WAs tooling around North Miami when this 3 cylinder Smart car shoots past me so I downshift to catch up and and we meet at the redlight--the 3 banger sound like my VW TDI(on steroids ) in an Echo Chamber--weird sound but as the light turned green he was "out of there" pretty good Zip for a little car with a small motor. It looked like it had "Diplomatic License plates" in back. Last I knew a auto dealer was going to sell them in Ft. Lauderdale but was working out the DOT Mods-so it was a real surprise to see this one today. And they do manuveur in Traffic. At 70 mpg, maybe it will be your next diesel.

They are pretty cool cars. Wouldn't want to be in a wreck while driving though. I was in Italy in Spring of 2000 and they were everywhere.

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

The crash tests on them are actually pretty amazingly good, since they are so light they tend to bounce in an accident, rather than collapsing. Plus they have the same mercedes "passenger cage" that protects the occupants and a lot of airbags and such everywhere....I'd feel pretty safe in one, not like I do in my 126, but far more than some ford focus or chevy cavalier or something. I want one! 70mpg and being able to squeeze into the smallest of parking spots would be helpful for my city driving downtown on school campus

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

M-B dealers started selling them in Canada just before Christmas and they are becoming really popular. Wish they would sell the Smart Roadster here, that looks really cool and handles very well from all accounts.

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1991 M-B 560SEL Arctic White/Grey 99,000 Miles
1987 M-B 300SDL Ivory/Palomino 229,000 Miles (sold but never forgotten)
2006 Volvo XC70 Blue/Beige
1999 Porsche Boxster Arena Red/Savanna Beige
1986 Porsche 928S Goldweiss/Brown

Overseas and in Canada you always see these Nifty Rigs never for sale here-Not for US Market. Why don't the auto manufacturers poll us sometime for what we may want to buy? Even in this time of ever increasing Gas Pump Prices, gas guzzlers proliferate and the $100,000 Tax Deduction for Gas Guzzling 8,000 lb. Behemoth is alive and well.. We never learn our History lessons as a country.

Don't worry-with crude oil prices spiralling out of control(a new all time high set today),pretty soon it'll be 50 MPG+, biodiesel, or a bicycle for transportation!!!

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1982 300DT 190K (Diesel Purge + synthetic oil=smoothness at last!!!)
2004 Ford E-350 6.0 L PSD 227K
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW HO Cummins 4X4 48RE 42K (brute force tow vehicle)
2005 Scion xB wife's rolling pop can
1993 GMC Sierra C3500 6.2 142K

It's like the VW Lupo, 93 mpg. In the Guiness book. Will never be imported to the US. VW beleives no American would buy such a basic piece of transportation. Oh my God, no power windows, how can we survive?????


Follow this link. It states a differant fuel economy, but still interesting, a typical American review of basic transportation....


http://www.usatoday.com/money/consumer/autos/mareview/mauto497.htm

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1984 300D Turbo Sedan (Hilda) 272,115 miles.....
Anthracite Gray/Palamino Leather, I am 3rd owner

2001 Dodge Stratus (Silver) (wifes) 55814 miles...

1982 280TE Wagon Astral Silver Metallic/
Anthracite Velour
260,512 miles (Eva)

1969 230 Sedan Olive Green/Black MBTex
4 Speed Manual
84,213 miles ????
Haus Frau


2004 Boreem Ninja Pocket Bike
Highly Modified 49cc (Ling Ling)

Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit

Us fat, slobbering Americans should not ***** about the fuel prices. In Italy over 90% of the vehicles there are diesel. Diesel prices there were a little over 2000 lire a Liter. That is something over $3.00 a gallon. That was nearly 5 years ago. I couldn't imagine what it is today.

I agree our prices should be lower than most of Europe as we do hold oil within our borders.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

Regular Gas is now about $2.80 US/gallon here in Canada right now so $3 doesn't seem unlikely in the near future.

Pricing for the "Smart Car" here in Canada starts at about $13,500 US and can go above $18k for a fully optioned model. Not cheap but at a claimed 56mpg on diesel fuel, it starts to make more sense

They sell smart-cars through one of the MB dealerships here in town. Last time I was there, the salesman told me that in crash tests, the smart car provided the same level of passenger protection as an S-class. I don't know if this is true; I'm just repeating what I was told...

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1989 250TD Wagon 5-speed, 160,000mi ::: Dark gray metallic / black cloth
1984 190D-2.2 5-speed, 287,000mi ::: Silver-blue metallic / black MB-tex ::: SOLD

The "smart" was due to be released in Europe shortly after the Mercedes A-Class failed the infamous Swedish 'Elk Avoidance Test' so M-B tested the Smart to see if it would pass - it didn't.

They delayed the release and made numerous engineering changes to make it super-safe including the addition of the latest Electronic Stability Control, Anti-Lock Braking and Brake assist, from the S-Class. They also increased the track by fitting wider wheels & tires at the back. The car is designed around a "Tridon" safety cage (essentialy a built-in roll cage) and front and side air-bags are standard.

Despite its size, the Smart Car is probably as safe dynamically and passively as any other mercedes, although I still wouldn't want to be hit by an 18-wheeler in one Mind you, I wouldn't want to be hit in my W126 by a truck either, I'm sure the SDL won't bounce off as well as a Smart.

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1991 M-B 560SEL Arctic White/Grey 99,000 Miles
1987 M-B 300SDL Ivory/Palomino 229,000 Miles (sold but never forgotten)
2006 Volvo XC70 Blue/Beige
1999 Porsche Boxster Arena Red/Savanna Beige
1986 Porsche 928S Goldweiss/Brown

Their cool little cars, but I think one would fit into my SDL's trunk! I'd buy one for an around town car.

I can't wait to see one with a fart can 20in wheels and subs running around. With the proper wing of course.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Crude Hit $57/Barrel a few minutes ago. Driving a small car arond the city or for a 100 mile trip doesn't bother me-if I am headed much farther I would rather take a Jet or train and keep the mileage off my car. With these gas prices, its cheaper by bus, plane or train and you don't have the stress.

I'm seeing more and more mini coopers (the new BMW version...) on the roads around here...
...You'd think that this would soon show up in a manufacurer's 'customer wants' column. This is the only thing thats gonna get the Lupo's and smarts over here....

(if my prophesy does indeed come true, should we credit BMW for reviving the small car market in America ? =)

I for one, would LOVE one of those VW 'citi golf's...



-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

I've got an '81 Rabbit Diesel that looks very much like that last pic. It's an orange 4-door beauty.

SteveM.

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'93 190E/D 2.5 Turbodiesel 5-speed (daily driver)
'87 190D 2.5 Turbo rustbucket - parts car
'84 Dodge Rampage diesel - Land Speed Record Holder
'13 Ram 2500 Diesel
'05 Toyota 4Runner