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Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: Conan71 on October 17, 2007, 01:46:33 pm Did anyone go to the Smart Car demonstration at the coffee shop on Cherry St. last Saturday?
I had forgotten all about it until Sunday night. Their small size intimidates me since I'm used to driving a full size truck. Just curious what the impressions were if anyone drove one. Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: Aa5drvr on October 17, 2007, 02:16:05 pm Just returned from Barcelona and Rome. They are EVERYWHERE! Its funny seeing them parked lengthwise in parallel parking spots.
Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: Ed W on October 17, 2007, 04:11:02 pm I was there on Saturday, but I was pressed for time and didn't go for a drive. But I did take some pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8188326@N02/ (http://"http://www.flickr.com/photos/8188326@N02/") Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: Wingnut on October 18, 2007, 04:13:53 am I think they're kind of funky looking, but I used to have a video of a test with one of them being driven straight into a wall at 70 mph. The drivers door wouldn't open very well, but the passenger side door opened as usual. It was considered a very survivable crash. Very impressive.
I'll look and see if I can find the video. Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: Wingnut on October 18, 2007, 06:38:21 am I found it but I don't know how to post it.
Any ideas?? Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: sgrizzle on October 18, 2007, 06:42:29 am post it to youtube or google video, then you can post a link here..
Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: mspivey on October 18, 2007, 07:25:54 am I've been following the Smart Car for months. I was down there Saturday morning and drove one. It is very comfortable. I'm 6 ft tall and I had to pull the seat forward to reach the pedals. I'm guessing I drove it 1/2 mile on slow streets. The 3 cylinder engine was pretty weak. I've always liked small cars and I was prepared to like it but I really was not impressed. It just seemed kinda klunky.
Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: Wingnut on October 18, 2007, 08:06:38 am There are several videos online already. Just google it. I don't know if any show it hitting the wall, though.
I can't work with videos at work so it would be later today before I can figure out how to post it somewhere. Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: Conan71 on October 18, 2007, 09:52:02 am quote: Yeah, but let's look at our personal perspective when you and I are used to this kind of accelleration [:P]: (http://www.mmracingphotos.com/4-4-04-SCRA-18-wheelie.jpg) Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: dbacks fan on October 18, 2007, 09:57:04 am http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s (http://"http://")
Here is the video from the show Top Gear in England. Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: Breadburner on October 18, 2007, 11:25:01 am They sure could have chosen a better venue for this.....Blocking Cherry Street off from 9 to 5 was just plain silly.....
Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: Double A on October 18, 2007, 07:20:15 pm I drove one. The next car I buy will probably be a SMART car, unless I can buy a Tango(0-60 in 4 seconds) for a comparable price. Although, I hear there might be an EV SMART car in production soon. Hmmm.
Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: Conan71 on October 18, 2007, 09:39:09 pm What's the price on a basic smart car?
Crashing one into a brick wall is one thing, getting run over by a semi on 244 is quite another. Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: dbacks fan on October 19, 2007, 12:03:22 pm quote: I think the base price is around 12,500 to 13,000 with the top of the line model at about 17,500. Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: tulsascoot on October 21, 2007, 03:30:53 pm quote: How often does any car get "run over" by a semi. I am tired of hearing these kind of statements as an excuse for Americans to drive big inefficient vehicles. Besides, with the Smart car tridiron cage, you'd probably come out better than if you were in a mid size sedan. They are surprisingly safe. Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: Double A on October 21, 2007, 04:06:15 pm I wish they would make kei class mini trucks & vans street legal in Oklahoma.
Title: Smart Car Demo? Post by: Ed W on October 21, 2007, 04:26:58 pm I get that one a lot too. "Someone's gonna run over you on that bah-cycle!" Actually, I think motorists are more of a danger to each other since they manage to kill about 42,000 per year as opposed to 800 cyclists - half of them children.
But since limited access roads are some of the safest, it makes little sense to decry small, light vehicles like Smartcars mixed in with heavier ones there. The biggest problems occur at intersections on city streets, where big-and-heavy enjoys a kinetic energy advantage over small-and-light. Every problem has a solution. In this case, it's reducing the energy in crashes by reducing velocity. In the UK, there's a proposal to reduce the speed limit in all urban areas to no more than 20mph. I'm told that in Japan, it's already lower than that. Besides the obvious savings in energy costs, there's reduced impact in crashes making them more survivable for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. It also reduces noise level and the stress of 'normal' city traffic, leading to more liveable cities. I like the idea. |