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Smart decision to come in May

04/24/2006, 12:38 PM

By admin

Will Mercedes sell the Smart brand in the United States? That’s the question that has eluded answer for the past several months. Despite several significant announcements — such as the discontinuation of the Forfour, the sale of the Smart Roadster design, and confirmation that the brand will be keptChrysler has had a hard time making up its mind about its U.S. strategy. Today, AFX reported that a decision about whether Mercedes will begin selling cars in the United States will be made in May. If the company goes ahead with U.S. sales, it would likely follow the same model currently used in Canada — selling Smart cars at Mercedes dealerships. While some importers are bringing Smart cars to the States, a deployment by Chrysler would be much more widespread. In addition to a basic assessment of demand, the debate likely centers around dilution of the Mercedes brand. Should Mercedes suck it up and sell the compact two-seats? We think so.

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04/24, 1:22 PM

posted by:

Count Drokoo

why not sell them at chrysler/jeep dealerships then? Like Toyota with Scion

04/24, 1:38 PM

posted by:

Shut Up

Wow, hitting new highs with headlines I see.

04/24, 1:47 PM

posted by:

Pruce

I think they should definetly sell it here in the USA…. look at these damn gas prices!!!

04/24, 2:35 PM

posted by:

bill

I saw one here in the states. It was on a dirt road in rural Kentucky, and it had Ontario plates. That smart car got up a really bad mud hill. I am sure he was laughing at all the gas guzzling SUV’s.

04/24, 6:04 PM

posted by:

Dave

As a Smart owner, I think the car would find a ready market in the US. It is sold at Mercedes dealers here in Canada, and they sold double the numbers that they had forecast during the first year. The car is not as cheap as a Hyundai or Kia, but there is a lot of technology in it, and it sure is cheap to run.

04/24, 10:00 PM

posted by:

manny

wasnt this decision supposed to have happened in 2004? as DCX stalls gas prices keep going up…

04/25, 12:12 AM

posted by:

wickedated

The reason why they dont sell those here is because the American public would take them as a joke. AND SMART knows it, or they’d be called DUMB! Even though the gas prices are exponetially higher, the common folk would buy a Civic hybrid WAY before they spend the virtually the same money on a Smart. The reason why they’re popular in Europe is not all fuel efficiency. It’s because European cities are narrower and parking spaces are not as wide or plentiful there. Also, they don’t suffer from a 60% overweight rate and can actually FIT in these vehicles.

There’s a reason, beyond fuel economy, that Americans buy SUVs, minivans, trucks, 7-series, S-classes, A8s, LS430s more than any other market. INTERIOR ROOM!

Let’s just see the crash ratings at highway speeds against commonly found vehicles in the USA such as Ford Explorer, Dodge Ram 1500, Chevy Tahoe… a serious fatality!

04/26, 9:29 AM

posted by:

TT

They already sell them in the US in limited numbers unofficially.

http://www.zapworld.com/cars/smartcar.asp

04/26, 10:04 AM

posted by:

Dave

For a comprehensive collection of crash test videos, check out Mercedes CA website:

http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/mbccustom/smart/safety/event_clips.cfm

04/26, 2:09 PM

posted by:

Jesse Payette Steinberg

Great car, owned one for a year until the transmission got wacked. Thing I disliked about it, the horrible soundsystem in the Fortwo and couldnt find any customizer to try and change the soundsystem in the car.

One thing I heard someone tuned their Fortwo to 280 hp but thats the petrol version and in Canada they were only selling the diesel model, which you can change the engine from the 70hp to 100+ hp I think.

Its a great car to drive, trust me. I fell in love with it back in 2004 when I was in Europe for a month.

04/26, 6:21 PM

posted by:

Norman Snyder

As the bug was to Volkwagon. the Smart car could be to Mercedes.

