Comments on: SMART High Efficiency Car Coming To US http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/10557/smart-high-efficiency-car-coming-to-us/ A bunch of stuff I would have emailed you about. Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:47:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: allen brown http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/10557/smart-high-efficiency-car-coming-to-us/#comment-198172 allen brown Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:40:06 +0000 /?p=10557#comment-198172 When does the Mine cooper D go to America @ 72 mpg ..road .. i cant wait When does the Mine cooper D go to America @ 72 mpg ..road .. i cant wait

]]> By: justaguy http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/10557/smart-high-efficiency-car-coming-to-us/#comment-194523 justaguy Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:34:28 +0000 /?p=10557#comment-194523 Safety: The smart car has been designed to be safer than comparable small cars....they are designed by Mercedes Benz, who is the world leader in car safety systems design. I own an Mercedes convertible SLK, and would feel just as safe in a Smart car as I do in my convertible. Safety: The smart car has been designed to be safer than comparable small cars….they are designed by Mercedes Benz, who is the world leader in car safety systems design. I own an Mercedes convertible SLK, and would feel just as safe in a Smart car as I do in my convertible.

]]> By: John Foster http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/10557/smart-high-efficiency-car-coming-to-us/#comment-192747 John Foster Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:40:18 +0000 /?p=10557#comment-192747 The Smart which is being sold in the US gets "about" 35 mpg according to the info @ Smartcar.com. Is this really an improvement over the Scion xA/xB (no longer available) which gets 36 mpg in average driving, for about the same cost and haave vastly more usable space. The Honda Fit or Nissan Versa get equavalent milage with similar interior dimensions. I SEE THAT TOYOTA HAS BOWED OUT OF THE MILAGE GAME WITH THE INTRODEUCTION OF LOWER MILAGE MODELS (XB, XD) IN THEIR LOWER PRICED CARS. It seems that we will be charged much more for hybreds (abourt $10,000 per car) which don't get very good milage in typical US over-the-road driving where the electrical system is not used on interstates or over 40 mph. At this rate about 100,000 miles are required to match the costs @ $4.00/gal & 40 mpg. The Smart which is being sold in the US gets “about” 35 mpg according to the info @ Smartcar.com. Is this really an improvement over the Scion xA/xB (no longer available) which gets 36 mpg in average driving, for about the same cost and haave vastly more usable space. The Honda Fit or Nissan Versa get equavalent milage with similar interior dimensions. I SEE THAT
TOYOTA HAS BOWED OUT OF THE MILAGE GAME WITH THE INTRODEUCTION OF LOWER MILAGE MODELS (XB, XD) IN THEIR LOWER PRICED CARS. It seems that we will be charged much more for hybreds (abourt $10,000 per car) which don’t get very good milage in typical US over-the-road driving where the electrical system is not used on interstates or over 40 mph. At this rate about 100,000 miles are required to match the costs @ $4.00/gal & 40 mpg.

]]> By: Greg http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/10557/smart-high-efficiency-car-coming-to-us/#comment-191767 Greg Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:59:18 +0000 /?p=10557#comment-191767 Great mileage is one thing, but I have seen footage of Smart Car crash tests done at speeds and in situations common to US driving. I think that I would be Smart-er and safer just riding a lawnmower than to drive the Daimler mailbox on wheels. Great mileage is one thing, but I have seen footage of Smart Car crash tests done at speeds and in situations common to US driving. I think that I would be Smart-er and safer just riding a lawnmower than to drive the Daimler mailbox on wheels.

]]> By: » I Want A Cheap Fuel Efficient Car http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/10557/smart-high-efficiency-car-coming-to-us/#comment-180625 » I Want A Cheap Fuel Efficient Car Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:26:16 +0000 /?p=10557#comment-180625 [...] Smart (a Daimler brand) is coming to the US early next year (previously imported by Zap). The version Americanized by Zap was rated for 40 MPG, and the Smart site claims “the vehicle is [...] [...] Smart (a Daimler brand) is coming to the US early next year (previously imported by Zap). The version Americanized by Zap was rated for 40 MPG, and the Smart site claims “the vehicle is [...]

]]> By: Greg http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/10557/smart-high-efficiency-car-coming-to-us/#comment-177963 Greg Fri, 06 Jul 2007 05:45:35 +0000 /?p=10557#comment-177963 Someone forgot to include the Toyota Corrola at 41 mpg and the Honda civic that shows 40 mpg on the window but will get 42 with just some minor changes. I drive an 05 Civic and get 35 and 41 mpg. Someone forgot to include the Toyota Corrola at 41 mpg and the Honda civic that shows 40 mpg on the window but will get 42 with just some minor changes. I drive an 05 Civic and get 35 and 41 mpg.

