Thinking of one of those Smart cars

[RSVI]

So i start doing my Google homework.

Tuff little buggers, aren't they.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/60538/smart_car_crash/

Anyone got one?
The two seaters that were the first on the scene, not the coupe type.

Thanks

[confusionhunter]

Cough.... one of these....
http://www.smartuki.com/enginebay.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5S1NAMnYKM

My mate had one and liked it, great for parking but didnt have much room (obvioulsy) for shopping etc. My only critism was the gearbox, its semi auto and seemed to take forever to change gear.... I hated it for that reason.

[derdle]

I'd agree with the gearbox criticism...tested one around Millbrook...Gawd it took forever to go anywhere.

Anyway, I saw a powerpoint presentation of an accident and it was so gruesome I refused to pass it on to anyone. It could well have been a photoshop job but it was not pretty at all.

Paul

[dummi]

they're tough, but the only soft part that will take the energy of the impact is the driver and passenger IIRC

[RSVI]

they're tough, but the only soft part that will take the energy of the impact is the driver and passenger IIRC

But to be far, isn't that the same in any car.

The video i posted showing the Top Gear test was one hell of a bang, i know going from 70mph to 0 in no time would move your insides about quite abit and this would be the killer but are you saying the smarts aren't that well built?

Not going to be using the Smart for long trips, just fancied getting one, sign writing the bastard and flying around in it (Being in the fireplace trade i think i could get some good graphics going. Maybe I'll talk to Marmite and Gardiner, they know a lot about Chavin' )

Maybe I'll just take one out for a day or two and see what i find. Not that i can really test the safety aspect

[dummi]

they're tough, but the only soft part that will take the energy of the impact is the driver and passenger IIRC

But to be far, isn't that the same in any car.

well i think that it is generally a major issue in any car and modern cars it is the first thing to be addressed with crumple zones.

now supposing safety was the primary concern here, i think they are well built like a tank, but like a tank they wont flex much under impact, the 70-0 test shows this well, the shell held up perfectly as it should, but there are no crumple zones at all, compare it to a bigger car like your rs6 the shell is designed to stay in tact everything around including the engine, body panels and most of the front and rear end are designed to collapse and slowly bring the car to a stop from high speed

thats just what i think technically about the safety, otherwise i think they are a pretty cool car and look fun zipping around like go carts and plenty of cool graphics options with interchangeable panels etc

[RSVI]

In other words;

Get one, graffiti it, spec up the BHP, get Marmite and Gardiner to chav the wheels ( ) and don't drive into concrete barriers

Thanks for the info, still thinking about one, I'll try and get one for a few days to try out.

[derdle]

spec up the BHP

Basic car is 50bhp, the Brabus version is 74 bhp...so will a remap take the 50 up to....oooohhhh 55?

[s4woody]

i had an 03 plated smart pulse with the tiptronic 6 speed gear box..great car and shed loads of fun..i still have the plug in chip that turns of the traction control...i had mine remaped and it would max out well off the clock...
if ever i wanted a car just for fun it would be 1 of these..sold it for 4000 and that helped me buy my M5...

[derdle]

PMSL - traction control on a car with 50bhp...you are having a larf aren't you?

Mind you, thinking about it...the wheels are 4 inches in diameter so perhaps 50bhp could make them spin on a wet road?

Paul

[dummi]

you forget that it is mainly plastic probably completely weighs less than the engine in an s4 those things zip around pretty quick for such a small bhp

[s4woody]

twin airbags-abs-traction control and a built in giro thingy to stop them from toppeling over in the bends...
3 cylinder turbo with intercooler and dump valve..so so tunable its not funny..there is a video on youtube of 1 with a motorbike engine in it pissin over a ferrari..honestly a car with BIG fun factor..all panels removable so you can change the colour in about 3-4 hours..
it has a metal iridium frame that everything bolts too..

[s4woody]

my smart buggy..phat red..gone now but not forgotten