The Smart is small, it gets good gas mileage, and it's in demand

By Russ Rizzo, Special to the Rocky

Published August 4, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.

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Would you consider buying a Smart?

Photo by Tim Hussin © The Rocky

Kory Thompson takes a turn in her Smart Car in Boulder on Monday. Thompson, 31, says the shape of the car is "so cute." She also likes the car's fuel economy.

Photo by Tim Hussin © The Rocky

Kory Thompson sits in her Smart Car in Boulder on Monday. The car is made by Mercedes Benz with a Mitsubishi engine.

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Rebon Blanchard grinned like a schoolboy on Christmas morning as the salesman showed him the miniature rear engine, the can of Fix a Flat in lieu of a spare tire and, oh yes, the high-tech radio.

"I got XM," the retired civil engineer said gleefully.

It's a good thing he liked the Smart Car because Blanchard, like hundreds of other Coloradans, agreed to buy it sight unseen.

Since the state's only Smart Car dealership - smart center Denver in Englewood - opened in February, the company has raced to reduce a backlog of 700 orders placed online, said sales manager Wayne Taylor. People who logged on a year ago to pay $99 and order a custom car are just now receiving them. Blanchard took an "orphan," a car ordered by someone who later backed out.

Taylor, who describes his job as delivering rather than selling cars, said customers are drawn by the small size - half a minivan's length - and 41 miles-per-gallon highway efficiency. But he doesn't discount cachet attraction.

"Most of our customers realize there is absolutely no reason to drive a big SUV to work and back with just themselves," Taylor said. "There is also a little bit of the, 'I want to be the first in my neighborhood with one.' "

A four-star government safety rating this year helped assuage people's concerns about driving a car no bigger than a golf cart, he said.

Europeans have been squeezing Smart Cars into parking spaces, but the company entered the U.S. just this year. It made a splash with 35,000 orders off the bat, Taylor said, and has scrambled to manufacture the two-door model with a three-cylinder engine. The 1-liter, 70 horsepower engine gets the car to 60 mph in 12 seconds. The most popular model, a hardtop with some bells on the inside, costs $13,590.

"I call it my baby Benz," said Blanchard. "It's very unique. It turns heads. No matter where you go, people will look at you and want to know, 'Where did you get that?' "

Taylor admits the electronic clutch - allowing drivers to shift gears using paddles on the steering wheel or drive like an automatic - gives the car a "jerky" feeling and that the transmission - set to remain in the highest gear for the given speed for maximum fuel efficiency - can make the Smart Car feel sluggish. But, he said, that criticism largely comes from professional reviewers unfamiliar with the car's unique mechanics.

Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Auto Dealers Association, expects Smart Car sales to stay strong for the foreseeable future.

"There's been enough of a shock from the last rise in gas prices that I think people are rethinking what they want to buy," Jackson said. "And that's going to bode well for Smart Car, and even other smaller cars like Mini Coopers."

But don't expect Ford to come out with a miniature car any time soon, Jackson said, because U.S. dealers are betting their investment dollars on alternative power sources.

Smart Car * Designed by inventor of Swatch Watch and manufactured by Mercedes Benz with a Mitsubishi engine

* 1-liter, 70 hp engine gets car to 60 mph in 12 seconds

* Cost: about $13,600

* Electronic clutch lets drivers shift gears using paddles on the steering wheel or drive like an automatic.

* Find out more about the Smart at smartusa.com.

In their own words

Kory Thompson, 31, of Boulder, was picking up a yellow convertible Smart Car recently. She became infatuated with Smart Car after seeing one in Germany in 2001 and ordered one on June 6, 2007. It took a year to build and deliver.

"I loved the size. There's something about the shape - it's so cute. And I like the fact that you can park it anywhere. My husband might call me a militant environmentalist, so I like the fuel economy. This is kind of like a dream come true for me. I'll use it for errands that are too far to walk to, clothing shopping. It's fantastic. There is a part of me that likes being able to drive down the road and have people check out what I'm driving - I don't mind being an attention-getter. I just wish I could put the family in it."

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Comments

August 5, 2008

4:21 a.m.

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Hambone writes:

Smart cars are fashionable at the best. They sound like crap when they go by, like they're chain driven. Toyota yaris, Honda Fit, etc. all supply similar mileage with a larger cargo capacity. You could even put another PERSON or two in those.
August 5, 2008

6:12 a.m.

