Not sure what the point of bull bars are on a..
02-25-10, 03:18 PM
#17
Lexus Fanatic
I don't know about your area of Canada, Fayemester, but here in the Washington, D.C. area, where there are a fair number of Smarts running around, I've yet to see any really elderly people in them, primarily because of the poor safety reputation that micro-sized cars have. In fact, the "Over-55" Defensive-Driving instructors often encourage older folks to buy and drive full-sized cars, for crash protection. The Smart, in this area at least, though probably with some exceptions, seems to sell mostly to males and females below about age 40 or so.
02-25-10, 04:17 PM
#20
The only thing I can think of for those bars (and this is based on my reviewing the car, sitting in it, and actually driving it), is that, for most people, the car's severely-sloping front end is pretty much impossible to see from the driver's seat, making tight parking a rather dicey affair. The bars, of ourse, add a second-layer of protection to a front-end tap, which could (?) crack the plastic front-end parts (all of the Smart's body panels are thermoplastic).
That aside, of course, the Smart is renowned for being able to park literally almost anywhere.......IMO, perhaps the car's only real selling point. I can't think of any other practical reason, otherwise, to buy one. The transmission-shift characteristics are ridiculous, it rolls and bucks on corners like a cork in the ocean, takes forever to get rolling, has questionable crash-worthiness despite its solid Mercedes frame/roll cage, has a skimpy 2/24 basic /drivetrain warranty courtesy of Penske, its importer, and part of its good gas mileage is eaten up by the need for premium gas.
That aside, of course, the Smart is renowned for being able to park literally almost anywhere.......IMO, perhaps the car's only real selling point. I can't think of any other practical reason, otherwise, to buy one. The transmission-shift characteristics are ridiculous, it rolls and bucks on corners like a cork in the ocean, takes forever to get rolling, has questionable crash-worthiness despite its solid Mercedes frame/roll cage, has a skimpy 2/24 basic /drivetrain warranty courtesy of Penske, its importer, and part of its good gas mileage is eaten up by the need for premium gas.
02-25-10, 05:32 PM
#22
Lexus Fanatic
02-26-10, 09:30 AM
#28
Lexus Fanatic
It's actually quite roomy inside for large, heavy people. The tall roof, upright seating, and the fact that both the small engine and transmission are back in the rear, down underneath the hatch floor, helps make for pretty good interior space efficiency. But, that doesn't mean that, even at 6' 2" and 270 lb., I'd actually OWN one...I wouldn't.
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