smart car owner since 2002

4830 Views 33 Replies 17 Participants Last post by Fredvon4, Nov 13, 2007

markus

Discussion Starter · Nov 10, 2007

Of course I'm not American otherwise I wouldn't be a smart car owner since that time.
I did own 2 smart cars and not the fake smart cars you have now in the USA but the smaller and nicer original smart car .
The one I own now it's a black smart brabus and I am very happy with it.
but I really I'm not happy with the success smart car is having in the States because America has always been famous for its wonderful crazy big muscle cars.
I think small cars will destroy the image we europeans have of USA,I love watching american movies full of big cadillacs and lincolns as well as mustangs and camaros.
smart car is not for America not because it is bad,but because it destroy the notion of an important part of America culture.
You can say that environment is important,for sure,but you can build BIG diesel cars or BIG hybrid cars.
Now American street and higways are losing the trait made them famous all over the world,they look more and more like wimpy anonymous streets and highways of any other country of the world.
this is shameful!
and what is unbelievable is that smart car is a failure in Europe where the roads are small and is having a good success in America where the roads are large,and don't you think you are hip driving a smart car,it was hip 10 years ago but now it's an old thing.
If I would live in USA I would buy a Ford Mustang or the next Dodge Challenger or the next Camaro.

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dbwill

· #2 · Nov 10, 2007

markus said:
Of course I'm not American otherwise I wouldn't be a smart car owner since that time.
I did own 2 smart cars and not the fake smart cars you have now in the USA but the smaller and nicer original smart car .
The one I own now it's a black smart brabus and I am very happy with it.
but I really I'm not happy with the success smart car is having in the States because America has always been famous for its wonderful crazy big muscle cars.
Let's see BMW Motorsport, Mercedes Benz AMG and Audi S, not to menioned the Exotic builders in Italy, no muscle there
I think small cars will destroy the image we europeans have of USA,I love watching american movies full of big cadillacs and lincolns as well as mustangs and camaros.
smart car is not for America not because it is bad,but because it destroy the notion of an important part of America culture.
You can say that environment is important,for sure,but you can build BIG diesel cars or BIG hybrid cars.
Now American street and higways are losing the trait made them famous all over the world,they look more and more like wimpy anonymous streets and highways of any other country of the world.
this is shameful!
and what is unbelievable is that smart car is a failure in Europe where the roads are small and is having a good success in America where the roads are large,You mean like the wimpy Auostrada, Autoahn, and auto routes in France and the UK
and don't you think you are hip driving a smart car,it was hip 10 years ago but now it's an old thing.
If I would live in USA I would buy a Ford Mustang or the next Dodge Challenger or the next Camaro.
You woud be buying what many refer to as a POS

Seriously though good food for thought

markus

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 10, 2007

what do you mean with POS?

dbwill

· #4 · Nov 10, 2007 (Edited)

markus said:
what do you mean with POS?

It is an acronym for Piece Of S*#T. Somtimes used by people who drive other than US brand cars

markus

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 10, 2007

when i visited America I have seen A LOT of asian POS like toyota,acura,lexus,kia etc...if you consider POS the wonderful American muscle cars I understand now because the dollar is collapsing and america is in big trouble

dbwill

· #6 · Nov 10, 2007

In general over the years cars designed and built by US Companies have had problems with detects, rust, rattles, and may other things. I will say the engines and automatic transmissions were excellent (now transmission are iffy) I recently drove a Chrysler 300 in the mountains of Arizona and the performance did not compare to my BMW 5 series which has a smaller engine.

jwight

· #7 · Nov 10, 2007

Markus,

Not to worry, there will still plenty of large American cars being built; the smart will at best make up a small percentage of the cars on the road here. Seems like we all want to have something that's different - Europeans like "imported" American cars and Bud Light

eek

and we go for BMWs, smarts and Minis, as well as "cool" imported beers. That's what makes the world go round. If I lived in Europe I'd be over here in a heartbeat with a bag full of Euros shopping for vintage American muscle cars.

