If I were thinking of a Smart car (which I'm not) I'd just as soon have an
ancient BMW Isetta and have NO front protection. There is one benefit to a
Smart car, though, since you wouldn't have to buy a casket to put your body
into after a crash.
If all cars were Smart size, it might make sense, but not with so many
Excursions, Denalis, Hummers etc on the road, not to mention big rigs.

 

mack wrote:
> If I were thinking of a Smart car (which I'm not) I'd just as soon have an
> ancient BMW Isetta and have NO front protection. There is one benefit to a
> Smart car, though, since you wouldn't have to buy a casket to put your body
> into after a crash.
> If all cars were Smart size, it might make sense, but not with so many
> Excursions, Denalis, Hummers etc on the road, not to mention big rigs.
>
>
strange, i never noticed any big rigs in europe. maybe they use blimps
or something to carry all those standardized international shipping
containers about? i know they don't need to transport construction
materials because they don't live in buildings, just holes in the
ground. it's damned primitive over there man. don't go.

 

mack wrote:
> If I were thinking of a Smart car (which I'm not) I'd just as soon have an
> ancient BMW Isetta and have NO front protection. There is one benefit to a
> Smart car, though, since you wouldn't have to buy a casket to put your body
> into after a crash.
> If all cars were Smart size, it might make sense, but not with so many
> Excursions, Denalis, Hummers etc on the road, not to mention big rigs.
>
>
strange, i never noticed any big rigs in europe. maybe they use blimps
or something to carry all those standardized international shipping
containers about? i know they don't need to transport construction
materials because they don't live in buildings, just holes in the
ground. it's damned primitive over there man. don't go.

 

mack wrote:
> If I were thinking of a Smart car (which I'm not) I'd just as soon have an
> ancient BMW Isetta and have NO front protection. There is one benefit to a
> Smart car, though, since you wouldn't have to buy a casket to put your body
> into after a crash.
> If all cars were Smart size, it might make sense, but not with so many
> Excursions, Denalis, Hummers etc on the road, not to mention big rigs.
>
>
strange, i never noticed any big rigs in europe. maybe they use blimps
or something to carry all those standardized international shipping
containers about? i know they don't need to transport construction
materials because they don't live in buildings, just holes in the
ground. it's damned primitive over there man. don't go.

 

mack wrote:
> If I were thinking of a Smart car (which I'm not) I'd just as soon have an
> ancient BMW Isetta and have NO front protection. There is one benefit to a
> Smart car, though, since you wouldn't have to buy a casket to put your body
> into after a crash.
> If all cars were Smart size, it might make sense, but not with so many
> Excursions, Denalis, Hummers etc on the road, not to mention big rigs.
>
>
strange, i never noticed any big rigs in europe. maybe they use blimps
or something to carry all those standardized international shipping
containers about? i know they don't need to transport construction
materials because they don't live in buildings, just holes in the
ground. it's damned primitive over there man. don't go.

 

"Jonny" <spamyourself@blackworm.net> wrote in message
news:658pg.388$ye3.331@newsread1.news.pas.earthlin k.net...
> Odd, TV news said 75 highway/ 45 city.
> Vehicle is good for 1 or 2 persons. They need a longer version for more
> people and to carry a sizable amount of groceries etc. Pricey compared to
> other high mpg cars currently on the market, but seems to fare more mpgs.
> Maybe the maker is counting on this as a factor to sway the buyer.
> Weight, engine displacement, and appropriate horsepower provided for such
> a vehicle makes sense to get such mpg. Size (wind resistance) and weight
> are the biggest obstacles to mpg, next the controllable lead foot and
> population associated "parking lot" city driving commutes.

In Europe, there is a 4 seat model also. If you've ever been to Rome or
Siena, or many other places in Europe, you'd understand why the 2 seat is so
popular. I mention Siena, because I was walking down the street when the
doors to a residence building open up and the gentleman drove his car out.
Yes, it was parked in the vestibule of his house. Nearest parking would
have been quite a distance away. Anything larger would not have fit.

