Smart car that popular in Europe?

[deltadart]

Originally Posted by danielkes

I owned a 2002 Smart when I lived in Dublin. I loved it. There are lots of alternatives there but at that time the Smart was the premium model. Now there are a lot of other options in the premium category but I would still buy a Smart. I however am not buying a US version Smart. My 2002 got about 65mpg, I'm very disappointed in the US version.

What engine set-up did your Smart have to get that kind of mileage?

[BeSmart]

Bet it was a diesel. I rented a CDI in germany (2001), and couldn't believe how little diesel it used.

[2smartArizona]

I have a lot of friends in Europe and they all tell me to not buy a smart. Even by their economical standards they find it too small, too expensive, and most just laugh when I mention it.
They have so many alternatives that are cheaper, faster, get better mileage and are larger, they don't get it.
Yaris 1.1 gas even does better.
I would say its not really that popular based on the number of them I see on the street. You see more in the big cities, but they are a rarity elsewhere.

[MsJoanne]

Originally Posted by deltadart

What engine set-up did your Smart have to get that kind of mileage?

I've rented smart cars in Europe for years and I, too, am disappointed in the US MPG. I always rent gasoline smarts which always got around 60 MPG.

I love smart because it is unique...but the MPGs here are disappointing.

I love the Audi micro, too (A1 I think).

[Woody14619]

Originally Posted by 2smartArizona

I would say its not really that popular based on the number of them I see on the street. You see more in the big cities, but they are a rarity elsewhere.

They've only been for sale in the US for like 3 months. Of course you don't see them on the streets yet. It's like saying Saturns were unpopular in 93 because you didn't see them on the street...

And yes, in Europe they have lots of options that get better mileage, including their version of the smart. And yes, a Yaris in the US can get better millage, it also costs a lot more and looks ugly.

[jwight]

Originally Posted by Woody14619

They've only been for sale in the US for like 3 months. Of course you don't see them on the streets yet. It's like saying Saturns were unpopular in 93 because you didn't see them on the street...

And yes, in Europe they have lots of options that get better mileage, including their version of the smart. And yes, a Yaris in the US can get better millage, it also costs a lot more and looks ugly.

You may have misunderstood; 2smart was saying they are mostly in the big cities in Europe, which is correct, although you do occasionally see them in smaller towns.

As far as mpg, either compare EPA estimates, in which case the Yaris is not rated as high as the smart, or documented user mpg, in which case some smart owners are in the mid to high 40 mpg range, with a few getting over 50 mpg. Some Yaris owners may be getting the same, but not many is my guess.

Check out this "32+ mpg club" thread on Yarisworld.

[BTW, this is not an invitation to start another round of Yaris bashing.]

[helidrvr]

Originally Posted by danielkes

I owned a 2002 Smart when I lived in Dublin. [....] My 2002 got about 65mpg, I'm very disappointed in the US version.

Presumably 65 miles per Imperial gallon, since you were in the UK.

BIG difference, that!

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by jwight

Could be the Chevy Matiz city car:

Chevrolet Matiz S - Engines and transmission - Chevrolet UK

add the Matiz to a long list of cars that we can't buy due to lack of demand...
karl

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by 2smartArizona

I have a lot of friends in Europe and they all tell me to not buy a smart. Even by their economical standards they find it too small, too expensive, and most just laugh when I mention it. [...]

Correct, most of my fellow Europeans did consider the smart as a small and very expensive toy with a terrible (they used stronger language...) gearbox. They said that I'm crazy to have bought one. At least those friends who were forward enough to let me know what they think. But the issue is exactly that: it's what they THINK. They have actually never driven a smart, not even been in one. Because of its hefty price (yes, new smarts are expensive, but have a wider and longer warranty) and its minimalist size, they were considered as a "city MB", preferred by an elite. Like the antithesis of the Range Rover they use to go to the mall with...
This attitude is changing though. (I.e. smarts are now on the list of the ten most often stolen cars in France... but that's another issue.) My friends haven't told me how stupid I am recently (at least on this matter!), and start to ask questions (is it safe, is it that small, how many l./100k., is it safe, is it conform to the new standards...) and I'm not surprised that Smartville can't make them fast enough for all of us!
The perception of "unsafe" remains an issue, because the smart is smaller than the average mini cars mentioned elsewhere on this thread. As if size is proportional to safety.

[jwight]

Originally Posted by Karl Roth

add the Matiz to a long list of cars that we can't buy due to lack of demand...
karl

Yeah, too bad; pretty good mpg figures:

Fuel consumption mpg (litres/100km): urban 40.9 (6.9)
Fuel consumption mpg (litres/100km): extra-urban 67.3 (4.2)
Fuel consumption mpg (litres/100km): combined 54.3 (5.2)
CO2 emission (g/km) 119
Emission class EURO IV

Those are Imperial gallons but still not bad.