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Can the Smart Car Get Its Buzz Back?

Forbes -- In 2008, when gas cost $4 a gallon, the fuel-sipping Smart Fortwo looked like a smart buy. Now the quirky two-seater made by Daimler (better known for its Mercedes) looks like a fad that has run its course. After a nice start in the U.S.--24,600 vehicles in 2008--Smart sales fell 41% in 2009, the victim of a weak economy and lower gas prices. The tally was even worse in January, with sales of 278 cars, a decline of 84% from a year earlier.

Can it be revived? A big name in the auto industry, Roger Penske, is behind the car. He's the chief executive of Smart's U.S. distributor, Penske Automotive Group (PAG). In January he asked Jill Lajdziak, who ran General Motors' Saturn division for a decade, to recapture some buzz for the car.

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Submitted Mar 09, 2010 By: Mudsprings

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swrestler Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,195 Points:594,060 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 5:13:25 PM Ignore swrestler Report Abuse NO......
garman87 Champion Author Austin Posts:1,279 Points:1,509,955 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 5:12:19 PM Ignore garman87 Report Abuse It's buzz has fizzled but might come back if gas stays at $4.00 or higher.
saveongasNC Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,287 Points:723,350 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 5:08:07 PM Ignore saveongasNC Report Abuse fire@53 Well said!
fire@53 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:7,071 Points:1,827,450 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 5:06:59 PM Ignore fire@53 Report Abuse It looks like a rolling coffin.
Michaelsz06 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:3,253 Points:671,215 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 5:06:58 PM Ignore Michaelsz06 Report Abuse Doesn't work for anyone over 5 feet tall. I'm 6'3" and there is no-way i could fit even my right foot in that little shoe box of a car..
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,634 Points:249,765 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 5:02:53 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse If you are over 5 feet tall and weigh more than 95 pounds a Smart Car is not that smart. By the way, how does the word smart translate into German?
bar1035 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,404 Points:458,475 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 5:02:06 PM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse Short answer - no
mwo Sophomore Author Twin Cities Posts:230 Points:780,460 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 5:00:37 PM Ignore mwo Report Abuse Smart car for dumb people?
scoop2008 Veteran Author Ontario Posts:251 Points:179,005 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 4:56:51 PM Ignore scoop2008 Report Abuse Smart cars are good for some people, but , not for me.
thirstyauto Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:6,153 Points:642,415 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 4:55:18 PM Ignore thirstyauto Report Abuse I have seen the 'smart car' and there is nothing smart about it!!!
diatzikis All-Star Author Raleigh Posts:718 Points:195,805 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 4:54:54 PM Ignore diatzikis Report Abuse They will as gas keeps going up and it is
cheapgasPA Veteran Author Lancaster Posts:312 Points:66,685 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 4:45:04 PM Ignore cheapgasPA Report Abuse VW herbie was a smart car, and now becoming an electric bug car
jarrjazz1 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:2,189 Points:446,240 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 9, 2010 4:40:38 PM Ignore jarrjazz1 Report Abuse hang in there SMART!!