Comes with a patchouli air freshener.
2012 Scion iQ HD Video Review (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so_SFO1xXZ4&feature=youtube_gdata_player#)
Pretty good review of the little bugger!
All bias aside, I'm not sure why anyone would buy a Smart over it.
The Fiat 500 is a closer competitor, but it can get quite pricey.
Top Gear - Cheap Cars Part 3/3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnTC8K4LmCA#)
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on February 29, 2012, 07:51:33 PM
All bias aside, I'm not sure why anyone would buy a Smart over it.
Smarts are wretched, but sell. Took one for a test drive on a lark and the transmission was horrible, the engine noise was obnoxious and the brakes had no linear feel. I hope someone takes some of the market off those things. Go Smart(er) car
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on February 29, 2012, 07:51:33 PM
All bias aside, I'm not sure why anyone would buy a Smart over it.
so that when the 660cc 3 banger in it sez goodbye...you can put in a Hyabusa motor !!!!
Quote from: Sad Panda on March 01, 2012, 05:20:10 AM
Smarts are wretched, but sell. Took one for a test drive on a lark and the transmission was horrible, the engine noise was obnoxious and the brakes had no linear feel. I hope someone takes some of the market off those things. Go Smart(er) car
They don't sell very well. Only 5,208 fortwos were sold nationwide last year.
Fiat sold 19,769 500s in the states last year. Not bad, but their sales plan was 50K.
I'm sure both will see increases this year with gas prices already high.
I live in a metro area so the numbers are probably skewed towards sales of the fortwo in areas like this. Can't really see them selling well in Texarkana, but around DC with tight streets and not enough parking they do have a market. I don't see a ton buzzing about, but they are no unicorn. But I do see a respectable number of the 500 buzzing around too. I think they look a little goofy, but they do have a charm the fortwo lacks entirely.
I see a fortwo and I usually want to smack it with a rolled magazine and tell it *BAD* as it's driver is usually doing something dumb. I've no idea what or why, but there seems to be a correlation between poor driving and smart ownership.
And then there's zipcars... those get a wide birth. F'ing rookies.
Quote from: Sad Panda on March 01, 2012, 05:20:10 AM
Smarts are wretched, but sell. Took one for a test drive on a lark and the transmission was horrible, the engine noise was obnoxious and the brakes had no linear feel. I hope someone takes some of the market off those things. Go Smart(er) car
We test drove the Smart ForTwo when it was first made available in the US. It was very disappointing to find the terrible transmission. The gear ratio was all out of wack and would shift when you least expect it. For such a small car, the mileage was just so so.
It's really too bad to have such a nice concept and have little substance. Not surprised that the Smart sales tanked after its first year, after the novelty wore off.
Quote from: cupcake on February 29, 2012, 07:34:17 PM
Comes with a patchouli air freshener.
[laugh]
No thanks, I'll keep my GT500. 8)
I can't wait until I see a "Tuner" IQ....that should be interesting
I soooo want and need a fiat. Price needs to drop.
Quote from: RAT900 on March 01, 2012, 02:58:48 PM
I can't wait until I see a "Tuner" IQ....that should be interesting
It has a K cup exhaust rather than a whole coffee can
February US sales results.
Fiat 500 - 3,227
Smart fortwo - 769
Scion iQ - 489 (the iQ was only on sale in about half of the country - available nationwide as of today).
Quote from: RAT900 on March 01, 2012, 02:58:48 PM
I can't wait until I see a "Tuner" IQ....that should be interesting
Aero kits, lowering springs, wheels & tires are available at your local Scion dealer:
(http://www.optomizescion.com/ImageHandler.ashx?i=33857)
Scion IQ Concept Driving Footage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS97vxKw2QE&sns=em#)
I've decided I like it.
Reminds me strongly of a hot wheels car I've probably had since I was a kid.
