SMART cars coming to the US
Nov 6th 2005, 10:00 am
#46
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 06:37:41 GMT, Citizen Ted
<[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
> Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
> You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
> way too much sense for any American to be interested.
From what I've read, the smart suv like thing was cancelled
at the time Mercedes contemplated canning the entire smart line
and now only the four-four will be sold in the U.S.
We are sold out of the two-four here in Canada with long
waiting lists. People have told me the waiting list is
around 4 to 6 months.
<[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
> Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
> You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
> way too much sense for any American to be interested.
From what I've read, the smart suv like thing was cancelled
at the time Mercedes contemplated canning the entire smart line
and now only the four-four will be sold in the U.S.
We are sold out of the two-four here in Canada with long
waiting lists. People have told me the waiting list is
around 4 to 6 months.
Nov 6th 2005, 11:59 am
#47
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 19:01:22 GMT, Carole Allen wrote:
> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 10:21:18 +0100, Mxsmanic <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>>I understood that mileage among cars is higher than ever before. Even
>>SUVs are supposedly getting 50 mpg.
> In whose universe?
Hybrids, of course:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...ool-usat_x.htm
--
-BB-
To e-mail me, unmunge my address
> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 10:21:18 +0100, Mxsmanic <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>>I understood that mileage among cars is higher than ever before. Even
>>SUVs are supposedly getting 50 mpg.
> In whose universe?
Hybrids, of course:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...ool-usat_x.htm
--
-BB-
To e-mail me, unmunge my address
Nov 6th 2005, 1:00 pm
#48
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
Here and There wrote:
> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 06:37:41 GMT, Citizen Ted
> <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>
>>From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
>>Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
>>You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
>>way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>
>
> From what I've read, the smart suv like thing was cancelled
> at the time Mercedes contemplated canning the entire smart line
> and now only the four-four will be sold in the U.S.
>
> We are sold out of the two-four here in Canada with long
> waiting lists. People have told me the waiting list is
> around 4 to 6 months.
But worth it, IMO!
>
> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 06:37:41 GMT, Citizen Ted
> <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>
>>From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
>>Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
>>You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
>>way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>
>
> From what I've read, the smart suv like thing was cancelled
> at the time Mercedes contemplated canning the entire smart line
> and now only the four-four will be sold in the U.S.
>
> We are sold out of the two-four here in Canada with long
> waiting lists. People have told me the waiting list is
> around 4 to 6 months.
But worth it, IMO!
>
Nov 6th 2005, 2:53 pm
#49
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
Martin wrote:
> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 23:32:59 +0100, Mxsmanic <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>Martin writes:
>>>and you believe him?
>>With advances in engine design and computer-controlled engines, I find
>>the figure a bit surprising, but not completely outside the realm of
>>believability.
>
>
> I don't believe him.
I'm not so sure. Having see, in my youth, what mileage improvements
very experienced professional drivers could get with a variety of cars I
suppose that a hybrid that mist folks get 30-35 mpg with can be driven
to get over 50.
> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 23:32:59 +0100, Mxsmanic <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>Martin writes:
>>>and you believe him?
>>With advances in engine design and computer-controlled engines, I find
>>the figure a bit surprising, but not completely outside the realm of
>>believability.
>
>
> I don't believe him.
I'm not so sure. Having see, in my youth, what mileage improvements
very experienced professional drivers could get with a variety of cars I
suppose that a hybrid that mist folks get 30-35 mpg with can be driven
to get over 50.
Nov 6th 2005, 2:58 pm
#50
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
>
>
> Carole Allen wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 05 Nov 2005 22:37:41 -0800, Citizen Ted
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
>>> Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
>>> You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
>>> way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>> Well, damn? A Smart SUV? Sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it? An
>> SUV (even a small one) is the last thing I want to drive.
>
>
> Ditto! With my Saturn, the rear seat backs fold forward, providing all
> the "cargo space" I'm ever likely to need, but I'd be happy to sacrifice
> even that for a car the size of a SMART two-seater.
>
I suppose that all depends on the 'cargo' that you carry. My latest
need was to bring home the new floor covering for our kitchen. Getting
the 12 foot roll into my full sized GMC van took up almost all the
available space. I doubt that I could have managed 13 ft.
>
>
> Carole Allen wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 05 Nov 2005 22:37:41 -0800, Citizen Ted
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
>>> Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
>>> You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
>>> way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>> Well, damn? A Smart SUV? Sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it? An
>> SUV (even a small one) is the last thing I want to drive.
>
>
> Ditto! With my Saturn, the rear seat backs fold forward, providing all
> the "cargo space" I'm ever likely to need, but I'd be happy to sacrifice
> even that for a car the size of a SMART two-seater.
