Smart Car or Stupid Car?
As Smart Cars make their way on to our roads, I wonder are they really smart or are they stupid?
- Yes, they look neat if you like that look
- Yes, they are reported to get 33 city 40 highway as far as MPG
- Yes, they may help the environment . . . less fuel, less materials in manufacture
However, on the flipside--
- They may also be the latest fad to keep up with the Jones' at around $17,000
- Some might say they look like glorified golf carts
- I personally view them as death traps in the event of a collision with almost any other vehicle (except maybe another Smart Car)
The most astonishing fact is that I see them on the highway . . . imagine a glorified golf cart on the highway! What are these people thinking?
I am all for high MPG and doing right by the environment, but my personal safety and that of my family is a little higher on the priority scale . . . what do you think?
Posted by DDFD at 9/23/2008 5:57 AM 
Categories: Automotive, Consumerism, Green Living, Personal Philosophy
Tags: Automotive Personal Philosophy Green Living Consumerism
Categories: Automotive, Consumerism, Green Living, Personal Philosophy
Tags: Automotive Personal Philosophy Green Living Consumerism
Obviously manufacturers have to keep cranking out new models otherwise we would only buy for need and not just for want. “Smart” can be construed in other ways besides those crafted for us by the advertising industry. You mention that the Smart is about $17,000. For that much money one could buy a rather nice used car for $5,000, have $2,000 to repair what’s wrong with it, and keep $10,000 for gas. That would buy 5,000 gallons at today’s price. The car I have in mind would get 20 mpg city, so (this is incredible!) you could go one hundred thousand miles! Or 30 mpg highway . . .
Actually, I just went to Kelley Blue Book and put in my own second car, a 1999 Nissan Maxima with 52,000 miles (a bit low for ten years old) excellent condition and it came back with a private party value of $6,500. This almost fits the scenario above, but leaves only $500 for the repairs.
No new car would have to be built, thus avoiding the resource cost in plastics, steel, etc. While this Nissan won’t park in quite as small a space, it does seat five adults, and has a trunk big enough for their luggage.
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Solid example! You also have a fighting chance of surviving a crash in a Maxima . . .
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I'm known to ride motorcycles all day long, so I can't comment on how unsafe the Smart Car might be. It seems that for scooting around running errands in the "village" they might be just fine. At least they have more wheels than my Kawasaki bikes.
Atkins makes a good point. Our focus should be on cost of transportation, and not MPG. One is a true economy, and the other is false. If I may, here is a link to an article I wrote a year ago that puts it in perspective: http://ezinearticles.com/?Total-Cost-of-Transportation---The-Key-to-Saving-Money-in-the-Face-of-High-Gas-Prices&id=1512293
I'll take my chances on a motorcycle - they're much more fun, and they probably have nearly the same carrying capacity.
Clair
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I own a smart car. Chose it over the Honda Fit (the Fit felt like a toy on the inside, but the smart felt like a Mercedes). First car I ever bought.
Smart cars have built in roll cages and superior roof strength in the event of a roll. They're basically large, armored hamster balls. With air bags. And brake power.
I can attest that on wet roads, my car has better traction, handling and braking power than the SUVs on the road with me. I have to remind myself that the soccer mom behind me doesn't have as effective brakes as I do!
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