Smart ForTwo in the Wild

So there we were, staff photographer Ian Merritt and myself, flying driving up Lake Shore Drive in a bright yellow Corvette Z06, when we spotted a miniscule motor vehicle a few cars ahead. It turned out to be a U.S. spec Smart ForTwo with Illinois plates, a promotional sticker on the back window and what looked to be two full-sized passengers. Update: It has been pointed out that this is the past generation Smart ForTwo, good catch Mike. Still, the overall size and footprint on the road will be similar.

You can read all you want about a car, but something changes when you see one on the street, driving in real-sized traffic. The ForTwo looked to be moving along just fine and it fit in fine with other cars on the road. The two guys inside looked like they were in awkward seating positions but there was certainly plenty of headroom. Who knows, maybe spottings like this will get the average Joe accustomed to such a small car. Or maybe when it’s on a real highway — one where they allow heavy duty pickups let alone semi trucks, it will look smaller.

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Comments

Dave -
I like micro cars and I think there could be a niche market in the U.S. for them, especially the 4 seaters like the Mitsubishi i. There are actually some people that want an economical commuter vehicle, maybe as a second car, and manufacturers need to realize this. Gas prices are not going much lower and there will be more conflict in the middle east that will drive the price eventually to $4 a gallon...it's just a matter of time.

The ForTwo pictured is actually an older model with the MB engine, not the new '08. The new ones have 2 lights (not 3) on either side of the rear and slightly different front and rear fascias. Cool little car though!

The passenger seat is offset a little bit from the driver, so that might be part of why they look awkward inside

I'll tell you how small it is: small enough to make it look like there's no traffic in Chicago.

It's so weird because there was traffic everywhere. it was 3 p.m. or so! Somehow all the pictures show just the car with no traffic around it.

I have seen a couple of these cruising through traffic in the suburbs of Kansas City. I was very surprised to see them. They stick out in suburban traffic like a sore thumb. Weird looking little car.

I just hope it mainly stays in the cities for a few years, otherwise it will get a bad reputation. Why?

Well if it goes out to the suburbs or countryside I can see all the rednecks with their Heavy Duty grade 2500+ series pickups cutting off the ForTwo or intentionally boxing it in. I've been told stories that back in the seventies, when foreign cars first came to the states, some red-state type drivers sought to do as much damage to the smaller imports reputation by intentionally being @$$holes to the drivers of those cars on the road.

Tom L: They do it to Prius drivers too. Just to show off.

They do it to the prius drivers because 9 times out of 10 the prius was just in the fast lane holding up traffic.

Besides most prius owners are uptight anyways. Whats so speical about a car that gets 45 miles to the gallon (EPA 2008)With a 11.9 gallon tank that gets 535.5 miles to the tank.

A better equiped accord will get better miliage for the tanks worth. You just have to buy 6 more gallons. Oh man.

And the nit-wit of the day award goes to...oh wait he doesn't have a name.

You obviously don't understand MPG. It doesn't mean Miles Per TANK. Avg Accord is rated at 25MPG. Just because you can put 17 gal in it doesn't mean it's more fuel efficient. Dumb-ass.

2 seater car seems to be small for many families. Sometimes its compared with a motor-cycle.

May be some company should sell a 3-seater car (just 1 wide-row) and that will be fine for many families with 1 kid.

After all, many Chinese has a 1 child-family and its becoming the trend in Europe, India as well.

Small cars are here to stay. Sales or Minivans, SUV's, Pickups were falling steadily.

Anon-
The speed limit is the same for every lane! There is no such thing as the "fast lane". Maybe your one of those large truck or SUV drivers that feel they have to put their nose up someones rear end just because they're obeying the law!

I think he's referring to the "passing lane". In fact in many states signs are posted that say "Slower Traffic Keep Right" or something like that. Which to me means, if someone comes up behind you and wants to pass, let 'em pass. Nothing more annoying than one person creating a funeral procession.

Driving habits aside, I think the ForTwo is a good idea. Let's face it. How many single passenger commuters are on the road to work in the morning and then on the way hmoe afterwards? You simply don't need an 8 passenger van, suv, or guzzling pickup truck for for that duty. I do think the Smart car is a little pricey though.

Last time I saw a Renault that looks exactly like the ones from overseas. Too bad my camera phone's battery was dead.

it will be the smallest car on the road. with today's highways, there are the huge semi trucks and 10-gallons to the mile SUVs. if you want to get a small car, at least get something safer like a Mazda 3 (with the side airbags) or the VW Rabbit...

JM,

The driver is what makes a vehicle safer. Kinda like a gun. Guns don't shoot people. People do.

It can be a good rental or secondary car that can be used when only 1 or 2 passengers wants to make a trip.

Never mind the highways, those gas-guzzlers will be slowly kicked out as the people are moving for smaller CUV's.

i've seen the same Smart car going eastbound on 290 a few days ago.
the idiot driver came out of the St Charles off-ramp onto afternoon rush hour traffic, forcing his way into the middle lane, and nearly causing an accident.
the driver he cut off(me, driving in my Range Rover Sport) had to brake hard to avoid hitting him. he then 'tried' to accelerate... HA

I've seen one try to pass my rental Camry (asked for a avenger they had none only camry and accord). Even the base camrybeat it.

I bet the teenagers with civics will be the ones picking on the fortwo more then large suv owners.