>
I suppose that all depends on the 'cargo' that you carry. My latest
need was to bring home the new floor covering for our kitchen. Getting
the 12 foot roll into my full sized GMC van took up almost all the
available space. I doubt that I could have managed 13 ft.
Nov 6th 2005, 2:59 pm
#51
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
Here and There wrote:
> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 06:37:41 GMT, Citizen Ted
> <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>
>>From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
>>Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
>>You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
>>way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>
>
> From what I've read, the smart suv like thing was cancelled
> at the time Mercedes contemplated canning the entire smart line
> and now only the four-four will be sold in the U.S.
>
> We are sold out of the two-four here in Canada with long
> waiting lists. People have told me the waiting list is
> around 4 to 6 months.
>
Because Mercedes is losing too much on each one and is having to limit
production.
> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 06:37:41 GMT, Citizen Ted
> <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>
>>From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
>>Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
>>You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
>>way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>
>
> From what I've read, the smart suv like thing was cancelled
> at the time Mercedes contemplated canning the entire smart line
> and now only the four-four will be sold in the U.S.
>
> We are sold out of the two-four here in Canada with long
> waiting lists. People have told me the waiting list is
> around 4 to 6 months.
>
Because Mercedes is losing too much on each one and is having to limit
production.
Nov 6th 2005, 8:06 pm
#52
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 18:00:35 -0800, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Here and There wrote:
>> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 06:37:41 GMT, Citizen Ted
>> <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>
>>>From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
>>>Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
>>>You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
>>>way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>>
>>
>> From what I've read, the smart suv like thing was cancelled
>> at the time Mercedes contemplated canning the entire smart line
>> and now only the four-four will be sold in the U.S.
>>
>> We are sold out of the two-four here in Canada with long
>> waiting lists. People have told me the waiting list is
>> around 4 to 6 months.
>But worth it, IMO!
In what way is a Smart worth it? It's hardly been a best seller in
Europe. They are overpriced for what they are, yet the owners have
never made a profit out of selling them. The only thing in common
between the original Smart and the new models is the name.
http://www.betterproductdesign.net/n...s/smartcar.htm
--
Martin
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Here and There wrote:
>> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 06:37:41 GMT, Citizen Ted
>> <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>
>>>From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
>>>Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
>>>You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
>>>way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>>
>>
>> From what I've read, the smart suv like thing was cancelled
>> at the time Mercedes contemplated canning the entire smart line
>> and now only the four-four will be sold in the U.S.
>>
>> We are sold out of the two-four here in Canada with long
>> waiting lists. People have told me the waiting list is
>> around 4 to 6 months.
>But worth it, IMO!
In what way is a Smart worth it? It's hardly been a best seller in
Europe. They are overpriced for what they are, yet the owners have
never made a profit out of selling them. The only thing in common
between the original Smart and the new models is the name.
http://www.betterproductdesign.net/n...s/smartcar.htm
--
Martin
Nov 6th 2005, 8:07 pm
#53
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
On Mon, 07 Nov 2005 03:53:33 GMT, "Frank F. Matthews"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Martin wrote:
>> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 23:32:59 +0100, Mxsmanic <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Martin writes:
>>>>and you believe him?
>>>With advances in engine design and computer-controlled engines, I find
>>>the figure a bit surprising, but not completely outside the realm of
>>>believability.
>>
>>
>> I don't believe him.
>I'm not so sure. Having see, in my youth, what mileage improvements
>very experienced professional drivers could get with a variety of cars I
>suppose that a hybrid that mist folks get 30-35 mpg with can be driven
>to get over 50.
That's not the same as a bog standard driver getting the same fuel
consumption in urban traffic.
--
Martin
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Martin wrote:
>> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 23:32:59 +0100, Mxsmanic <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Martin writes:
>>>>and you believe him?
>>>With advances in engine design and computer-controlled engines, I find
>>>the figure a bit surprising, but not completely outside the realm of
>>>believability.
>>
>>
>> I don't believe him.
>I'm not so sure. Having see, in my youth, what mileage improvements
>very experienced professional drivers could get with a variety of cars I
>suppose that a hybrid that mist folks get 30-35 mpg with can be driven
>to get over 50.
That's not the same as a bog standard driver getting the same fuel
consumption in urban traffic.
--
Martin
Nov 6th 2005, 8:08 pm
#54
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
On Mon, 07 Nov 2005 03:58:55 GMT, "Frank F. Matthews"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
>>
>>
>> Carole Allen wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 05 Nov 2005 22:37:41 -0800, Citizen Ted
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
>>>> Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
>>>> You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
>>>> way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>>> Well, damn? A Smart SUV? Sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it? An
>>> SUV (even a small one) is the last thing I want to drive.
