Why do people laugh when I tell them my BOV is a Smart car

[hank2222]

I drive a Smart car and i been driving it now for just over three years and i have taken it in areas in northern AZ where it was snow and ice and bad roads and made into and out of the area where my cabin is without a problem

I have notice that down in the city where i'm working now everyone seams to be driving those jacked up truck's that never see a dirt road in there life and they make fun of my little smart calling it a hood mount for there vehicle .

At least my Smart does go off road and i can get down some of the roads in the back country without any problems as long as i drive normal and take my time going down some of the older dirt roads in the areas .

[Sparrow]

OMG - I started laughing uncontrollably just reading the subject of this thread! LLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzz

Thank you so much!

[Sniper-T]

try a few simple mods... that'll *snicker* shut them *giggle* up!
http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad3/JPSquad/Smart%20Car/smart-monster-car.jpg

bwahahahahahaha

seriously, people drive them all winter up here without issues. know your vehicle and your abilities!

[hank2222]

The reason behind the post was i was at Burger King this morning when a guy pull's up beside's me and tell me that i'm driving a death trap and i need to get something bigger so those big jacked up to the sky pickup trucks can see me .Because when i had parked in the space he come's around the corner and allmost rear end's me in the space and that when i got told that i need to drive something bigger .

I allmost told the guy that my little smart car has been off road more times than i can count than his socalled 4 wheel drive truck that jacked up to the sky and never been taken off road .

My car is dirty and grimy from driving in from the cabin on the back road's i take into town in the morning and i was going to get something to eat then go to the car wash in town and wash it but thought it look better with the dirt and grime on it

Now my friends laugh at people who think my little smart is not a good BOV intill we go into some place's where they are having problems dealing with the ice and snow on the road's and i'm driving like it normal day with the car

[hank2222]

It a 150 yard drive down a dirt road to the main county road that i'm on and the road is graded by the next door farm that use it to haul cattle in and out of the lot in the back .So they do it keep it semi level enough to get a truck back in there .My smart has a 2.inch lift kit from DayStar company that allow's me to run bigger 17.inch tire's front & rear and that does help with the traction on the dirt roads that i live on .

It back county road's all the way into town and alot of time's they are not the best kept road's in the county .I watch a deputy sheriff SUV slide past me at the four way and he was like it going to hurt on this one last winter when we got a few day's of bad weather up there .He came out of the vehicle as i was walking up and i asked him if he need a hand and goes no but i could use a new pair of underwear right now after going through the four way sideways .

[ravensgrove]

Teehee. Similarly, I get laughs when I am driving down the freeway with goats, pigs, calves et all shoved in the back of my Hybrid Escape aka my farm trailer. :)

[The Stig]

I drive a Smart car and i been driving it now for just over three years and i have taken it in areas in northern AZ where it was snow and ice and bad roads and made into and out of the area where my cabin is without a problem

I have notice that down in the city where i'm working now everyone seams to be driving those jacked up truck's that never see a dirt road in there life and they make fun of my little smart calling it a hood mount for there vehicle .

At least my Smart does go off road and i can get down some of the roads in the back country without any problems as long as i drive normal and take my time going down some of the older dirt roads in the areas .

Trying to resist temptation to reply...."because it's a smart car"....

Dammit....resistance fail.

Sorry.

[Kodiak]

Seen a picture of a wreck between a smart car and pick-up truck, it wasnt pretty. That was enough to deter me from driving one, that and im 6'5...lol

[ladyhk13]

:D:D:D:D
oops....did I say that out loud?

[Dropy]

Dont let em get ya down. Its good on gas......

[Sparrow]

Just had a thought, hook that bug-mobile behind a team of Shetland ponies and you got yourself a great BOV for EMp LOLz :cool:

[eagle326]

To each their own. If it works for you then who am I to disagree. I drive a 2008 Dodge Ram Big Horn w/ 20' tires and it works for my life style . And will get me where I need to go like you.
We all have different reasons for what we drive. As long as you're satisfied ; who cares what other people think.
Personally I can't be in a smaller vehicle ; I feel closed in but that's just me.

[bacpacker]

Hank, I wasn't aware they were that good in bad weather. I do know they are pretty solidly built and stay together, made by Mercedes after all. My wife used to work for a lady that owned a Merc dealership that is the smart dealer around here. They are selling a lot and from what she told us are fairly roomy inside. Her dad was 6-4 and drove one quite often.
I do think the drawback would be lack of cargo space. Big plus for fuel savings. I'm like Kodiak though, I'm just too big to be comfortable in one of them.

