In Which I'm a Douche

[BookstoreEscapee]

I've seen Smart Cars around here a few times...each time driven by a guy....

I'd be afraid to drive one of those things on the roads. I don't drive a huge car at all (Hyundai Elantra) but if you got in an accident in one of those? You'd be toast.

[Lachrymose]

or better yet: a HORSE!

Yeah, but they're only... *calculates* Add six...carry the two..integral of the hypotenuse divided by log 4... ONE horsepower.

[protege]

As far as horses, though... they're also dumb as stumps, can't carry much of a load, and break legs on holes that result in nothing more than a loud 'CLONK' for cars

Let's not forget the obvious. Horses leave behind an even smellier form of pollution Also, unlike a car, they have to be fed every day. In fact, that was one selling point used by early auto companies--that you only had to 'feed' your vehicle when you used it.

[Arm]

I've seen two of the so-called smart cars around here. I figure Darwin will take care of them soon enough.

Looking at them, though, how COULD they get good mileage? They're built like a sail. Getting one up to speed is going to mean those microscopic go-kart wheels will need to be shoving it into the wind the whole way.

Heck, if people really want to be all eco-hippy-go-nuts with no cargo space, there are canopies you can put on a bicycle to reduce wind resistance; I think you can take a bike up to something like 40-50mph with one of those; there's no gas used at all, there.

As far as horses, though... they're also dumb as stumps, can't carry much of a load, and break legs on holes that result in nothing more than a loud 'CLONK' for cars

They're really pretty animals (my aunt has a horse ranch, even), but there's a reason nobody uses 'em for transport except the Amish, these days. ...come to that, even the Amish hire truckers to haul furniture, don't they?

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I have seen them on the interstates around here. Kinda scary to watch.

I blew past one on the interstate going 70. Just 5 mph over the speed limit.

And the damn thing was in the left lane.

[PhotoChick]

Yeah, except horses require taking care of. Trust me, I'd love a horse. But I have enough of a zoo with the girls and the dog. And when I go back to Colorado I don't think it will fit in my condo.

[WhiteRose]

I saw one that supposedly got 50 mpg...

mopeds get about 100 mpg....so if people REALLY cared about the earth they'd rig a horsecart with a couple of those motors....

or better yet: a HORSE! I love horses...they're a more reliable form of transport than a car (won't 'break down'), they can go over more questionable terrain (they can even swim if the need arises), they're intelligent enough to AVOID obstacles, they provide a form of companionship, and if they're well trained they're hella hard to steal...horses can bite and buck and run like hell.....

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I sat in one of those Smart cars...about a year before they went on sale in the US. A few were on the Mercedes stand at the car show. Even at 5'9" or so, I thought it was a tad cramped. You don't "sit" inside the car. Rather, you *wear* it. Also, the mileage isn't as great as it was claimed. 33/40 isn't jack--I've been getting around 40-45 in my Corolla, and it's a bigger, more powerful car, and isn't that much more over the cost of a Smart. But, you don't see many Smart cars here...they can't handle the hills!

33/40 mpg is all you get from a Smart Car? With as little as those things are they should be getting a lot more. A Geo Metro would get better mileage than that, I think.

I'm really starting to think of the Smart Car as a "statement" vehicle--one you drive just because you want everybody else to understand you "care" about the Earth.

[slavetotheman]

A Smart car perhaps?

The only way I'd drive one of those is if it were for city driving anyway. There's no way in hell I'd want to take one on the freeway.

I have seen them on the interstates around here. Kinda scary to watch.

[WhiteRose]

OM NOM NOM says the car...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/...d66d9c.jpg?v=0

[blas]

I personally prefer my "dumb" car.

I don't think a car needs to be the size of a loveseat to be fuel efficient.

I prefer the smaller sedans with smaller engines and four cylinders......just big enough for me and what I need to tote around, and still get good mileage without looking like my car is devouring me!

[protege]

I sat in one of those Smart cars...about a year before they went on sale in the US. A few were on the Mercedes stand at the car show. Even at 5'9" or so, I thought it was a tad cramped. You don't "sit" inside the car. Rather, you *wear* it. Also, the mileage isn't as great as it was claimed. 33/40 isn't jack--I've been getting around 40-45 in my Corolla, and it's a bigger, more powerful car, and isn't that much more over the cost of a Smart. But, you don't see many Smart cars here...they can't handle the hills!

[WhiteRose]

I wouldn't mind if it were free...I myself like cars that look like CARS, not tricked-out golf-carts...

[powerboy]

See all I want is a Honda CRV. A small nice SUV that gets goods gas miliage

[Hobbs]

A Smart car perhaps?

The only way I'd drive one of those is if it were for city driving anyway. There's no way in hell I'd want to take one on the freeway.

Yes, it's one of those.

You'd have to kill me and stuff my corpse in one of those in order to get me to ride in it.