http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8645488/

my wife just sent me this.

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currently
[1981 300 td tdidi 165500 dark brown/palamino-Brownie-mine-3k miles of ownership
1983 240d 162+++ Anthricite grey w/ henna red interior and hella lights-wifes car-Red

the above two cars are for sale
and can be seen on the cars for sale thread here. pix also available.


240d-144+ Manilla Yellow w/ palmino interior-greasecar kit-Blondie-the college kids car

23" gt 21 speed still on original tires-still got the nubs
21" khs tandem

Are they offering diesel models or is it gas only? I didn't see anything referring to the fuel type.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

http://www.mbcanada.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10234

Yeah we had the thread going about Smart invading the US of A.

I can see some soccor mom turned backwards slapping her kids silly while talking on a cell phone and driving her Ford Excursion mashing one of those flat and not even knowing she was in an acident....


But if you don't live in fear of that a diesel one would get great milage.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Actually they are pretty amazing in crash tests, MB put them against some normal E classes (W210) in some crash tests and I was quite impressed:

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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)

what does a smart weigh? what does a Excursion weigh? It may be structurally sound but the odds are stacked against it in a crash of that type.

But as a town car it would be great and easy to park. I have seen many over the years in Italy so while I have not driven in one I have seen many up close.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

I see a problem, it's $21,000 for a *tiny* under powered car that gets 50MPG.

while one could get a larger more practical, and certanly more powerful VW golf TDi in the mid $17K range that gets 46MPG


I don't see the smart car selling well at all at that price. It definately needs to be $15K or less.

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2003 VW Passat GLS 1.8t wagon 73k mi
1998 Dodge Dakota Sport 228k mi
1974 VW Karmann Ghia Coupe 74k mi (for sale)

I was just reading that Smart is a big financial loser. May not be viable much longer.

How is it a financial loser? I must have seen thousands of them driving around when I was in Germany 2 summers ago, and they sell for 15,000-18,000 there....it doesn't make sense......they are extremely popular.....

__________________
-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)

Dimaler Chrysler had a bad financial report, mention Smart as a drag, just canned their CEO, stock shot up immediately. That would make you feel good if you were the CEO.

Anyway, good article relating to MB, mentions increasing quality and efficiency.

My car is smarter cause it drinks veggie oil.

__________________
1980 300D (Luna)
1980 300SD (Sunny)

Not in CA. No new TDIs since 2003.

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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

My girlfriend and I test drove one. I thought it was a lot of fun.
Tha cabin is suprisingly large for two passengers' comfort, except The Little Lady had a ***** about where she would put her purse. Valid concern, too. For me, all I need is room for my CD wallet.

The power was very adequate from the small 3 cyl diesel engine. The tiptronic type transmission was no problems, and I was told that a fully automatic trans is available, but no manual - damn! We got it up to 120 KMH on Hwy 99 here in the lower mainland of BC, & it had more. Very good performance for what it is.
Parking is so easy that it is spooky. The turning radius makes my 123 seem like an aircraft carrier (and I am very impressed with the 123's lock to lock turning radius)
Seats are comfy, and I could find no real faults other than storage spaces.
We were quoted $17K Canadian for a base all black "Pure" model that the dealership had, with $25K for a loaded high-zoot Passion model. Nearly signed on the dotted line, until we found out that MBz's lease program is 7.9%, and the residual value didn't impress me.

So, we went & leased the girlfriend a Toyota Echo. Hands down a better value in every conceivable way but one - marginally worse fuel economy than the Smart.
However, now that diesel costs more than regular gas, that cost difference may be minimal. And I am sure that the Toyota will be able to be serviced anywhere (hey, maybe even by ME) rather than being a slave to the $105 an hour snobbery boutiques that are our local Mercedes' dealerships are. Besides. I had trouble finding the engine in the Smart. (Where is that F@#%*dipstick?)
And The Little Lady wont have to get her hands all smelly from diesel fuelpump dispensers.