Karl
Moderator Emeritus
Boy, talk about exceeding the GCWR - and maybe even some road load limits ;D ;D ;D
Smart Car coming to US in 2008
- Thread starter Ned
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Tom
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JohnSandyWhite said:
Too long ago to remember the model. I might even have the engine size wrong - it might have been 850cc, but what's 200cc between friends.
Karl
Moderator Emeritus
Oh, about one old fashioned-size glass of good single malt Scotch on the rocks!
davidsimmonds
Well-known member
The Smart car has been available in Canada for at least a year. I am surprised that the US does not have it yet. Usually Canada lags behind on new items.
N Smock
Well-known member
Ron said:
Ron
Did not think any one could remember that front door contrapction with a motorcycle engine. Boy you must be OLD.
Nelson
Ron
Moderator Emeritus
Nah, I just remember riding in one.
Ian
Well-known member
Every now and then you can see a Smart car running around Adelaide (South Australia). I think they have been around for a couple of years now, cant recall at this time of the night. Cute little vehicle and being not all that tall or generously proportioned, I might just fit nicely in one, but would hate to have to get in or out of it in a hurry.
A Light-goes-on moment: Ask Terry and Liliane Nathan about the Smart car they have that tucks away under their European motorhome!
http://www.rvforum.net/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=12&pos=1
They could tell you all about the little beastie. In fact, ask Terry to tell you about the trip he made across Europe after picking it up! The stuff nightmares are made of.
A Light-goes-on moment: Ask Terry and Liliane Nathan about the Smart car they have that tucks away under their European motorhome!
http://www.rvforum.net/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=12&pos=1
They could tell you all about the little beastie. In fact, ask Terry to tell you about the trip he made across Europe after picking it up! The stuff nightmares are made of.
The Smart Four2 has an NCAP 3 star rating, as good as or better than any microcar and most small vehicles. Its chassis is part of its overall shape, it's basically a roll-cage on wheels with plastic panels to fill in the empty spaces. Very strong but it has one inherent problem that all small light vehicles have, it transfers acceleration/deceleration forces quickly to the people strapped in. They're safe but have to endure higher inertia. I saw a test with a Smart and a Merc E series in a frontal at 30mph (60 closing) The smart was just drivable, the Merc was a tow job.
And they're much roomier on the inside than you'd think.
And they're much roomier on the inside than you'd think.
Jim Dick
Moderator Emeritus
Tom,
We used to own a Fiat 128. It was very small, like yours, but amazingly roomy. I loved the car but it didn't want to start when wet or cold. Not a good thing in New England.
We used to own a Fiat 128. It was very small, like yours, but amazingly roomy. I loved the car but it didn't want to start when wet or cold. Not a good thing in New England.
Tom
Administrator
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Not starting when wet could be a problem Jim.
While visiting the UK recently I confirmed with my oldest son that our Fiat did have a 650cc engine. Good gas mileage though.
While visiting the UK recently I confirmed with my oldest son that our Fiat did have a 650cc engine. Good gas mileage though.
Jim Dick
Moderator Emeritus
Tom,
Starting was so bad I finally had to trade the car. As I said, I really liked the roominess and economy but needed something a lot more reliable to get to work. 650cc is a small motorcycle engine!
Starting was so bad I finally had to trade the car. As I said, I really liked the roominess and economy but needed something a lot more reliable to get to work. 650cc is a small motorcycle engine!
Tom
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Jim Dick said:650cc is a small motorcycle engine!
LOL yes it is Jim. My Dad's first car was a 3-wheeler with a 250cc 2-cycle engine.
Ian
Well-known member
Well if you want small and fun what about these little guys?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230010488381
OR
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110011276330
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230010488381
OR
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110011276330
Tom
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LOL Ian, they look like covered mopeds.
JohnSandyWhite
Well-known member
Tom said:
;D No doubt it was a Bond Minicar. ;D
Tom
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LOL John. I don't recall the manufacturer, but the company was funded by one of the football pool companies. They were the poor relation of the Morgan 3-wheeler cars.
Edit: Did a little research and remembered it was a Gordon 3-wheeler with a 197cc engine. Click here for more info. It was the poor cousin of the Reliant. (In contrast, the Morgan had a single wheel in the rear).
Edit: Did a little research and remembered it was a Gordon 3-wheeler with a 197cc engine. Click here for more info. It was the poor cousin of the Reliant. (In contrast, the Morgan had a single wheel in the rear).
olley
Active member
Hi borrowed my brothers a couple weeks ago, I am 5'11" and 210lbs there was plenty of room legwise and heightwise, its the older 600cc engine (26cubic inches?) goes real well, fun car to drive, saw one in St. Tropez last year with all the panels removed, looked like a dune buggy.
Olley
Olley
Ian
Well-known member
Tom, they have shifted pages to http://www.3wheelers.com/ and I just love the graphic on their opening pageTom said:
Also check out their nifty limited edition 3-wheeler toy at http://www.3wheelers.com/3wmodel.html
Tom
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Thanks Ian. When I posted that message their new web page wasn't up yet although they'd announced it was coming. Here's the new page for my Dad's Gordon 3-wheeler.
Note that the engine was on the driver's side and that there was no door on that side of the car. So, if/when the engine stalled, Dad would climb out of the window, kick start the engine, and climb back in through the window.
A little trivia - "Vernon's" mentioned on the page was the name of the company running Vernon's Pools, one of the then UK national football pools. They wanted somewhere to invest some of their profits and Gordon was one of the companies that benefitted.
Note that the engine was on the driver's side and that there was no door on that side of the car. So, if/when the engine stalled, Dad would climb out of the window, kick start the engine, and climb back in through the window.
A little trivia - "Vernon's" mentioned on the page was the name of the company running Vernon's Pools, one of the then UK national football pools. They wanted somewhere to invest some of their profits and Gordon was one of the companies that benefitted.
