Depends on the impact and the circumstances. Low speeds and minor crashes are one thing, but have any kind of real accident with virtually any other vehicle on American roads, and you're toast.

There are pictures and images on the Internet of the aftermath of Smart accidents.........I don't want to post them here because they are, as you would expect, quite explicit.




Unlike your Civic, the Smart requires premium gas, though (no, I'm not kidding). That alone adds significantly to operating costs.

 

I have reviewed several crashes of Smart cars the Tridion Steel cage held up extremely good. 1) Smart versus large delivery truck (ie: a straight job) I will add the truck was also towed away. 2)Smart versus concrete median at speed the median actually moved.

I went on a test drive with no transmission issue that everybody has I simply drove it as a manual shifts fine.

 

Thats what i mean...I can get better mileage out of a bigger, more comfortable and arguably safer car that can take regular gas and is 1/2 the price (or close) of a brand new smart?

i think i read somewhere that 33mpg hwy was what they get? weak...

 

In response to your post, I googled to find and post a picture of Fred Flintstone's pedal powered car and look what I found.....you too can buld your own Smart Car..er.....Flintstone car.

http://www.automotogadgets.com/build...stone-car.html

 

well thanks GS3Tek

 

Here...see for yourself:







The auto-mode shifts are the problem. The computer shifts the transmission so slowly, and the car is so tall, narrow, short, and unstable, that you get a rocking-chair motion in the seat fore-aft during the shifts, particularly the 1-2 shift. I am not the only person reviewing the car who has noted that.........most organizations have, at least in the American-spec version.

I did a full review myself of a Smart-for-Two, stem-to-stern, last winter when it was first introduced in the U.S., and that was one of the main things I noted.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...%3A+smart+2008

 

LMAO,, Asiangirl that was too funny.

 

C'mon mmarshall, you know most cars won't stand up to a truck like that unless it's another pickup BOF or SUV. Plus, I don't think that's a smart cause the wheels, taillights and rear design don't match either the old 450 or the new 451 design.

 

The pic above is the Volkswagen Crosspolo,, not a SmartCar.

 

Yes; it also has 5-lug wheels.

 

OK, good catch ...........but blame Google for that (and maybe me for not looking at it more closely). They listed it as a Smart.

Google's image labelling can be way off, BTW..........this is not the first time I've seen mistakes.

 

Yes, you're correct that it is not a Smart.........I probably should have checked the Google image more closely. It did look like a Smart a first. Google's image labels can be way off.....I'm usually very careful when attaching them to my car reviews.

But, with the Smart, it's not just a matter of hitting a truck. I saw a video of one hitting a Buick Lucerne in a head-on crash test. It literally bounced off the nose of the Lucerne like a rubber ball, went backwards and flipped over. I wish I still had the video to post............I don't.

 

I agree with mmarshall's summing up of the ride and gearbox of these little things, neither are pleasant. However, surprisingly, they are (relatively) safe vehicles gaining 4 stars for the 40mph frontal offset crash and the side impact test in Euro NCAP;

http://www.euroncap.com/tests/smart_..._2007/303.aspx

 

I like it... If I ever move to NYC, I'll have to consider one... Otherwise... I'll just cruise on by. They've been popping up more and more around these parts... which is cool, but they are not really cars for commuting long distances, which is what most people do around here...

 

I agree all Smart's use three lug nuts and the Tridion Frame was missing. Also beware of fake Smart Cars I have seen several pictures of them also one on e-bay not long ago. I suspect it was Chinese made.