As for sizable amount of groceries, it may be handy here, not as much there.
We tend to buy in large quantities for the week or month, they tend to buy
for the next day or two.

It will be interesting to see how well they sell here as it does call for
some lifestyle adjustments. As I said, if I was in a large city, I'd have
one, but in the suburbs, much less likely.

 

"Jonny" <spamyourself@blackworm.net> wrote in message
news:658pg.388$ye3.331@newsread1.news.pas.earthlin k.net...
> Odd, TV news said 75 highway/ 45 city.
> Vehicle is good for 1 or 2 persons. They need a longer version for more
> people and to carry a sizable amount of groceries etc. Pricey compared to
> other high mpg cars currently on the market, but seems to fare more mpgs.
> Maybe the maker is counting on this as a factor to sway the buyer.
> Weight, engine displacement, and appropriate horsepower provided for such
> a vehicle makes sense to get such mpg. Size (wind resistance) and weight
> are the biggest obstacles to mpg, next the controllable lead foot and
> population associated "parking lot" city driving commutes.

In Europe, there is a 4 seat model also. If you've ever been to Rome or
Siena, or many other places in Europe, you'd understand why the 2 seat is so
popular. I mention Siena, because I was walking down the street when the
doors to a residence building open up and the gentleman drove his car out.
Yes, it was parked in the vestibule of his house. Nearest parking would
have been quite a distance away. Anything larger would not have fit.

As for sizable amount of groceries, it may be handy here, not as much there.
We tend to buy in large quantities for the week or month, they tend to buy
for the next day or two.

It will be interesting to see how well they sell here as it does call for
some lifestyle adjustments. As I said, if I was in a large city, I'd have
one, but in the suburbs, much less likely.

 

"Jonny" <spamyourself@blackworm.net> wrote in message
news:658pg.388$ye3.331@newsread1.news.pas.earthlin k.net...
> Odd, TV news said 75 highway/ 45 city.
> Vehicle is good for 1 or 2 persons. They need a longer version for more
> people and to carry a sizable amount of groceries etc. Pricey compared to
> other high mpg cars currently on the market, but seems to fare more mpgs.
> Maybe the maker is counting on this as a factor to sway the buyer.
> Weight, engine displacement, and appropriate horsepower provided for such
> a vehicle makes sense to get such mpg. Size (wind resistance) and weight
> are the biggest obstacles to mpg, next the controllable lead foot and
> population associated "parking lot" city driving commutes.

In Europe, there is a 4 seat model also. If you've ever been to Rome or
Siena, or many other places in Europe, you'd understand why the 2 seat is so
popular. I mention Siena, because I was walking down the street when the
doors to a residence building open up and the gentleman drove his car out.
Yes, it was parked in the vestibule of his house. Nearest parking would
have been quite a distance away. Anything larger would not have fit.

As for sizable amount of groceries, it may be handy here, not as much there.
We tend to buy in large quantities for the week or month, they tend to buy
for the next day or two.

It will be interesting to see how well they sell here as it does call for
some lifestyle adjustments. As I said, if I was in a large city, I'd have
one, but in the suburbs, much less likely.

 

"Jonny" <spamyourself@blackworm.net> wrote in message
news:658pg.388$ye3.331@newsread1.news.pas.earthlin k.net...
> Odd, TV news said 75 highway/ 45 city.
> Vehicle is good for 1 or 2 persons. They need a longer version for more
> people and to carry a sizable amount of groceries etc. Pricey compared to
> other high mpg cars currently on the market, but seems to fare more mpgs.
> Maybe the maker is counting on this as a factor to sway the buyer.
> Weight, engine displacement, and appropriate horsepower provided for such
> a vehicle makes sense to get such mpg. Size (wind resistance) and weight
> are the biggest obstacles to mpg, next the controllable lead foot and
> population associated "parking lot" city driving commutes.

