2008? Actually they have been for sale here for a couple of months. I think in February one of the local builders was giving one away with each of the first dozen houses he sold. Only the first version is available and it is sold by two different dealerships locally.

Good overview of the car is at http://auto.howstuffworks.com/smart-car.htm

Unlike the RX8 it comes turbocharged standard. But with 50 or 61 hp.

The trim models are called "Pure, Pulse and Passion", that alone should be enough to earn a gay label.

 

If that car sells for 9-10k the car will sell like hotcakes if the mileage is up near 40mpg. All they'll need to do is run a ad campaign with a shot of long lines and high price's at a gas station and a fleet of Smart's driving by without a worry. After that the car will sell itself. That and the car looks kinda kewl in a odd funky kinda way.

Oh and that Roadster looks like a Smart got it on with a Rx-8 and was raised by TVR.

 

Thats the first generation. Version 2 is officially being imported here.

 

I've seen 2 on the roads close to where I live and 1 passed me on the highway a couple of weeks ago (they were in the carpool lane). Cute cars. I hadn't see a pic of the Roadster yet - love it!

 

I've rented the convertible version of the Smart car in UK twice ... and its really fun to drive. It had paddle shifters too!

Would I buy one? No!

Kev

 

Saw one driving back from Baltimore today, I was surprised they were "allowed" in the States since I thought SmartCar was still arguing for getting their cars over here. I had seen them before in Italy, and they really are, in my opinion, the only vehicle to have if one lives in Rome, or any other big city. They only take up the space of two scooters or motorcycles, parking would not be as big a problem anymore. I'm not sure I'd drive one on the highway like the one I saw today, it looked out of place and extremely small compared to SUVs, etc. BTW, the car was silver...I'm not saying anything, just that it was silver. Hope it made it home safely.

 

they have to price it well, other wise id rather buy a yaris

 

or TWO

appears the version one builder was including with houses had a claimed value of $26K - Way too much http://www.repdx.com/2007/02/12/smart-car/

Other references I have seen claimed start at $12K with $15 real usable for v1 and $20K and $25K for v2. Local dealers don't have v2 yet but claim market is
big enough for both to sell. They will be a different dealers.

I think based on Prius they will sell a few to over paid tree huggers, but not the masses unless gas goes over $5 a gallon.

 

There's a dealer here in town that sells them.

And the back end of that roadster reminds me strangely of the Fiat X1/9...if anyone remembers those :D

 

here's a review of the conv. roadster...not a monster car but top gear seemed to like it alot for fun/convience factor...

http://www.car2max.com/video/Top%20G...20Roadster.wmv

definitely not a sports car but I think chicks would love this car...

 

They've sold them up here in Canada for a while now. They only make some sense if you live in the downtown core, otherwise not worth the money IMO over something like a Yaris.

For attention ******, when they first come out they'll get more attention than a Lambo.

 

Those are 16 in rims to give you an idea of size. I've spent two months in Greece and these things are all over. We called them gas powered dumpsters as they are about the same size and speed.

 

9K-15k for this..?? should be like 5k.

I paid $15,700 out the door taxes and all for my 2001 civic hx that averaged 45 mpg over 186,000 miles( and on the trip out to oregon when I gave it to my mom after i bought the rx8 it got 52mpg average over 3,000 miles ). And to think that it( the civic hx brand )got replaced by the civic hybrid which got less mileage and cost more money.

The civic is coming back to my anyways now it's got 215,000 on it and still doing 40+ mpg at 6,000 feet on shiity cali gas.

 

Wait a minute, I thought these cars were already being sold in the US. You can see a bunch of them around here. I see at least 1 almost daily. And from what I heard they go for under 9K.

 

They allow these tiny electric Zap Xebra thingies in the U.S., but I think technically they are considered three-wheel motorcycles.

 

OooOOO I want one

 

Looking up at the website it seems like they are going to price them way beyond what any body guessed here.

smart fortwo pure
starting under $12,000*

smart fortwo passion
starting under $14,000*

&

smart fortwo passion cabrio
starting under $17,000*

The passion cabrio has all the features of the passion coupe plus an upgraded radio and sound system that includes an mp3 compatible in-dash 6 CD changer. The main difference lies in the soft top with a heated rear glass window that is fully automatic and can be infinitely adjusted to any position while driving at any speed. For the full cabrio experience, simply remove the side roof bars - taken out in no time - and stow them in a special compartment in the tailgate.

The last one is the price of a used 8, lol

 

They are all over the place up here in Canada, I see them daily (and many of them daily). Its so damn small it just makes you laugh but I believe it claims 56mpg on like $17 worth of fuel or something crazy like that... 7.5ft long if I am correct? Could park 2 of them in a standard parking spot.

For a highway commuter like me, this would be the perfect little car.. all I need is a seat and a steering wheel and save the 8 for when I need to feel a little zoom.

 

Unfortunately they stopped producing them.
The Roadster version didn't seem to sell as well as hoped for. The most powerful version (Brabus) only had 100 hp and the semi-automatic gearbox doesn't shift quite as promptly, so my guess is that most 'sportscar enthusiasts' weren't interested in it.
The engine had a displacement of only 0.7l. So 100 hp out of this small engine was already slightly pushing it (same power density as a stock Evo).

 

The Yaris is the last subcompact I would get. blech

Mazda 2, Fit or Versa first.

 

WTF, $17k for the cabrio? For just a little more you can get a base MX-5 which will seem like a rocket in comparison.

 

Saw one of these in downtown DC last week. It was painted/vinyled with some advertisement, but I was too far away to see the ad. Kinda cute. Great for someone living downtown where space is at a premium.

 

Had them here for years, they are a laugh every time I see the 2 for.

If you want a suitcase on wheels...go for it!
How safe I would feel in one is another matter again.

IMO a giggle car....surely you can't be serious!

 

do we seriously need a car smaller than an insight?

 

I saw one driving on Chimney Rock today. I don't know if it was a tester, or an import (I didn't get to see License plate or which side the steering wheel was on.) Wouldn't be the first Smart Car I have seen in the US though.
Bruce Weiner has had one for a couple of years over near Covington, GA.