Another new car!

[epbrown]

During the big snow, I decided I simply could not keep abusing my M Coupe with Chicago winters. First I looked for a used European sedan, ideally an E46 3-series, but everything was high miles or had stories. In the end I decided to get something new:



Compared to a Mini Cooper:


Yes, an offbeat choice, I know. But since I live in the city, it actually fits perfectly as a daily commuter. The body is all dent-resistant plastic, so it won't be damaged by my neighbors' "bumper car" style parking methods, it's under warranty so none of the worries of a used car, it gets triple the mileage of my M Coupe in the city, and I can literally always find parking.

If you've heard there's a year-long waiting list, you're right, but apparently lots of people on the lists aren't picking up the cars. Some because they gave up when the wait extended to a year and a half to two years, others decided they didn't need them when the price of gas went down, others simply changed their minds and got something else. Which means that while some people are still waiting for their cars, I just walked into Smart Center Lincolnwood and bought one off the lot. The car is pretty much how I would have specced it except for the color (I want black), but I wasn't concerned since changing the color of a Smart is as simple as removing the six plastic body panels with a T25 screwdriver and swapping on the color of your choice. I'll either do that myself ($800), have the dealerdo it ($1200), or find another Smart owner looking for a change ($free).

Of course, now we won't see a lick of snow... 

[Polish Guy]

Very cool!!!!

now pull the motor out and put a hayabusa motor in it!

[LSixer]

Very nice Emanuel, its got be quite a change from the three porsche garage I'll bet. Hows the pick up and handling on that bad boy?

I myself would like to see that in person one of these days. 

[Coolvw52]

E-46 is the US name of this car ?




there's a Brabus version too




Look like a big toy.

[epbrown]

No, E46 is the chassis code of the previous BMW 3-series I was looking for. This car is the Smart Fortwo, Daimler's chassis code for it is 451; the previous version, sold in Europe from 1998-2007, was 450. The Brabus you picture is one of those. The US got an allotment of 2000 Brabus Smarts, but unfortunately ours is just a cosmetic upgrade, without the 98hp turbo engine the Euro version gets.

I describe the Smart as going gradually less slowly, rather than accelerating, but the pick-up is decent for its size. People seem a little shocked when I pass them doing 70mph on I-94, and a little insulted. I've had a lot of pokey cars speed up after I pass them, as if to say "That itty-bitty thing won't beat me!" Despite my prediction we have gotten a lot of snow and the Smart handles it pretty well - the engine sits over the rear wheels so it gets decent traction. The roads this year have been the worst I've ever seen - every time I thump through some giant pothole, I'm glad the M Coupe is safely covered at home.

As almost always happens when you buy a car - I'd seen ONE Smart on the road before I bought mine, now I see them regularly. People's reactions fall into two camps - either they tell me how cute it is, or they go into graphic detail about what will happen when I get hit by a semi. It's odd really - I didn't know so many people were apparently run over by semis all the time. Of course, the reason this isn't reported in the news is that in anything larger than a Smart no one is injured - they just buff out the scratches and go on with their day. 

[LSixer]

No, E46 is the chassis code of the previous BMW 3-series I was looking for. This car is the Smart Fortwo, Daimler's chassis code for it is 451; the previous version, sold in Europe from 1998-2007, was 450. The Brabus you picture is one of those. The US got an allotment of 2000 Brabus Smarts, but unfortunately ours is just a cosmetic upgrade, without the 98hp turbo engine the Euro version gets.

I describe the Smart as going gradually less slowly, rather than accelerating, but the pick-up is decent for its size. People seem a little shocked when I pass them doing 70mph on I-94, and a little insulted. I've had a lot of pokey cars speed up after I pass them, as if to say "That itty-bitty thing won't beat me!" Despite my prediction we have gotten a lot of snow and the Smart handles it pretty well - the engine sits over the rear wheels so it gets decent traction. The roads this year have been the worst I've ever seen - every time I thump through some giant pothole, I'm glad the M Coupe is safely covered at home.

As almost always happens when you buy a car - I'd seen ONE Smart on the road before I bought mine, now I see them regularly. People's reactions fall into two camps - either they tell me how cute it is, or they go into graphic detail about what will happen when I get hit by a semi. It's odd really - I didn't know so many people were apparently run over by semis all the time. Of course, the reason this isn't reported in the news is that in anything larger than a Smart no one is injured - they just buff out the scratches and go on with their day. 

Yeah, its one of those area 51 occurences!

They are cool looking cars I'll give it that. Just given my size, I dont think its appropriate. Those who know me can probably back me up on that. I have heard though that despite their smaller size, they do not get a comparitively high mpg rating. Anyone else have some facts on that?

[S POWRD]

I have heard though that despite their smaller size, they do not get a comparitively high mpg rating. Anyone else have some facts on that?

A Prius still kicks a Smart car's ass in MPG.

[Polish Guy]

I have heard though that despite their smaller size, they do not get a comparitively high mpg rating. Anyone else have some facts on that?

A Prius still kicks a Smart car's ass in MPG.

I'd rather have the Smart.

[S POWRD]

I have heard though that despite their smaller size, they do not get a comparitively high mpg rating. Anyone else have some facts on that?

A Prius still kicks a Smart car's ass in MPG.

I'd rather have the Smart.

I could care less about getting an extra 10-15 MPG... I'd rather have A: safety B: legroom C: fun while driving

[epbrown]

They are cool looking cars I'll give it that. Just given my size, I dont think its appropriate. Those who know me can probably back me up on that. I have heard though that despite their smaller size, they do not get a comparitively high mpg rating. Anyone else have some facts on that?

The interior of a Smart Fortwo is a little bit bigger than a BMW 5-series. According to their website, maximum driver size is 6'3", passenger side has a bit more room as the seat is 6" further back. I'm 6'1" and 200 lbs and I've got plenty of room. A guy in TX has one and he's 6'2" and 300. There's a picture on the net of Shaq in one - convertible, though.

The take on fuel economy is wierd. The Smart gets 33/41 according to EPA, I'm averaging 40mpg so far in city driving. It does better than a Yaris, Fit, Mini, Aveo, pretty much any non-diesel or hybrid in it's price/size range. But because of its size, people always think it should be even better. There's a similar effect re. safety - doesn't matter that it gets good crash test ratings, people look at the size and assume deathtrap. One day, I fully expect someone riding helmetless on a motorcycle to pull up next to me and say "Dude, I'd never drive something like that - you could die!"