Smart Cars...

[MosportGreen66]

Been in Europe for years too! The success of the Smart Car in Europe is almost totally based on high gas prices but I would also imagine its because SUV's in big European cities do not exist. My neighbor has a smart car as the "Geek Squad" mobile for his company. I'll try to snag a photo of it.

[Paul D]

You Tube has several videos of the crash tests done on the Smart car. It has an extremely ridgid steel cage, front and side air bags, and energy absorbing technology. After a high speed crash test, with everthing scattered about, the door still opened. But at 1700 #'s it still would change directions pretty quick in a head-on with and SUV.
Paul

[427TJ]

Hey, when China really begins to guzzle up oil in a few more years, driving world oil prices higher and higher, the demand for these little cars and other fuel efficient makes will only go up. Besides, the chances of getting hit by someone in an SUV are very small and not enough reason, for me anyway, to avoid driving one. An SUV could just as easily torpedo you in your old musclecar during a nice Sunday drive and there are no safety cages, airbags, or any other real safety devices in most old cars. Imagine getting t-boned at an intersection by a Ford Expedition while in your '60s musclecar. Yeah, a real bloodbath and your funeral would probably follow a few days later.

Gas will be five, six, seven bucks a gallon (and up?) sooner or later (while wages remain stagnant for most Americans) and fuel efficiecy will be forced on most of us one way or another. The rest will drive whatever vehicle they want to and just pay at the pump--what we Americans call Freedom of Choice!

[68z302]

[ QUOTE ]
The success of the Smart Car in Europe is almost totally based on high gas prices but I would also imagine its because SUV's in big European cities do not exist.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was in Rome in Summer '06 & was surprised at the number of Jeep Grand Cherokee's & Grand Caravans (both Turbo Diesel) that were there. Also gasoline Chrysler 300 Hemi's, PT Cruisers & the odd Jeep. Chrysler was the only North American company I noticed. Probably sold through MB dealers?

[ktownkid]

Hey Tom.....
What color is that Tahoe......????

I really like it. Thanks.

[StriperSS]

They've been here for a couple of years, and make great city cars. There are a lot of people who commute in from outlying communities as well, but I would think that side winds on prairie roads would make that an adventure.
Here's a shot of a row of Smart cars with my wagon for comparison.

[StriperSS]

They like engine swaps too. Here's a video of one with a Suzuki Hayabusa engine at the drag strip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV1zQ...eature=related

[Jeff Murphy]

Europe is going a little green crazy, especially central London, where from October this year they will charge you the equivalent of $50 per day to drive anything with a 3.0L or larger engine (if the fascist, pinko, car-hating mayor is re-elected).

These deathtraps are increasingly common and make the Smarts seem like an E-Class Mercedes by comparison:




Dimensions: L 2.6m, W 1.3m, H 1.6m. Wheel base 1.7m. Just multiply by 3 for feet for you non-metric guys in the audience.

I actually feel physically ill whenever I see one on the road...

[kwhizz]

[ QUOTE ]
Europe is going a little green crazy, especially central London, where from October this year they will charge you the equivalent of $50 per day to drive anything with a 3.0L or larger engine (if the fascist, pinko, car-hating mayor is re-elected).

These deathtraps are increasingly common and make the Smarts seem like an E-Class Mercedes by comparison:




Dimensions: L 2.6m, W 1.3m, H 1.6m. Wheel base 1.7m. Just multiply by 3 for feet for you non-metric guys in the audience.

I actually feel physically ill whenever I see one on the road...

[/ QUOTE ]



Hummmmmmmmm!!!!!......Seems Charley was ahead of the curve with "The Chicken Egg" car...........

[WILMASBOYL78]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey Tom.....
What color is that Tahoe......????

I really like it. Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't know the Chevrolet color name, but it's a charcaol grey. I put the Z71 wheels on a few years back. This truck has 195,000 miles on it and still going pretty strong. Had to put a GM tranny in it last year, but the engine keeps purring even with the piston slap noise when you first start it It really gets used a lot for work and pleasure....hope I get another 195k out of her

wilma