Saturday 29 November 2008

The New Car


So, this is my new car, a Smart Car Pulse. It's quite a change from the 6-seat Toyota MPV that I've owned for the last 7 years!

It's is quite a lot of fun, --- the ads say that you can get a tumble drier into the cargo space, but I'm not so sure. I am enjoying the semi-automatic transmission though (complete with gear-change paddles on the steering wheel).
Looking forward to 60 mpg.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

That really looks great!
It would be ideal for around here.

Probably my favorite car was a VW Beetle I bought when I got out of the Army in the 60s. I could fold the back seat down to carry things. For a small car I could carry more than many of my friends with 'big' cars.

The new car looks like it would be fun to drive.

Dr Bob said...

Hi Terry. The beetle was a fantastic car! The new smart IS tremendous fun. You can park it anywhere and it's full of electronics so there's an Electronic Stability Programme, for example. Surprisingly quiet,too - especially as (like the Beetle) it's rear engined.

Always good to hear from you.

Bob

Be said...

Fun...new electronics for better reliving youth with...but, is it safe?!

(To both Bob and Terry, goshdarnit.)

Dr Bob said...

Hi Be,

Well it's 4* ncap crash tested which makes it the same as a Range Rover for safety in a collision. It's got a built in passenger safety cell (like F1 racing cars), air bags, force-limiters and the top speed is electronically limited.

I looked at this quite carefully, and watched a few videos of Smart Car crashes before I bought something this small -- in a serious crash the car doesn't survive, but the passengers usually do!

(my youth [as far as cars was concerned] was full of vehicles so old that the wheels tended to fall off when you turned right! This is much better!)

B xx

Be said...

Oh kay, oh, kay! I worry, given the proliferation of "smahts" in my neighborhood and the horrible reputation the Bostonians have as drivers.

Also - I think the French joke about their bad safety records, but it could just be a French small weenie/fear of death thing.

If it's safe, enjoy it! xo

Be said...

By the way - in re cars of youth...the youngest car I ever owned was three years older than me! Had no floor boards. We used to call it the "flintstone mobile."