I have to admit, I've wanted a smart for 10 years more for its look and feel than anything else. I followed the story of bringing it to the US closely and ordered mine last year. So mileage wasn't the original main selling point, but by last year, as gas was going up and my SUV mileage was going down, I decided if I didn't get the smart I'd get another small car that's affordable (Prius was a bit much) and good on gas. So the timing worked out perfectly!
I bought ours with the same considerations, better mileage was taken for granted. For us, we've shifted to driving the smart and our CR-V, leaving the Odyssey in the driveway. The ~35% reduction in household gas usage has kept us under budget, even with $4.07/$4.31 gas here. The price of the smart helped to justify its purchase. To get better mileage, we would have had to go hybrid, which would cost at least $9000 more - plus they're getting marked up now because of increased demand. The total cost and the enjoyment factor made it a good decision for us.
The overall package was was brought me to the smart:
-Mileage is MUCH better than my SUV, and the only other car I considered was the Mini. I still have the SUV for times when I need it although I have to admit now it just sits on the driveway six days out of the week.
-Cost to buy vs a new Mini was much lower, and with a lot more features for the price. I should also mention I never considered a Fit, Yaris, or Versa, not my cup of tea.
-I didn't "need" a back seat, more hp, this or that, the smart
is nearly perfect the way it is. What worried me the most was actually the driving "fun" factor and needless to say, it is FUN to drive this car.
-It is truly a "green" car in that it does what you need it to do very efficiently and is made from recyclable materials, which can be turned around and recycled again.
I bought mine because it's the only high fuel mileage vehicle (Hybrids included), that's offered in a cabrio model. I'm getting about 40mpg on average. Toyota Prius would have been my second choice... but I might have held off for either the Plug-In Prius or the new Chevrolet Volt at the end of 2010.
At any rate... I'm VERY happy with my 2008 smart fortwo Passion Cabrio. I'm finding the size really is a plus when trying to find a parking space and now the extra room in my garage is great too!
-Tom L.
yea, hybrids are great if you keep them in the city. The more combined driving and especially interstate/open road driving you do the worse a hybrid does. the Prius only gets about the same if a little more than a Camry. So the smart has alot of advantages. Safer, more stylish, almost all recycleable, great gas milage etc.
When I first saw the smart on the web, I was looking for "green" alternatives to transporation. NEV's, at this point, are not an option, since I can't legally take it out of my development (restricted to 35mph - the road past my development is 40). "Real" electric cars are *very* expensive, and still do not have much range, plus there is the issue of the batteries - cost to replace, environmental impact of the old batteries, etc.
I have the same concerns with the hybrids - what happens to the batteries (which are VERY expensive to replace, and are not (yet) a clean disposal item) when they die.
So, the smart immediately caught my attention - low cost, good mpg, has a certain "wow" factor to it... Plus, I have been lecturing my mother on keeping her land-yacht Buick, for the once-a-year occasion when her kids all come home for the holidays...(I hate not doing what I tell others too...)
But, being that I have some back problems, one of the biggest deal-breakers I have encountered has always been the seats supplied. I have yet to get in a Toyota that was comfortable beyond a couple of miles. Suzukis are the same. Nissan has some good cars, but the ones I can sit in are $$$$. Dodge's can be good, but throw out the enconomy issue (I currently have a Dodge truck that I love, but is being traded in on the smart). My other car is a Saturn wagon that is nearly as comfortable as the truck, but gets *much* better gas mileage. I have tried some other Saturns, but not as good for me, and they can be pricey.
So, when I test-drove the smart in Charlotte during the 'round-the-country tour, I fell in love. I could tell right off that the seat would be comfortable over reasonable amounts of time, it had plenty of room, and if I ever need to carry more stuff, I still have the Saturn. The smart is for commuting.
I ordered the Smart because it was different, the MPG was not a factor. But had I known that by the time I got the car that gas was going to be $4.00 + per gallon, it would have made the decision much easier. I am 6'3" and 250+ with a bad back, as "gbryers" said, the seats are comfortable and do not make by back ache. We also have a Honda Fit, it is also a really good to great car.
My daughter who has a 2002 Cavalier would love to get 26mpg in town driving and her car is in excellent shape. She liked the smart test drive so much she reserved one last week, after Christmas we are going to jump on the orphan list to speed things up. Another 2 smart household on the way. It's not just the mileage, it's the mileage with attitude.
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