there is a video on youtube. its a front crash into a concrete barrier at 70 mph. the front was destroyed. but the passenger compartment did excelent. they even walked up to the car and the door opened and closed and even latched. the bad thing is even though the car did well, i think the 70 to 0mph sudden stop would have killed anyone in the car. or at least major internal damage. i think its highly rated all around.
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01 EXCURSION LIMITED, 4X4, V10, 325/50/22'S ON CHROME WHEELS, 07 SUPER DUTY FRONT END, LOTS OF CHROME, 6 TV'S, CUSTOM STEREO, DUAL 175 AMP ALTERNATORS AND DUAL BATTERIES, 3" COWL INDUCTION HOOD, HID PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS, TO MUCH OTHER STUFF TO LIST
From what I've read its an ok vehicle. For example, it doesn't offer the gas mileage one would expect from such a small vehicle, its EPA combined MPG rating is 36 MPG, certainly a respectable number, however considering its 1815 lb curb weight and its small 3 cylinder engine, one would expect a bit better MPG's, oh and FYI Car & Driver only averaged 32 MPG's on their road test of the Smart Fortwo.
Another thing I've heard about it is that it has a terrible transmission, to actually be driven properly one would have to utilize the manual controls of the automatic transmission, which in its self is not that great either. Not to mention its poor acceleration performance could make it quite difficult to merge into traffic and to keep up the pace with rest.
One of the few good things I could see about it is that its going to be very easy to find a parking spot for it, which could come in handy for someone that lives in a congested city, and you'll definately be noticed driving it.
I don't know about their mileage or efficiencies - but they're all over the streets of Manhattan right now. I don't think parking is aided any here though by a smaller car - and despite it being pint-sized - it costs just as much in a parking garage as a regular vehicle does. Vehicles this small ought to be restricted to small asphalt paths and have golf bag holders on the back of them....I can't see anything positive about being in one of these and getting struck by almost any other vehicle on the road - or run off into an embankment or pole. The odds of walking away have to be null and decrease drastically every 5 mph or so impact....but, to each their own.
Do the math. Smart car with two people vs an Excursion with seating for 8 ( in my case 6 ). The Smart car gets 36mpg for 2 and I get 15 mpg for 6 (V10). MPG to the person for comparison my X wins. Plus the safety factor and room for more than a sack lunch!
You would need 3 Smart Cars to move 6 so that cuts your MPG by 2/3rds. Affective rate would be 6 MPG per person verses my X at 7.5 mpg per person. Numbers are even worst for 8 or 9 people. I'll stick with my X.
Smart car may be fine to drive down the street to get loaf of bread and a gallon of milk but to move people and stuff over a distance safely, the X wins hands down.
We have tons of smart cars here in SoCal, I got on the freeway behind one and thought I was going to run it over. Once that thing got going the guy was flying down the 101 freeway. That can NOT be safe. My kids think they are toy cars!!!
I agree with mlshelton, they belong on a golf course or have their own path!!!
Using APEXDUCK's logic I really scored last weekeend, hauled the grooms side, 10 of us in there for a 40 mile trip.........would have needed 5 of the little beasts, hmmmmm......
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