Who Pissed-Off The Smart?

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

From the Lorinser press release:

While it was derided at first, the Smart has since evolved into a hip cult-car—even in “big block” USA. Its success story is no surprise: the defiant small car still embodies the principles of good economic and ecological sense while being completely free of a “piggy-bank look” and “everyman design.” Consequently it suits the times perfectly. So why is Sportservice Lorinser forecasting a dark future for the Smart? Because black is suiting the dynamic light metal alloys Speedy perfectly.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Derm81 Derm81 on Feb 18, 2009

    Do people buy these things just to make a statement? Kinda like every Prius owner that I know is a total asshat....so is every Smart owner.

  • Psarhjinian Psarhjinian on Feb 18, 2009

    There's more than a few of these where I live, and the owners are usually oddballs. Not bad, just odd in the same sense that Saab owners in the eighties were odd. You know, tweed jackets with leather patches, shops at the farmer's market, goes to gallery openings, probably has a Master's degree and visits a naturopath. Nice people, though. They're always empty-nesters, too. I've yet to see a non-greybeard in one. There's decent cargo space---at least as much as the Yaris behind the seats---but the two-seat thing is a definite turn-off if you're younger. I have to confess to being a fan, but I don't know if I like the new one. Canada had the prior CDI Smart for about three years, but we lost it when they brought the gas version over for the US. Pity, really, because the diesel, while slower and more expensive, didn't have such a witless transmission and did get better mileage.

  • Golden2husky Golden2husky on Feb 18, 2009

    Don't get the smart. For all the tradeoffs - safety, practicality, cost, resale values - the mileage just isn't good enough to offset all these negatives. Even if "green is good" is your mantra, this car doesn't cut it, as it drinks too much fuel. There are better choices in eco-transportation. The only advantage to this car is that you get noticed, which may not be such a good thing anyway.

  • Rpol35 Rpol35 on Feb 18, 2009

    It would be OK if you installed one of those $21,000 LS-9 Chevy crate engines that were listed on TTAC earlier today.

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