[ladyhk13]

Just had a thought, hook that bug-mobile behind a team of Shetland ponies and you got yourself a great BOV for EMp LOLz :cool:

Sparrow that is too cute!!!!

Hey, but it probably cost more to feed the ponies than it does to drive the smart car!

[The Stig]

All friendly teasing aside but the OP makes a good point: often times is it is the Indian not the bow. It's good to think about non-traditional answers to give yourself more options for bad situations.

[hank2222]

Hank, I wasn't aware they were that good in bad weather. I do know they are pretty solidly built and stay together, made by Mercedes after all. My wife used to work for a lady that owned a Merc dealership that is the smart dealer around here. They are selling a lot and from what she told us are fairly roomy inside. Her dad was 6-4 and drove one quite often.
I do think the drawback would be lack of cargo space. Big plus for fuel savings. I'm like Kodiak though, I'm just too big to be comfortable in one of them.

I'm 6.ft.3.inchs tall and close to 275 and the first car i can get into and out of without a problem .I can get two weeks of grocerys for me inside along with extra supplies i buy during the weekly shopping trip

Plus to fill it every two week is about $15.oo dollar's for two week's of driving to and from work and the house

[izzyscout21]

I only laughed because of your uber cool urban camo!

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/xx288/2crgrunt/smart-zebra-01.jpg

[ladyhk13]

So what are one of these things costing these days?

[hank2222]

Brand new out the door of the showroom floor is about $12,000.oo dollars basic models with the model i have ran around $16,500.oo with all the extras items that i got with the car

[Stormfeather]

Ten years ago, In 1972), a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The Hank2222-Team.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l128/Strmfeathr/a-team-mini-car.jpg

:cool: Just giving ya a little grief man! I like the idea behind the smart car, but I cant wrap my mind around surviving an accident in one!

[Dropy]

Stormfeather = Murdoch?

[hank2222]

The frame is design to protect the person inside what they call the zone with side inpact air bag's and safety frame system design to take the inpact and protect the person .In Europe they have some really hard core safety set up for the vehicle's that drive on those street's

The only time i have allmost been hit has been when i was parked and out of the vehicle when it has allmost happened because the person who driving the jacked to the sky type of pickup has not watch where they where going at the time or when i have pulled into a parking spot and the person can not figure out there is a vehicle in the parking spot in a place.

That why on my antennae is small flag with the letting car is parked here to let people know someone in the spot

[Sparrow]

Wowzer, Smart-Tank ... I am not laughing so hard anymore ... that is Kewl.

http://chrisescars.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Smart-Fortw-TK.jpg

[helomech]

That acutally looks fun

[bacpacker]

I was in Austria back in 1999. There was a lot of smart cars over there then. I don't know how long they've been in production but 12 years anyway.
The tank is cool.

[izzyscout21]

Wowzer, Smart-Tank ... I am not laughing so hard anymore ... that is Kewl.

http://chrisescars.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Smart-Fortw-TK.jpg

that. is. AWESOME!!

[Grumpy Old Man]

that. is. AWESOME!!

Civvy version of your Stryker Izzy?

[izzyscout21]

Close enough. I'd take it. I have got to get me one of those.............but I'd have to cut a hole in the top for the ring mount......and add a General Lee horn.

[Stormfeather]

Wowzer, Smart-Tank ... I am not laughing so hard anymore ... that is Kewl.

http://chrisescars.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Smart-Fortw-TK.jpg

ok, lose the German Luftwaffe iron cross thingy, tint out those headlights, paint it a desert tan shades and I think I am sold on it!

[hank2222]

Laugh all you want guys but hey we do come up with neat thing's to the little smart and we do dress them up in diff ways to match the person driving it .

[izzyscout21]

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/xx288/2crgrunt/monday-motivational-23.jpg

BUT, the SMART tank is a close second.

[The Stig]

Laugh all you want guys but hey we do come up with neat thing's to the little smart and we do dress them up in diff ways to match the person driving it .

Curious about your statement I went looking for pictures of how people dressed up their Smartcars to personalize them. There was a shark, the A-Team one, etc.

Then I found this one.

http://www.demotivationalposters.org/image/demotivational-poster/1010/smart-mercedes-smart-car-crash-dumb-demotivational-poster-1287587801.jpeg

:)

[Sniper-T]

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/james_mikel/JustAddText/crash-test.jpg

or

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/jogiba/number%204/SmartCarcrash.jpg

or

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy303/4wheelin_kids/DarkLook/3n13k43m15O75Sc5R5a2fab082481d1bd17.jpg


Oh... so who was it that said there wasn't enough room for stuff inside??
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/RaiderJJ24/smartcartows.jpg

[hank2222]

Curious about your statement I went looking for pictures of how people dressed up their Smartcars to personalize them. There was a shark, the A-Team one, etc.

