Today I was at a gas station and a guy said I might be interested in seeing a car he was having delivered (to Indianapolis) in a few minutes. He bought a Smart ForTwo.

Man, that thing is small. The photos are from my camera phone and not the best quality, but the Mini is HUGE compared to the Smart. I tried to get a photo of it next to my Mini, but there was always something in the way so I couldn't get a clear shot.

I sat in it and it is roomy on the inside. Very cool little car.

 

I was surprised, MINIs are basically mid-sized in Europe. Smarts are all over the place. They're economic and decent for urban use.. But kinda shoddy cars overall, to my understanding.

 

I didn't think they were available in the states!! Very cool. Still love the MINI though...

 

I love the Smart cars! When I was in Germany I got to visit a few Smart dealers and sit in the 2 seat-er and I also got to test drive the smart roadster! It was not a 10 minute up and back test drive, but a 2 hour go wherever you want to go test drive! We drove ALL over Berlin and I got some cool photos and some "who is that movie star?" looks from all the people in the open air cafes. It was one of the most fun times I have ever had. I am SO glad that the roadster was sold so I can buy one in the future.

Oh, a note. I am 6'3" tall and I fit fine in the city car (2 seat-er) and I fit and drove the roadster but the top was off. If it was on I would not have been able to get in gracefully. or at all.

Blake

 

Hey there,

They are not "officially" avail. in the States yet. But a company called ZAP is importing them from overseas brokers. I have seen a few for sale here in the metro-phoenix area.

 

There was a story about some English dude down here in the Florida Keys that had a run in with law enforcement regarding the smart car...

i just Googled the story here is the link...
http://www.wsvn.com/features/article...oward/MIA7883/

 

They are officially available as of two weeks ago. They have passed USA EPA and USA DOT as of the middle of March. We saw some at the Denver International Auto show. There display was behind the Mini Cooper Booth. I was doing research on these cars just before we decided to get a Mini.

Yes, they seem cheezy to me too. They had a sticker price of 25-27 grand here in Colorado. Way, way overpriced. For that price you could get an "S".
If they were around 12-15 I would think of getting one for a second car to save gas at 50-60 MPG.

Here are some links:
http://www.zapworld.com/cars/smartcar.asp
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/automall/
http://www.smartcar-owner.co.uk/

Video:
http://cbs4denver.com/consumer/local...055010132.html

This is the colorado dealership. Check out the inventory link on the front page.
http://www.elizabethrvauto.com/smart_car.htm

 

Pretty cool - I saw one in DC this past weekend - he had no trouble finding a parking spot...

Donna

 

He didn't buy it from Zap. I asked him about that. He said they charge too much. He bought it used from a dealer in Germany and had it shipped over here to him. He's going to get it titled in Tennessee and then transfer the title to Indiana.

He mentioned that any insurance company will insure it. Since he doesn't really plan on driving it he wasn't too worried about getting caught by the police. He wants to use it as a marketing tool to drive traffic into the BW3s he owns.

He mentioned that he paid 8,800 euros for it plus shipping. I don't know how much that was, but he said to get it shipped to him in the US was more expensive than having it shipped from overseas.

The car is SMALL and has a very cheap interior. I still can't believe how much bigger the Mini is than a Smart.

 

. . . unless of course you are Inspector Clouseau.

 

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE WHEN HE TRIES TO PARRALEL PARK!

 

I've seen two of these in Austin already. One broken down on the side of the road, LOL!

It's odd how many "exotic" or rare cars I've seen in Austin lately...

 

It held up well http://www.metacafe.com/watch/60538/smart_car_crash/

Got to love the Top Gear boys

 

Hey Ski, Was he broken down, or just pausing to have some bottled water and rewind his giant SMART rubber band?

There's an interesting video someplace round here, of a high speed crash into a wall, where the SMART passenger compartment stayed pretty intact. (How do I get a job where I get to smash up neat cars and get paid??)

For $27k, Yes you can get a NICE "S", if that's your thing. Mine's very nice, not "loaded", no NAV no JCW, and I spent not even CLOSE to $27k. My MA commented at delivery time that it was "tastefully" optioned. .

Just wait, there will come a day when I'll hear "Sure that MINI's nice - but it's no SMART car".

edit: yeah that previous poster with the video, is wayyy less of a slacker than I am!

Nostradamusly,
Tatt

 

 

Here in The Netherlands you see them a lot! Mostly they are a marketingtool indeed. In Amsterdam there 're some special Smart parkingplaces.


They often buyed by company who have there office in the city and when an employee has to go to an adres somewhere in the city he can take the Smart.

Real Estate company:

Photographer:

Fire-brigade:

A crane company here the area:

Carwindow-repair-company, lendcar:

 

There's also the Crossblade, but you never see them:

 

I thought that was the car from that Steve Martin has in the Pink Panther movie--you answered my thoughts......kind of scary......

 

Just got there news letter (smart). Seems this company is well on it's way of importing to the U.S. Should start see'ing them soon on the roads in the U.S.
I personally would not pay that much for them. Crazy!! Maybe buy a used on in a couple years. Wonder if they would hold there value like the Mini.
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/*ZAP!*/news http://www.zapworld.com/about/news.asp4/7/2006

*Grand Opening of ZAP Authorized Smart Car Dealership inSeattle Area <http://www.zapworld.com/about/news/news_smartwa.asp>

* ZAP announced today that it has made one of the largest shipments ofthe Smart Car Americanized for ZAP to its licensed and authorizeddealer in the Northwest, The Green Car Company. ... Read More <http://www.zapworld.com/about/news/news_zapamerica.asp>4/3/2006

*Smart Cars ZAP Across America<http://www.zapworld.com/about/news/news_zapamerica.asp>* On April 4 an eclectic group of men and women ages 22 to 66 willjourney across the USA with the aim of reaching the New York AutoShow, Celebrating Earth Day, and returning home. ... Read More at URLhttp://www.zapworld.com/about/news/news_zapamerica.asp3/31/2006

*ZAP Announces First Shipment and Sale of US-Legal SmartCars to Dealership in Florida<http://www.zapworld.com/about/news/news_palmbeach_smart.asp>* ZAP announced today that Robert Sharon, a school teacher fromWellington, Florida, has taken delivery of the first US approvedSmart Car in the State of Florida through ZAP's authorized dealershipin West Palm Beach. ... Read More at URLhttp://www.zapworld.com/about/news/news_palmbeach_smart.aspMore ZAP News at http://www.zapworld.com/about/news.asp

*/ZAP!*/watch* *http://www.zapworld.com/about/zapwatch.asp4/7/06

*ZAP!blog* - *Rally Around Smarter Cars*<http://www.zapworld.com/blog> - See our first ever blog and followour intrepid group of volunteers as they make the first cross-countryrally in Smart Cars. Read more at URL http://www.zapworld.com/blog 3/22/2006 *US Smart Owner on 'Cloud Nine'<http://www.zapworld.com/about/news/watch_smartowner.asp>* Dear ZAP, I just wanted to say thanks so much for helping me get myadorable SmartCar!! ... Read More at URLhttp://www.zapworld.com/about/news/watch_smartowner.asp--If you do not want to receive any more newsletters, http://news.zapworld.com//?p=unsubscribe&uid=02c56c15c627717bd7b7c1518ba4b6b 4To update your preferences and to unsubscribe visithttp://news.zapworld.com//?p=preferences&uid=02c56c15c627717bd7b7c1518ba4b6b 4