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jaybyrd writes:

Maybe economical; but safe? I doubt it would fare well in an accident against the larger cars on the road. I value my life more than the price of gas. As for Euros driving them...the only place I have seen them in any abundance is Rome and Florence. Reviewing my photos of London, Paris, Munich, and Vienna, they are nowhere to be found. Not exactly the Next Big Thing.
August 5, 2008

6:18 a.m.

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Crub writes:

No thanks.
August 5, 2008

6:39 a.m.

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singularity99 writes:

In the 80's, Honda made a car called the CRX that got 58 mpg, and this little "clown car" only gets 41 mpg? You have got to be kidding me.
August 5, 2008

7:29 a.m.

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HippyLippy writes:

I've got a Datsun B210 from the 70's that gets almost 40mpg, cost me about $800. I could paint it bright yellow and everyone would look at me too.
August 5, 2008

7:37 a.m.

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TC writes:

singularity99
I'm with you. This article claims it gets 60mpg. But what I've heard elsewhere is no better than 41. I had a 91 Festiva that got 48mpg and I've got a '99 Suzuki that gets 50mpg. And they both have twice as much room as the Smart Car.
August 5, 2008

7:51 a.m.

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Buckwheat writes:

Cool, it will fit nicely in the back of my F-250. Beats one of those flabby spare tires.... Seriously, you would think something that small would get at least 48mpg or better. I really do understand about these tiny vehicles, but their just not putting out the numbers they should. My old (93)Lumina got 30 on the highway, was twice the weight, twice the hp, and carried twice the people.
August 5, 2008

8:04 a.m.

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EnlightenedOne writes:

Survivability in a wreck would be my number one concern. How the vehicle handles in a Colorado snowstorm would be second.
Is there anyone out there that owned one last winter?
August 5, 2008

8:51 a.m.

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Rick writes:

It's a good idea that's poorly executed. Certainly, such a small, under-powered car should get 60-70 mpg.
August 5, 2008

8:52 a.m.

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rjnova writes:

I wouldn't be caught dead in one---which is what could happen in a collision with something like a full grown prairie dog. Probably have to shift into 2nd gear to get over the cracks in the road. I can imagine how much traction one gets in a 2" morning Denver snow.

The US is a big country with large distances between metropolitan centers and is not comparable to Europe where in 500 miles one can pass thru 3 different countries.

If we would kick the Democrats and environmentalists in the butt for halting drilling for 30 yrs there is plenty of oil available. That is why none of this alternative fuel is economically viable.
August 5, 2008

9 a.m.

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CWW writes:

I had one of the original Honda Civics back in the 70's. They called it a rollerskate. It got 40+ miles per gallon and did pretty well in Michigan winters. However, I agree with Gene that it was before all the new safety laws kicked in.

I wouldn't want to be in one of those smart cars in an accident. My friend just got rear-ended by a garbage truck with no brakes and her Lincoln was an accordian. (She walked away.) Don't think she would have had such good luck in a smart car.
August 5, 2008

9:08 a.m.

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theairdog writes:

Get Smart!
August 5, 2008

9:14 a.m.

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TC writes:

A small car is way safer than a Harley.
Gets better mileage than a Harley.
Has more room than a Harley.
Is more comfortable than a Harley
Costs less than a Harley.
Works better in the snow than a Harley.
Doesn't make that obnoxious 'I'm a redneck' noise like a Harley.
August 5, 2008

9:30 a.m.

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JluvDC writes:

I wouldn't own one, but there is a video on youtube that shows crash tests involving one of these things and it is very impressive how well the teeny thing actually does.
August 5, 2008

9:47 a.m.

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xircon writes:

I get very close to 40mpg highway miles in my 2004 Toyota Corolla.
August 5, 2008

10:39 a.m.

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HankRearden writes:

This must be the kind of car Al Gore drives. Around the inside of his house.
August 5, 2008

10:41 a.m.

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Diff writes:

IF 80% of the cars on the road were of the same size and weight class - MAYBE...
But as it is they are NOT safe!
Come on - would you put your kids in one and take a trip to the mall? (where would you put more than one?)
What if a "mid size" SUV hit you - you would be toast, or rather grease.

Better and safer solutions have to be out there -
buying a SMART car? - NOT so smart!
August 5, 2008

10:45 a.m.

