A request (plea) to any Canadian Brat

S

Sneaks

New member
I'm in love.

This week San Diego was host to the traveling Smart Car roadshow. We were impressed! Unfortunately, the line to actually step into the show car was over an hour long and talking to a factory rep was impossible. This car is, and has been sold, in Canada for some time and my request is for the telephone number (including area code) of a Canadian dealership who can answer the biggest burning question:

Can the Smart fortwo be towed behind a motorhome 4 wheels down with the present auto/manual transmission?

If it can, or if it can with few modifications, I will keep my number 21,253 on the growing waiting list for USA sales. Hybrids are simply not ready for Prime Time IMHO.

Don
 
Don,

I'm not a Canadian Brat but I have a piece of info I picked up on NPR the other day.
It appears that the current "Smart" cars in the US are actually made in EU then modified here to meet US emission standards. This results in current high price.
At some point in the future (sorry I forgot when) they will be made entirely in the US and the price will drop significantly (sez they)

You maybe already knew that but..

Merv
 
Don-

Size-wise, it reminds me of one of the really early Hondas, the one that looked like a shoe, and was about 3/4 the size of a VW Bug!

Did yopu ever see one of those tiny European cars, some with even three wheels, like an Isetta or Messerschmit?

Nice technology, but quite a waiting list!

How about a motorcycle and a side car instead, at least you could get one!
Joel did. You'd have money left over for some foul weather gear, too!

Could you tow it on a trailer if the transmission is a problem?

Keep us posted, this sounds interesting.
 
Don,

Not to toss cold water on that car, but Consumer Reports says that the factory has to modify the design of the car to meet US safety and emissions requirements and then the car will be heavier and will not get as good milage. In addition the test drive showed the car to be noisy and to have a poor ride. Those problems, combined with a high price make other small cars more attractive than the Smart Car.
 
Well folk, the entry level version is targeted to be under $12k, and if you've ridden in a Prius like I have, it's nice but the road noise is terribly loud compared to a Camry, for example. I have no clue as to the noise level in a Smart car, but since I'm hard of hearing anyway, noise isn't one of my big priorities, towability is. It's not destined for use as a real highway vehicle, more for urban and sightseeing use. Yes, I respect Consumer Reports, but even those folks are speculating based on the EU model and have no weight figures beyond "will likely increase." No, nobody is throwing a wet blanket. Adding good information based on real world testing is definitely good for the consumer.

The "beta" version shown here in San Diego met all US safety specs and I understand the hybrids, because of the high voltage/amperage present, can cause major injuries to emergency workers in certain accident situations. I do know that firemen are undergoing special training to cover that eventuality. Doesn't make any difference, hybrids aren't for me, at least in the next 5 years.

Joe, the waiting list is long but the fee is refundable should we find it's not our cup of tea. Easier to put a hundred bucks in an interest free account to hold a place than to pay several thousand dollar "premiums" like the new VW bug had as well as the early Prius and Honda hybrids.

I'm sure one of our Canadian Brats will chime in soon with some info or a phone number.

Don
 
Don,

A google search found Smart Canada and their dealer locator found a dealer in Vancouver BC, phone number 604-736-7411.

Larry H
 
TOW, why do you want to tow it? just throw it up on the roof luggage rack...if new, odd vehicles interest you, check out the Can-Am spyder. It's a futeristic three wheeled rocket
 
I'm not sure why this is such a secret, but there is it least one, and I believe two dealers in the Portland area carrying the Smart car. I drive by one of there display cars on the lot several times a wekk. (I heard an interview on NPR about a month ago, and they didn't mention it either)

I'd be happy to look into the details if anyone is interested.

iggy
 
iggy":1szn6b3t said:
I'd be happy to look into the details if anyone is interested.
iggy
Click to expand...

According to the San Diego Union, the Smart Cars available to US drivers previous to the upcoming "launch" were not only unable to meet CA emission and safety requirements, they were over twice the price of the vehicles shown here. They mentioned one costing a CA owner some $33,000 :shock: Marty's link for the Kirkland source is consistent with what I'd call "sticking it to the greenies while the sun shines."

At $14,000, the new Passion version is definitely more in the real world, though at two feet shorter than the Mini Cooper, I have to wonder if their claim that "two 6'5" basketball players can sit side by side in it" is credible or are those players recent victims of a disaster that took their legs off at the knee?

Thanks, Iggy.

Thanks, Larry. I'll call those folks in Canada and get more info.

Ken, it might make the boat a little topheavy but it would fit nicely in the bed of my full size pickup as a "Spare."

Don
 
I guess you guys know that the "Smart" Car is nothing new. They have been all over Europe for many years. About the absolute minimum of metal and protection, but cute and easy to park. I'm amazed they could pass US safety standards, but maybe that is why the new ones cost twice what the old ones did.

John
 
Hi Don:

I see these cars quite often around Calgary. They're sold by Mercedes-Benz and there are two dealers here:

Lone Star Inc. (403) 253-1333

and...


Hyatt Auto Gallery (403) 232-6400

I personally wouldn't want to be driving one here as our roads are rife with the largest SUVs and trucks oil money can buy...but I admire the vision of people who choose a vehicle like this to cut back on consumption.
I hope you get some info from these guys.

Ron B.
 
Sneaks, I respectfully disagree,
Sneaks":knnq0qwr said:
Hybrids are simply not ready for Prime Time IMHO.
Click to expand...
My wife bought a Prius new in 2004 and I can't get over how "smart" and forward-thinking the technology is for that car. It does everything any other car does but so much more efficiently and is so environmentally right for the energy demands these days. If they could make a hybrid full-size pick-up or SUV that could tow our CD22, I'd buy one in a minute. I frankly think that all the car companies should be making hybrids, they make so much sense. But I'm not too naive to realize there is politics involved.

Just my $.02
 
I'm with you Peter. When I watch guys tromp on it and and fly down the road I know I'm gonna pass them at the gas station. Heck, we aren't even considering lowering the speed limit, much less buying higher mileage cars. Sad.

MartyP (2006 Ford Escape hybrid)
 
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