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How 'green' are you?

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DrewKaree:

--- Quote from: jbox on May 20, 2007, 09:43:16 pm ---
--- Quote from: DrewKaree on May 20, 2007, 06:53:38 pm ---so I can't for the life of me fathom why they think the "cache" of having one of these a year early is worth $14k

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Some people are just "those kind of people"? Who buys the top-line CPU's instead of the other ones which are 5% slower and 60% cheaper? Who buys the pre-order Zuper-Box Mega-Whopper-Huge-Big pack when everyone knows that a year from now it will be $100 cheaper? To some people the value of having something right now is much more than others.  :dunno

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I see the few hundred as somewhat an impulse buy type of thing.  $14,000 more is outside my ability to see as an "impulse buy".  Seems to me that those who could view $14,000 as an amount they have no problem dropping on impulse aren't the type who're gonna be driving around in a tuna can on wheels.

Boyks, when the front of the car is as close to your body as the back of the car, I'm never ditching the feeling that I'm a missed blind-spot check away from becoming a semi's new tire. 

Heaven help the poor soul who's claustrophobic and has to ride in one of those as well.

Buddabing:

--- Quote from: DrewKaree on May 20, 2007, 06:53:38 pm ---I'm guessing it's because nobody else has them here...some kind of "value" cost increase ::)

Seems prices when they're offered here next year will be in line with what you're saying, so I can't for the life of me fathom why they think the "cache" of having one of these a year early is worth $14k

http://www.smartusa.com/faq.html

I have no idea what's different from previous years, but there's all the info they're putting out.  Seems that the press release I read was either incorrect, or they re-figured their info.  Doing the conversion using Google gave me a figure of 46 mpg, to be exact.  Their figures for 2008 for the U.S. are 40 "plus" mpg.

My CRX got that, looked a hell of a lot cooler, and didn't make me fear a bicyclist would total my car ;D

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I'd buy one if the price was right, I'd say about $10k USD.

I think the word you're looking for is "cachet".

patrickl:

--- Quote from: DrewKaree on May 20, 2007, 06:53:38 pm ---I'm guessing it's because nobody else has them here...some kind of "value" cost increase ::)

Seems prices when they're offered here next year will be in line with what you're saying, so I can't for the life of me fathom why they think the "cache" of having one of these a year early is worth $14k

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I only mentioned some basic prices. There are more expensive models. A while ago I was in the Amsterdam auto show (AutoRAI) and they had a smart (think it was the Brabus "pimped" version) that cost something like €25k ($32k). The cabrio is more expensive (by about 3k) than the coupe version and from looking at it you can hardly see the difference. Their idea of cabrio is more a sunroof.

[/quote]I have no idea what's different from previous years, but there's all the info they're putting out. [/quote]Well there simply is a new model coming up. Perhaps for the old model it was too just expensive to make it comply with US regulations (could be as simple as having to move the taillight an inch up). The new model was probably designed with both US and European rules in mind then.

They are losing so much money on it  they basically restarted the whole smart business. They dumped the extra models (4 seater and roadster) and redesigned the basic model. Guess one part of the new strategy is to try and sell it in the US too.

I had one on my drive way (loaner when a car was in the shop for service), but it simply looks scary to drive in. They say the shell of the car stays intact, but it just doesn't look like the people inside will remain intact. Feels like the back of your head is on the rear window. maybe the new model will be better (it will be slightly less small at least)

danny_galaga:

--- Quote from: patrickl on May 20, 2007, 03:40:46 pm ---
I wonder if the extra batteries needed for a fully electrically powered care wouldn't weigh as much as a small petrol engine anyway.


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more. i love the idea of electric cars and when i have some cash i want to build some kind of electric streeter (they do really good 1/4 mile times). but as they stand there is a big issue with range and weight with traditional batteries, and cost with lithium ion. the idea of a hybrid is more to average out what a petrol engine is doing. a petrol engine is most efficient if it just runs at a certain constant speed as in a generator. in a normal car, the constant acceleration/deceleration means you need a much larger engine than required to just hold the speed. electric motors have huge torque from 0 rpm to top so the combination of the two should give the best of both worlds- car with an engine of about 40 hp with electric performing like a regular 100 hp motor...

polaris:
i agree they seem a bit tiny ,and i wouldnt say they are reasonably priced. you probably get a nonsense tax break here for buying one , that'll be about £50 or something silly. i do like them though. but i like minis too.
in our cities though they are a dream and i can see one day soon cars like that being the only ones allowed in cities.
congestion charges in london relate to the engine size in your car and 4x4 are being taxed ar a higher rate already.
 a marathon runner raced a car across london ,and won. these tiny things may help, but obviously that doesnt account for motorway driving after leaving the city, i can imagine people not feeling safe on motorways next to lorries.

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