[Chris Johnson @ Oct 17th 2006 1:04PM]

Compare it to a scooter rather than a car and you have a compelling offer. Compare it to a car and it flops miserably.

For $5,000 to knock around the city and run errands it's cheaper than pretty much any motorcycle and about the same price as a scooter. Plus you can use it in the rain or snow, which you can't comfortably on a scooter. At $5,000 this would absolutely sell in NYC, Boston, DC, maybe Miami, and pretty much anywhere densely populated that people could use it as a second car.

This is why I think the Smart is going to fail in the US. At the price DCX is talking about it's too expensive for what you get. You can get a Yaris for the same price, and though it's not as cute it's much more useful.

[quahogian @ Oct 17th 2006 2:11PM]

I agree here with Chris, I personally living in NYC would love to have something this small and affordable, of course hoping that it gives me better protection than the little Honda cruiser I currently own (almost none). If I could I would go on my motorcycle everywhere, but alas...it is raining right now in the city BTW.

[Eric @ Oct 17th 2006 3:53PM]

I dunno how well this will fare in DC, given that traffic in the city is horrible and a vehicle this size will be easily bumped off the road. As some of us say in this city "The lanes are for reference only, it's every man for himself out there".

[rockintom99 @ Oct 18th 2006 4:01AM]

...What the hell are you talking about? The same price as a scooter? I bought one recently for SEVENTY NINE DOLLARS. It runs about 20 miles per charge, but at that price, how could you complain?

And then again, my friend got a *very* nice motorcycle recently for about 2 grand. Where do you come up with your terrible prices?