Everything else being equal, itty bitty tires are actually better in snow (and rain) than big fat tires.

As for Smart, I think it is the yuppie young crowd in big cities that is lapping it up. Once that fad dies, I doubt it will have an enduring appeal. I find a zillion these days in the heart of San Francisco, but go outside the city and you hardly find any. My friend thought of getting one for her commute, but the used car market had much better options for the same price.

Right if everything else were equal, but I think the Smart is just too small and light to deal with any deep snow.

I'm sure a lot of people would rather have a nice used car for the price, I know I would. A VW Jetta comes to mind for me.


M

Not exactly true. it is RWD, but it is also rear engine. So the weight is mostly over the rear tires. It's supposed to be a real gamer in the snow. 1,800 pounds really isn't light for such a small car.

Its a Mitzubishi engine. I'd say you can run regular unleaded without any quirks.

Transmission stinks out loud. I think the tranny hurts the mileage. I can't imagine all that lag helps things.

Regarding mileage. We've delivered about 90 cars, and most people are reporting about 45 mpg on the highway.

Also, no diesel in the S. The diesel should get close to what 60 mpg?

The things I like about the SMART are the interior. The fit is actually quite nice. The layout and controls are well placed and it seems quite durable.
also, safety. The thing got a 5 star side impact. I've see the video of the test and it seems very sturdy. I think it is safer than many larger cars.


We traded for a Scion xA and it seems like a lot more car for the money, IMO.