Then I found this one.

http://www.demotivationalposters.org/image/demotivational-poster/1010/smart-mercedes-smart-car-crash-dumb-demotivational-poster-1287587801.jpeg


I have seen that photo and know that if it my time it my time to go and no matter what happen's


http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/james_mikel/JustAddText/crash-test.jpg

or

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/jogiba/number%204/SmartCarcrash.jpg

or

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy303/4wheelin_kids/DarkLook/3n13k43m15O75Sc5R5a2fab082481d1bd17.jpg


Oh... so who was it that said there wasn't enough room for stuff inside??
[IMG]http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/RaiderJJ24/smartcartows.jpg

As a former Army MP i know that you can be hurt riding in a partol car to beening inside a helo when the pilot get's hit and it going to be a bad one when it hit's the ground .That why i pratice my driving skill's everyday in LA for a couple of year of driving the smart there before i can home to Az

But when it you time to go it your time and no matter what it going to be a bad wreck but your not going to be around to see the after math of it .I know that sound bad but it the truth and i learned to live with that one fact about driving a small car like the smart .

I have one of those trailer set up and i use it for hauling supplies in from town once every couple of months or right before a bad winter storm come's into the mountain's to lay in enough supplies as it needed .

[mitunnelrat]

My BOV/ only vehicle for a long time was a Ford Aspire. Not much larger than the SMART. I noticed that lots of people seemed hell bent on killing me in it. My solution, since I couldn't increase its size, was to make as much noise as possible. Strange as it may seem, I truly had fewer close calls after installing two 12" subwoofers (all I could fit, lol).

What I'm really curious about now though, is if the gripe with SMART cars is truly their size, or their lack of any CDI factor whatsoever? I've professed my love for motorcycles on this very board and not gotten pictures of crash scenes... ;)

[izzyscout21]

)What I'm really curious about now though, is if the gripe with SMART cars is truly their size, or their lack of any CDI factor whatsoever? I've professed my love for motorcycles on this very board and not gotten pictures of crash scenes... ;)



While i have no problem with small cars or motorcycles, I feel it my duty.....in the interest of fairness..to not leave you out Tunnelrat.

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/xx288/2crgrunt/ginsu-motorcycle-car-accident-demotivational-poster-1218068417.jpg

[mitunnelrat]

Thanks izzy!

Seriously though, people don't tend to make fun of motorcycles. I really think there might be something to my theory of CDI factor playing a role.

[Sniper-T]

personally, I think the title of the thread itself went far in setting the tone for the thread, and the joking comments that ensued. given the OP's ability to take the jokes in stride, and sift through them an still get some positive feedback says a lot for him as a person.

I do however have a little trouble digesting your CDI analogy for bikes thou...

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii238/victorsihite/Light/TURTLERUN.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm189/siriusjones/scooter.jpg

;)

[The Stig]

I'm mostly playing with the SmartCar idea. While I don't think they make much sense for me, if it works for the OP and does what he needs it too, so much the better.

[hank2222]

Before i bought the smart i had a Ford F250 Diesel with a 2.inch lift kit with all the 4.wheel off road goodies on it and it was just me in the truck most of the time and i was allways getting asked to help move someone .I moved out to central Ca area and had to pay $4.25.dollar's for a gallon of diesel there in CA .So when the smart came out i sold it the truck and i have not look back since getting the smart .

It used to cost me just over $150.oo dollar's or more to fill it up at the station and now it about $20.oo max if had done alot of driving that week and my insurance went down to $670.oo a year for full coverage from $1200.oo a year for full coverage on my truck .

So yes i understand the danger of driving something that small and i also understand that it a small moving target to some of the driver's out there but my truck also was a target becuse of the way people drove out in Ca.So i learned to drive in a way that is design to keep me and my little smart out of harm

[Sparrow]

When I lived in Toronto, my townhouse had the garages and parking areas lined up at the end. My 40-something neighbour was dating this guy who drove a red Smart car. I got my truck: Black Dodge Ram Mega Cab short bed ... and parked it in my slot just as he was leaving. Yeah - I could hear his balls shrink right then and there.

Now, you have to remember I am slim-ish, blond and young. Yeah, he couldn't have been more emasculated. ;)

I even said to him: hey I could fit yours on my bed! Ha ha!