04/26, 6:26 PM

posted by:

rjlawrencejr

#7 You are absoultely correct about the supersized American. However, you are off base with your assumptions of collision survival. You should read the following essay from Malcolm Gladwell. He talks about a major factor that so many American SUV drivers have moved away from: active safety versus the more accepted passive safety.

When you drive a small car, you know your limitations, what you are capable of and what the consequences are if you don’t drive defensively. In a large car like SUVs, you’re removed from the driving experience and many drivers assume the car’s overwhelming size will envelop them and protect them from harm.

That is why I just shake my head in disbelief when critics scoff at the idea of small cars because of their perceived lack of crash worthiness. The real key is that you will probably less likely to get into a crash in a Smart because you will be able to quickly get out of the way.

http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html

04/27, 4:10 AM

posted by:

MarkM

If you’ve visited Europe in the past several years, and seen these cool little things All Over The Place, you’ll understand what all the fuss is about, otherwise its going to be puzzling. They make a good 2-person commuter-car, park on a dime, and are waaaayyy cheaper than the cheapest Japanese Hybrid. I don’t know if I’d want to drive one on a freeway, but I certainly saw people doing it in France.

04/27, 8:17 PM

posted by:

Lizzie

I FREAKING WANT ONE. period. I am a small girl and I think this is the car for me. I plan to drive it around seattle, where parking on the street is a pain. I think it’s really cute and did you know that it has interchangeable faceplates? omg this is perfect. my parents will be glad to know that this has great mileage so they don’t have to pay alot. and also I hate giving my friends rides so the Smart ForTwo wil be perrrrfect. woww.

05/01, 8:42 AM

posted by:

IdeaMill

[...] This May we Americans will get the chance to become a little smarter with our transportation choices thanks to Mercedes Benz. [...]

05/17, 4:44 AM

posted by:

Don

Small cars. I’ve always liked them and have had a bunch in my life. Bug-eye Sprites, MG Midgets, Morris Minors etc. I agree that small cars keep you on your toes and more aware of what your driving and who’s driving near you. It’s real “driving” as opposed to sitting behind some big ass monster, one hand on the wheel and half asleep. I’d buy one. But, I’d really like to see a pic of the Sport Utility version they nixed….I look at Ebay France and England and have seen some really cool small vans and campers that are on small Jap chassis, or Fiat etc. Campers the size of half a Cad Escalade! I want a Smart Car Mini Van, so I can sleep in it over night. I also think the Scion XB boxcar is very neat. I may even buy one of those and convert it to a pop-top camper, like the VW pop-up camper tent affair. Here in the US, there are no small camper vans specifically made for one, or two adults that gets good gas miledge. In Europe, there are a lot. Even one by Peaugot with A/C. Super small by US standards but very usable. Gas has always been higher in Europe, and, like one other guy said, roads over there look like US sidewalks in some areas….I remember, back in 1959, my next door neighbor in Pittsburgh bought a Fiat 600. That was when gas was 29c per gallon. He got a few laughs, but hell, he was the only one to get up some of the streets during a good snowfall. And, he could park anywhere. I think they should re-think importing any super small car, electric or otherwize. I used to drive a 1958 Morris Minor 1000, 2 door 5 passenger coupe as my regular car. I consistantly got over 40 miles per gallon and sometimes averaged close to 50mpg on longer trips, keeping the speed around 55 mph. That was a little 948 cc engine with one SU carb. I always kept it in great tune however. Oh, and I used the cheap gas too…DJ

05/18, 11:23 AM

posted by:

Sue Kramer

They will be a niche car just like the VW. Not all Americans drive big vehicles, I have always prefered small cars. It is stupid for us to drive around in 4000 lb. vehicles everyday to work with just one person, but hey then don’t complain about the cost of gas.
I would love one but they need to get the price down to something in the 12-15 thousand dollar price range, after all it will most likely be a commuter car for most people and we dont need all that extra accessories..
Hurry,,,get it to the midwest/Chicago area!!!

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