raingirl August 7th, 2005, 07:47 PM Ok. It's driving me NUTS the amount of misinformation I am reading about Smart cars here in the forums.
I have known about the Smart coming to Canada for about 4 years. I am OBSESSED with them. I have read every website, report, article, everything! I want one, but unfortunately with 2 people and a dog, it's not feasible (since we take the dog out with us all the time).
First of all, only 1500 Smarts are allowed to be sold in Canada until the end of this year (from September 2004 to end of 2005). Last I had heard, they had sold out. There is a huge waiting list for them, average 6 months, and no one knows how many they will allow in Canada for next year.
In 2006 they are bringing a 4 seater model to Canada, a totally new model that isn't even available in europe. I think it's like a Smart SUV (basically the same as they are now, but 4 seater and longer than the european 4 seaters). In 2006 they are also going to be available in the US for the first time (although a lot of people have imported them there anyway). I just did some digging and it was supposed to be called the Smart ForMore (presently we have the Smart ForTwo). It will be a 4X4, 4 seater version of the Smart ForTwo. Although some sites have listed the production has come to a hault because the US marketing research has showed people may not be interested in buying it.
http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/spyshots/S/smart/03-large/Smart-ForMore-01.jpg
AND THEY ARE SAFER THAN ALMOST ALL CARS ON THE ROAD TODAY!
They are taller than most sedans and other smaller cars on the road. Because you are higher up (you are actually the height of a small SUV like a Rav4 of CRV) you are safer in the most common types of accidents (rear end, tbone).
Also, ever wonder why they are always 2 colours? One of the colours (either silver or black) is the TRIDION safety cell. It's a super strong metal cage that the ENTIRE car is built around. Basically it's like a roll cage. It prevents the car from smushing inwards in a crash.
http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2002/autobodies/images/smart_car_cell.jpg
I would feel safer in a Smart Car more than i would in a civic or corolla or small SUV for that matter. Aside from a tractor trailor falling over on top of it, you are assured safety.
I also heard that environment canada is going to start offering tax deductions to people buying certain cars like the smart...
Prin August 7th, 2005, 07:57 PM I like the Prius better...
Puppyluv August 7th, 2005, 08:06 PM :eek: Our Smart Car dealer told us no Smart-for-4 in Canada!!! Maybe he meant not anytime soon... still.. I'm peeved now!!
With regards to the waiting list: Oh my is there ever one, my dad put down a deposit on a smart car WAAAAAAYYYY back, when bringing it to canada was only speculation. He Just got the car in may.
:thumbs up on the safety, i've driven the little thing on Highway 1 and Highway 90 over Storm Mountain, with HUGE Trucks surrounding me, and it was safe as heck! Remember, we're talking about Mercedes engineering... not exactly shoddy craftmanship!!!
raingirl August 7th, 2005, 08:32 PM The Smart ForFour isn't coming to canada, so your dealer was right. A new model is coming to Canada, that's four seater, so maybe he just left that part out....or just didn't know.
I apologize, the pic I posted is of the ForFour.
THis is the ForMore:
http://cascadeur.olivier.free.fr/Smart/ForMore/smart_suv.jpg
Bigger though...A lot.
I wish they would bring the ForFour here too!
Puppyluv August 7th, 2005, 08:34 PM Wow thats much bigger!! I too wish the forFour was coming... it makes it interesting having the dog in the car... no passengers allowed if she's in there :D
raingirl August 7th, 2005, 08:39 PM I was just looking at some pics of the Smart Trunk and I think we would be able to fit Odin in the trunk on the flat part. He's a bulldog...he could sit in themiddle and look through the front seats. No seat belt attachment for him though.
Puppyluv August 7th, 2005, 08:43 PM The trunks not bad... it can fit two full suitcases, or, two sets of golf clubs (I've been told that this is important :rolleyes: ) Just do what we did.. do a test drive and load those doggies in, and then when you bring the car back covered in fur just smile and say thanks :angel:
raingirl August 7th, 2005, 08:55 PM What colours would you get? I would get a silver tridion safety cell with the green panels, and grey and green interior. It would match my winter jacket.
There are a few websites online where you can trade panels too...
Prin August 7th, 2005, 08:58 PM You guys are funny. :) It's like a conversation. :)
Puppyluv August 7th, 2005, 08:59 PM I wanted green, but as I wasn't paying, I also wasn't deciding. Ours is black tridion with "river silver metallic" side pannels. It's a "Passion Cabriolet"
raingirl August 7th, 2005, 09:26 PM I'm SOOOO jealous by the way.
I so want one. It's the first think I would buy if I won the lottery, no questions!! I would literally walk into a dealership the day I got my cash and buy one.