[RedJohn]

People mocking the Smart have not lived in a major city. Trust me, in Paris, it is a dream car. And for the fun of it:

http://www.shtfready.com/images/redjohn/smart/a0.jpg

http://www.shtfready.com/images/redjohn/smart/a1.jpg

http://www.shtfready.com/images/redjohn/smart/a3.jpg

http://www.shtfready.com/images/redjohn/smart/a5.jpg

[RedJohn]

http://www.shtfready.com/images/redjohn/smart/a6.jpg


http://www.shtfready.com/images/redjohn/smart/a7.jpg


http://www.shtfready.com/images/redjohn/smart/a9.jpg

[hank2222]

Those are neat photoshoped picture's there and yes i do love it when some guy in a jacked to the sky pick up truck pull's up beside me and rev's his motor and that just cost him $10.oo dollar's in gas and they think it cool to do that .

Once at a local gas station out here in Surprise there was about six smart's all in the same bay area for getting gas and a young man in the same bay asked if they ran on gas or pedal power .We where have a morning drive up to a local place for a greasy spoon breakfast as a group of local smart owner's group

One of the older lady who was one of the car owners group was filling up at the time said to him .That they ran on about $15.oo dollars worth of gas as the young man was complaining about the paying out $60.oo for gas to fill the gas tank of his truck to her .

We where all parked in a way where we could fit two car's to a gas pump to fill them up on one side and the other side we had did the same thing in a front part of the gas pump bay area .

The local sheriff deputie's where standing there having there morning coffee was laughing at the kid and him complaining about how much it cost him to fill up his truck when one of the older duputie's told to get smaller vehicle and he might spend so much on gas then as he walked into the local Quickstop for something else he wanted .

The deputy came over and asked to sit in one and we all opened the door's to let me chose the one he wanted to sit down in and looked them over .

A couple of weekend after that he joined us for our local breakfast run to tell us that he had order one after a test drive there in Chandler Smart Center

[bacpacker]

People mocking the Smart have not lived in a major city. Trust me, in Paris, it is a dream car. And for the fun of it:

http://www.shtfready.com/images/redjohn/smart/a0.jpg

RJ I'll take one of the smart Apache's please! Bad ass ride.

[Sparrow]

Yeah, ummm ... smart truck? What a joke! I very often put 2 000 lbs on my bed. What could that carry?! Two sheets of plywood - cut in half?! Same goes with that chopper! I have friends that fly, as a theoretical that thing is haulin' NOTHIN' :)

[izzyscout21]

I very often put 2 000 lbs on my bed.

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/xx288/2crgrunt/55d529ofq2.jpg


proofreading.....very essential......;)

[Sparrow]

LOLz Ooopse. You know what I mean: 2000 lbs of wood, of concrete. That kind of thing!

[helomech]

I own a full size 05 4X4 pickup, a 02mini van, and a 1996 saturn. You would be surprised how many bags of feed can be carried by a saturn. My poor saturn has been used for hauling many things, including hay. When I know ahead of time I use the truck, but many times I have hauled strange things in the saturn. Wifes old mini van has hauled lots of things also.

[Sniper-T]

I agree Helo... the only limits are what you are subject to putting your vehicle through. I have been doing a MAJOR landscaping project (pond build) and have hauled in 139 tonnes of rock all loaded by hand into my toyota tacoma/SR5 pickups. I have done serious suspension work to them, but have been scaled by the highways dept. with over 2500# in my little 1/4 ton truck. That trip was a little dicey, as the front wheels would only touch the ground when I tapped the breaks. since then I have worked to keep it at 2000# per trip. If I can find it, I have a picture of my old truck, loaded, parked beside the pond, with both front tires off the ground.

A buddy used to deer hunt with a cavalier, he took that thing across fields that I would be leary with my truck, and I have personally been with him, when his two kids sat in the backseat on top of a deer carcass (on plastic), for the trip home.

It all depends on what you have, and what you need to do. In a SHTF scenario, I would imagine that a lot of the urban soccar moms will be justifying their 4x4's. Unfortunately for them, most will not know how to drive them off road

[izzyscout21]

Hank, all kidding aside, I'm glad you've found something that works for you and your situation. Back to needs vs. wants......... while it wouldn't be my first choice, it seems to work for you.

[bacpacker]

Sniper You gotta love the old Taco's. I've had 5 of them over the years and put a minimum of 250k on them all. Never once had them let me down.
Hank, I second Izzy. If it works for you, your way ahead of most folks. You know your needs and limitations.

[mitunnelrat]

Sniper, I'm not sure if you, I, or the membership-at-large is lucky I'm unable to mount a proper counter offensive from my blackberry, lol... My sisters don't even ride anything like that!

Hank. Thanks for sharing on the car, I was just looking into them a couple weeks ago as a commuter option.

