I've seen em around a bit. They look a bit ridiculous IMO (like a car with its torso cut out, and on a heavy diet), but they're fairly cheap (New price @ around $16K Canadian, saw another, used on Ebay for $10K), and have really good milage (Like in the 40's to 60's MPG).

Now, I still can't afford em (you may remember me from This Thread), as I only have $5000 or so Canadian, saved up...

I was wondering about the reliability of these cars though. I mean, if they're very reliable, they might make a good car for those that don't have a lot of cash to go around. With the rising price of gas (Around $1/litre here), getting good milage would save money, but only if the maintenance was on the low end.

On the other hand, if they have crap reliability, then the fuel efficiency would be offset by that, plus the general 'bleh' look of em.

BTW: Room isn't much of an issue, I'd just be driving myself really, though when I finally move.....Somehow I doubt these things could tow much XD

Or should I still be looking into finding a cheap, reliable clunker? I'm really not eager to try and maintain a car, and I do worry about maintenence costs a lot (Estimated $4000 a year is rather steep, over half of what I estimate I make, per year >_<)

I wouldn't buy it. You can't easily have sex in it. It can be done, but not easily. So, forget that.

At least you'll have your casket picked out when you get into an accident!

^Not the highest safety rating I'm guessing eh?

Or do you just mean it's too friggen small?

I do wonder how well I'd fit in it TBH. I kinda need the leg room, @ over 6' tall >_>

If someone in a big sedan or suv or truck hit you at 45+...you can kiss your ass good bye. I used to have a vid of them crash testing those cars, and they did have a "good safety" rating for the car taking a hit....the problem though is YOUR body is what absorbs the shock, therefor your insides might turn into jello.

So.....That's a NO to demolition derby eh?

Darn, I thought I picked a winner XD

Well, you can't really do much about accidents...I can either find and older, cheap car that happens to have a good safety rating, or....Well, hope I don't get hit by a car >_>

They are ridiculous. They cost 20,000 here for teh base model. I dunno where that 20,000 went?? Its probably worth half that price. Fuel consumption on 4.5 - 4.9L Per 100Km is not very impressive.

You can get a Citroen C3 HDi for 4 grand more, and it uses less fuel, looks better and you will not be crushed to death if a bicycle bumps into you, because that's what would happen if you were in a Smart.

Fuel consumption is NOT impressive at all considering the price. Isn't it basically a BMW or a Mercedes??

They're straight junk, you'd be infinitely better with a Honda Civic, they can get upwards of 40mpg which is a couple under the EPA ratings of the Smart Car plus you'll at least have some steel and plastic between you and the car that barrels over you.

In that case, I'm back to the "I need something that's rather cheap, and low maintenance" pretty much....

....Don't lynch me, but I'm considering a scooter type vehicle ~_~ I'd want something highway legal though >_>

TBH, someone ought to make a guide, or a website, centered around recommending various vehicles based on:

Income (especially broad on the used car market, the right prices, where to buy, etc), maintenance costs, fuel efficiency, safety, and location.

Basically a "What car is right for you?" guide/site.

So you wouldn't consider the Smart, in part because of its bad safety and lack of crumple zones... but you'll consider a scooter? I'm thinking that's taking a step BACKWARDS in safety...

A step? Thats more like letting a wrecking ball hitting you full force backwards.

It's more like, well, if the smart is going to kill me anyway, I might as well get something a lot cheaper XD

I'm a man of limited means ~_~

Why not buy a Small cars that's about 5 years old. It will be cheap, fuel efficient, and safe.... compared to your current choices.
Buy new may be great, but it's a bit of a rip off since the average resale value after 3 years is about 55.
Resale value is % of price when new.

Never said I wanted to buy new 0_o The fact is, I can't afford it (unless it was the aforementioned scooter type vehicle).

I just wish I could trust what I see you know? Like a $5000 Corvette....

What's your budget? I don't know how corvettes go or what they cost, because here they are only imported and I have seen 1 maybe 2 in my whole life.