SMART cars

[shibalsheki]

I was driving home from work through some light snow. Then I saw a SMART car.

http://www.smart.com

I couldnít believe how small it was. For some inexplicable reason the sight of the car annoyed me, angered me (Iím usually a pretty chill driver, the only thing that really offends me is when people fart in my car). I had an almost uncontrollable urge to side swipe the thing, run it off the road and unload a clip from my imaginary glock into the side of its milk carton exterior.

Then I was ok Ö maybe I shouldnít play GTA anymore

[Dialectic]

(Iím usually a pretty chill driver, the only thing that really offends me is when people fart in my car)

It was decomposing LEAVES!!!

[SamuraiJack]

damn those things are annoying...

you're trying to find parking in a crowded lot, and you finally think you've found a spot... you get closer, and damn, there it is - a smart car parked so deep inside that you thought it was empty.

felt like getting out and keying the car. common sense prevailed.

[shibalsheki]

(Iím usually a pretty chill driver, the only thing that really offends me is when people fart in my car)

It was decomposing LEAVES!!!

Haha, sure, if by decomposing leaves you mean cheese sandwiches

[awong]

thats not fair!!!!!!!
canada gets all these cool cars while the US is stuck with SUV's and more SUV's. ugh. sorry just a bit bitter over some dumb explorer driver on friday

I do remember reading the smart has a safety as good as an E class mercedes.

i'll take a smart roadster
8)
http://arabam.milliyet.com.tr/fuar/2002/paris/mmc_smart_roadster_xx.jpg

[JadeDragon]

(Iím usually a pretty chill driver, the only thing that really offends me is when people fart in my car)

It was decomposing LEAVES!!!

Haha, sure, if by decomposing leaves you mean cheese sandwiches

Prunes would help...*blinks innocently*

[awong]

Well it looks like if you would have hit him, nothing would have happened lol
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/040908.htm
The structure surrounding the tridon safety cell is designed to crush during a collision. Even though the front and rear of the vehicle are very short, they can quickly absorb impact energy. The fortwo structure has undergone many crash tests. While all have shown outstanding safety results, the most impressive tests are when the fortwo is shown in a car-to-car crash with a Mercedes E-Class sedan. The E-Class car is twice the weight of a fortwo and is recognised as safe car in its own right.

The E-Class and the fortwo were tested in an offset frontal collision at 50 km/h. While you can see the front of the fortwo disappearing during the collision and the rear structure of the car collapsing, the passenger compartment stays virtually intact. Other tests the fortwo have passed include a frontal crash at 65 km/h into a deformable barrier, rear end crash at 55 km/h and a side impact at 50 km/h. In every test, the fortwo deformation values were below all internationally recognised standards (the lower the value the better).

During side impacts, forces on the fortwo are deflected away from the passengers. Because of the ultra-short wheelbase, a side impact will almost always hit a wheel and the suspension. Just like Formula 1 cars, the suspension will collapse, absorbing the impact and reducing forces on the passenger compartment.

[cattygurl]

I was walking around in Kyoto and I saw one, too! so cute! I'd love to have one if it has decent gas mileage. I saw the 2-door lil' thang, which probably won't be sold in the US because US has issues with the cute lil' minis. Hah! I'd love a mini over a SUV behemoth any day.

[Dialectic]

There are a million SMARTs all over Europe. They're great.

Sheki and SJ are just big evil American gas guzzlers and environment-ruiners. Leonardo would be ASHAMED of you.

[cattygurl]

I don't mind people having an SUV or a truck if they need the size/room. My fried is in construction and he can't do his job without his truck, so that's cool. My other friend luggs around tons of computer equipment for his work and he needs the room, hence an SUV.

