.
You'd fit in it with room to spare. Unbelieveable, but true. I am 5'11" and could adjust the seat so that I couldn't even reach the pedals!. I also had another 6" of head room at that moment, and could get more by lowering the seat adjustment. I was sitting upright, as well. More room than a big Mercedes.

the very coolest is that you can park it in a parallel parking space - nose in! It's under 9 feet long, and so fits nose in against the curb.

The only downside: Not much cargo room. If you sit in it and face forwards, it is one of the roomiest cars you have even experienced. It's a bit disconcerting to back up, though: Normal practice is to swing your body around and look behind you - - and the rear glass is about 6" from your nose. I never did get used to that.

Don

Re: Daimler-Chrysler may bring this to the US, but would you consider buying one?
 

I need something to replace my bike for what little travel I plan to do going into the college years... this will do the trick. ;)

Re: Daimler-Chrysler may bring this to the US, but would you consider buying one?
 

Smart to be sold over there then? They are cool little things, shame they've stopped making the Smart Roadster. :(

The Mini sold well from what I heard so I think the Smart should too. However there are more economical cars over here. I think the VW Golf can do over 70 miles per gallon for example.

Re: Daimler-Chrysler may bring this to the US, but would you consider buying one?
 

I probably wouldn't get one, if only because it's got no room to put stuff. the price tag is higher than you would think, also. I can't remember the exact number. The fuel efficiency is way good, and i think its attractive in a quirky way.
I have also been a fan of tiny cars with less horsepower for a long time. In the end, it is the number of horses per pound and suspension that make the difference, not just raw power.
I WOULD get the sport model that smart makes. the roadster is a nice looking car with good milage. it has room, but is a little underpowered. but a little work can fix the power issue, eh?

edit: judging by the website, the roadster is still available

Re: Daimler-Chrysler may bring this to the US, but would you consider buying one?
 

the smart website gives the price of the base model 2 seater as 6,775 British Pounds

thats $12,600 USD. Not cheap by any means. You could get a base model Saturn Ion for the same price, have room for 4 + a real trunk, and still get better than 40mpg highway.

Re: Daimler-Chrysler may bring this to the US, but would you consider buying one?
 

Well, don't forget, cars in the UK are generally more expensive than the US. They have higher taxes on cars. Over here, a base mercedes C230 costs $29,975. In the UK, they cost 26,045 GBP.. That's over $46,000 USD.

Re: Daimler-Chrysler may bring this to the US, but would you consider buying one?
 

It's nice to see super high milage cars coming out, but it's so darn ugly. *shudder*

Re: Daimler-Chrysler may bring this to the US, but would you consider buying one?
 

thats a good sign. Real engineers dont care about appearences :^)

If its ugly then its probably designed to be functional.

Remember when all the bubble shaped cars started coming out, and the consumers chanted a resounding "BLAH!"