I want a manual transmission and a diesel engine in a Smart. Haven't driven the IQ but I look forward to it. Prices for either were out of line when I looked. They had a reasonable list price for the Smart but the dealers added $3K or so.

Once again i repeat that accidents are too unpredictable to take any comfort in anticipating that a vehicle will protect you.

For instance a buddy of mine drove through a fence years ago. It would have been something to laugh about except for a flimsy little fence rail came through the window like a spear and almost killed him. One of those "quarter of an inch to the right and you would have been dead" stories.

You are safer driving diligently in a Smart than carelessly in an 18 wheeler or whatever.

You may have read my posts advocating a spike in the middle of the steering wheel. Or the crash simulator for punishment posts. My latest theory is that if all new drivers had to put 10K miles on a motorcycle before they were allowed to drive anything larger we would all be better off for it.