[hank2222]

It work's for me because of it just beening me in the vehicle and my BOL is less than 4 miles away from me and i can walk it if i have to .

Plus i can haul the amount of the supplies i need to the place when i need to .

[Sniper-T]

if someone wants to launch an "anti-Toy" thread... by all means... I'll do my best to defend my daily driver/BOV in an enlightening yet humourous manner..

I've had 4... the first 2 I sold still driving with over 600000km on each of them. the 3rd died an untimely death with only 300000kmyet still awaits its resurrection, and #4 is still hauling my butt around with 300000 on it.

[RedJohn]

Yeah, ummm ... smart truck? What a joke! I very often put 2 000 lbs on my bed. What could that carry?! Two sheets of plywood - cut in half?! Same goes with that chopper! I have friends that fly, as a theoretical that thing is haulin' NOTHIN' :)

It is all in the need. I won't take a Smart to hauler wood, but I will take it Paris where you can't park and gas is expensive. I won't take a Ford 150 in Paris for an appointment, but I'll take it to hauler wood.

I don't use my howitzer to kill a fly and i won't take a .22 to destroy a tank.

[bacpacker]

if someone wants to launch an "anti-Toy" thread... by all means... I'll do my best to defend my daily driver/BOV in an enlightening yet humourous manner..

I've had 4... the first 2 I sold still driving with over 600000km on each of them. the 3rd died an untimely death with only 300000kmyet still awaits its resurrection, and #4 is still hauling my butt around with 300000 on it.

I got your back Sniper. Toy's been good to me.

[Sparrow]

It is all in the need. I won't take a Smart to hauler wood, but I will take it Paris where you can't park and gas is expensive. I won't take a Ford 150 in Paris for an appointment, but I'll take it to hauler wood.

I don't use my howitzer to kill a fly and i won't take a .22 to destroy a tank.

Yeah, that is all good if you have the casholla for multiple vehicles!!!! Some of us are poppers :)

[Sparrow]

Here is a Smart for sale in Toronto, 11,000 kms on it for $22,500 > 2011 smart fortwo passion cab (http://www.autotrader.ca/a/smart/fortwo/BURLINGTON/Ontario/5_10956275_ON20080402094218515/)

I got my truck: 2008 Ram mega cab 2500 hemi with 34 000 kms - tow package, 5th wheel bars, mags, 9 " lift - every bell and whistle except a moon roof ... for 24k!!!

She sucks a bit of gas ... but, even having a second vehicle with the upfront price of it, most ppl cannot afford two vehicles. Plus, with the snow here, I don't understand how ppl drive a smart in the winter!

[RedJohn]

Yeah, that is all good if you have the casholla for multiple vehicles!!!! Some of us are poppers :)

I am not rich. You just need to choose what you need based on where you are and your needs. A smart fits my needs at this time, though I don't have one. I have NO car right now. no need for it at all.

[Sparrow]

I wonder if they make a Smart - with a side car? I was thinking if they did that - at least I could put my dog in the side car? LoLz

I like to poke fun. :) Nevermind me. :)

[The Stig]

Some of us are poppers :)

Popper

http://recipes.parajsa.com/pictures/1171414069jalapeno-poppers.jpg

Pauper

http://www.bottesfordhistory.org.uk/images/uploaded/scaled/Scrapbook_Vice___Poverty_poor_children_s.jpg

[Sniper-T]

bwahahahaha

poppers:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/shamaziz/Popper.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/puffo73/poppers.gif

[Sparrow]

Hey, I like poppers :) LOLZ!!!

[TEOTWAWKI13]

I'd drive the hell out of one of these...

http://militaryfail.net/wp-content/uploads/Tactical-Smart-Car.jpg

[izzyscout21]

where's the nearest dealership?

[Stormfeather]

Yeah, ummm ... smart truck? What a joke! I very often put 2 000 lbs on my bed. :)

um yea. . . quoted for posterity! :cool:

[Stormfeather]

bwahahahaha

poppers:

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/puffo73/poppers.gif

Wow, flashing back to 1985 there for a second. . . me walking out of the head shop looking for my 1978 Banana Yellow Chevy Vega. . .

[Sniper-T]

I very often put 2 000 lbs on my bed....that thing is haulin' :)

you should use this as a sigline Sparrow!

lol

[Sparrow]

you should use this as a sigline Sparrow!

lol

Yup, 2 000 lbs on my bed would be quite the Part-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! But I don't think I would want the kind of attention from dudes that a sexually suggestive tagline like that would bring me!

But on a serious level, right now Trooper Dan is already MORE then I can handle <3