Smart Car of America Forums - The Car Lounge

Anyone Own a Skoda?

Big Panda — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:46:48 GMT

Someone in GB on my Jeep forum posted a story about a Skoda they own.

While I found many pics of old, present and concept models, THIS one kind of caught my eye.....

Attached Images

skoda-yeti-r.jpg (40.0 KB)

Test your knowledge of cars!

pmolink — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:54:48 GMT

This is not easy:

CLICK HERE

If all smarts were whisked away by aliens...

rfernatt — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:56:48 GMT

(Or reclaimed by aliens...)

What would you purchase to replace your car, assuming your auto insurance covers alien abduction, and why? My list would include the following. What vehicles would be on your short list?

1. Honda Fit (sporty, like the redesign, it's a Honda, close dealer, love a 5 door hatch)
2. VW Golf TDI 5-door (diesel, VW handling, like the redesign, close dealer, 5-door hatch)
3. Toyota Yaris 5-door (it's a Toyota, close dealer, 5 door hatch, economical)

Silver Arrows Again?

Old smart — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:14:07 GMT

The word is out that M-B will return to works racing under its own name for the first time since the stable was closed down following the Le Mans incident in 1955. M-B will take over Braun GP (sort of like the way they took over ILMOR). McLaren is to be shed.

Toyota will compete with Smart (xB content)

cubefx — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:04:29 GMT

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CUBE

Member Ideas for smart Commercials

Dunerunner — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:04:10 GMT

This thread http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...y-stunt-27676/ got me interested in how creative we as SCoA members could get in creating our own smart commercial.

I've always pictured the smart couple traveling cross country with another couple in a luxury (domestic or import) incidentally, traveling the same route.

They pass several times and the luxury owners look down their noses at the smart couple who generally ignore them as they are having so much fun in their little smart.

They both arrive at the same service station for fuel at the same time and the smart owner puts $24 of fuel in the smart, while the luxury owner is already over $50.

The luxury owner looks over at the smart, smiles and says to the smart owner; "Is it electric?"

The scene fades to the smart logo and the announcer says "smart, open your mind."

Crazy idea for smart publicity stunt

rfernatt — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:38:09 GMT

I've had this idea for a while, but the US doesn't have a diesel model currently. Regardless, here's the idea:

We're all familiar with the Cannonball Run, a coast to coast race. I'd like to do the "Boomerang" as coast to coast to coast - a complete round trip in the least amount of time from Jacksonville, FL to San Diego, CA (apparent shortest route between coasts). The catch is, I'd like to do it without refueling or ever shutting the engine off. In my limited engineering understanding, this would a) require an auxiliary reinforced fuel tank mounted in the storage area, b) diesel fuel and a diesel powered fortwo, c) structural enhancements/wheels/tires to handle the additional fuel weight, d) all the fuel saving tricks you can muster, and e) two drivers that could swap off,

Obviously, high speed will not be the issue, just a leisurely cruising speed and it will take a while to get up to speed. Given the amount of fuel on-board, it has to be diesel to avoid turning into a flambe during any type of accident. With some back of the napkin calculations, it appears that you could carry enough diesel in the space available to make the trip as described, albeit with room for little else.

Am I completely crazy?

37 percent of U.S. Saab dealerships to close

forestacademy — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:59:47 GMT

From
37 percent of U.S. Saab dealerships to close - Autos- msnbc.com

Quote:

GM spokeswoman Ryndee Carney said the company had sent letters to 81 of the 218 U.S. Saab dealers notifying them they will be expected to terminate their dealerships when the sale closes around the end of November

This will be about twice the distrobution smart has in the US

Piaggio shows high performance hybrid two wheeler

BigWarpGuy — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:06:43 GMT

This is a neat hybrid vehicle.:D

If I had only known about the hybrid MB S400...

rfernatt — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:40:02 GMT

I could have saved the $14K and change I spent on the smart and instead purchased the relatively efficient S400 for $88K. What was I thinking!?! :)

The EPA lists the smart at only 36 combined city/highway because they tested the same 2,315 lb model that the Washington Post used for this article. :p

A hybrid that's more about style than the environment

Which is more fuel efficient? Is it the tiny Smart Fortwo, which weighs 2,315 pounds and gets a combined city-highway mileage of 36 miles per gallon with a 1-liter, 3-cylinder 70-horsepower engine sipping required premium gasoline along the way?

Or, is it this week's subject automobile -- the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, a nearly 2 1/2 -ton luxury tank, replete with all of the comforts and conveniences of the modern, high-end car, that has seats for five people and a trunk big enough to carry all of their stuff, that gets a combined 22.5 miles per gallon with a gas-electric propulsion system yielding a maximum 295 horsepower, with the gasoline part of that system also requiring premium fuel?

Daimler, which makes both cars, argues that the big S400 Hybrid is in many ways as fuel efficient, if not more so than the little Smart Fortwo.

The Smart Fortwo, which starts at $11,900 and gets 36 miles per gallon, is more economical than the S400 Hybrid, which starts at $87,950.

Amazing Video (Rally Crashes)

cubefx — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:23:52 GMT

Very cool video of rally crashes from Finland. Love how everyone applauds, cheers, and give thumbs up! And no overdub of Linkin Park or some other crappy band. Just the pure sound of cars crashing into the scenery!

YouTube - Crazy Finns Crashing - with pure engine...

Premium Car Buyers Shaken by Recession, Stirred by Conscience

rfernatt — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:57:48 GMT

Premium Car Buyers Shaken by Recession, Stirred by Conscience

This permanent shift has replaced the conspicuous consumer with �the conscientious consumer,� even in the area of luxury goods like high-end automobiles. Such goods should be marketed as �premium,� not �luxury� to reflect this new reality, said DYG co-founder and president Madelyn Hochstein.

Those in the highest income bracket surveyed � $150,000 and above � were most likely to assert themselves as humble, smart and socially, politically and environmentally responsible.

�There is always status,� she said. Rather than buying cars that scream �I can still afford a luxury car,� today�s recession-scarred premium shoppers want to convey something Hochstein calls �dog-whistle taste� � so named because only others in the know pick up on it. DYG�s analysis found another interesting thing about selling upscale cars in a downscale economy: The recession has made people more likely to drop a bundle on a luxury, er, premium car as a reward for actual or perceived hard work.

Because, you know, those people consider themselves humble.

I guess a person could have a worse day.

shark — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:06:50 GMT

Near Galveston. 1.4 million in the brine.:eek:
The Weather Center Blog Archive Don’t Blame the Weather

Cars Sold In Japan But Not In The US.

BigWarpGuy — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:14:34 GMT

How about a thread on cars that are sold in Japan but not in the US (and probably won't be)? :confused:

Daihatsu Copen.

I think this is a neat little car. :D

Massive performance on land or sea - the amphibious WaterCar Python

BigWarpGuy — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:04:48 GMT

The WaterCar is cool but you have to buy an engine and transaxel. At about $170,000.00, one would think it would come with it. :confused: I still think it is cool. :cool: