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Edited on Sat Feb-10-07 07:11 AM by Kutjara
Fantastic city car and one of my favorite cars of all time. I could destroy Porsches and other sportscars around town because I could manuver the Smart through gaps they couldn't. It would go from 0-30 in about the same time as a "normal" car. Leg and headroom were great (the same as in the front of a Mercedes S-Class, apparently) and parking was a breeze. Fuel consumption was nearly 60 mpg, which really helps in a country where gas is nearly $10/gallon. I even saved 50% on the $250 annual road tax, because the Smart was classed as a low-emission vehicle. There were two parking garages in central London that even let Smarts park for half price (no joke in a city where covered parking can cost $20/hour).
On the open road, however, it was a different story. The 599cc engine did 0-60 mph in about 17.5 seconds and the car was electronically limited to 85 mph, so you had to plan lane changes on highways and overtaking very carefully. MCC boast that the Smart has the same crash safety rating as a Merc C-Class, but that's a big leap of faith when you see how little metal sits between you and the outside world.
The Smart is a terrific car for European (and Far Eastern) roads. How well it will survive in "size is everything" America remains to be seen. I would love to own another, but I'm a bit concerned about how it would survive an encounter with Ms. Soccer-Mom Expedition-Driver and Her Incredibly Interesting Cellphone.
Also, the base model Smart costs about $9,000 in Europe, rising to $18,000 for the one with leather seats, A/C and other creature comforts. That kind of money will buy you a very nice compact car in the US (Civic, Mazda3, Corolla), so Smart will have tough competition. If Smart decide to charge the same as the current crop of specialist importers are quoting (nearly $30,000 last time I checked), they'll only sell a handful to rich enthusiasts.
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