OTOH, my friend's wife just got a new Acura SUV and she absolutely has no need for it... but then, we don't get along either... (she demanded a huge, expensive diamond ring from my friend for an engagement- when he was already paying for the wedding- and he's only a freaking public school teacher. That totally turned me off of her... now she's asking for a pricey car... ugh. He's up to his eyeballs in debt for this woman. She refuses to work, BTW to help out with the finances, yet compalins about how "poor" they are. ARGH.)

total non-sequiter, thanks for letting me vent.

[awong]

my problem I guess is the precieved image SUV = cool
wagon/van= lame.

I guess the children of SUV drivers will think they are lame and and the cycle will repeat

and in florida...its well a van does more than an SUV, gets better gas, sometimes fits more yet people drive them. my other car was hit by one I guess thats why I am bitter, I had an emotional attachment to the other car, since it was in the family over 18 years that I took pride in it.

there was this dave berry columnn I read and he said how florida has no snow, mountains, yet when it rains people can't drive wroth shit. well what do you know, my car was totaled in the rain lol, being hit from behind. and I need to get over it, but all these plans I had these spring ruined.

[shibalsheki]

There are a million SMARTs all over Europe. They're great.

Sheki and SJ are just big evil American gas guzzlers and environment-ruiners. Leonardo would be ASHAMED of you.

haha gas guzzler? please, you know the 4cyl econobox I drive

3/5 Stars in the Euro crash test super mini category

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=1&id2=69

other cars in the Super mini category, 4 stars aren't uncommon with most makes in the same category

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/ratings.php?id1=1

Mercedes E Class ... 5 stars

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=4&id2=130

Make your own decisions about saftey but I'd be deathly afraid of getting tangled up with anything bigger then a Civic in a SMART car

[awong]

i can't believe I forgot about the euroncap tests, those i believe are tougher standards. they even tested predestiran safety. thus forcing a new design changes on the new european cars (not my cup of tea, gonna wait it out and see how it evolves over time)

gotta start reading more euro sources over american sources hehe

I was reading "top gear" and they were complaining about cars getting 25-35mpg, kinda had me shocked at first complaining, but I didn't realize it was the euro standards

[vsoy]

my problem I guess is the precieved image SUV = cool
wagon/van= lame.

I guess the children of SUV drivers will think they are lame and and the cycle will repeat

and in florida...its well a van does more than an SUV, gets better gas, sometimes fits more yet people drive them. my other car was hit by one I guess thats why I am bitter, I had an emotional attachment to the other car, since it was in the family over 18 years that I took pride in it.

there was this dave berry columnn I read and he said how florida has no snow, mountains, yet when it rains people can't drive wroth shit. well what do you know, my car was totaled in the rain lol, being hit from behind. and I need to get over it, but all these plans I had these spring ruined.

Sorry to hear about your VW getting smashed, the important thing is that you and your family were not harmed.

I've been reading about how wagons are slowly making a comeback. Subaru and Volve has always had one, but now SAAB, BMW, Ford, Chevy and now Dodge (with it's grunt, Hemi engine in the Magnum)have new wagon models. They seem more sporty and less stodgy than minivans.

[Kuroyama]

Went shopping today for K cars. In Japan the "K" class is the sub 1000cc engine class. Before you turn your nose up at it, consider that it gets around 20-25km/l.

Next time you complain about gas prices you might do well to step out of your H2/GMC Yukon with only your diet coke can for luggage and consider that most americans complain about other speedy drivers (I myself am (was in So Cal) one of those speedy 100mph+ drivers).

So since you only want to drive 65mph... why do you need the v12 in that Benz???

Peep out this lil rascal:

www.subaru.r2.com

Hes on the "possible" list.

[Kuroyama]

sorry. f-ed up that last link: heres the correct one

http://www.subaru.co.jp/r2/

[angi]

Kuroyama, how big are the Fit Arias? I think they look like baby Civics. So cute.

[Kuroyama]

Im pretty sure I saw one the other day. Before I moved here I wouldve told you its apretty small car. Now that Ive lived here a month Ill tell you that the Psion xB is a really big car.

You decide what that means.