I got back from Paris on Saturday and Sunday I joined the smartcar of America community. I read all of your comments about making the reservation and I did get my reservation yesterday. I received an email telling me that my reservation was confirmed and that I will receive a phone cal from the US dealer near me!
You cannot go 5 minutes in Paris without seen of theses cute cars. I am buying it as a second car and for my daughter to drive it.
I bet your daughter will love it! My family went to visit London and came back with all kinds of stories about the Smart and how thats all you see on the streets over there. I'm sure my dad will be in line with his reservation soon too now that he's back and can't stop talking about them!
I was just in Paris also, found a Smart dealer checked out all the features. I have had a reservation for 6 months, hope to get one of the first ones in South Florida. There are so many really nice small cars in Paris, when is American going to get off the SUV/Hummer kick?
"When is America going to get off the SUV/Hummer kick?"
Maybe when George Bush leaves office!
It sure seems our government (that's OUR government) has thrown a lot of roadblocks to getting more small cars here. It's really hard to deny that the demand is there for the smaller cars, and clearly the supply is there in the rest of the world. So, why aren't they here? Just how long has it taken Smart to be able to go through the safety checks and EPA tests and all the roadblocks (pun intended) to bring Smart to America? Note that these cars have been in Canada and Mexico already for some time.
"When is America going to get off the SUV/Hummer kick?"
Maybe when George Bush leaves office!
It sure seems our government (that's OUR government) has thrown a lot of roadblocks to getting more small cars here. It's really hard to deny that the demand is there for the smaller cars, and clearly the supply is there in the rest of the world. So, why aren't they here? Just how long has it taken Smart to be able to go through the safety checks and EPA tests and all the roadblocks (pun intended) to bring Smart to America? Note that these cars have been in Canada and Mexico already for some time.
I don't know if you ever watch automotive sales but America is getting off the SUV kick... that market is suffering like crazy these days!
"When is America going to get off the SUV/Hummer kick?"
Maybe when George Bush leaves office!
It sure seems our government (that's OUR government) has thrown a lot of roadblocks to getting more small cars here. It's really hard to deny that the demand is there for the smaller cars, and clearly the supply is there in the rest of the world. So, why aren't they here? Just how long has it taken Smart to be able to go through the safety checks and EPA tests and all the roadblocks (pun intended) to bring Smart to America? Note that these cars have been in Canada and Mexico already for some time.
I remember the gas shortage in 1973. Shortly after, US car makers came out with smaller gas efficient cars but that didn't last. Don't know whether it is advertising or the low cost of fuel but we really seem to migrate to large less efficient cars.
Was in Paris for an extended period late last year and high-test gas was over US $6.00 per gallon and diesel was just over $5.50 per gallon. If we had those prices we might have better public transportation systems and smaller cars
I remember the gas shortage in 1973. Shortly after, US car makers came out with smaller gas efficient cars but that didn't last. Don't know whether it is advertising or the low cost of fuel but we really seem to migrate to large less efficient cars.
The big 3 US manufacturers were selling smaller fuel efficient car before the 1973 Arab oil embargo, well, at least, Ford and Chevy were. Ford had the Pinto and Chevy had the Vega. Ford later had the Fiesta and Escort (well, a US market thing that they called the Escort, not a real Escort). Chevy later had the Chevette and the GM brand Geo.
The problem was after the 70s oil shocks (and the subsequent falling of fuel prices), the early 80s recession and manufacturers figuring out how to make high-performance cars that met the emissions standards, people started buying larger (and/or more fuel-thirsty) cars again.
It wasn't just the US mfgs that fell into this. Compare a 1980 Accord to a 2007 Accord or a 1980 Rabbit to a 2007 Rabbit.
Hard to blame the mfgs for giving the people what they wanted.
In the late 80' Honda, Nissan and Toyota (I think) had econo boxes gettting 5o+- MPG for a good price - a true economy car. The mfgers MARKET based on what consumer can be CONVINCED they need. ARISE the SUV, a giant, overweight, top heavy, gas guzzling, poor stopping distance, crappy aero-dynamic box, 4WD behemoth. It took a huge gas price hike to wake consumers. Now as you pass dealers you see the dinosaur, 'en mass, sitting in all the car dealers lots...overpriced and underloved. Smart Car is rising and I welcome it with open arms! (Sorry for the drama...LOL)
I remember the gas shortage in 1973. Shortly after, US car makers came out with smaller gas efficient cars but that didn't last. Don't know whether it is advertising or the low cost of fuel but we really seem to migrate to large less efficient cars.
Was in Paris for an extended period late last year and high-test gas was over US $6.00 per gallon and diesel was just over $5.50 per gallon. If we had those prices we might have better public transportation systems and smaller cars
Don
Don't forget, that trend towards smaller cars in the early '70s brought us the pinto, mustang II, gremlin and pacer. I'd rather forget those days.
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