]]> By: » Fuel Efficient Vehicles http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/10557/smart-high-efficiency-car-coming-to-us/#comment-175605 » Fuel Efficient Vehicles Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:22:58 +0000 /?p=10557#comment-175605 [...] has been available in Europe (and now Canada) for about ten years now, but it too can only be imported with a lot of restrictions. Don’t talk to me about Priuses, either. They’re selling on ebay for almost [...] [...] has been available in Europe (and now Canada) for about ten years now, but it too can only be imported with a lot of restrictions. Don’t talk to me about Priuses, either. They’re selling on ebay for almost [...]

]]> By: Michael http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/10557/smart-high-efficiency-car-coming-to-us/#comment-136880 Michael Tue, 19 Dec 2006 11:38:41 +0000 /?p=10557#comment-136880 I am currently living in France and though I really like the SmartCar, they are too expensive when compared to cars of the same size and fuel economy(I drive a peugeot 107d. Before the bashing of the U.S. cars run unabated, I contend that I use almost as much fuel here as I did in the U.S., driving a Porsche Turbo. The traffic laws here are crazy (no right on red) and there is literally a stop light every 50m. There are stop lights which are placed in non-intersections. They are there just for the amusement of someone. Of course, none of the lights are timed and they generally let about three cars through before they turn red again. I live 2km from my workplace and it generally takes 15-25 min to get there. It really is faster to walk at a very slow pace. I only drive when the weather is bad (which is much more common than S.C.) I am not bashing either country, both have their advantages, but they are just different. One thing that is curious here is that there has not been a great movement to hybrid cars here - I saw more Prius in the US. They would be great here - no more sticking in traffic with the motor running!!! I am currently living in France and though I really like the SmartCar, they are too expensive when compared to cars of the same size and fuel economy(I drive a peugeot 107d. Before the bashing of the U.S. cars run unabated, I contend that I use almost as much fuel here as I did in the U.S., driving a Porsche Turbo.
The traffic laws here are crazy (no right on red) and there is literally a stop light every 50m. There are stop lights which are placed in non-intersections. They are there just for the amusement of someone. Of course, none of the lights are timed and they generally let about three cars through before they turn red again. I live 2km from my workplace and it generally takes 15-25 min to get there. It really is faster to walk at a very slow pace. I only drive when the weather is bad (which is much more common than S.C.)

I am not bashing either country, both have their advantages, but they are just different.

One thing that is curious here is that there has not been a great movement to hybrid cars here - I saw more Prius in the US. They would be great here - no more sticking in traffic with the motor running!!!

]]> By: Scott http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/10557/smart-high-efficiency-car-coming-to-us/#comment-129004 Scott Fri, 08 Dec 2006 05:38:53 +0000 /?p=10557#comment-129004 Yes, I was in Europe for one month in Scotland, England, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Austria and I saw only one "American" SUV. One big fat (for their cars) Chevy Tahoe sticking out like a sore thumb. I was greeted back in the states on my drive home with a soccer mom driving by herself in a hummer on her cell phone. That whole experience mad me realize how rediculusly wasteful we Americans are. In Europe you'd see 5 people riding in a 5 passenger vehicle. If you were going alone you took a moped. Even the pizza delivery people had mopeds with little hot boxes mounted on the back! Yes, I was in Europe for one month in Scotland, England, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Austria and I saw only one “American” SUV. One big fat (for their cars) Chevy Tahoe sticking out like a sore thumb. I was greeted back in the states on my drive home with a soccer mom driving by herself in a hummer on her cell phone. That whole experience mad me realize how rediculusly wasteful we Americans are. In Europe you’d see 5 people riding in a 5 passenger vehicle. If you were going alone you took a moped. Even the pizza delivery people had mopeds with little hot boxes mounted on the back!

]]> By: Casey Bisson http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/10557/smart-high-efficiency-car-coming-to-us/#comment-63137 Casey Bisson Thu, 03 Aug 2006 14:22:31 +0000 /?p=10557#comment-63137 I don't know, <a href="http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/10557/#comment-63062" rel="nofollow">Stephanie S</a>, the Ford F150 looks like it does <a href="http://www.bridger.us/2002/12/16/CrashTestingMINICooperVsFordF150" rel="nofollow">pretty poorly in crash tests</a>. But, I too, wouldn't mind living in Italy. I don’t know, Stephanie S, the Ford F150 looks like it does pretty poorly in crash tests. But, I too, wouldn’t mind living in Italy.

]]>