[Nixon]

Mercedes Benz is importing the Smart Car into the US now, with potential customers already putting money down on 30,000 units.

"Already, 30,000 US residents have plunked $99 down to reserve the first 3-cylinder two-seaters sold in their country."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0109/p01s01-woeu.html

This is for a tiny, slow car, that doesn't even get as good of gas mileage as a 123d.

0-60 in 12.8 seconds.
33/41 mpg (new 2008 EPA test)

BMW needs to realize that the market for high MPG cars is exploding in the US. Why does BMW insist on sending us only the performance diesels when there are so many people who want high MPG cars like the 123d?

Sadly, BMW will probably do the same thing with high MPG diesels that they did with their SUV's. Wait for everyone else to establish market share, then try to cut a small niche out for themselves. BMW is in a position to LEAD the high MPG luxury class of vehicles with the 123d. Instead they are abandoning the high MPG market to Mercedes, VW/Audi, Toyota, and Honda.

[Dave]

That's a lot of little cars!

I love how you can park them perpendicular to the street it will revolutionize city parking especially in Nyc

BMW is clipping at its heal I think they are waiting for mb to try it first cuz they know their loyal audience will wait for their version of the smart car

On a side note anyone else see the hayabusa smart car video? Google it , its awesome!

[larryn]

I had originally heard we only getting the Smart ForFour model. The smaller ForTwo model is the 2 passenger one that you can park sideways, that it now seems we're getting a stretched version of... Hm. I'm really wondering if they could really have a 30k/year base for a 2 seater in the US... Doesn't seem possible.

[mikeo]

A good friend has a deposit down on a ForTwo.

[Nixon]

Originally Posted by larryn

I had originally heard we only getting the Smart ForFour model. The smaller ForTwo model is the 2 passenger one that you can park sideways, that it now seems we're getting a stretched version of... Hm. I'm really wondering if they could really have a 30k/year base for a 2 seater in the US... Doesn't seem possible.

30k units a year for Smart cars compared to just 20k units of both 128i's and 135i's combined is a pretty astounding idea.

I'm sure that quite a few of these $99 deposits will end up being refunded, so they don't have a lock on all 30,000 of these units. But the point is that people are desperate for good high MPG cars here in the States. And they want more to choose from than just the Prius and Civic Hybrid.

[larryn]

So basically, MBUSA is making interest on $3million for a while, I guess. Not a bad idea. :smile:

[Nixon]

Originally Posted by larryn

So basically, MBUSA is making interest on $3million for a while, I guess. Not a bad idea. :smile:

Maybe that will be my next business scam -- ah, business VENTURE I mean. Get 30K folks to put down $99 deposits on 123d's, and then live off the 100k+ in interest per year until BMW decides to import them.

Who wants to be the first to send me 99 dollars to reserve a 123d? You can be the lucky first person on the list! You can trust a guy named Nixon, right?

[Papethova]

Ive already seen these on the road locally, started seeing them about 8 months ago (early summer/late spring). Private citizen vehicles with license plates and all.

They do have the MB tristar on the hood but I have seen them parked in the showroom of the Honda dealership:iono:. Unless the ones I have seen through the window are different from the ones with the tristar, but they all look like the smart cars in europe. Ive only seen the 2 seaters so far.

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by Papethova

Ive already seen these on the road locally, started seeing them about 8 months ago (early summer/late spring). Private citizen vehicles with license plates and all.

They do have the MB tristar on the hood but I have seen them parked in the showroom of the Honda dealership:iono:. Unless the ones I have seen through the window are different from the ones with the tristar, but they all look like the smart cars in europe. Ive only seen the 2 seaters so far.

I've seen one too. I was at an s2k car meet and a lady and her son drove by. We waved at her and got her to stop by. THAT CAR IS INCREDIBLY SMALL. I mean its minute...hehe I'd rather get a bike that gets 75mpg and take my chances to be honest.

[earth]

that pos if fix up right can kick a 1er ass

[mikeo]

[ChrisK]

You mean like this:

[Dave]

Originally Posted by chriskurn

You mean like this:

yup just like that

dont want to be going 100+ thou when that gets hit by a ferrai
i know the crash test ratings are good but a hummer vs. smart car would not end well

i thought parking it in tight spots is sweet...well now the new smart car will be able to find a spot and park it self

http://ebiquity.umbc.edu/blogger/200...self-and-more/

[Nixon]

For all the talk about parking like that, I'm pretty sure you would get a ticket in any major US city if you tried it.

Parking that way would just make it easier for the tow truck driver to hook you. Besides, the new model year that MB is importing is 7 inches longer, so it won't work as well to do that anymore.

There have been "gray market" importers of the smart car before here in the US, but this is the first time that MB is officially importing them

[Cybersavage]

Should be interesting to see what the tuners come up with.

[Mturbopower1]

I would be scared to drive one in the U.S. because every one s their trucks and suv's. Smart is just not made for the U.S. market. No matter how high gas prices become, people will still drive trucks and SUV's.

[Brandon26pdx]

The Smart ForFour was binned I'm pretty sure. They also made a Smart roadster sold in Europe which was pretty cool.

All the car reviews say the dual clutch transmission they use in those things sucks bigtime, but those factory tuned Brabus models do look somewhat interesting. Not sure I'd catch myself paying what they'd want for one of those however.

[imported_Green Tea]

Originally Posted by Mturbopower1

I would be scared to drive one in the U.S. because every one s their trucks and suv's. Smart is just not made for the U.S. market. No matter how high gas prices become, people will still drive trucks and SUV's.

With the future of fuel prices, it will make the market for small cars in the US. Do not think there are to many people who do not think that 4 dollar a gal reg gas is going to be here real soon.