Deanster, A4 and others, four seats does not equal twice the space. I’ve driven both the Yaris and the ForTwo (2008 not 2006). I couldn’t put my family in the ForTwo, but I couldn’t put them in the Yaris, either. In fact, I barely fit in the Yaris, and I’m not that big. For me, a car like that is for commuting up and down the street to work, not for carrying a ton of people. For one or two people, the Smart has a more comfortable cabin space. For four people, a Pruis is a better choice. Both the Yaris and the Prius are much more expensive than the Smart. The ForTwo starts at $11.5k. Yeah, the Yaris starts at $11.3k, but it doesn’t have the same equipment. Once you add ABS and the other features the Smart ForTwo Pure has, the Yaris quickly climbs to 16k. The Prius starts at $21k, so it’s pretty much out of the question. A similarly equipped Mini runs around $22k, so it doesn’t even compare. The Mini is cute, and I wanted one at one time. But they are too pricey for my cheap self.

I also felt safe in the Smart, with the exception of the rear end push due to the funky weight distribution. I drove the ForTwo convertible in the middle of the summer in Vegas, during 118° weather. I froze my butt off in the Smart, and turned the A/C way down. I tried the same thing in the Yaris, and when I took off, it got warm. I will say the Yaris out accelerates the ForTwo, but when I’m driving to work, that’s not a big deal to me. The Smart A/C and stereo are what I like.

As far as Democrats wanting to buy them, you might be right. I’m a Republican, however, and I did the math. If I stopped driving my current car to work, I could actually lease, insure, and fuel a ForTwo on the money I spend on gas for my current car, and it gets 18mpg. I know I could get the same mileage in a Fit or Yaris, but I will still end up shelling out for it because of the price, and I don’t want that. The math doesn’t work for them.

These cars aren’t for everyone, so if you don’t like it, that’s cool. But saying they are cramped, that nothing fits and that they will crush under the pressure of a cheap K-Mart bicycle are pretty poor arguments. They are roomier than you would expect. They don’t have trunks because what do you need to fit into your trunk when you drive to work? A dead body? They don’t have back seats because who are you taking to work? Your kids don’t go with you. They don’t have a ton of power because how fast do you really want to go between stop lights when you are going to work?

As far as getting hit by a Suburban, let me list off a few others that would be destroyed by a Suburban: Miata, Fit, Yaris, Mini, Bug (older ones), Aveo, Metro, Corvette, almost any Lotus, Porsche, Corolla, Accord, S2000, 350Z, Harley Davidson, etc. etc. etc. You get the point. There isn’t much on the road that wouldn’t be destroyed by a Suburban. But I would hate to see a Suburban get smacked by a Peterbilt. For those that fear being crushed by a bigger fish, get a Kenworth or Mack or something, because that’s about as big as it gets.

And all the German comments, um, guys, this thing is French. I know that probably makes it worse, but at least get the country right. Mercedes is German, yes, but the original car and design happened in France, and that is where the main factory is, too.

Everyone fails to mention the three best features of the ForTwo, though:

1) the panoramic roof on the Passion model. None of the other cars mentioned have that available. Yeah, there are some convertibles, but the panoramic roof on the Passion model is just cool. I’m not a fan of convertibles, especially in Las Vegas where the tops just bake and break, and then they leak during monsoon season.

2) the shifter, including the paddles. It’s a weird concept, but I like it. No, the car doesn’t get faster, but at least it makes the commute a bit more enjoyable. A real manual is better, but for people that don’t know how to drive a stick, this makes things fun. I wish a real stick was available, though.

3) The removable body panels. For $1,800, I can get a set of different colored body panels, and drive two different colored cars to work every other day. That’s not a reason to like a car, but just by buying those panels, you feel like you have a new car.

I’m not saying everyone should run out and buy a Smart just because of these features. I’m just saying these are the ones everyone forgets about, and they are some of the features I like about it. But guys, girls, this is my opinion. I like the ForTwo, and I want one. But it would never be my only car. That’s ridiculous. I’m keeping my minivan for my wife and kids, and buying a ForTwo for me.

If any comments after this post are said by my handle, they will have a hyperlink to a gay porn site (Do not click on it) and are deemed offensive to anyone just know it wasn’t said by the real me. After using LLN over the past 7 months, it’s sad it’s come to this. Good luck everyone.

Fools.

I laugh at those morons who make the suggestion to buy a Mini Cooper instead. Yeah, if I had a death wish! Or do you people like forking out thousands of dollars in repair bills?

>It’s popular b/c it is so easy to park. When I was in Puerto Rico, I rented a 2 door Toyota Yaris. Everyone was passing the only spot left in the street, and we just took the spot and still had a lot of room. Not a bad car in my opinion.

OK maybe I’m overreacting, but over the weekend the Wife and I traded her PT on an ‘02 Mustang GT. Silver on dark grey leather, only 37k kms, Bullitt wheels, 5 spd and mach 460 sound.

Anyone who drives a Smart please feel free to reply. I’ll try to care once we’ve managed to wipe the **** eating grins off our faces.

Well if you really gotta compare a Mini Cooper to a Smart ForTwo, you’re looking at a MSRP difference of about 7k.

The 2008 Mini Cooper is has a base of $18,700 U.S has 118hp 28city 37highway or 32mpg combined (stats were taken directly from http://www.miniusa.com)

the 2008 Smart ForTwo pure has 1 liter I3 with a (fire breathing)71hp and a base of $11,590 U.S and gets
33/41mpg (EPA 2008) (www.smartusa.com). Oh and does 0-60 in 12.8 seconds. (I had to re check that when I saw that)

Just from the stats yes the Smart FortTwo costs about 7k less and gets slightly better mileage. Now it also seats only two as opposed to the Mini Cooper’s 4 (I saw 4 adults packed in one one time and I felt sorry for them). The only storage the Smart ForTwo has, is a glove compartment.

I’ll side with A4 on this I’d rather spend the 7k extra, somewhat retain my manlyhood and go with the Mini Cooper.

As if that wasn’t enough, Smart has the balls to put out a ****ing Brabus edition with deep-lipped 14″ rims and skirts and charge a $7000 premium in Canada. Whoever buys these is a gooch monkey.

California?