Hedgekid in bizarre exploding Smartcar incident

[Black Rose]

I think everyone should have a Smart Car.  Seriously, keep it in your glove compartment, and if your regular car breaks down, you'll be glad you have it when you go for help!

They are actually pretty safe, but in a different manner than regular cars.  The frame of the car is a roll cage, and rather than crumple zones, it's designed with very little mass so it bounces off things.  The idea is rather than getting crushed, the occupants will be launched away from the accident, and protected from the roll by the frame. 

I saw one last year that was involved in a collision with a Chevy Monte Carlo.  Other than the airbag deployment, the Smart car appeared to be intact.
The Monte Carlo actually had more damage 

When I wait for the bus in the morning at my transfer point I see them cruising along beside 18-wheelers and the size differential is really an eye opener.

Apparently you can get about 14 dozen beer cases in the back of one though 

[Gareth]

I think everyone should have a Smart Car.  Seriously, keep it in your glove compartment, and if your regular car breaks down, you'll be glad you have it when you go for help!

They are actually pretty safe, but in a different manner than regular cars.  The frame of the car is a roll cage, and rather than crumple zones, it's designed with very little mass so it bounces off things.  The idea is rather than getting crushed, the occupants will be launched away from the accident, and protected from the roll by the frame. 

I saw one last year that was involved in a collision with a Chevy Monte Carlo.  Other than the airbag deployment, the Smart car appeared to be intact.
The Monte Carlo actually had more damage 

When I wait for the bus in the morning at my transfer point I see them cruising along beside 18-wheelers and the size differential is really an eye opener.

Apparently you can get about 14 dozen beer cases in the back of one though 

The fact of the matter is that good safety design is much more important than size and bulk.  I'm sure that North America will have a similar system but here we use the Euro NCAP grades: http://www.euroncap.com/tests/smart_fortwo_2007/303.aspx

You can see that the 2007 Smart is actually pretty safe to be in, but you don't want to be hit by one (or any other car for that matter). 

Compared to the Ford Ranger I'd rather be in the Smart:  http://www.euroncap.com/tests/ford_ranger_2008/342.aspx

 

[BIG-TARGET]

They recently started selling the smart cars in the US and I'm just starting to see them regularly.

I should think ours don't have this problem. I hope.

And the only negative I see with the Smartcar is that if you get rear-ended by a Hummer or SUV,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,YOU'RE SCREWED!!!!!

[jock1]

Glad your  other half is ok these things are bloody scary.

[Gareth]

They recently started selling the smart cars in the US and I'm just starting to see them regularly.

I should think ours don't have this problem. I hope.

And the only negative I see with the Smartcar is that if you get rear-ended by a Hummer or SUV,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,YOU'RE SCREWED!!!!!

Wouldn't a Smart fit under a Hummer? 

[nuphoria]

Well, it would easily fit under a hammer 

[Grant Lamontagne]

They recently started selling the smart cars in the US and I'm just starting to see them regularly.

I should think ours don't have this problem. I hope.

And the only negative I see with the Smartcar is that if you get rear-ended by a Hummer or SUV,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,YOU'RE SCREWED!!!!!

Same story with a Toyota Echo or Yaris, or pretty well any of the sub compacts out there nowadays.  That's why I drive a Jeep...

Def

[Nikos]

And the only negative I see with the Smartcar is that if you get rear-ended by a Hummer or SUV,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,YOU'RE SCREWED!!!!!

So it appears that TLC fealt your anguish and is running a special tonight: "Street Customs: Escalade and Smart Car" (TLC, 9:00 pm)

[DaveK]

I should point out that my dislike of Smart cars is purely because they are naff. They do actually have a good safety record, great mpg and you can park them in busy cities. Fact is, they are great, but I wouldn't be seen dead in one.

I'm starting a new hobby up, seeing how many of them I can run over in my Freelander

[Grant Lamontagne]

There's more metal in one of my bumpers than in one whole Smart Car...

Def