Smart cars are in my opinion are the Bee's knee for everyday transport in Nigeria. Compact, economical, refined and easy to service. We recently took one home and it was used in travelling from Lagos to Kwara state and then to Benin, then back to Kwara state. All of these journey done with N1800 petrol of full tank. Air condition was on full blast for most of the journey and the music system was cranking up too.

What makes this car interesting is how they are designed. The body panels are more or less like really hard industrial plastic panels, build around a "roll cage like frame". While it looks small on the outside, it actually feels big on the inside. Why are we not using this car a lot back home?

They come with a triptronic gear box [Semi automatic] and a low profile turbo-charged engine. With top speeds of around 90mph. It is good enough to keep up with speeds on the motorways and on Nigerian road, probably more than enough. Then there are things like ABS, ESP and airbags thrown in too.









[img=http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/8400/smartcard.jpg>http://img198.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smartcar3.jpg>http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/7263/smartcar3.jpg[/img>http://img198.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smartcar6.jpg>http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/7161/smartcar6.jpg[/img]







It should be noted that these cars are now the "old shape" and the new shaped ones are more streamlined and lower with bigger tyres etc.

I know a few people would take a look at these and think "oh it wont survive and accident" well, for your information, These cars have been test-crashed at 70mph here in the UK and the result are pretty much impressive.


See more info on the car here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_(automobile)

15 views and no interest?

wat can i say?
nigerians lik big big tins
big cars, big bumbum, big boobs, big dicks. . .
if its big, we lov it, sori dude

But big is not always the best way to go. This would give you the same comfort as any car within the city and every day driving. A full tank of 1800.00 Naira is also not bad.

Funny enough, I only ever saw one around ikoyi side.

dude, if u culd choose btw big bumbum nd bony bum(note i dint say bumbum) wuld u wori abt somtin as trival as mor mony spent at tastee fried chicken?

Dude this is about cars. I do not see the relevance of your comparison.

Considering you chance of surviving an accident in one piece. Its not a cheap offer.
If that car ever gets in an head on with a SUV, you'll wish you were in the SUV.
So how much is a life worth in savings?

On British back roads it a smart idea, but against Nigerian danfos, molue and the oil mighty tankers; roadkill

we just like big cars for some reason 
You'll also notice, there are very few coupe on the road
everyone wants a big family car even if its only them driving 7days a week

This car will be very nice for calmer states like ogun and kwara
in Lagos you'll get bullied off the road-you'll be mistaken for a new version
of keke napep by those crazy okada riders

@sultan. It is a common misconception that 4x4 are safer. Believe it or not, the smart car is in a role cage. It comes equiped with air bags and the roll cage design have some sort of "armour plate" in the front bumper. Also, it makes use of the crumple zone fron the on-coming car if there is ever a collusion. To simply put, it is very safe


@dis guy
Yeah I see what you mean. When the car came out of the port, loads of people was admiring it and majority of people wanted to push it over from the side etc. Which I thought it was unnecessary. It weighs close to a ton I would think, but don't quote me on that.

It is made by Benz, but will the guy in the video be seeing a doctor or a mortician


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4k0FWvGoSM

The cage is tough I agree but the shock is what kills and a cage don't absorb like crumple zones

how much does it go for? I mean in Naira

how much does it go for?

snappy are you the better half of Siena?

no problem at all!!!

Ive always wonder why young naija guy and even students prefer big 'executive' family cars
when there are more exciting smaller 'fitter' smarter cars like Golf, Audi A3 suitable for the city

how about a mini cooper

k

@Sienna. The high wind is not as bad like you are painting it. I had one - chipped and modified And I reached speeds in excess of 100mph. The cross wind tend to be minimal in my experience.

You mentioned something about slip streaming. I would have thought, this would lead to a more stable handling as the on-coming air friction is reduced when one is in the slip stream of another vehicle?


@Dis Guy.

I am not a fan of Mini am afraid, however your points are valid. I.e Why on earth people use big bags when 80% of the time, they use it solely for domestic and pleasure.

@Siena, what do you make of the Toyota IQ? I am due to test drive one, but I think they are very expensive for what they are.

Well Siena?

doubt if de car can survive Naija roads

Nezan:

doubt if de car can survive Naija roads

We have one in Naija as we speak. IN fact, it would be put to use again in some few days time.

I dont know about em smart cars. I travel a bit and i wont be caught dead in that on Benin -Ore. i also live in a lagos suburb,soooo, its not really working fer me.Believe me, I 've been priviledged to see a whole 4tonner halfway buried in the earth when the ground under it gave way on the same express.Truly a sight to see before U die!
I appreciate the low fuel consumption, totally recyclable materials,The green feeling & cred that comes with it, but we're not ready yet. i've seen 2mercedes benz types in Ikoyi & they RATTLE.
Also, how much of your family can U move in the thing.
What if you all have a bit of circumference round the waist?
The mini is a lot better, if U can get someone to fix it.
A Golf 4 is just as Good & U can get someone to fix it.

trisurface:

I dont know about em smart cars. I travel a bit and i wont be caught dead in that on Benin -Ore. i also live in a lagos suburb,soooo, its not really working fer me.Believe me, I 've been priviledged to see a whole 4tonner halfway buried in the earth when the ground under it gave way on the same express.Truly a sight to see before U die!
I appreciate the low fuel consumption, totally recyclable materials,The green feeling & cred that comes with it, but we're not ready yet. i've seen 2mercedes benz types in Ikoyi & they RATTLE.
Also, how much of your family can U move in the thing.
What if you all have a bit of circumference round the waist?
The mini is a lot better, if U can get someone to fix it.
A Golf 4 is just as Good & U can get someone to fix it.

LMAO!!

equlibrium: wat can i say?
nigerians lik big big tins
big cars, big bumbum, big boobs, big dicks. . .
if its big, we lov it, sori dude

Lmfao. I can't nor fit laff too much o. My belle o, my back o.

Anyway, seriously, will you consider cars like Benz smart 4 two, Audi A2, Nissan Pixo, Toyota aeon, Suzuki Alto, Mini, or Kia picanto as smart cars cos I'm really planning to get one of those for my wife. Can't continue churning out much for a hungry lexus SUV. Not unless you consider those smart cars.

Dis Guy: we just like big cars for some reason
You'll also notice, there are very few coupe on the road
everyone wants a big family car even if its only them driving 7days a week

This car will be very nice for calmer states like ogun and kwara
in Lagos you'll get bullied off the road-you'll be mistaken for a new version
of keke napep by those crazy okada riders

Rebranded Keke NAPEP. Lol. Lawd a' mercy.