The Prius: The REAL Smart Car?

Consumer Reports for 2011 has two editions out right now, as I reviewed both yesterday (again last night...thinking about another car). Anyway, for the Smart it said that the transmission was "the worst we've experienced". I don't know if they mean ever, but that's verbatim what it said.

 

People bang on about it, but it's really not that bad. just unusual cos it's not quite manual and not quite auto.

 

I've seen lots of them on the road. The only way I could consider one is when golf courses allow them as golf carts. Now that would be really great,,,,,,,,never having to transfer my golf clubs.....

 

The smart car is a great little car. The US and CDN versions however are horrid.

The cdi version can get 60-70mpg. That puts it in the class of being smart again. The transmission is horrid, but if you let off the gas then manually shift it becomes smoother. But you definitely feel it. It also doesn't "creep" like an auto, which is disconcerting to those who have never driven a manual.

If they brought the euro version over unmodified it would be a stellar vehicle for the euro price.

 

I don't know if the US public will tolerate it, but someone needs to force them to. Even with huge V8s they refuse to merge onto interstates at speed. It seems the onramp's only use is to funnel you onto a 80mph road at 40mph so you can screw up traffic. A car that only gets to 60 in 16s will behave the same as a corvette for the majority.

 

The future is traffic automation--cars that drive themselves. The benefits of it is so numerous it almost defies belief. It will solve a huge number of problems from gas economy to time and congestion and safety. People need to be taken out of the equation.

 

Nissan's announced range was 100 miles back before the EPA's testing protocol was known. The sticker range of the Leaf is 73.

Statements for the Focus BEV were at 100 miles. It appears they are down to 80 with the Smart. The Focus and Leaf are both larger, yes, but there is 'size premium' to pay. Depending on equipment and comparison model, it can be a very small premium, but it's there and likely to grow in EV models.

The Smart is smaller, lighter, and engineers don't have to take 2 or 3 more adults or adult size cargo into account when designing the drive system. So the most expensive part of an EV will be smaller in the Smart. At the same projected range, the Smart should have an edge in electricity consumed per mile over the Ford and Nissan. It may not even require the high voltage charger for a reasonable charge time at home. Which saves the new owner another $1000 to $2000.

He also doesn't have to completely clean out the garage for it.

As to safety, everything loses to the semi.
We have to get away from the bigger is safer mentality. Yes, there is some undeniable physics involved, but the bigger is safer mantra has lead many into vehicles larger than they need, or even handle, and may even be less safe do to less stringent safety regulations and higher roll over rates.

Also, half of car crashes involve just one vehicle. The Smart does just as well as other cars in that instance. If against an immovable object, you might be better off in the Smart than a heavier vehicle.

Acceleration for a final thought. I believe there should be a performance tax on vehicles that can do 0 to 60 under 10 seconds. That kind of performance is wasted in most daily driving. Flat acceleration isn't needed for hauling loads. We don't need family sedans that are faster than most muscle cars during their heydey.

 

Death rates are lowest in heavy SUVs, and highest in mini-cars. This is just a fact. Yes, vehicles with a higher center of gravity have a greater propensity to rollover, but most deaths and injuries from auto accidents are not caused by rollovers. And with stability control standard in most SUVs, the argument about rollovers is almost moot. It's not 1997 anymore.

 

You failed to mention that death rates are higher where heavy truck and SUV are involved with collisions with smaller lighter cars. So it's an arms war and unfortunately those making an effort to save money and reduce pollution/consumption are on the loosing end of the deal. It's my opinion that those driving the big heavy vehicles also drive faster and more aggressively. It's an ego thing. I drive a big bad truck therefore I have a huge sack.

 

... only when you exclude the people outside the heavy SUVs who get crushed in the same collision events. Count them, and the death rates actually increase.

These bigger rigs, subject to weaker safety and crash compatibility standards than passenger cars, have turned many nonfatal car-car crashes into car-truck fatalities. Then these needless fatalities in the victim cars are too often cited as evidence that trucks are 'safer'.

 

AKA "Dwayne Johnson Syndrome".

 

Totally except he actually gave us Prius drivers a compliment by saying we have a pair. lol Meatheads crack me up, especially when they wear Big Dog t-shirts that were all the rage in the 90s and now it's all about tribal tattoos and Affliction t-shirts that are too tight. Everyone thinks they are UFC fighters now. haha

 

If people wouldn't drive a Prius due to its size, they'd never get on one of these -



Long story, but was riding that thing 2XSL backside of 9 few years ago. Toned it down after that. No, didn't get a ticky. Amazing, I never got a ticket in 7 recent years of sportbike riding. Except going through wrong lane at bridge toll, that was lame.

anyhoo, if people say, I gotta protect my children in a bigger vehicle, then they can go buy a High Hy ... 15MPG in your Armada to 25 MPG in High Hy is a nice improvement.

btw, after my speech on Prius, dude said, I can't have a hybrid, need to tow, I said, get a Highlander Hybrid - can tow 5k lbs.

 

I would imagine the Prius+ or Five Axis thing would warm up the tuner types. The No Fear, high rider types wouldn't care less.

They're just Monster Jam wannabees anyway .... 'ewww, I wanna be Grave Digger when I grow ... a pair'

 

I don't know how that's possible.

 

I just don't get the smart.

Cheapest on lots in Atlanta are 14.9

I paid 16.6 for a Fiesta SE with Sync and alloy wheels. It also has all the airbags including a knee airbag (apparently rare in sub-compacts) and I am averaging 31mpg mostly city. The car is rated at 29/38 vs 33/44 and I can carry humans in it AND groceries.

If it was like 7k it would make more sense IMO.

 

Move to Europe or San Francisco and it will make more sense. Parking is a huge issue and the Smart is tiny enough to take advantage of small openings.