>>
>>
>> Ditto! With my Saturn, the rear seat backs fold forward, providing all
>> the "cargo space" I'm ever likely to need, but I'd be happy to sacrifice
>> even that for a car the size of a SMART two-seater.
>>
>I suppose that all depends on the 'cargo' that you carry. My latest
>need was to bring home the new floor covering for our kitchen. Getting
>the 12 foot roll into my full sized GMC van took up almost all the
>available space. I doubt that I could have managed 13 ft.
The Smart luggage space was designed to take two crates of beer.
--
Martin
<[email protected]> wrote:
>EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
>>
>>
>> Carole Allen wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 05 Nov 2005 22:37:41 -0800, Citizen Ted
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
>>>> Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
>>>> You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
>>>> way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>>> Well, damn? A Smart SUV? Sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it? An
>>> SUV (even a small one) is the last thing I want to drive.
>>
>>
>> Ditto! With my Saturn, the rear seat backs fold forward, providing all
>> the "cargo space" I'm ever likely to need, but I'd be happy to sacrifice
>> even that for a car the size of a SMART two-seater.
>>
>I suppose that all depends on the 'cargo' that you carry. My latest
>need was to bring home the new floor covering for our kitchen. Getting
>the 12 foot roll into my full sized GMC van took up almost all the
>available space. I doubt that I could have managed 13 ft.
The Smart luggage space was designed to take two crates of beer.
--
Martin
Nov 6th 2005, 8:10 pm
#55
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
On Mon, 07 Nov 2005 03:59:50 GMT, "Frank F. Matthews"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Here and There wrote:
>> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 06:37:41 GMT, Citizen Ted
>> <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>
>>>From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
>>>Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
>>>You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
>>>way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>>
>>
>> From what I've read, the smart suv like thing was cancelled
>> at the time Mercedes contemplated canning the entire smart line
>> and now only the four-four will be sold in the U.S.
>>
>> We are sold out of the two-four here in Canada with long
>> waiting lists. People have told me the waiting list is
>> around 4 to 6 months.
>>
>Because Mercedes is losing too much on each one and is having to limit
>production.
I don't think Mercedes make any of them they are all outsourced. the
4x4s were made in NL until recently.
--
Martin
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Here and There wrote:
>> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 06:37:41 GMT, Citizen Ted
>> <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>
>>>From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind of
>>>Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA market.
>>>You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such cars make
>>>way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>>
>>
>> From what I've read, the smart suv like thing was cancelled
>> at the time Mercedes contemplated canning the entire smart line
>> and now only the four-four will be sold in the U.S.
>>
>> We are sold out of the two-four here in Canada with long
>> waiting lists. People have told me the waiting list is
>> around 4 to 6 months.
>>
>Because Mercedes is losing too much on each one and is having to limit
>production.
I don't think Mercedes make any of them they are all outsourced. the
4x4s were made in NL until recently.
--
Martin
Nov 6th 2005, 10:14 pm
#56
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
"Frank F. Matthews" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
>
>
> EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Carole Allen wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 05 Nov 2005 22:37:41 -0800, Citizen Ted
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind
>>>> of
>>>> Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA
>>>> market. You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such
>>>> cars make way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>>> Well, damn? A Smart SUV? Sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it?
>>> An SUV (even a small one) is the last thing I want to drive.
>>
>>
>> Ditto! With my Saturn, the rear seat backs fold forward, providing
>> all the "cargo space" I'm ever likely to need, but I'd be happy to
>> sacrifice even that for a car the size of a SMART two-seater.
>>
>
>
> I suppose that all depends on the 'cargo' that you carry. My latest
> need was to bring home the new floor covering for our kitchen.
> Getting the 12 foot roll into my full sized GMC van took up almost all
> the available space. I doubt that I could have managed 13 ft.
How often do you do that?
news:[email protected]:
>
>
> EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Carole Allen wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 05 Nov 2005 22:37:41 -0800, Citizen Ted
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> From what I've read, the only Smart the US will allow is some kind
>>>> of
>>>> Smart SUV that Daimler Benz designed specifically for the NA
>>>> market. You won't see any four-fours or two-fours in the US. Such
>>>> cars make way too much sense for any American to be interested.
>>> Well, damn? A Smart SUV? Sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it?
>>> An SUV (even a small one) is the last thing I want to drive.
>>
>>
>> Ditto! With my Saturn, the rear seat backs fold forward, providing
>> all the "cargo space" I'm ever likely to need, but I'd be happy to
>> sacrifice even that for a car the size of a SMART two-seater.
>>
>
>
> I suppose that all depends on the 'cargo' that you carry. My latest
> need was to bring home the new floor covering for our kitchen.
