Moms!! Would you be more inclined to buy the new "smart car" if it held more than two people

Question

....and was affordable? We hear about all these wonderful Eco-friendly cars, but none are ever affordable for the average American family and even if they were most of them don't hold more than two people! Would you be more inclined to buy these Eco-friendly vehicles if they were affordable and actually had room for children?

Answer 1

well i doubt they would ever make a 4WD version of one because we need one (2 adults, 5 kids) but if they did for sure i would buy one!

PS: my kids catch the train, walk and catch the bus to most places anyway!

Answer 2

I would also be concerned about the safety aspect of the car and how well it fared in crash testing.

But we have tossed around the idea of getting a hybrid for our next car.  We just haven't found one that really appeals to us yet.

Answer 3

Well yeah - I'm not going to want one for us, when we currently have 4 children and are TTC one last time for my 3rd (hubby's 5th). so yeah I can't imagine squeezing 7 people into a 2 person car. lol

Answer 4

Why did you delete your last question? I wanted to answer that question soooo bad! That person is totally nasty......especially to you! I have noticed this for sometime now. She is nasty.........just plain nasty! She should be ashamed of herself.

AS for the car..........no I would not buy one. I like a bit more metal around me.

Answer 5

Absolutely not. Our 4 door Honda gets about 40 MPG interstate - which is more than the smart car. Plus, it's roomy and has plenty of trunk space.

Edit: Omigosh.. to the person below that mentioned Prius. We actually bought a brand new one 2 years ago. Paid, I think, about $18,000. after markdowns. It was the most complete waste of money in our lives. When the tank hits 1/4 full - you best be within 1 mile or less of a gas pump or you'll be sitting on the side of the road. Happened to me 4 times!

here is how it works: The *battery* ONLY kicks in when you are at a stop light or have the car in park. It stalls (so to speak) the gas that you use. It saves you very little gas in the long run. We spoke to the manufacturer several times to be clear on this. Next, my husband tested our car on interstate and town and it got about 8 to 10 miles less per gallon than it claimed. Seriously, our Honda Civic 4 door is a million times better. I sound like a spokesperson, huh? LOL When we tried to trade our Prius in- we found out it lost $7,000. the SECOND we drove it off the lot. Instead of the $3,000. most cars lose. Total ripoff.

Answer 6

(I'm waiting to be a father but I'll answer anyway)

No, I wouldn't purchase it. I went to the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit in January, and I sat in one. They felt very flimsy and the front hood wobbled, and I didn't like it at all. I buy General Motors products (Chevrolet, Oldsmobile (now defunct), Buick, Cadillac, GMC, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab) because my father, grandfather, grandmother, and 3 great grandfathers worked for GM, and I get a substantial discount on any GM car that I purchase because of it (I will get the discount on any GM car that I purchase new until my father dies--he just turned 50), and I've found the GM cars that I have driven to be very reliable and of good quality. Honestly I'm really not all that concerned about being eco-friendly, mainly worried about gas prices. I am also larger than most people--I'm tall, so I literally cannot fit into a compact or subcompact car. The only hybrid car that I would currently buy now is the new Chevrolet Malibu hybrid, or maybe the Impala with Flexfuel (however, E85 does not give as high of miles per gallon as regular unleaded gasoline, and it is harder on the engine (the ethanol leaves deposits that clog up the spark plugs).

Call me crazy, but that's just who I am. I drive a 1999 Saturn SL1 that I barely fit in (my head is almost at the roof with the seat all the way back), but I like it. I do get fairly decent gas mileage with it, but I am going to need to purchase a larger car soon, and I am looking at the Malibu hybrid. My mother drives a Pontiac Bonneville (she's taller than I am) and my father (taller than both of us--he's 6'4 and weighs 270 pounds) drives a full size Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.

Answer 7

You're right about that. These eco-friendly cars are not made for normal, working people (price-wise). Not to mention, the ones they do make don't hold a family really. I have 3 small children and need two car seats and room in between for a 6 year old, so I'm really screwed! I would love to own one though, just to help save on gas and helping the earth. But, when they do make a famliy vehicle, maybe a mini-van or larger SUV, you'll need to sell your home to buy one!  

Answer 8

Yes.  Once more companies come out with hybrids that are affordable and can conceivably accommodate a family, we will probably buy one.

Until then, I'm not over-paying for a Prius.

Answer 9

No, we walk and take the bus after selling the car about a year ago.  If i can continue living in an area with reliable and safe enough public transportation I won't even think about buying a car.

If I we were a car family, we would be more inclined to consider one of those cars if they could accommodate our 5 person family.