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Wicked smaht cah
By adamg on Mon, 04/14/2008 - 10:22am
Saw my first Massachusetts Smart Car today - with an appropriate license plate - getting onto Rte. 9 in Chestnut Hill (also included my speedometer in the photo just to prove I'm not one of those insane people snapping photos while moving). He broke 60 on the hill down to Rte. 128, then zipped on up to 128 north (and not even pedaling very hard, that I could tell). As you can see, from the back, it basically just looks like a Mini or Matrix beaten with an ugly stick; it's only when you pull up next to it that you realize how different the thing is (says the guy driving around in a giant red space egg).
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Comments
Smaht Cah
Adam -
I parked next to that guy in the Rochies parking lot yesterday! He must be from our neck of the woods.
As always, SW Boston is on the cutting edge...
I saw one in NH on Friday
I saw a yellow one headed north on 93 Friday morning. Good Lord, I wouldn't want to get in an accident in one of those! If I ever hit one with my F150, they'd be lucky to find the driver.
Smart Crashing
Oh, really?
Video of Smart Car vs Cement Wall at 70 mph
I'd guess that the driver of the Smart Car would get out and come over to ask you if you needed an ambulance.
If there's any car on the road I'd rather get in an accident in, it's a Smart Car. Those suckers are tough.
Mercedes Killer
When they first came out in Canada, there was a video of a crash test versus an e-class Mercedes.
You could still open the doors on the Smart. I think the Crash Test Dummies had to hold a funeral for the e-class occupants.
These things are essentially a lightweight tank - computer designed to maintain integrity in a collision.
Let's just say that I am more than happy that my husband stopped the "I want another motorcycle" refrain and put money in to reserve a Smart.
Smart
There are a couple of these in the South End that I have seen. There's also been one in Cambridge for more than a year (of *course* someone in Cambridge went out of their way to buy one!). I've driven one in Greece and they are awesome little cars. However, that YouTube video was scarry as hell and it would make me nervous to drive one on the highway. I think the point about a pickup hitting one is a valid concern, as its not whether the person in the pickup would walk away (they might not if it flips) but the bumper on some of the F-150s is so high that the Smart might go under it, no? Has anyone seen data on how they fare in a rear end collision? The seats in the front literally rest up against the back wall (at least in the one I drove) and I would think a truck hitting you from behind would actually hit YOU in the back. Nevertheless, I like them and hope to see many more.
Tridium cell
The tridium cell that houses the passenger has a criss-cross support that takes the impact of a rear collision. The engine also takes a lot of the force and drops down below the seats just like in a normal car's front impact zone.
In related interest, in a small fender bender, you can actually pop the body panels surrounding the tridium cell off and back on pretty easily. They recycle well and are pretty cheap to replace, unlike most cars which cost thousands to fix minor damage.
Retinas anyone?
Is that before or after they reattach their retinas?
While the Smahts are sturdy little cars, a not insignificant amount of force is transferred to the occupants of the car and while Murphy (the same guy who coined Murphy's law) showed that the body is quite resilient for momentary high G forces, I don't see anyone coming out of a 60+ mph crash with a larger vehicle doing all that well if not for the fact that real world accidents are a whole lot more dynamic than staged ones.
Canadian Experience?
How many people walk away from a 60 mph crash with a larger vehicle? My SIL did, but it was a Volvo with an airbag and she had burns on her arms from it deploying and didn't feel so well for a week. Smarts have airbags too, just not the engine in front.
I've heard this "deceleration issue" raised before when the Smart is discussed - does anybody have any data on it? These things have been roaming Canada for some time and it would be interesting to either confirm or dispel this theory that the small vehicle is more dangerous than a large vehicle even when not crushed and when the airbag functions properly.
I'd far rather have my husband in one of these than on a motorcycle - I think that is the more appropriate comparison in any case.
From Smartcar's Website (not necessarily objective :-) ):
Roll over
Until your F150 rolls over coming to a stop on its roof and crushing everybody inside it. The center of gravity on an F150 is probably above the roof line of the Smart. Reference here
I'll never get tired of the "my giant pickup truck is safe because it weighs a ton" argument.
Yea, you might be safer AT FIRST when you crush anything you hit, but then you lose total control and have a much higher probability of going sideways and rolling over. Physics is a harsh mistress.
There's a Smart Car in JP
A neighbor of mine bought one in March, so it's been parked in the 'hood for a while. Glad to see it.
Seen in Canada
On a recent trip to Victoria, BC I saw a smart car with a similarly regional liscence plate: "Smrt Eh"
Vicrotia has a bunch of
Vicrotia has a bunch of them. On a trip there last June I thought about renting one. But wasn't sure how I felt piloting what is essentially a golf cart around the winding roads.
How Fitting
I've always thought of Victoria as a toy city in a way. How better to see it than in a toy car! Sure, High Tea at the Empress demands half a parking spot! Drive right into the Buchart Gardens and look like a bumblebee or a flower!
(Note: I can't say that I didn't enjoy Victoria, especially the outdoor Totem Pole Colonnade that is accessible at all hours. Though the quiet meant I got turned loose by my grandparents as a 14 year old, the city used to roll up the sidewalks at dusk leaving me nothing but the Totem Poles and the Walk around the Harbor and, maybe, Murchies as an evening destination)
bumblebee
I saw a cute little yellow one in Franklin last week.
SMAHT
I saw the same guy driving on RT.95 and he is quite a hottie! I get turned on when older men take on the "green" cause.