> Getting the 12 foot roll into my full sized GMC van took up almost all
> the available space. I doubt that I could have managed 13 ft.
How often do you do that?
Nov 7th 2005, 12:20 am
#57
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
Frank F. Matthews wrote:
>
> I suppose that all depends on the 'cargo' that you carry. My latest
> need was to bring home the new floor covering for our kitchen. Getting
> the 12 foot roll into my full sized GMC van took up almost all the
> available space. I doubt that I could have managed 13 ft.
So you paid perhaps $15,000 more than the price of a small car for
your GMC van? Seems a little pricey to bring home one roll of floor
covering (plus the extra cost of fueling the monster all the rest of the
time).
-- Ron
>
> I suppose that all depends on the 'cargo' that you carry. My latest
> need was to bring home the new floor covering for our kitchen. Getting
> the 12 foot roll into my full sized GMC van took up almost all the
> available space. I doubt that I could have managed 13 ft.
So you paid perhaps $15,000 more than the price of a small car for
your GMC van? Seems a little pricey to bring home one roll of floor
covering (plus the extra cost of fueling the monster all the rest of the
time).
-- Ron
Nov 7th 2005, 12:24 am
#58
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
On Mon, 07 Nov 2005 08:20:59 -0500, Ronald Hands
<""rhandsNOSPAM\"@mountaincable DOT net"> wrote:
>Frank F. Matthews wrote:
>>
>> I suppose that all depends on the 'cargo' that you carry. My latest
>> need was to bring home the new floor covering for our kitchen. Getting
>> the 12 foot roll into my full sized GMC van took up almost all the
>> available space. I doubt that I could have managed 13 ft.
> So you paid perhaps $15,000 more than the price of a small car for
>your GMC van? Seems a little pricey to bring home one roll of floor
>covering (plus the extra cost of fueling the monster all the rest of the
>time).
Since when have GMC van's been one shot devices?
--
Martin
<""rhandsNOSPAM\"@mountaincable DOT net"> wrote:
>Frank F. Matthews wrote:
>>
>> I suppose that all depends on the 'cargo' that you carry. My latest
>> need was to bring home the new floor covering for our kitchen. Getting
>> the 12 foot roll into my full sized GMC van took up almost all the
>> available space. I doubt that I could have managed 13 ft.
> So you paid perhaps $15,000 more than the price of a small car for
>your GMC van? Seems a little pricey to bring home one roll of floor
>covering (plus the extra cost of fueling the monster all the rest of the
>time).
Since when have GMC van's been one shot devices?
--
Martin
Nov 7th 2005, 12:27 am
#59
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
Martin a �crit :
> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 18:00:35 -0800, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >But worth it, IMO!
> In what way is a Smart worth it?
They're worth it if you can get one of these deals whereby you have ads
on the car. I understand that if you live in departement 75, and drive
a certain number of miles a week, you can get one practically free.
Every so often you agree to park it somewhere, and the agency come by
and changes the panels bearing the ads. Must be tricky, though, if you
return to the car park and you don't know what your car looks like any
more.
G;
> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 18:00:35 -0800, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >But worth it, IMO!
> In what way is a Smart worth it?
They're worth it if you can get one of these deals whereby you have ads
on the car. I understand that if you live in departement 75, and drive
a certain number of miles a week, you can get one practically free.
Every so often you agree to park it somewhere, and the agency come by
and changes the panels bearing the ads. Must be tricky, though, if you
return to the car park and you don't know what your car looks like any
more.
G;
Nov 7th 2005, 1:40 am
#60
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: SMART cars coming to the US
On 7 Nov 2005 05:27:16 -0800, [email protected] wrote:
>Martin a �crit :
>> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 18:00:35 -0800, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> >But worth it, IMO!
>> In what way is a Smart worth it?
>They're worth it if you can get one of these deals whereby you have ads
>on the car. I understand that if you live in departement 75, and drive
>a certain number of miles a week, you can get one practically free.
>Every so often you agree to park it somewhere, and the agency come by
>and changes the panels bearing the ads. Must be tricky, though, if you
>return to the car park and you don't know what your car looks like any
>more.
Avis tried to fob me off with a Smart instead of a class B car.
--
Martin
>Martin a �crit :
>> On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 18:00:35 -0800, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> >But worth it, IMO!
>> In what way is a Smart worth it?
>They're worth it if you can get one of these deals whereby you have ads
>on the car. I understand that if you live in departement 75, and drive
>a certain number of miles a week, you can get one practically free.
>Every so often you agree to park it somewhere, and the agency come by
>and changes the panels bearing the ads. Must be tricky, though, if you
>return to the car park and you don't know what your car looks like any
>more.
Avis tried to fob me off with a Smart instead of a class B car.
--
Martin
