Hey Doc......

[tony barnhill]

Have you noticed their little rear wheels have a different offset & backspacing than the fronts - pushing them out farther apart.

 

[JPSmit]

Braubus (after market Merc tuner company) crammed a Mercedes twin turbo v-6 into a few of those cars... twice the cylinders = twice the fun... right? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxJaGG1CobI

BTW the regular ones are everywhere here in Canada - a neighbour has two.

 

[tony barnhill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]BTW the regular ones are everywhere here in Canada [/QUOTE]

How come you guys get all the neat cars?

Oh, wait, we have our wonderful government agencies that are working to protect our environment & make the roads safer for us to drive! Funny, there's less smog in Europe than the Us...fewer deaths on autobahns also....bet the same's true in Canada!

 

[Mickey Richaud]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]BTW the regular ones are everywhere here in Canada

How come you guys get all the neat cars?

Oh, wait, we have our wonderful government agencies that are working to protect our environment & make the roads safer for us to drive! Funny, there's less smog in Europe than the Us...fewer deaths on autobahns also....bet the same's true in Canada! [/QUOTE]

Less smog... fewer deaths...

Fewer cars, maybe? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[tony barnhill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Fewer cars, maybe?[/QUOTE]

Don't think so, Mickey - more smaller cars!

 

[JPSmit]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Fewer cars, maybe?

Don't think so, Mickey - more smaller cars! [/QUOTE]

Many more smaller cars. at least 2 reasons.

1. Cars are (on average $8k) more expensive than USA prices. Thus everyone here tends to buy one car smaller here than there ie. there everyone has Camrys, here Corollas. This is especially true for SUV's whuch tend to have 4X4 and therefore cost much more. This was particularly true when the exchange rate was apalling. Now that the dollar is close to par it continues, when asked why the prices were higher Toyota and Subaru (the only two who answered said, "because that's what the market will bear." Of course being Canadians our attitude is "We're mad as heck and we're going to take it some more!"

2. Higher gas prices. Just got back from the East Coast. prices ranged from $1.04 to $1.14 a litre. (about $4.20-$4.55 a US gallon)

On the plus side there seems to be less need to "compensate" by driving Excursions/ Hummers/ Suburbans etc. Maybe that means Canadian men... (naa, won't go there /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif )

anyway, a serious answer to a goofy conversation but there you go.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Actually, what I meant was both fewer cars (which is a guess on my part), and fewer on the road (another guess, but probably accurate). The smaller car aspect is a good one - same in Latin America.

Wait a minnit - did we just veer off topic? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

 

[bugimike]

Back to the Smart Roadster, hehehe, I do see it as the possible successor to our LBCs in a modern world, with some refinements, of course (Like a gearbox that works!!!) All the Top Gear observations were also made about the BE back in the day too! Now if they can work down the pricing.... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

 

[tony barnhill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Like a gearbox that works!!![/QUOTE]

You didn't watch the video about the Smart's transmission, did you?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Heres a video from Top Gear
https://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...earch&plindex=1[/QUOTE]

 

[Steve]

Actually, this has veered completely off-topic! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

It started out as a link to a Ferrari-engined Lancia that I thought might have Doc running screaming for the exit........couldn't get much further from a Smart Car /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

 

[70herald]

To take this a little further, has anyone seen these? I have only seen this as this toy! Seems to me, at the right price, this could become the "modern spridget". Any thoughts on that! (Esp. if you have seen that hot-rod Smart with the Hyabasa (Sp??) engine in another thread!!!)

https://cgi.ebay.com/SMART-ROADSTER-RED-1...bayphotohosting

Yep saw one in Tel Aviv about a year ago. Looked like a blast to cruse around in but I think Smart discontinued them. There is one which parks near the university all the time. I think the owner likes taunting all the other cars looking for parking spaces by putting it in 90 degrees off. Its length is just right for perpendicular parking in a parallel spot. From what I have heard the do surprisingly well in the crash tests.

 

[Guest]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]BTW the regular ones are everywhere here in Canada

How come you guys get all the neat cars?

Oh, wait, we have our wonderful government agencies that are working to protect our environment & make the roads safer for us to drive! Funny, there's less smog in Europe than the Us...fewer deaths on autobahns also....bet the same's true in Canada!

Less smog... fewer deaths...

Fewer cars, maybe? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/QUOTE]

No - it is because they learn to drive ~properly~.

The left lane is not for doing your makeup in. Or talking on the phone. Or doing 45 in a 55 zone. Just 3 of the things I had on this mornings 20 minute commute.

Sorry - needed to vent. People here drive me nuts - that mirror in the middle is there for a reason, and it isn't for checking your hair...

I'll stop now and go back and stand in the corner.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

I'll stop now and go back and stand in the corner.

'Bout time you joined us! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

 

[Steve]

I was going to say what Alan said. Having seen drivers on both sides of the pond, I have to say that they are taught how to drive to a higher standard in Europe. Over there, they drive faster but safer.

 

[tony barnhill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Over there, they drive faster but safer. [/QUOTE]

...&, over there, the police enforce the rules!

Have you ever seen the police over here stop that that blond in the left lane who's doing 45mph while she puts on her makeup & talks with someone on her phone? Nope!

Have you ever seen the police pull someone over who didn't have their lights on with their windshield wipers in the rain? Nope!

Have you ever seen the police pull someone over who didn't use their turn signal? Nope!

 

[Guest]

Well it's tough to get pulled over in the rain. I think their heads shrink if they get wet...

 

[Steve]

Well it's tough to get pulled over in the rain. I think their heads shrink if they get wet...

Yep! Happened to me! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif

 

[tony barnhill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Originally Posted By: alana
Well it's tough to get pulled over in the rain. I think their heads shrink if they get wet...


Yep! Happened to me! [/QUOTE]

Your head shrank?

 

[DrEntropy]

heh.... must be why he came *here*. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

Actually, this has veered completely off-topic! \:\)

It started out as a link to a Ferrari-engined Lancia that I thought might have Doc running screaming for the exit........couldn't get much further from a Smart Car \

Your Ee-vile Plan nearly worked, too. But th' BCF brethren came thru and ~again~ skew'd th' topic well enuff off'n th' subject. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

...now about that BiTurbo... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

 

[tony barnhill]

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LANCIA-BY...1QQcmdZViewItem

Actually, thats probably not a bad deal...but, could he legally license it in Florida?