Test drove a SMART car today

[ztirffritz]

I don't believe that they are oficially available in the US yet. This dealer brought them in through Canada.

The emissions regulations have good intentions, but they are horribly biased, unequally enforced, and largely ineffective. For example, Seattle (King county) has a higher average income and is required to have emissions inspections and controls, which is ironic because they have a higher concentration of smaller, newer, fuel efficient cars. Yakima County, 130 miles away in the same state, does not have any emissions regulations or controls, yet it is populated by the lower-income families driving older, larger, less efficient vehicles belching black smoke which burn 10-12 mpg. I'm sure that the regulations are helping a little, but it would much better if they put the controls in at least state-wide, if not nation-wide. There needs to be a comprehensive overhaul to bring emissions standards and tax regulations in line with each other. The tax laws provide HUGE loopholes that are incentives for companies to purchase the largest vehicles they can find because if it is over a certain weight they can deduct almost the ENTIRE cost of the vehicle. Instead, they should be penalized. Diesel motors are often cleaner than gasoline motors, provide more power, and consume less fuel. More diesel is produced from a given volume of crude oil than gasoline, making it even better. Further more, diesel can be produced from renewable sources. Granted, there is no way that our insatiable demand for fuel could be supplied entirely by biodiesel, but it could make a dent, help the economy, AND the environment. The currrent federal regulations prevent many vehicles that would actually help the situation from entering the country because many of the regulations pertaining to diesel motors were written entirely with heavy trucking industry in mind.

[AlphaDog]

News for Puget Sound area folks! I found an announcement for the grand opening of a Smart Car dealership this weekend in Kirkland, which, interestingly, is in King County.

Hey, Ztirffritz! ZAP is looking for people who want to become dealers!

http://www.zapworld.com/ZAPWorld.aspx?id=930

[M A V I C]

[quote ztirffritz]The emissions regulations have good intentions, but they are horribly biased, unequally enforced, and largely ineffective. For example, Seattle (King county) has a higher average income and is required to have emissions inspections and controls, which is ironic because they have a higher concentration of smaller, newer, fuel efficient cars. Yakima County, 130 miles away in the same state, does not have any emissions regulations or controls, yet it is populated by the lower-income families driving older, larger, less efficient vehicles belching black smoke which burn 10-12 mpg.
That's actually the point. They force higher-income people who can afford more efficient vehicles to have them. Plus, the population density here is MUCH higher, not to mention population overall.

But really, I am rather sick of this whole "if your car doesn't get good gas mileage, you're bad" attitude. My car gets 22 mpg on the highway.

[richorlin]

The picture 'mint posted was of the European model. I don't think convertibles will be available in the US because of safety issues. It's not...safe, that is.

[Pat]

Federal emission regulations, and local emissions testing are not the the same thing. On top of that, most states have NO testing for diesel vehicles, California being one of them. Those that do are usually limited to just opacity tests. Testing is based on impact, meaning population density. The reason not all cities in my county are subject to testing.

All on road diesel engines are subject to the new regs. DPFs and NOx catalyst. The big 3 are selling diesel powered pickups that meet the new standards as well as the tractor (big rig, not cornfield) manufacturers. Economics is the biggest factor in why the Euros can't/won't meet the standards. Increased cost/small market. Higher initial cost, coupled with high diesel prices makes a hard sell. Plus, the regs get even tighter in 2010. California has already adopted the 2010 regs, further limiting the current market.

[AllGold]

Wow, $23K would be way too much. $12K sounds about right, maybe still a little high.

$23K buys a Prius which gets the same mileage and is more than twice the amount of car.

BTW, my Prius has cut my gas costs to less than half of what they were with a Camry.

[bfd]

Looks a little like the first Honda CVCC …



…but the CVCC had a back seat. ;^)

The N600 was even a closer match

[ztirffritz]

[quote M A V I C][quote ztirffritz]The emissions regulations have good intentions, but they are horribly biased, unequally enforced, and largely ineffective. For example, Seattle (King county) has a higher average income and is required to have emissions inspections and controls, which is ironic because they have a higher concentration of smaller, newer, fuel efficient cars. Yakima County, 130 miles away in the same state, does not have any emissions regulations or controls, yet it is populated by the lower-income families driving older, larger, less efficient vehicles belching black smoke which burn 10-12 mpg.
That's actually the point. They force higher-income people who can afford more efficient vehicles to have them. Plus, the population density here is MUCH higher, not to mention population overall.

But really, I am rather sick of this whole "if your car doesn't get good gas mileage, you're bad" attitude. My car gets 22 mpg on the highway.
This is getting to be border-line political, but I think we can keep it civil and on-topic.

My feelings are that the emissions inspections are great for hi-population density places, such as King County. But why just there? The emissions from just 1 of the gas guzzling smoke-screen machines in Yakima probably exceeds the CO2 and particulate output of 5 cars from King County, yet we are not required to have emissions testing. Why? It isn't like King County's air stays in King County. Similarly, Yakima County's air spreads all over eastern WA too. I would welcome and encourage emissions testing statewide. Different regions may require different standards because of weather/environmental reasons, but everyone should be required to meet a certain baseline requirement. Also, there is no reason that an older car can not be made to pass emissions tests. I have a '66 Corvair that passed Pennsylvania's emissions tests with high marks. I had an 83 Jeep Grand Wagoneer that passed too. If the car is well maintained and tuned it can pass. The Corvair gets pretty good gas mileage too, around 24-26 MPG hi-way. The Jeep was not so good, but that was the price you paid for the ability to move 6 people comfortably with AC while towing 1 ton of cargo.

[Jp!]

[quote richorlin]The picture 'mint posted was of the European model. I don't think convertibles will be available in the US because of safety issues. It's not...safe, that is.
Did you see my article up there?

Convertibles (loose term) WILL be available. Thanks Roger.

[ADent]

There is exactly 1 car for sale in the US for 2007 that meets the automobile standards (much tougher than trucks) - that is the Mercedes BlueTec E320. And it is only a 45 state car. (There are BlueTec SUVs too - but those are trucks).

So while the Europeans have a tough time meeting the US Diesel car standards there are exactly 0 American diesel cars sold in this country.

BMW, VW, and Honda are promising more cars for 2008 (or 2009).