Puppyluv August 7th, 2005, 09:31 PM Ha ha yeah... the other people at the dealership laugh though, when you drive off in your smart car, and they drive off in their big ol' mercedes :p
Writing4Fun August 8th, 2005, 08:29 AM Yeah, but I bet you're laughing when you pull up to the gas pump. :p (Then again, they won't really care. These people usually have more money than brains anyway. :rolleyes: )
Showed hubby the pic of the Smart SUV. That is a good-looking vehicle! Hmmm.... By the time we're ready to buy another car, maybe that'll be widely available in Canada.... Time to start saving those pennies! :D
Schwinn August 8th, 2005, 11:14 AM For those who are buying it for enviromental reasons, how do you feel about it running on diesel? I'm not being smart, I'm really asking. I was thinking about that this morning, does the 80 mpg off-set the fact that it runs on diesel fuel? I've heard a lot of complaints from people outside the board about diesel cars and transports, but I never hear anyone complain about the diesel in these cars. I really don't know how much worse diesel is for the enviroment, but I know it must be worse because it is unrefined gasoline. Personally, I'm thinking my next vehicle will be diesel, so it isn't a big issue for me. Just wanted to ask out of curiosity.
jjgeonerd August 8th, 2005, 11:42 AM For those who are buying it for enviromental reasons, how do you feel about it running on diesel? I'm not being smart, I'm really asking. I was thinking about that this morning, does the 80 mpg off-set the fact that it runs on diesel fuel? I've heard a lot of complaints from people outside the board about diesel cars and transports, but I never hear anyone complain about the diesel in these cars. I really don't know how much worse diesel is for the enviroment, but I know it must be worse because it is unrefined gasoline. Personally, I'm thinking my next vehicle will be diesel, so it isn't a big issue for me. Just wanted to ask out of curiosity.
I dig that "forFour" or whatever it's called. Looks cool! I would love to see one here in the States. :thumbs up
As far as diesel goes, my understanding is diesel actually pollutes less. Gasoline engines exhaust is generally invisible but contains all sorts of harmful chemicals, whereas diesel exhaust is much lower in chemicals but is higher in particulates (which is why it can be seen). Overall diesel is supposedly more environmentally friendly.
Also, diesels can use Biodiesel if you're lucky enough to have it available in your area. Biodiesel is made from soybeans and has virtually no harmful exhaust chemicals. Plus it makes your exhaust kind of smell like popcorn. :p Here in Seattle Biodiesel is offered at a few stations and costs about $0.10 more per gallon. For long trip where bio isn't available you can switch back and forth (I think).
BMDLuver August 8th, 2005, 11:43 AM I know that some smart cars run on electric and some on propane? I didn't know about Diesel. I have a friend who just purchased one and he has both electric and propane. Propane isn't easy to find in Ontario apparently? He had it modified to do both. I think that Cabriolet is just adorable but at 6' not sure how well I would fit in with the gang in tow? :o
Puppyluv August 8th, 2005, 11:57 AM Diesel has a much worse reputation than it deserves. For most people, the it conjurs images of 1970 Cadillacs... not eaxaclt environmentally friendly....
An interesting website is: http://www.edmunds.com/advice/specialreports/articles/93338/article.html
But to save you time, here's their gist:
One of the biggest hurdles for diesel to overcome is its reputation with the American consumer. Baby boomers are likely to remember the fuel crises of the 1970s and the failed attempt by General Motors to offer diesel drivetrains. Oh sure, the various diesel-powered Cadillacs started and ran…technically. But few consumers wanted to actually drive one. Others are likely to think of noisy, smelly, smoke-belching buses and large trucks that are still seen on the streets today. Still more may remember plugging in their diesels on cold winter nights only to find them hard to start in the morning. Today's diesel technology is none of these things.
Of all the types of internal-combustion engines, the diesel engine is the most efficient; a given amount of diesel fuel can make more power than the same amount of gasoline. In order to tap into that greater potential energy, air is compressed to a much greater degree than it is in a gasoline engine. Most gasoline engines have a compression ratio of around 10 to 1 while a diesel's can be as high as 25 to 1. After compressing the air, small amounts of fuel are injected into the combustion chamber. This highly compressed mixture creates high temperatures, which in turn causes the diesel fuel to burn without a spark plug (a key component in a gasoline engine). The resulting energy is what gives diesel its edge in fuel economy — 20 to 40 percent more than a comparably sized gasoline engine.
