Daimler Finds Use for 200 U.S. Smart Cars

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

No, it has nothing to do with Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus. I know: I shouldn’t be dissing the Smart. Even though American purveyors of Daimler’s diminutive darling are having a little problem with customers walking away from their advance deposits, Smart was the only brand amongst America’s 46 automotive nameplates that posted a sales gain in March. OK, we’re talking about a one percent gain, to just 1,746 units (the rounding error for Camry sales). So . . . the Smart is one of a handful of cars that makes me want to get out and walk, but The New York Times hearts the fashion victim’s overpriced rolling penalty box, big style. About which the Gray Lady brings glad tidings! Daimler is dumping 200 Smarts into an Austin, TX car share program. True story. What’s more, YOU pay THEM for access to the cars.

Specifically, the Austin service will offer drivers shared access to 200 Smart Fortwos 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To confirm a car’s availability, customers hold a member card over a card reader on the car’s windshield. If the car is available, the door will unlock. The driver can then access the keys from the glove compartment using a PIN. If the car is not available, the customer will be directed to the nearest available Car2go. The service also lets you prebook your vehicle and locate a car by phone or the Web.

That sounds unnecessarily complicated to me. Why not just leave the keys in the ignition? I kid. But seriously, the template German car2go service is a big hit. With the media, anyway. And isn’t that what’s really important? For the media, anyway.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Windswords Windswords on Apr 06, 2009

    "I know: I shouldn’t be dissing the Smart." Yes you should. Besides, when has that ever stopped you?

  • Superbadd75 Superbadd75 on Apr 06, 2009

    So how does the whole Zipcar thing work, anyway? Is it really any cheaper than just renting a ride for a day or two? Some of those places have decent rates for the same compact cars that seem to be offered in these carshares, and their weekend rates are usually killer.

  • Nicholas Weaver Nicholas Weaver on Apr 06, 2009

    Zipcar is cheaper if you only need the car for an hour or two. If you are over 25, and need a car for a day, Enterprise is vastly cheaper.

  • BklynPete BklynPete on Apr 06, 2009
    superbadd75 : April 6th, 2009 at 9:26 am So how does the whole Zipcar thing work, anyway? Is it really any cheaper than just renting a ride for a day or two? Some of those places have decent rates for the same compact cars that seem to be offered in these carshares, and their weekend rates are usually killer. It certainly can be, Superbadd. Two weeks ago I rented a Mini Cooper to 2 hours, going to a part of NYC not well-served by mass transit. I had to pick up two heavy boxes and run a few errands. Total cost was $27.74 and gasoline's included. Tolls are extra, but I didn't use any. If I'd done the same round-trip by car service, it would have cost 2-3 times that plus I did the driving. You do have to watch your return times, though. If your car is due back at say, 5pm and you're 10 minutes late and someone else is picking it up, they'll sock you with a $50 charge. But that's part of what you agree to. Overall, it's a good deal if you use it right.
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