Smart Car Help!!! would you get it?

Question

ok, watch this video and tell me if you would still get the smart car...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s

im 15, and im thinking about getting one. but do you think they are really that safe? i just want a good car, with good mileage and that is safe.. i will be driving to school next year. so i need help.. umm i guess i could give 10 pts to the best answer

Answer 1

go to www.smartusa.com  find a dealer.  take your parents.  take a test drive, in your case, a test ride.

look over the features.  review the warrenty.

i bet your parents will put down 99 dollars to get on the list.

Answer 2

Buy a Corolla. Smart Cars are toys for rich people.

Answer 3

no. that car is not good for a student driver. your better off getting a cheap used honda civic or toyota corolla as your first car.

Answer 4

The Smart car is very safe, one of the safest vehicles on the road today.  There are other factors to consider when buying one.  They get gas mileage similar to a Prius, but they cost many thousands of dollars less to buy. Where I live there is an additional $2000 government rebate if you buy one because it is an environmentally friendly car. It is a great car in traffic, and is fine on the highway. It's a cool car and a great conversation starter practically everywhere you go in one. They have more "personality" than most other cars, with the possible exception of the mini Cooper (which is much more expensive with not great gas mileage and is not that comfortable to ride). Smart cars are neat to drive, have very comfortable seats, and are good for road trips - I drove one on a 1000 mile road trip last week and had plenty of room for my luggage and everything I needed, and had a lot of fun with it. They have the basic amenities you need - AC, intermittent wipers, power windows, keyless entry. Unlike most other cars they require servicing only once a year or every 10,000 miles or 15,000 kilometers, which is a huge savings in itself. When you buy one, you automatically have roadside assistance, so if you get a flat tire, or lock your keys in the car you just call the roadside assistance number.

However, I don't see many young people driving them.  I see many people my age driving them - I'm retired and my children are grown up and on their own.  Young people tend to want a car that will carry more than one passenger.  

There are many advantages to a Smart car, and I like them a lot, but you need to consider your own situation and whether it would work for you.

Answer 5

It looks safe to me. Any car hitting a wall at 70 will hurt you badly. That little car held it's shape (cabin area) nice.

Answer 6

Well, no car is going to look good after a 70mph crash against a concrete wall.

However, that crash as well as the others at the start of the video are pretty concerning as far as the lower legs - if you watch the frame-by-frame, the other cars were entering the space where the driver's legs go.

Answer 7

YES! I want one really bad!

Answer 8

I would not buy one. Its safe, it gets good milage, but its overpriced. Did you know that it takes about 14 month on a waiting list to get one?

PLUS, you cannot find a decent one under 14k. No joke- they say 12k, but thats with no power steering, no radio, NOTHING.

Answer 9

are you friggin serious???

Answer 10

Here is my take on these cars. First thing you want to do is take a look at the specifications. The gas mileage is good, and the safety ratings look pretty good, but many other cars have these specifications as well. The motor is extremely small (1.0 liter I believe), which may be good for small city driving, but passing will be impossible, and the size of the car is impractical. My biggest problem is the pricing of these cars, which looks to be around $15,000. That is more than a brand new Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cobalt, Honda Fit, Toyota Corolla, and even many good used midsize cars. I say that you do not purchase this vehicle for those reasons, but if you truly want one, please get one, as that will make you happiest. I just wanted you to know how to compare it to the competition. Take care

Answer 11

no

it's not practical for everyday use, the hwy ride is terrible.

get a Honda Fit

the Fit comes well equipped with standard power accessories, antilock brakes, and curtain air bags.

Highs: Versatile interior, handling, fuel economy, standard ABS, powertrain, controls, access, turning circle, crash-test results, reliability.

Lows: Choppy ride, road noise, driving position.

Honda's small four-door hatchback offers easy access and good visibility, and has an amazing amount of interior room. The rear seats can be folded flat or the cushion can fold up against the backrest, creating a deep, flat floor that can accommodate bulky or tall items. While not overly powerful, the Fit feels responsive, with a smooth and willing engine, and agile handling. Overall fuel economy is an excellent 34 mpg for the manual and 32 mpg for the automatic. The ride is a bit choppy but supple enough.

avoid the Toyota Yaris, Chevy Aveo & Nisaan Versa

Answer 12

For an inexperienced young driver this car is not for you.  In an accident this car is very likely to come off worse.  The latest model has not been crash tested but results for previous models are not very good - it received three stars, whereas one star is the legal requirement, most cars have at least four or five stars.  

Answer 13

Well on one hand, it is a 2 seater with almost no power, so you cannot get into any real trouble with it.  Any of the inherit short comings are also more likely to be forgiven or overlooked by a younger driver.  Namely the hard shifting transmission, hard ride and loud motor.

The crash tests are flawed in that they are against a similar sized vehicle.  Not much of a chance of being hit by another 2000lb Smart.  But there is a good chance of being hit by a 3500lb family sedan, or even worse a 6000lb SUV.  Simple physics dictates you will come out the worse in most any crash.

I would not get one, and here is why:

-insurance companies generally charge more for a 2 seater because they used to only be sports cars

-small dealer network

-parts hard to find

-Mercedes dealers charge well over $100 an hour

-Mercedes reliability is really bad

-uncertain resale trends in the States

Look at a Honda Fit or maybe a Mazda 3.