Smart car better than Prius?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Albertus @ Sep 29 2007, 03:57 PM) [snapback]519170[/snapback]</div>

That is true. But over here in California most of drivers are driving solo in their SUV's on the FWY's anyways. It's rare that I see a full car with four adults. Most Smart car owner's are rather single/no kids or have the car as a second vehicle. Each car has it's own purpose.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(runner33 @ Sep 30 2007, 06:59 AM) [snapback]519181[/snapback]</div>

This would be true during the week however most people can't afford a car for every situation so they get one that does everything they need. I drive a 5 seat Prius to work solo, it has lower fuel consumption than my motorbike and on weekends and in the evening I run kids to activities and visit people with my family in it. My wife drives a RAV4 to and from work solo, we take it camping and exploring when we have time off. It is also the towing car. If I had a wad of cash I might also buy a smart car but I would rather another Prius for the same kind of money and the prius is better for the earth. I'd consider a smart forfour diesel if that ever happens here.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bulldog @ Sep 29 2007, 03:09 PM) [snapback]519150[/snapback]</div>

Yes, they are extremely expensive for what you're getting, but I guess you pay for the "Mercedes" brand.

I've seen crash test results on YouTube and they are as good as any compact car.

Want a tiny "car" with amazing fuel economy, forget the Smart, get an Aptera: http://www.aptera.com/

As "practical" as the Smart, with a lot better performance and unbeatable fuel economy (300 mpg for the hybrid version) $30K.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 28 2007, 12:39 AM) [snapback]518885[/snapback]</div>

So this guy is saying "I can park a small car where a larger one won't fit"

Gee. No kidding.

Using that "logic (such as it is ) I can park a Prius where a Kenworth Prime Mover won't fit !
And the point is?

Pete.

 

I really like the direction the smart is trying to go in, I just think its poorly executed. There is no reason to drive a car this small if it only gets 40mpg and not be fun to drive. The higher numbers quoted must be for the diesel which will not be sold in the US. Put a real manual transmission in it, and/or get the mpgs way up and we might be talking. Better yet, put a synergy drive in it and we'll be really talking.

BTW, I totally agree on the Insight. If I could justify owning a vehicle just for commuting that would be it. A marvel of efficient engineering to do so well with such a weak hybrid system.

rob

 

We test drove a Smart fortwo earlier this spring. It compares to a Prius the way a Yugo compared to a Cadillac.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Per @ Sep 29 2007, 11:28 PM) [snapback]519306[/snapback]</div>

That's quite possibly the best comparison I've heard so far! Couldn't agree more, except the Smart is a lot cuter than a Yugo

 

40 MPG. :blink:

I didn't believe it, so I checked the Smart Car website.

You've got to be kidding...why on Earth would anyone want this? <_<

IMHO something this small and light should be able to do much better than our Prii. For 40 MPG and the same price you can get a Yaris that will comfortably hold 4 people plus bags - I just bought one for my mom and she loves it. Perhaps they should rename it the Not-So-Smart-Car :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Albertus @ Sep 29 2007, 03:57 PM) [snapback]519170[/snapback]</div>

I've got a simliar one:

Better to shut up and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Pretty much the same sentiment.

I think the Smart has it's purpose. But comparing it to a Prius just makes the Smarts shortcomings glaringly obvious. Yugo...Cadillac.....uh huh.

 

I don't know how legal it is but in Paris people park smart cars on the corners of intersections nose to the curb because the smart is as long as a normal car is wide. Also a smart car parked nose to curb takes half a space so another smart car can be parked in the other half of the space. I believe smart car drivers get free parking too as long as they park 2 to a space or leave room for a second smart car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(crypter crypter @ Sep 29 2007, 11:37 PM) [snapback]519311[/snapback]</div>

The US EPA figures have not been released yet so the 40MPG combined is not official. The 71hp 2008 Smart or 451 should do considerably better than 40 US MPG on a highway trip. It was mentioned from one of the US road show tours, that they were in the 50+ US MPG range when driving between cities.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patsparks @ Sep 30 2007, 07:54 AM) [snapback]519336[/snapback]</div>

As long as the car doesn't take space on the road it's not illegal..
But you still have to pay for the parking space...
I drive one sometimes, and it's a fun car to drive, the gearbox is manual but robotized, the clutch is automatic so the mpg is the same as a manual would be.
In big cities it's the best car you can have, I like it a lot, it's not mine, but as a second car i would say it's a good choice...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Per @ Sep 29 2007, 11:28 PM) [snapback]519306[/snapback]</div>

I see that you drive a "Other Non-Hybrid" so you may not be familiar with how poor an interior the Prius has. The Prius is no luxury car and has a cheap economy car interior very similar to the one in the Smart ForTwo. When I drove the Smart about 3 weeks ago I found exactly what I expect, a basic commuting car or great city car. The interior will win no awards but I suspect it will stand up much better than the cheap seats and painted plastic panels in the Prius.

Now about fuel mileage. In the UK, the 2nd Generation Smart ForTwo (71hp) is rated at 4.7 L/100 km. That is 50.04 US mpg. The Prius gets 4.3 L/100 km which is 54.7 US mpg. Now the Prius is rated at 46 mpg combined on the 2008 EPA cycle. Using the same ratio the Smart would get 42.1 US mpg on the 2008 standard. I suspect it will be a bit higher since the Prius is dropping more from the 2007 to 2008 standard than conventional gasoline cars. I my guess is the Smart will be rated about 40/45/50 mpg on the 2008 EPA standard.

The Smart ForTwo starts at $11,600. It comes with ABS, Traction Control, Stability Control, and Side Airbags standard. The only thing you can get for that price is the Aveo, Yaris, and the Kia and Hyundai sub compacts. For all of these by the time you equip them with the same standard equipment as the Smart they are about $14K

Of these the Yaris gets the best mileage. It may carry 5 people but it doesn't get near 45 mpg combined. The Yaris is only rated at 32 mpg combined on the 2008 EPA cycle. For those of use that commute alone the extra 3 seats are useless but the extra mileage isn't.

I'm a bit surprised at the number of people here that are so down on the Smart. I would think that the members of PriusChat would welcome another fuel efficient option in the US even if it doesn't quite fit your own needs.

 

I saw lots of SmarCars in France last year. They are cute and easily parked, which is a big plus in Paris. But it would scare the bejeezus out of me to drive one here in Phoenix, where the majority of drivers are in large SUVs. Even with good crash test ratings, up against an SUV you could kiss your feet goodbye.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jhinton @ Sep 30 2007, 08:08 PM) [snapback]519628[/snapback]</div>

I am intimately familiar with the Prius interior, and while I am not a big fan of the "office furniture from Pluto" look, the Smart is no better. When it comes to exterior appearance, the Prius has it all over the Smart--the Smart is just plain ugly. However, my comparison applies more to the ride. The Smart car rides like a go-kart--the Prius has a pretty decent ride. The ride alone is not worth whatever mileage benefit the Smart offers. Then you have very limited luggage space and a small fuel tank. Also, the top version of the Smart will run about $18,000. For that kind of money, there are alot of choices of significantly better cars. If a Smart suits you, more power to you, but it ain't my cup of tea! I'm waiting for the nextgen Prius--hopefully a PHEV.