Comments on: Toyota’s Smart Roadster http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:56:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mirko Reinhardt http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-868571 Mirko Reinhardt Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:07:52 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-868571 @psarhjinian <i>They already make this: it’s called the Daihatsu Copen.</i> The Copen is FWD, so would this be if it was iQ-based. The Smart Roadster is RWD, and <strike>one of the best handling cars</strike> the best handling car I have ever driven in my life. @psarhjinian
They already make this: it’s called the Daihatsu Copen.

The Copen is FWD, so would this be if it was iQ-based. The Smart Roadster is RWD, and one of the best handling cars the best handling car I have ever driven in my life.

]]> By: TomAnderson http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-868471 TomAnderson Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:17:53 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-868471 Toyota? Roadster? Fun? Pffft...next thing you'll be telling me Chyrslerberus is trying to get GM into bed! Oh, right... Toyota? Roadster? Fun?

Pffft…next thing you’ll be telling me Chyrslerberus is trying to get GM into bed!

Oh, right…

]]> By: psarhjinian http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-868251 psarhjinian Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:26:51 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-868251 <em>That is a very important detail. If Toyota comes over with a mid-engine roadster they would have much better chances of competing against the MX-5.</em> Hey, great idea! They could have a mid-engine, rear-drive, two-seat sports car. They could even name it thusly, something like a concatenation of Mid, Rear and Two. It'd sell like hotcakes! Oh, wait.. That is a very important detail. If Toyota comes over with a mid-engine roadster they would have much better chances of competing against the MX-5.

Hey, great idea! They could have a mid-engine, rear-drive, two-seat sports car. They could even name it thusly, something like a concatenation of Mid, Rear and Two. It’d sell like hotcakes!

Oh, wait..

]]> By: psarhjinian http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-868241 psarhjinian Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:25:49 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-868241 They already make this: it's called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daihatsu_Copen" rel="nofollow">Daihatsu Copen.</a> They already make this: it’s called the Daihatsu Copen.

]]> By: Usta Bee http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-868231 Usta Bee Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:25:39 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-868231 I'm thinking Suzuki Swift/Geo Metro convertible. I’m thinking Suzuki Swift/Geo Metro convertible.

]]> By: no_slushbox http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-868041 no_slushbox Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:56 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-868041 <em>Paul Niedermeyer</em>: That is a very important detail. If Toyota comes over with a mid-engine roadster they would have much better chances of competing against the MX-5. <em>Demetri</em>: Yeah, for what it is the MX-5 is amazingly cheap. Who said this would cost $15K? The regular iQ has been projected to cost around $14-15K. A limited production roadster version would easily run in the low $20s - MX-5 territory - at which point it really doesn't stand a chance unless it's mid-engined. Especially since I see current generation low mileage used MX-5s selling for ~$15K all the time. Paul Niedermeyer:

That is a very important detail. If Toyota comes over with a mid-engine roadster they would have much better chances of competing against the MX-5.

Demetri: Yeah, for what it is the MX-5 is amazingly cheap.

Who said this would cost $15K? The regular iQ has been projected to cost around $14-15K. A limited production roadster version would easily run in the low $20s – MX-5 territory – at which point it really doesn’t stand a chance unless it’s mid-engined.

Especially since I see current generation low mileage used MX-5s selling for ~$15K all the time.

]]> By: optic http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-868021 optic Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:48:25 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-868021 I sort of want a honda beat. I wish we could import older kei cars like those damn canadians. I sort of want a honda beat. I wish we could import older kei cars like those damn canadians.

]]> By: Demetri http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-867991 Demetri Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:33:03 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-867991 I wouldn't call the MX-5 cheap. It starts at 22.5k, and if you want the 6speed it's 24.5. I'd like to have an MX-5, but I decided that a Mazda 3 and $7,500 sounded better. I think this is supposed to be closer to 15k. I'd go for the regular IQ, but if they're only offering a 1.3 liter tops, I may not be interested. Hopefully if it comes over as a Scion they can shove the Yaris 1.5 in there. I wouldn’t call the MX-5 cheap. It starts at 22.5k, and if you want the 6speed it’s 24.5. I’d like to have an MX-5, but I decided that a Mazda 3 and $7,500 sounded better. I think this is supposed to be closer to 15k.

