the new 2007 Smart ForTwo CDI , in USA 2008

[arcticathlon]

well found a cool article about the 2007 Smart ForTwo CDI.

http://www.supercarnews.net/2007-smart-fortwo

The engine power of the smart fortwo cdi has increased by ten percent and now stands at 33 kW (45 bhp). All engines are linked to an automated manual five-speed transmission from Getrag that has also been reengineered.

more about the diesel:

The new smart fortwo cdi consumes even less fuel. The diesel engine in the predecessor model already had the lowest consumption of its class and the new smart fortwo also achieves "three litre" status (corresponds to consumption of less than 3.5 litres/100 km under standard conditions) with emissions of just 90 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

i read on another site that it will be available in the US in the first quarter of 2008 with a base price of $15,000.

i will buy one once they are available

[vstech]

What's that in MPG? about 50? 60? I guess they appeal to the "mini" crowd... I likes the roomy SD or TD myself...
John

[sailor15015]

Originally Posted by vstech

What's that in MPG? about 50? 60? I guess they appeal to the "mini" crowd... I likes the roomy SD or TD myself...
John

3.5 liters/100 km = 67.2 mpg.

[SwampYankee]

That's quite an expensive go-kart

I've got a customer here in CT that comes to our store with one with Ontario plates. His brother is an MB salesman in Canada and got it registered for him. I was surprised at how much room each passenger had (I'm 6'3"/270) and the retractable roof was pretty cool. It'd be fine for urban driving but I don't think I'd want to be driving on the highway with one, though!

[iNeon]

I'll take a maroon paneled, silver safety cage model with off-black cloth interior and the fancy wheels, please

SO cute.

Interesting, but I don't think they're going to sell very many at $15K per. No way, no how. For $15K if you want an efficient car, why not go buy a Honda Fit which is probably close to double the interior space for the same price?

[iNeon]

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

That's quite an expensive go-kart

I don't think I'd want to be driving on the highway with one, though!

C'Mon! Where's your sense of adventure?!?!

You've ridden in an air-cooled VW, right? Same top speed, same power and MUCH safer, with modern conveniences and a radio you can hear over the engine!!

It's even in the same place!!

Hoorah for rear-engined automobiles with quirky looks and spunky personalities!!! It's something Mercedes as a company just can't pull off. Their marketing department can't allow that-- it'd damage the stuffy, serious persona they've worked so hard to establish.

I like a car that makes me smile-- these li'l guys do just that!

I'll say it again...

SO cute

[vstech]

Aren't they the cars that you push back a few feet, then hop in and they go?
ya know, whiz whiz whiz... wheee?
John

[jshadows]

$15K is a bit pricy, but I've ridden in a few on the streets of Paris and man, parking is insanely simple. You can park those things absolutely anywhere hardly taking up more space than a motorcycle or two. Great for urban settings and with that mileage you'd almost never need to fill up. extra-urban would be more of a PITA, but that's not what they were designed for.

I've driven a Smart as well. They are neat cars and work very well in European cities with the narrow streets, small parking spaces, and overall tight quarters.

I would not pay more than $9K or so for one here Stateside though. The car would be of limited use, and for my $15K I'd want something like a Honda Fit - still economical but MUCH more practical for us Yanks.

That said, I can't see paying $15K for a new Honda Fit when I could have a really nice 1999 S320 for that much. :-)

[Shorebilly]

Originally Posted by jshadows

extra-urban would be more of a PITA, but that's not what they were designed for.

....no off road model.......mileage would be great foe out here where the nearest convenience store is 14 miles and town is 25 miles......these cars would get lost in a large mud puddle tho.........

SB

[MathewHennessy]

How many bundles of Costco toilet paper can you fit in one?



Seriously, if I still lived in a dense urban environment it would be very handy...

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by mrhills0146

Interesting, but I don't think they're going to sell very many at $15K per. No way, no how. For $15K if you want an efficient car, why not go buy a Honda Fit which is probably close to double the interior space for the same price?

I could get a VW Rabbit at that price. and I doubt the fortwo will be a cdi in 08 unless its bluetec equipt... I'd still drive one though.. its soo neat

[pawoSD]

At the autoshow they said only the gasser model will be coming in '08, no idea if or when the diesel will come, if ever. That was straight from the rep to my ears.......maybe they changed their minds? I'd buy a (used) diesel one, 67mpg! I could make my round trip travels in the summer for less than 1/3 of what I pay now! I burned over 450 gallons of diesel this past summer in less than 3.5 months! At an average price of 2.67 a gallon.... $1201.50! In the smart it'd have cost about $400 in fuel.

Btw, the gasser one isn't worth it. Only 40-45mpg tops according to the guy at the show. Thats nothing great. My car weighs as much as 3 of them and I still get 65% of the mileage.

Originally Posted by sailor15015

3.5 liters/100 km = 67.2 mpg.

That is not all that great of MPG for something that size. The VW Polo is much better than that....around 80MPG.