Puppyluv August 8th, 2005, 12:00 PM I think that Cabriolet is just adorable but at 6' not sure how well I would fit in with the gang in tow? :o
Well if it helps, my brother is 6'3 and he fits... :D
Daniac August 8th, 2005, 12:19 PM I know that some smart cars run on electric and some on propane? I didn't know about Diesel. I have a friend who just purchased one and he has both electric and propane. Propane isn't easy to find in Ontario apparently? He had it modified to do both. I think that Cabriolet is just adorable but at 6' not sure how well I would fit in with the gang in tow? :o
My parents have been driving propane cars for about 20 years now if not longer. There is no problem finding propane in cities and most towns. There may not be a lot of gas stations that are selling it but there is usually at least 1 in even a small town.
In the US it's harder to find and when we go over and need to fill up we switch to gas. (my mom's current car has 2 tanks.)
I would love one of those smart cars! I see a number of them driving around Hamilton.
Puppyluv August 8th, 2005, 12:24 PM BMD-the only smart car approved in Canada is a diesel engine.
nymph August 8th, 2005, 12:54 PM I wanted green, but as I wasn't paying, I also wasn't deciding. Ours is black tridion with "river silver metallic" side pannels. It's a "Passion Cabriolet"
Oh this is tooo cute!
Prin August 8th, 2005, 01:14 PM Diesel has a much worse reputation than it deserves. For most people, the it conjurs images of 1970 Cadillacs... not eaxaclt environmentally friendly.... In Europe there are so many cleaner diesels. One Audi diesel actually emits cleaner air than it takes in. It's a shape that the reputation of diesel is so bad here. The new Jettas don't help it either, as most of them get stinky after 3 years.. :rolleyes:
jjgeonerd August 8th, 2005, 02:36 PM In Europe there are so many cleaner diesels. One Audi diesel actually emits cleaner air than it takes in. It's a shape that the reputation of diesel is so bad here. The new Jettas don't help it either, as most of them get stinky after 3 years.. :rolleyes:
I'd be very skeptical of a car company claiming that their car emmitted cleaner air than what it sucked in! The engineer in me can't really see how that is possible. :rolleyes:
Schwinn August 8th, 2005, 02:41 PM I think that Cabriolet is just adorable but at 6' not sure how well I would fit in with the gang in tow? :o
With the roof down, just fine. Of course, you'd look like a Shriner without the hat...
Prin August 8th, 2005, 03:03 PM I'd be very skeptical of a car company claiming that their car emmitted cleaner air than what it sucked in! The engineer in me can't really see how that is possible. :rolleyes:
Filters....
jjgeonerd August 8th, 2005, 03:10 PM Filters....
I still don't belive it! ;) Do you have a link? I would love to read about it...great if true!
Prin August 8th, 2005, 03:16 PM Sigh. You guys are asking me for so many links today!! I should just stay quiet. (you wish! :D )
LOL I haven't found it yet, but I found this for the Toyota Prius: The Prius is all about innovation, creativity, and a healthy environment—just like Iowa Great Places! It's one of the most innovative things out there now, and its zero-emissions technology (it actually puts out cleaner air than it takes in) and high fuel efficiency (59 mpg city; 51 mpg highway; average of 55 mpg combined) make it the most environmentally-friendly car available. Oh, and it uses ethanol!
Prin August 8th, 2005, 03:17 PM Look at this! It's an Air Car. http://www.theaircar.com/
Puppyluv August 8th, 2005, 03:18 PM I still don't belive it! ;) Do you have a link? I would love to read about it...great if true!
You engineers... always make the hardest customers to sell to....
Prin August 8th, 2005, 03:33 PM Arg, I can't find it. I heard it on the radio when we were stuck in traffic in England for 10 hours about 5 years ago... (Frankly, I don't like audi much, but that's what I heard.)
jjgeonerd August 8th, 2005, 03:36 PM Look at this! It's an Air Car. http://www.theaircar.com/
That's cool! :thumbs up Precisely why the US should be routing more money to alternative energy source research, instead of subsidizing the oil companies per our new energy policy. :mad:
jjgeonerd August 8th, 2005, 03:40 PM You engineers... always make the hardest customers to sell to....
:sorry: ...just seemed fishy.
Prin...I searched too...no luck. It would be great if true!
Prin August 8th, 2005, 03:52 PM Maybe when they came out 5 years ago they were claiming it was zero-emmissions, when really it was disproved... I don't know. I just am skeptical about the validity of it now that I can't find it anywhere.. :rolleyes:
Schwinn August 9th, 2005, 09:43 AM I wonder if you can get the filters in pot pourri, kind of like a giant Glad Plug-in for your car. Of course, I think all those floating flowers like in the commercial might be some sort of a traffic hazzard...
Prin August 9th, 2005, 12:36 PM They'd be very distracting and they'd blockbind spots at the very least... :D
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