Smart cars hit the U.S. market in 2008. Initially, they stoked people’s curiosity, but not enough to really take off in North America. Consequently, selling new Smart cars in the U.S. stopped last year. You can still get your hands on a used Smart car, but are they really a good value? Stringer Auto Repair fixes and maintains Smart cars, and they are reliable. When you factor in their gas mileage, sticker price, and size, they can be a good value for those looking for an inexpensive and economical car.
Gas Mileage
People think Smart cars don’t get good gas mileage because the tanks are so small, but this is deceptive. The car’s 8.5-gallon gas tank will give you as much as 350 miles of driving. That’s a lot of miles for not too much money. With gas prices averaging under $2 currently in Johnstown, OH, it’ll only cost you about $17 to fill the gas tank. Better yet, you can buy a Smart car for about $10,000.
Smart Car Size
One thing that makes these cars, so fuel-efficient is their size. The Smart car is teensy-tiny, which is why so many people love it. You played with Tonka toys when you were a kid, and now you can drive one! The Smart car’s average size is 8.5 feet long by 5.5 feet wide. This reduced size keeps the Smart car lighter and aerodynamic, which is why you get more miles out of a full 8.5-gallon tank.
Interesting Smart Car Facts
Driving a Tonka toy, i.e., the size and appearance of a Smart car make driving fun, but there are other interesting facts about these little vehicles that appeal to consumers. For example, did you know that although Smart car is its own brand in Europe, it is sold under the Mercedes-Benz brand in the United States? Both brands are owned by Daimler AG, a giant in German automobile manufacturing.
Other fun and interesting facts about Smart Cars include
- They were conceived and designed by Nicolas Hayek, founder of Swiss watchmaker Swatch
- Swatch produced customizable watches in the ‘80s, and Hayek wanted a customizable car, too
- Hayek’s idea was introduced in 1982, and he called the car the “Swatchmobile”
- The first auto company to take a serious interest in the Swatchmobile was Volkswagen in 1991
- VW dumped the idea in 1993, and Mercedes-Benz took over plans and production
- Smart is a combination of the partner names Swatch and Mercedes with the word art
- The logo, a C with an arrow going through it, represents cute, compact, and forward-thinking
- Smart cars are manufactured mostly in Hamburg, France, as the “Smartville” plant
If you own or want to purchase a Smart car, you can count on Stringer Auto Repair in Johnstown, OH, for all of your service and repair needs.
