"DaimlerChrysler plans to start selling its tiny, gas-sipping SmartCar in the U.S. early in 2008, according to company executives. DaimlerChrysler shelved an earlier plan to introduce the two-seater to American drivers as the Smart unit lost money elsewhere. But with gas prices at near record levels, the company is betting that big-city buyers will take a hard look at a car that gets upwards of 40 mpg in town and 60 mpg on the highway. "Now is the right time," said a DaimlerChrysler senior executive." NY Times.

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John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

I saw that on MSN yesterday... i just wonder how that thing is going to pass highway safety ratings or licening... Imagine a big Escalade or Excursion hitting that little thing

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1995 E320 smoke silver / parchment

Only way I would drive one of those is if I was single.

Course, if you were single and drove one of those, you'd probably remain so.

havent you seen the test of a fortwo against an S-Class at 70 mph.. sure youd die from the sudden impact but the safety cell was intact.. which is what the car was designed to do.. not compromise the safety shell.. id drive a smart.. its all i need

There's a great video out there of some Brits running a Smart into a concrete barrier at 70mph (I think). The safety cell was intact, and the doors both opened. The occupants probably would've suffered massive fatal internal injuries, but the car itself is a structural marvel.

I personally saw my first Smart yesterday--it was mighty small.

http://www.dumpalink.com/media/1136559504/Smart_Vs_Wall

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...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

With DC's well-earned reputation for putting death-traps on the road, I'm sure you're right. I hear motorcycles are also soon to be outlawed...

that truck.. is illegal to drive on the road.. the bumpers.. or lack therof to begine with do not do anything in a frontal/rear collision and etc.. the thing would just big foot its way over the car in front.. yet down south the sherriff drives the same truck on the govt dime.. god bless the hypocracy we call the united states of america

Sensible folks need to defend themselves somehow, against the roving bands of loonies in our midst who inexplicably choose to operate mobile concrete barriers along public thoroughfares; usually while chatting on phones, applying makeup or watching Dallas re-runs on their multi-screen DVDs.

And would you rather strike that hideous big-belt-buckle vehicle in a smart or on a Yamaha (like it really matters)?

The dramatically DIFFERENT sizes of the vehicles on the road increasingly contributes to the mayhem thereon. It's hard to argue with the laws of physics. The SMART car is a great idea for an urban runabout, but I would never want one. It's just too small. I also watched a real test, head on with a new Mercedes, I believe it was an E class. The SMART car was demolished except for the passenger cage, but the impact caused it to flip over. Someone here mentioned that the driver of a W126 300SE perished when a big Tour bus lost control, went over the center line and hit the Benz head on; so in some cases there is no hope, but buying a larger Mercedes does help the odds.

Yakking on the cell phones according to survey I heard today, makes driving 5X more dangerous, and likely to wreck, it is like driving drunk -- and hands free cell phones doesn't change things either. I guess it is about being able to concentrate and pay attention to driving.

Motorcycles are another thing altogether, I love Harleys especially, but would never want to own one of those or any cycle. The helmet laws help but to me they are too risky.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Exactly right -- it's an urban runabout as you put it, and it's clearly not for everyone. But if you're young, single, urban, and do a lot of driving, why not invest in an 8' long vehicle that gets 60 mpg? I know lots of folks with smarts -- they're very comfortable and quite capable of occasional long trips as well. It would be good for everyone if they catch on in urban environments -- I'm keepin' 'em crossed...

High gas prices are here to stay so obviously young couples and people who aren't raking in 6 figures a year don't have a budget for an expensive car. Nobody in their right mind is even with a ridiculous ploy of subsidizing gasoline is going to rejuvenate heavy truck market. After all most cities are redeveloping their urban areas to bring people back into the cities. If you need to go only a few miles what's the need for a big or even midsize car. The Smart, Yaris, Fit all make sense.

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

I'll bet the thing will be a hit in San Francisco. Parking is harrrrrd most everywhere over there.

If you find a place to park in North Beach, when you're walking back to your car, as soon as you pull your keys out, there's someone waiting behind you to get your space. I knew a lady who lived in Haight Ashbury. She said she'd get home in the evening, tired, wanting a bath and a meal, and it would often take her 30 to 45 minutes to find a place to park.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I could tell you a few stories, from when I lived there and refused to give up my big Crown Victorias. The residents used to joke that if you had a car in SF, you worried about finding a parking place at your destination, BEFORE YOU LEFT home, and about whether you would find a place when you got back, BEFORE YOU left home!!

My first place was a studio apartment in Chinatown, SF RIGHT ABOVE THE Stockton Street tunnel- no parking 4-6 pm daily. Ther was a guy with a red Chevy Impala who ALWAYS got a space in front of his apt. I finally figured out how he did it, he would get home at 5:30, circle the block for a half an hour and when it looked like the last meter maid and tow truck went away, he would park- about 5:50 pm. And they ARE serious about towing, I saw a car parked on California near Polk, it was no parking 4-6 pm, they had the car on the hook at 3:58 pm, tow truck idling, when clock turned 4:00 pm the tow truck just drove away with the car!!

I had a date with a girl who lived in North Beach, (near North Point) and parking was impossible there! (and they ticket 24/7 down there near the tourist area at Fishermans Wharf) So, when I drove over there to get her,
I simply double parked right outside her door, popped the hood and threw a couple of lit flares around the car. That one always worked.

Actually over 20 years I pretty much went everywhere in SF, every neighborhood, and eventually got parking, usually free, (except Chinatown, North Beach and downtown, even there for free sometimes) but it IS hard.

I do miss the place today. Especially the weather, restaurants, bookstores, film fests and coffe houses and Universities. Plus public transit works there (usually) and you can walk a lot and learn a lot that way

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)