In Europe, there is a 4 seat model also. If you've ever been to Rome or
Siena, or many other places in Europe, you'd understand why the 2 seat is so
popular. I mention Siena, because I was walking down the street when the
doors to a residence building open up and the gentleman drove his car out.
Yes, it was parked in the vestibule of his house. Nearest parking would
have been quite a distance away. Anything larger would not have fit.

As for sizable amount of groceries, it may be handy here, not as much there.
We tend to buy in large quantities for the week or month, they tend to buy
for the next day or two.

It will be interesting to see how well they sell here as it does call for
some lifestyle adjustments. As I said, if I was in a large city, I'd have
one, but in the suburbs, much less likely.

 

On Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:08:46 -0500, "Robert Sveinson"
<rsveinsn@mts.net> wrote:

>
>"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote in message
>news:_U%og.161773$F_3.72693@newssvr29.news.prodig y.net...
>>
>> <zwsdotcom@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> If I lived in a city, I'd get one. They take up little space and are
>>>> easy to
>>>
>>> I'd like one, but the price will not be right. It will be more
>>> expensive than a regular compact car like a Focus or Chevy Cavalier.
>>> The regular car does so much more.
>>
>> Depends on where you live. In most US cities and any small town, the
>> Focus or Cavalier is a better overall deal. In some European cities, the
>> congestion is horrid and the difference in size means parking 4 blocks
>> from your apartment instead of 12 blocks. In most of Italy, gas was $5.80
>> a gallon when I was there in March. An extra 5 or 10 mpg is a big
>> difference. The Smart is also cheaper there than it will be here.
>
> IIRC Smart cars are 3 cyl. diesel, hopefully
> gaining more savings.
3 cyl, 800cc PETROL., not diesel.

The similar sized car with a diesel engine is the liegier - of course,
it only has 18hp, and limited to 30mph, but on the up side can be
driven on a mopod license there.

>
>
>>
>>
>

 

On Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:08:46 -0500, "Robert Sveinson"
<rsveinsn@mts.net> wrote:

>
>"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote in message
>news:_U%og.161773$F_3.72693@newssvr29.news.prodig y.net...
>>
>> <zwsdotcom@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> If I lived in a city, I'd get one. They take up little space and are
>>>> easy to
>>>
>>> I'd like one, but the price will not be right. It will be more
>>> expensive than a regular compact car like a Focus or Chevy Cavalier.
>>> The regular car does so much more.
>>
>> Depends on where you live. In most US cities and any small town, the
>> Focus or Cavalier is a better overall deal. In some European cities, the
>> congestion is horrid and the difference in size means parking 4 blocks
>> from your apartment instead of 12 blocks. In most of Italy, gas was $5.80
>> a gallon when I was there in March. An extra 5 or 10 mpg is a big
>> difference. The Smart is also cheaper there than it will be here.
>
> IIRC Smart cars are 3 cyl. diesel, hopefully
> gaining more savings.
3 cyl, 800cc PETROL., not diesel.

The similar sized car with a diesel engine is the liegier - of course,
it only has 18hp, and limited to 30mph, but on the up side can be
driven on a mopod license there.

>
>
>>
>>
>

 

On Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:08:46 -0500, "Robert Sveinson"
<rsveinsn@mts.net> wrote:

>
>"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote in message
>news:_U%og.161773$F_3.72693@newssvr29.news.prodig y.net...
>>
>> <zwsdotcom@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> If I lived in a city, I'd get one. They take up little space and are
>>>> easy to
>>>
>>> I'd like one, but the price will not be right. It will be more
>>> expensive than a regular compact car like a Focus or Chevy Cavalier.
>>> The regular car does so much more.
>>
>> Depends on where you live. In most US cities and any small town, the
>> Focus or Cavalier is a better overall deal. In some European cities, the
>> congestion is horrid and the difference in size means parking 4 blocks
>> from your apartment instead of 12 blocks. In most of Italy, gas was $5.80
>> a gallon when I was there in March. An extra 5 or 10 mpg is a big
>> difference. The Smart is also cheaper there than it will be here.
>
> IIRC Smart cars are 3 cyl. diesel, hopefully
> gaining more savings.
3 cyl, 800cc PETROL., not diesel.