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Nosybear writes:

Uh, where's the advantage? My diesel Jetta averages 40-45 MPG, has room for four passengers and enough trunk space to take my daughter-in-law skiing. Last time I was in Europe, I drove an Audi A3, 42 MPG even factoring in the 130 MPH speed runs on the Autobahn. Granted gas is a bit cheaper than diesel but the overall trade-off seems to me to tip the balance in favor of TDI engines over tiny frames.

Oh, there were a lot of Smarts in Germany but not a hugely disproportionate number. They have 100 choices of car models that get over 40 MPG. The Smart brings the number of American choices with over 40 MPG to three. None of them are made here.
August 5, 2008

10:53 a.m.

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Nosybear writes:

PS: America can save 800,000 barrels of oil a day through properly inflated tires and properly tuned engines. How cheap is that and what's its environmental impact? Cheap energy now? Sounds pretty cheap to me and doesn't require changing cars or soiling beaches. Of course, no one except the consumer profits from that action, making it economically uninteresting to the economically innocent.
August 5, 2008

11:07 a.m.

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HankRearden writes:

Thanks nosybear,

And we should all brush our teeth and floss after every meal. Don't shake a baby. Stay off drugs. Look before you cross the street. Don't run with scissors. Do you have any other totally obvious hints for the get unwashed?
August 5, 2008

11:13 a.m.

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Brain writes:

My Toyota Yaris gets 42-43 mpg on the highway if I keep it under 70mph, it has a 1500cc or 1.5 liter eingine and can seat 4 people; it cost $13300.00 a year ago. Has airbags and reinforced side panels for safety.
August 5, 2008

11:58 a.m.

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conniesz writes:

I wanted to know for sure so I went to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and both the Smart and Yaris (with optional side airbags) are rated good for front or side collisions. However, the Yaris is rated Marginal for rear end collisions while the Smart is rated acceptable. So, for you safety freaks, the Smart is indeed rated as the safer car.
August 5, 2008

12:20 p.m.

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ATLBorn79 writes:

Nosybear,

You only get 40-45 MPG? My '06 Jetta TDI got 48.5 MPG on my last tank (690 miles on 14.5 gallons). Do you do a lot of city driving?

I agree, though, that "Smart" cars are a joke; my car weighs over 3,000 pounds, can seat 5 comfortably, has a trunk as big as some closets, has 12 airbags, and got top safety ratings in crash tests, yet gets 17% better mileage even though it's more than twice the size.

I'll keep the Jetta, thank you very much.
August 5, 2008

12:24 p.m.

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Nosybear writes:

Lots of people don't floss, many shake babies or take drugs, several get run over crossing the street. Haven't seen any statistics on running with scissors. Still maintain the hint is obvious?

800,000 barrels of oil at no additional cost to the consumer or environment (other than a tune-up and a quarter since service stations no longer give free air). Got a better idea to obtain that much energy for effectively free?
August 5, 2008

12:29 p.m.

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conniesz writes:

Dear ATLBorn79 - your '06 Jetta is only rated Acceptable (not the top rating at all) for rear end collisions - so it has exactly the same rating as a Smart car. The new Jettas are rated marginal for rear end collisions, so be thankful you got the last year they received an acceptable rating in that category. Check your facts people - claiming top safety ratings should be accompanied with where those ratings come from. My source is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
August 5, 2008

1:04 p.m.

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RockLobster writes:

As Mr Miyagi once said, "(Drive) on right side, okay. (Drive) on left side, okay. (Drive) in middle, get squish like grape!

Babe magnet? I think I'll stick with the Gallardo : )
August 5, 2008

1:05 p.m.

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leatherneck writes:

I will never buy a smart car. People that want these cars, and those that own them already, have never been rear-ended. Those cars are very dangerous. I was rear-ended on I-25 in 2006, and I would not be posting this comment if I drove a smart car. I will pay the high cost of gas to make sure I see my children grow up.
August 5, 2008

1:17 p.m.

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lea writes:

I guess it's cute, but hardly economical. For $13K, I got a one year old Corolla and I average 39mpg driving in the mountains and in Denver traffic.
August 5, 2008

2:08 p.m.

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Dick_Tater writes:

My motorcycle gets twice the milage and at least I have a chance of being thrown free of an accident.
August 5, 2008

3:58 p.m.

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lucy writes:

Why not just have GM start producing the Geo Metro's again? They were conventional design, more practical and got better mileage (45 and sometimes better on the highway).
August 5, 2008

6:02 p.m.

