Smart fortwo vs Prius ?

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 >> Stay informed about: Smart fortwo vs Prius ? 

roadriderob <rob.fruth RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> What do you Prius owners think of the Smart for two http://www.smartusa.com/
> which is cleaner in typical use ?

In Europe we've been exposed to the Smart for a couple years, and while
they are something of a fashion statement, they're just not great cars
to do actual driving. They're slow, sluggish, loud, cramped, and a very
short wheelbase with a rear engine isn't exactly straightforward to
handle.

There's a bunch of cars available in the same fuel consumption range
than Prius and Smart - check out e.g. the Toyota Aygo. Similar
consumption, but half the price of a Smart, a third the price of a
Prius. Classic no frills small car.

cu
.\\arc
 >> Stay informed about: Smart fortwo vs Prius ? 

Michelle Steiner wrote:
> In article <srhi-9E77D1.23333727032008.TakeThisOut@newsgroups.comcast.net>,
> Shawn Hirn <srhi.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> I like my Prius more because the gas mileage is about the same as a
>> Smart for two, and it has a full hatchback with a fold down seat and
>> with the back seat not folder, it can carry four people easily.
>
> And it costs about 1 1/2 to twice the price of the Smart for Two. I'd
> stick with the Prius myself, but if I knew that I'd never be driving
> outside this metropolitan area, I would consider a Smart if I ever were
> to replace the Prius. As it is, as soon as the Plug-in Prius becomes
> available, I'll consider trading my 04 for one.
>
Or you could do as my wife and I are going to do.

We have a 04 Prius that will be used for road trips
We have a 02 F150 for heavy trips and 4 wheel trips
and we are going to get a Smart as a City car and take some of the miles off the Prius.

George Drum

--
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal
pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervt isy, it dseno't
mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit
and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses an d you can sitll
raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by
istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh! and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was
ipmorantt!
 >> Stay informed about: Smart fortwo vs Prius ? 

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 >> Stay informed about: Smart fortwo vs Prius ? 

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 >> Stay informed about: Smart fortwo vs Prius ? 

I saw the Smart in Italy years ago, and at the earliest
opportunity here in the U.S. drove one. Admittedly it
was early-generation (for the U.S.), but it had years of
market time in the EU.

In a word, it's a novelty whose charm wears off very
quickly. The ride is uncomfortable, it doesn't hold
enough, it doesn't generate a feeling of security, and
it's very costly.

There is no reason to keep miles off of our '04 Prius.
There are plenty of them now in package and document
delivery, taxi service, etc. with 300k miles on them and
statistically they're holding up better than their
non-hybrid counterparts. I think it's due to (1) Toyota
spent extra effort on quality for this innovation and
(2) the hybrid system "unloads" the engine during
initial acceleration, when wear and stress are high.

But if you feel compelled to pay registration and
insurance on another car to reduce your Prius mileage,
buy the Honda Fit. My daughter's Fit gets 36mpg on
regular gas, and four people fit comfortably with space
for small baggage. In fact, with the Fit's remarkable
folding seat system, two people plus two bicycles plus
camping gear can be accommodated. Try that in a Smart!

Never, never compare the Smart to the Prius. They're in
different vehicle categories.

Ike
 >> Stay informed about: Smart fortwo vs Prius ? 

Michelle Steiner wrote:
> In article <dtQgk.128078$102.63532@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
> George D <geodrum.TakeThisOut@arizona.somewhere> wrote:
>
>> and we are going to get a Smart as a City car and take some of the
>> miles off the Prius.
>
> Why? The Smart has lower mileage than the Prius, and it requires
> premium gas.
>

Let's see the Smart is cute.
The Smart is less expensive than the Prius
I want one

Now none of this makes much sense but that is just the way it is.

George


--
A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take
everything you have.
-Thomas Jefferson
 >> Stay informed about: Smart fortwo vs Prius ? 

George D wrote:
> Michelle Steiner wrote:
>> In article <dtQgk.128078$102.63532@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
>> George D <geodrum.TakeThisOut@arizona.somewhere> wrote:
>>
>>> and we are going to get a Smart as a City car and take some of the
>>> miles off the Prius.
>>
>> Why? The Smart has lower mileage than the Prius, and it requires
>> premium gas.
>>
>
> Let's see the Smart is cute.
> The Smart is less expensive than the Prius
> I want one
>
> Now none of this makes much sense but that is just the way it is.
>
> George
>
>

I drove the Smart two years ago, and saw it again at the
Fair on Balboa this Sunday. Cute but uncomfortable! It
costs about the same as the Yaris or Fit, gets worse
mileage, seats only 2, rides like an egg rolling down
the road, and collapses into a briefcase when hit.
No chance... cute simply isn't enough.
 >> Stay informed about: Smart fortwo vs Prius ? 

Ike <binarydotike.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in news:g6m787$kth$1
@registered.motzarella.org:

> and collapses into a briefcase when hit.
> No chance... cute simply isn't enough

Do a search on Youtube for a video from a British car show where they crash
a Smart car into a concrete barrier at 50 - 60+ mph. It evidently has a
great rollcage structure built in because the interior stayed amazingly
intact, even one of the doors still opened.

The engine compartment did fit in a briefcase then though.

And the deceleration forces were probably enough to scramble your brain
quite thoroughly, as it would in most any small car whacking an immovable
object at that speed. Wearing a helmet would help immensely.

Now they just need to fix the suspension, switch it to regular gas.
 >> Stay informed about: Smart fortwo vs Prius ? 

"Ike" <binarydotike.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:g6m787$kth$1@registered.motzarella.org...
> George D wrote:
>> Michelle Steiner wrote:
>>> In article <dtQgk.128078$102.63532@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
>>> George D <geodrum.RemoveThis@arizona.somewhere> wrote:
>>>
>>>> and we are going to get a Smart as a City car and take some of the
>>>> miles off the Prius.
>>>
>>> Why? The Smart has lower mileage than the Prius, and it requires
>>> premium gas.
>>>
>>
>> Let's see the Smart is cute.
>> The Smart is less expensive than the Prius
>> I want one
>>
>> Now none of this makes much sense but that is just the way it is.
>>
>> George
>>
>>
>
> I drove the Smart two years ago, and saw it again at the Fair on Balboa
> this Sunday. Cute but uncomfortable! It costs about the same as the Yaris
> or Fit, gets worse mileage, seats only 2, rides like an egg rolling down
> the road, and collapses into a briefcase when hit.
> No chance... cute simply isn't enough.

Hired a Smart on holiday at the Great Barrier Reef. Drove well but high
winds blew it about on the highway. Just a tad too small to feel safe in.
 >> Stay informed about: Smart fortwo vs Prius ?