I’d go for the regular IQ, but if they’re only offering a 1.3 liter tops, I may not be interested. Hopefully if it comes over as a Scion they can shove the Yaris 1.5 in there.

]]> By: chuckgoolsbee http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-867981 chuckgoolsbee Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:32:17 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-867981 If it has a Diesel, I'd buy one. As for expectations of performance, who the hell cares? If it can return 40-60 MPG, have a drop-top, and costs very little, it will sell like hotcakes. Trimuph & MG sold a LOT of cars just like this, with mid-double-digit HP numbers and more fun than you could possibly imagine. Well, that is before they were "Leylanded" into oblivion. I need to commute, not drag race, to work. I'd love to have the option of doing so in a nice little two-seater with something that will burn homebrew fuel. Whomever brings that to market first gets my money. --chuck If it has a Diesel, I’d buy one.

As for expectations of performance, who the hell cares? If it can return 40-60 MPG, have a drop-top, and costs very little, it will sell like hotcakes. Trimuph & MG sold a LOT of cars just like this, with mid-double-digit HP numbers and more fun than you could possibly imagine. Well, that is before they were “Leylanded” into oblivion.

I need to commute, not drag race, to work. I’d love to have the option of doing so in a nice little two-seater with something that will burn homebrew fuel. Whomever brings that to market first gets my money.

–chuck

]]> By: Paul Niedermeyer http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-867891 Paul Niedermeyer Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:12:27 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-867891 What's missing here is that am&s speculates that the iQ's drivetrain could/would easily be relocated to the rear, creating a mid-engine platform for a roadster/coupe. What’s missing here is that am&s speculates that the iQ’s drivetrain could/would easily be relocated to the rear, creating a mid-engine platform for a roadster/coupe.

]]> By: no_slushbox http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-867851 no_slushbox Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:56:01 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-867851 If has kei dimensions it will be big in Japan (they can throw in the Daihatsu 659cc turbo to make it fully kei compliant), big enough to support limited sales in Europe and the US. In Europe and Japan it will cannibalize the hell out of subsidiary Daihatsu's Copen (GM 2.0). The MX-5 is cheap, relatively powerful, and right wheel drive, and used Miatas and MR2 Spyders are really cheap, so this will be a tough sell in the US except for some urban cutesy buyers. <em>Dave</em>: I can't believe you lucky bastards get all the sweet rwd kei cars (Suzuki Cappuccino, Honda Beat, Mazda Autozam AZ-1). At least in the US we don’t have to live in igloos :) If has kei dimensions it will be big in Japan (they can throw in the Daihatsu 659cc turbo to make it fully kei compliant), big enough to support limited sales in Europe and the US. In Europe and Japan it will cannibalize the hell out of subsidiary Daihatsu’s Copen (GM 2.0).

The MX-5 is cheap, relatively powerful, and right wheel drive, and used Miatas and MR2 Spyders are really cheap, so this will be a tough sell in the US except for some urban cutesy buyers.

Dave: I can’t believe you lucky bastards get all the sweet rwd kei cars (Suzuki Cappuccino, Honda Beat, Mazda Autozam AZ-1). At least in the US we don’t have to live in igloos :)

]]> By: Dave http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-867781 Dave Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:37:46 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-867781 The Suzuki Cappucino is a brilliant car. A few older ones trickling into Canada. I'd love to see Toyota bring one here - would do wonders for their image and provide me a nice option for a commuter/auto-x car. The Suzuki Cappucino is a brilliant car. A few older ones trickling into Canada. I’d love to see Toyota bring one here – would do wonders for their image and provide me a nice option for a commuter/auto-x car.

]]> By: Ingvar http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyotas-smart-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-867731 Ingvar Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:23:06 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=116381#comment-867731 They could even BUY the design of the original Smart Roadster, as Mercedes canned it in 2005 after only two years and some 43 000 cars. They could even BUY the design of the original Smart Roadster, as Mercedes canned it in 2005 after only two years and some 43 000 cars.

]]>