The similar sized car with a diesel engine is the liegier - of course,
it only has 18hp, and limited to 30mph, but on the up side can be
driven on a mopod license there.

>
>
>>
>>
>

 

On Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:08:46 -0500, "Robert Sveinson"
<rsveinsn@mts.net> wrote:

>
>"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote in message
>news:_U%og.161773$F_3.72693@newssvr29.news.prodig y.net...
>>
>> <zwsdotcom@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> If I lived in a city, I'd get one. They take up little space and are
>>>> easy to
>>>
>>> I'd like one, but the price will not be right. It will be more
>>> expensive than a regular compact car like a Focus or Chevy Cavalier.
>>> The regular car does so much more.
>>
>> Depends on where you live. In most US cities and any small town, the
>> Focus or Cavalier is a better overall deal. In some European cities, the
>> congestion is horrid and the difference in size means parking 4 blocks
>> from your apartment instead of 12 blocks. In most of Italy, gas was $5.80
>> a gallon when I was there in March. An extra 5 or 10 mpg is a big
>> difference. The Smart is also cheaper there than it will be here.
>
> IIRC Smart cars are 3 cyl. diesel, hopefully
> gaining more savings.
3 cyl, 800cc PETROL., not diesel.

The similar sized car with a diesel engine is the liegier - of course,
it only has 18hp, and limited to 30mph, but on the up side can be
driven on a mopod license there.

>
>
>>
>>
>

 

On 29 Jun 2006 18:18:45 -0700, zwsdotcom@gmail.com wrote:

>
>Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
>
>> If I lived in a city, I'd get one. They take up little space and are easy to
>
>I'd like one, but the price will not be right. It will be more
>expensive than a regular compact car like a Focus or Chevy Cavalier.
>The regular car does so much more.

And are so much bigger.
If you think a focus is a small car, you've got a bad case of "the
texas grande's"

in europe, ford has cars smaller than the focus - the fiesta - which
is a 4 seater, 3 or 5 door hatchback, not bad small cars. Then they
have the Ka, smaller still, 3 door only, and you can't really get an
adult int he back at all. Focus is a 'family size' car in Europe. Of
course, Ford aint the only ones - VW has the polo and lupo, or fox
now, under its golf, Peugeot have the 107, 206, and 1007 small than
the 307 which is its civic equivilent.

someone else replied its the difference between 4 blocks and 12, its
often worse. The cars are also very nimble, and surprisingly competant
on the highway.

 

On 29 Jun 2006 18:18:45 -0700, zwsdotcom@gmail.com wrote:

>
>Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
>
>> If I lived in a city, I'd get one. They take up little space and are easy to
>
>I'd like one, but the price will not be right. It will be more
>expensive than a regular compact car like a Focus or Chevy Cavalier.
>The regular car does so much more.

And are so much bigger.
If you think a focus is a small car, you've got a bad case of "the
texas grande's"

in europe, ford has cars smaller than the focus - the fiesta - which
is a 4 seater, 3 or 5 door hatchback, not bad small cars. Then they
have the Ka, smaller still, 3 door only, and you can't really get an
adult int he back at all. Focus is a 'family size' car in Europe. Of
course, Ford aint the only ones - VW has the polo and lupo, or fox
now, under its golf, Peugeot have the 107, 206, and 1007 small than
the 307 which is its civic equivilent.

someone else replied its the difference between 4 blocks and 12, its
often worse. The cars are also very nimble, and surprisingly competant
on the highway.