Smart car conversion kits

[gad5264]

Not sure I could own one even if they looked like these.
















Then again if you hopped on up with a Hyabusa engine I might have to reconsider.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h8KdtuBBLM

[LinuxRandal]

I know one person with one, and I wouldn't have a problem with it for my daily commute.

But:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDU5B...eature=related

That might be more your style.

[final_t]

Impressive photoshop skills.

[dbhost]

Messersdhmidt KR175 came about a LOT earlier than the Smart... Maybe I am wrong, but I think Microcars will always be a mere oddity in the market, never a major player. Too unsafe, too limited in function and comfort.

[final_t]

Messersdhmidt KR175 came about a LOT earlier than the Smart... Maybe I am wrong, but I think Microcars will always be a mere oddity in the market, never a major player. Too unsafe, too limited in function and comfort.

Actually the Smart car is very safe from the test videos that I've seen, and very roomy. In any case, these class of cars are the proper tool for the job. You don't need a truck of SUV to run to the store or motor to work.

[dbhost]

I guess that all depends on what store you are going to, and what sort of work you do with how many occupants in the cabin...

And I've seen the crash test videos of a Smart car. No thanks... I'd prefer to spend more on gas and live.

I also refuse to feel bad for the idiot that runs a red light in front of my full size 4x4 in any small car. Compact cars ARE fuel efficient sure, but the issues of mass, and energy dissipation make it painfully obvious that the smaller the vehicle, the more energy from any crash has to get transferred to the occupants of that vehicle.

[BobSch]

Smartcars are popping up all over the place around here. Last Saturday we were driving up I-94 doing about the limit (70) when a Smartcar flew past us doing at least 80-85. I didn't think they'd go that fast.

[crokett]

I drive a Pontiac Vibe. That car is as small as I want to drive. I can't imagine driving a Smart Car - I'd feel way too exposed. I stopped next to one at a stop light the other day. It is shorter than my Vibe and looks to be even smaller than a Mini Cooper.

[leehljp]

Quite a few smart cars over here. With three metro cites spread over an area of 50+ miles by 50+ miles and 10 million (Nagoya metro), 20 mil. (Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto), and Tokyo with 30+mil, it makes plenty of sense for localized urban travel.

I rarely see one on the expressways and would estimate that most are used within 10 - 15 miles of home.

[bmyers]

Can you get a class III hitch for one? How much can you tow with one of those? How about with two of those? Just kidding.. For a mall security guard, great car. For a construction foreman, no so good.

Most people want to project who they'd like to be with cars. Ugly but smart isn't a very popular answer.

Bill

[jlm]

I love small cars, but even I fail to see the utility of a Smart in the U.S. There are several (non-hybrid, even) cars that get within a couple MPG of the Smart's fuel economy numbers, and they have back seats, trunks, etc. Why give up the option of carrying four people or bringing a large package home just to eke out an extra couple miles per gallon, even at $4-$5 per gallon? With all the hype and hoopla over their arrival here, you'd think the Smart gets 60 mpg or something, but that's not the case. Heck, Honda was making tiny cars 20 years ago that got way better mileage than the Smart gets today.

In Europe or Asia, it makes sense to have as small a car as possible because of the narrow streets and dismal parking situation. We don't really have those problems in the U.S., so such a tiny car makes little sense to me.

[Uncle Cracker]

My Lincoln LS-V8 gets nearly 29 mpg on the highway, and it's an 80 mph living room. I couldn't imagine spending 10 minutes cooped up in a Smart. If it gets to where I can't afford to drive in comfort, I won't go... Only advantage to the Smart is that if somebody hits you, your family won't have to spring for a casket.

[cabinetman]

How could we ever forget the BMW Isetta. These go back to 1955 and were very successful for what they were. Worth big money now.
.

[BobSch]

How could we ever forget the BMW Isetta. These go back to 1955 and were very successful for what they were. Worth big money now.
.

Last time I saw one is when we (about eight of us) put a teacher's Isetta up on the roof of the Jr. High's pool pumphouse.

(They suspected, but never proved it was us.)

[Uncle Cracker]

Last time I saw one is when we (about eight of us) put a teacher's Isetta up on the roof of the Jr. High's pool pumphouse.

(They suspected, but never proved it was us.)

I remember a few of us putting our HS principal's VW Beetle sideways in one of the hallways... Bumpers on both ends against the lockers... They had to jack it up with two pallet jacks to roll it out again...