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greenleaf writes:

I was browsing consumer reports 2 or 3 years ago and read about an SUV they had commissioned engineers to design using existing materials and technology. The goal was to design a car that SUV lovers would appreciate for it's size and utility and that would also achieve 35 MPG on the highway. If I remember correctly, it was more aerodynamic, somewhat lower to the ground and used ultra lightweight but ultra strong plastics in much of it's construction. It could comfortably carry 6 passengers and had plenty of cargo room. It also used hybrid engine technology. That's all I remember.

My point is that designers 3 years ago could improve the fuel economy of an SUV by over 50% using off the shelf "stuff". Can you imagine what they could do if they really applied themselves and had big $$$ to work with.

I bet that the world's auto industries could apply themselves to produce cars that Americans would like in all categories that could get 50 or even 60 MPG highway.

What do the rest of you think?
August 5, 2008

7:59 p.m.

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greenleaf writes:

Gene,

I always knew that you were more than just a babe magnet!

I've known enough engineers through time to know that you are right. The ultimate vehicle for survivability would be a 2 mpg tank! The ultimate environmentally friendly vehicle: the rickshaw! The best vehicle for soccer moms carrying a bunch of kids and their equipment in relative safety: A school bus!

As a young college student my car was a Volkswagon Beetle, designed by Hitler as the inexpensive, easy to maintain "people's car". It got great gas mileage for its day and even I could replace bearings, do tuneups, change belts etc. But.... It finally died for one reason: it couldn't meet modern pollution standards in Germany let alone here. So now we have the "New Beetle". Well actually, its a totally new car that only bears the name of the old car.,, everything else is different.

Still as with ssqured, the moon race resonates with me. If we could develop the technology necessary to put a man on the moon and bring him back safely in less than 10 years, why not use a fraction of those resources to produce super efficient cars with size and utility too? Obviously there exists an upper limit. we can only overcome so much wind drag and reduce so much weight and make any kind of propulsion so efficient. I just can't believe that we have done our best in this area. My personal car might be a Prius but my work trucks are lucky to get 16 MPG. Surely, we can do better in that class of vehicles. The first auto company that can produce a full sized pickup or delivery van that gets 30+ miles per gallon is going to get a lot of business. I would be first in line. High gas prices hurt my bottom line and that of all businesses in my line of work.
August 5, 2008

8:26 p.m.

Suggest removal

Brain writes:

I think a big problem is the affordability-ism (just kidding) with other power/fuel methods. Make a more affordable hybird and people will buy; create a demand that creates more competition =better price and quality.
The Smart is ok for the right person but should get higher MPG; I would have bought hybrid if I couldn't 2 Yaris' for the price of one Prius.
August 5, 2008

8:27 p.m.

Suggest removal

Brain writes:

If I COULD, I mean!
August 5, 2008

8:50 p.m.

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greenleaf writes:

So guys.......its not so much technology, its an unfavorable cost benefit?

I look at how many things came out of world war 2: Blood plasma, jet aircraft, even a concept model for wireless technology ( the walkie talkie). I have heard that the Army is pushing hybrid technology for its heavy trucks and armoured vehicles. I bet that will be breath takingly expensive! I picture the military brass saying:" damn the cost, this is what we need!" and maybe once again, war, or the planning for war will again spur technology onward and finally give us more fuel efficient heavy trucks and service vehicles. Ironically, that would be one incentive program that the republicans wouldn't object to but that the dems might not like. The Gods would laugh at that one.

One thing is certain: cutting edge technology comes at a price and someone has to pay through the teeth for it initially. Its always been that way.
August 5, 2008

8:56 p.m.

Suggest removal

Dinty writes:

This is a fad. It's a cool ideal, but Consumer Reports rates it bad, and it takes premium gas. It only carries two passengers. If you factor in the quality, the lack of utility, and the extra cost for premium, you're much better off to buy a Toyota, Nissan, or Honda econobox. People just jump at stuff like this without really considering all the facts.
August 5, 2008

10:22 p.m.

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greenleaf writes:

Gene,

Its true! They see their biggest logistical problem to be transporting fuel and protecting fuel! They may, in fact be the first to deploy more fuel efficient large vehicles. Of course, they were the first to field the "Hummer" as well. I guess its just a case of the head not knowing what the tail is doing!
August 6, 2008

12:25 p.m.

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Dick_Tater writes:

No on Klein and no to raises for the council. When will they learn that they are here to represent the people and not their own interests.

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The Smart is small, it gets good gas mileage, and it's in demand

By Russ Rizzo, Special to the Rocky

Published August 4, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.

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