I agree there....Manual transmissions are a ***** in rush
hour(s) traffic. What's the deal with this "automated" manual transmission, anyway? Edmund's lists the trans
as "AM". What's that?
Automated Manual, you get the efficiency of a manual that is properly driven without knowing how to shift.
karl
I agree there....Manual transmissions are a ***** in rush
hour(s) traffic. What's the deal with this "automated" manual transmission, anyway? Edmund's lists the trans
as "AM". What's that?
I have never understood the term "city car" to mean no highway driving, just to mean that it's not great for LONG trips because it has very little luggage capacity, no cruise control, and a harsh ride (face it, it's harsh) that would wear you down over, let's say, 8 hours of driving -- not to say it can't be done. When in Germany I've noticed them by the hundreds in cities but very few and far between on the autobahn. What makes it good for the city is maneuverability and compactness for parking.
I thought that Penske had to commit to having a dealership in all 50 states to get US DOT approval. Does anyone know if this is true or just an urban legend? Is there really a dealer in Alaska? Or my old homestate of Delaware?
I thought that Penske had to commit to having a dealership in all 50 states to get US DOT approval. Does anyone know if this is true or just an urban legend? Is there really a dealer in Alaska? Or my old homestate of Delaware?
IMHO, "50 States" applies to the car's homologation, not representation. Otherwise some exotic(s) would not be imported, period.
See the map of Dealerships on smart USA on tour
I thought that Penske had to commit to having a dealership in all 50 states to get US DOT approval. Does anyone know if this is true or just an urban legend? Is there really a dealer in Alaska? Or my old homestate of Delaware?
But we need to remember, their has been almost no U.S. Advertising
To my knowledge, there has been zero US advertising. To spend money advertising a car with a long waiting list would make zero business sense.
But, you don't see much advertising for other low density niche cars either. If you do, it would likely be in special interest magazines ... not TV-radio.
Yah, the original fortwo was maybe conceived as a city car. But, I agree with the OP regarding the present incarnation.
To my knowledge, there has been zero US advertising. To spend money advertising a car with a long waiting list would make zero business sense.
But, you don't see much advertising for other low density niche cars either. If you do, it would likely be in special interest magazines ... not TV-radio.
Yah, the original fortwo was maybe conceived as a city car. But, I agree with the OP regarding the present incarnation.
While smart USA may have not had much use for paid advertising, they certainly have been doing a lot of marketing, including internet, the road shows, PR, product placements and others. And some dealers have been doing some mass media paid advertising, I'm always hearing radio ads here in Los Angeles for Walter's Automotive Group where smart is mentioned (and only as "the new smart." Also the Wisconsin dealership cut a commercial with Bret Farve announcing the opening of their smart dealership in Milwaukee.
It doesn't pay to advertise a car that has a nearly one year waiting list. But keeping the brand name out there with "smart" marketing is always a good thing.
We live in a rural mountainous area 130 miles from the nearest real "city" and about 20 miles to a medium sized town. We have taken several 5-6 hour trips in comfort and have been able to take what's needed with us, even for multi-night camping trips. (Needed the roof rack for that)
Except for picking it up and one trip back for the repair of the smog valve, our car hasn't even SEEN a city and it seems happy and well adjusted.
Since 04/08: smart-7200 miles; Isuzu Trooper- 600 miles, 500 of that a trip with our adult daughter
I find it hard to believe that Mercedes Benz, Swatch, or Smart have the explicit design goal of designing a car optimized for city driving with only cursory regard for other uses.
Why would it be the size that it is if it was designed for ANY other reason?
Yes, it is over-engineered as a strictly 'city' car...but with Mercedes-Benz behind it, that's to be expected.
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"the car", "la voiture"
smart - aka Smurf
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