I'd be curious as I am with many cars, added dealer choices is a benefit; a longer warranty would be a plus too. As for reliability, well Toyota (and Honda) is not what it once was, they apparently have issues and recalls akin to other brands, so I'd take that into consideration. It is longer, so Smart still has the tiny parking space edge. Oh, and unless it also has plastic panels then the Smart wins in terms of not worrying about denting too - a real city parking relief.
All in all though, it is complete speculation that they'd bring it here, so until that, safety and options become more solid, it is simply not on my radar.
I hope I never get to the stage where I would buy a car based on such pragmatisms as boring reliability, or corporate badging. I've waited 20 years without a car, because there hasn't been one sold in the US that I could stomach, and since I didn't need a car, I could afford to wait. (And I don't want to be in the position to need one, though that day may come and I hope I'm lucky enough to have something I can deal with.)
I think the 10 year old refined design of the fortwo will complete well enough with the banal fruits of Toyota's designers. The first generation iQ will very likely be bigger and heavier than the fortwo and it's pretty much guaranteed that the second generation iQ will see a further increase in the size and weight, like the xB.
That's the wrong direction for my $$. The fact that smart decided against making a fortwoandahalf model for the US speaks well to the hope that it will continue to serve the small car market without the usual "get them young, sell them cheap and keep them as they get fat and rich with bigger and more expensive models" theory that continues to be the case here.
In the mean time Toyota may get more competition from Korea, China and India for their products while the higher price tag of the smart fortwo may actually serve to protect its market, and preserve its uniqueness.
Competition will benefit the consumers in the long run. I think the Smart is a great car but it's a little expensive once you get the financing worked out. There were lots of "garbage fees" associated with our purchase. I could have added another 2.3K if I wanted the extended warranty, tire warranty, and paint coating specials.
Paint coating specials? You are being taken for a ride by your unscrupulous dealer. How do you have paint coating specials on a plastic body panel. A tire warranty? Obviously your dealer is out to rip you off if they wanted to sucker you in to those. That is the same with dealers who want to do fabric protection or underbody rustproofing.
I know the owner's manual recommends you do no undercoat this car.
Anyway, I didn't bite on these dealer packs. We paid for just the car with all the options we ordered plus the unavoidable fees associated with purchasing the car through Mercedes financing.
Have to say I'm a big Toyota fan and if this arrived in US spec form, had as good or better crash ratings and could equal or beat smart mpg at a competitive price, I would certainly be interested. All of those are unknowns at the moment but the car business is very competitive and the other manufacturers are not standing still.
Honda will also want to be there as well. The Fit is not quite in the micro category with the four doors and rear seats.
I hope I never get to the stage where I would buy a car based on such pragmatisms as boring reliability, or corporate badging. I've waited 20 years without a car, because there hasn't been one sold in the US that I could stomach, and since I didn't need a car, I could afford to wait. (And I don't want to be in the position to need one, though that day may come and I hope I'm lucky enough to have something I can deal with.)
I think the 10 year old refined design of the fortwo will complete well enough with the banal fruits of Toyota's designers. The first generation iQ will very likely be bigger and heavier than the fortwo and it's pretty much guaranteed that the second generation iQ will see a further increase in the size and weight, like the xB.
That's the wrong direction for my $$. The fact that smart decided against making a fortwoandahalf model for the US speaks well to the hope that it will continue to serve the small car market without the usual "get them young, sell them cheap and keep them as they get fat and rich with bigger and more expensive models" theory that continues to be the case here.
In the mean time Toyota may get more competition from Korea, China and India for their products while the higher price tag of the smart fortwo may actually serve to protect its market, and preserve its uniqueness.
Denny, please don't take offense but not needing a car gives one a lot of leeway to be picky and ignore things like boring reliability. Believe me, when you need a car to get to the workplace and you go out on a frigid February morning, turn the key and nothing happens, or you're spending big bucks to replace wiper motors or alternators every couple of years, reliability suddenly becomes much more important than unique styling or cachet. That's why our Mini is a third, play car, not a daily driver.
A four-passenger Toyota car not quite a foot longer than the tiny two-passenger Smart will be sold in the United States if it performs well in crash tests.
The 9-foot-9.5-inch 2009 Toyota iQ is the automaker's newest microcar. It debuted last week at the Geneva auto show. Sales in Europe and Japan begin this year.
"We are studying the possibility of launching it in the United States," said Kazuo Okamoto, executive vice president for r&d at Toyota Motor Corp.
The iQ was engineered for the United States. But "for the North American market, there are very stringent requirements for crash safety," Okamoto said in an interview last week. "We still need to do the final testing."
Okamoto did not specify areas of concern, but the heads of passengers in the second seat are just inches from the rear glass window. Large headrests are positioned on the top of the rear seat.
The iQ is intended as urban transportation for such things as trips to the mall or picking up the kids at school. The vehicle seats four people: three adults and a child behind the driver.
The four-passenger seating is the result of the iQ's 78.7-inch wheelbase and innovative interior packaging. For example, a smaller-than-usual heating and air conditioning unit frees up legroom for the front-seat passenger.
Toyota says the iQ has more interior space than the 12-foot-6.6-inch Yaris Liftback, currently the smallest Toyota sold in the United States.
Although there is no luggage space behind the second seat, the seat folds flat in a 50-50 split to carry suitcases. A large tray is hidden under the rear seat for valuables.
Toyota says the short front overhang is the result of a newly engineered compact differential. The carmaker did not give details about the differential and powertrain.
"We are studying the possibility of launching it in the United States," said Kazuo Okamoto, executive vice president for r&d at Toyota Motor Corp.
The iQ was engineered for the United States. But "for the North American market, there are very stringent requirements for crash safety," Okamoto said in an interview last week. "We still need to do the final testing."
Still need to do final testing? This car is no doubt headed for the USA; only question now is when.
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1976 Rover Mini
2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec (SOLD)
2009 smart Passion (Gone)
2011 smart Passion
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