Ciao!

markus

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 10, 2007

I know that Americans are obsessed with European cars,but American cars are more exotic,I love the unique style.
Of course I'm not referring to many "new" American cars such as the new Cadillacs that are ridicolous comparing to the big real Cadillac of the past,but I'm referring to the new mustang for example,here in Italy it's a real head turner.
Mercedes,Bmw and Audi are boring here,they are used as taxis.(not all of them of course)

anyway I own my smart brabus,the little black beast,and I like to drive in autostrada at 180 km/h (it should be 115 mph...),in the city...everywhere..but I confirm that in US I would buy a real big American car and have fun with it

markus

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 10, 2007

jwight I did own a Mini too!! the real one,not the new one,it was great!!!

alejake

· #10 · Nov 10, 2007

Pretty smart-mouthed and ****y for someone who whould be speaking German now if it wasn't for our Grandfathers, Fathers, Uncles and such!!

dbwill

· #11 · Nov 10, 2007

alejake said:
Pretty smart-mouthed and ****y for someone who whould be speaking German now if it wasn't for our Grandfathers, Fathers, Uncles and such!!

That is uncalled for and has nothing to do with the smart!

jwight

· #12 · Nov 10, 2007

Thanks, db - well said.

SmartCard

· #13 · Nov 10, 2007

markus said:
I think small cars will destroy the image we europeans have of USA,I love watching american movies full of big cadillacs and lincolns as well as mustangs and camaros.
smart car is not for America not because it is bad,but because it destroy the notion of an important part of America culture.

Not to worry Markus, I'm sure most of the otherthings that most of the world things of us will remain! (at least for another 430 days, anyway!

)

Besides, here in the States, the Smart won't be for everyone, the "culture" will still drive the vast assortment of SUVs, pickup trucks and the like. And one final thing- at least the Smart was not designed and made in America - now THAT would be an image destroyer!

Nicholas

· #14 · Nov 10, 2007

Can we say, "Thank you Veterns!" on their special day???

jonnysan

· #15 · Nov 11, 2007

Needs an attitude adjustment

markus said:
this is shameful!
.

It is fairly well known that oil production has peaked ('06) and in most circles global warming seems to have been further advanced by the big gas hogs of yesteryear and to some degree present.

Not to rant on and on about this, but I hope that this kind of attitude doesn't prevail in the world or we're in trouble for sure.

mr_Cash

· #16 · Nov 11, 2007 (Edited)

markus said:
If I would live in USA I would buy a Ford Mustang or the next Dodge Challenger or the next Camaro.

welcome.

little people best fit in a mustang, challenger, camaro.

the smart is a tall big persons vehicle,

tired of car shoe horning in and out,
tired of driving in a glove fitting tube.

real performance, is mpg.

smart performs. 2008 best mpg all-gas production vehicle in america.

smart is tall, lean, fit.

wide body cars are short, fat, inefficient.

one's freedom includes spending cash as they like, even if more or less is for gas.

welcome.

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BeSmart

· #17 · Nov 11, 2007

Welcome, Markus

Nice to have a European's input on the smart and some of our culture. For many of us, the arrival of the smart is unbelievable, especially in a car culture that lauds bigger, and bigger. Maybe we will see a change. Diversity is also of value, both in cars and people.

markus

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 11, 2007

I can tell you that the original (real) smart car has sell well in my country but it was an half-failure in the rest of Europe,the new fake smart(the one that is sold now in US) is selling even less than the original.
It's incredible how Americans find "unbeleviable" an old story like the smart car

I suspect they(mercedes staff)are hoping so sold to you(Americans)what we(europeans) don't want

markus

Discussion Starter · #19 · Nov 11, 2007

Mrcash,mustang challenger and camaro are part of your culture like it or not,and many Europeans would LOVE to buy these cars at the the price tag you have in America.
They are like rock,jazz,skyscrapers,single family home with garden,fender,gibson etc.....
Destroy the symbol af a country and you will destroy the country itself.
anyway...there is a symbol of US that I hate a lot....fast food!!!!!

Carnut

· #20 · Nov 11, 2007

Markus,we Americans can also tell one someone is "yanking our chain" a bit.

Have a Happy Meal on me.

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