:D
Quote from: RAT900 on March 01, 2012, 02:58:48 PM
I can't wait until I see a "Tuner" IQ....that should be interesting
Quote from: lethe on March 01, 2012, 04:13:31 PM
It has a K cup exhaust rather than a whole coffee can
hahahahahahahahaaaa
I think if I were going to get a car that size, it'd have to be the 500. I kind of want one even though I know it'd be completely useless for me.
that being said, the iQ seems like a good buy if you're in that market...but I'm not so sure about the staggered seat thing. Seems like it'd be a little akward inside trying to talk to your passenger [laugh]
Quote from: Le Pirate on March 02, 2012, 05:22:21 AM
Seems like it'd be a little akward inside trying to talk to your passenger [laugh]
Because you'd be borderline "I'm gonna rape you" close and just a little bit behind them?
Just gotta make sure they have a purdy mouth.
Peel Trident & P50 - World's smallest car (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07ub5rBdrE4&feature=related#)
"world's first rear window airbag" I think that says a lot about how exposed the rear seat passengers are... :-\
Cool care otherwise, works perfect for driving around town: drop off the kids at school, then drop the rear seats and you have some decent cargo space.
I'm just still disappointed by the fuel economy in that class.
They're not really doing any better than something like a Corolla despite being considerably smaller and lighter.
I wonder if they actually do better with a bigger engine. That IQ would scream with the otherwise mild Corolla's 1.8
Quote from: lethe on March 02, 2012, 08:23:35 AM
I wonder if they actually do better with a bigger engine.
Well, of course it would, silly!
Everything's better with a bigger engine stuffed in it. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on February 29, 2012, 07:51:33 PM
Pretty good review of the little bugger!
All bias aside, I'm not sure why anyone would buy a Smart over it.
Maybe because your Smart could look like this. [evil] But really... [puke]
(http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=13345)
Quote from: lethe on March 02, 2012, 08:23:35 AM
I'm just still disappointed by the fuel economy in that class.
They're not really doing any better than something like a Corolla despite being considerably smaller and lighter.
I wonder if they actually do better with a bigger engine. That IQ would scream with the otherwise mild Corolla's 1.8
the car has the advantage of lighter weight, but the disadvantage of size, limiting both the the engine (displacement) and transmission (number of gears)...
the "little motor that could" is left having to rev higher to make up for the lack of torque and there aren't enough gears to keep it in it's optimal range.
Quote from: derby on March 02, 2012, 11:30:37 AM
the car has the advantage of lighter weight, but the disadvantage of size, limiting both the the engine (displacement) and transmission (number of gears)...
the "little motor that could" is left having to rev higher to make up for the lack of torque and there aren't enough gears to keep it in it's optimal range.
there's got to be a way to package a better drivetrain in there.
Quote from: Speedbag on March 02, 2012, 11:17:29 AM
Well, of course it would, silly!
Everything's better with a bigger engine stuffed in it. [thumbsup]
"Bigger is better!"
says the man with a big stick running from the man with a sharp stick [cheeky]
Quote from: derby on March 02, 2012, 11:30:37 AM
the car has the advantage of lighter weight, but the disadvantage of size, limiting both the the engine (displacement) and transmission (number of gears)...
the "little motor that could" is left having to rev higher to make up for the lack of torque and there aren't enough gears to keep it in it's optimal range.
The iQ has a CVT, so it has plenty of gears. ;)
The biggest limitation on a car of this size is aerodynamics. It's simply more difficult to get the air to flow around a small vehicle. cD for fortwo is .38, 500 is .33, iQ is .31. By comparison a Toyota Prius is .25.
Also, at 36MPG, iQ has the highest city MPG of any non-hybrid/EV vehicle for sale in the US.
More Peel goodness
Britains least practical man, in the least practical car
Jeremy drives the smallest car in the world at the BBC - Top Gear - autos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJfSS0ZXYdo#)
put some Lambo doors on an iQ and it'll be good to go!...LOL