want to know your opinion from today's newspaper in bc

[hotwheel]

the province newspaper with page a20 about smart,any comment

[SmartieParts]

The fool is probably talking about me driving 85 on the freeway.

Regardless, how can someone bother to find the time and effort to complain about a type of car like that? "waste of highway"??? Bahhh... I haven't even read the rest and I am sure I can call that person a moron.

[Adrian]

was this in the editorial section?

[SmartieParts]

I don't know - I just read the entire article and while I can see he uses a sense of humour in his 'opinion", it is still ignorant.

Unless I'm missing something, but then - so would others.

Predicting that the smart's "time" has already come... hmm.

[Adrian]

steve, do you have the headline? I can search on Proquest for it.

[SmartieParts]

Screw it! The guy can sue me.

Am I the only one who thinks the Smart Car is a waste of highway?

I realize I'm probably going to be doomed to ecological hell for admitting this - but I'm sick of the Smart Car.

Suddenly, you can't cross a street in Vancouver without being made to feel like a planet-destroyer by one of these tiny, brightly-coloured and completely ridiculous vehicles.

Let me be clear - my issue with the Smart Car is not environmental; saving the earth is a lofty ideal. I just can't stand the design.

I drive a 1984 Honda, which - ergonomically - is about as small as you want to get in an automobile without joining a circus. The Smart Car, on the other hand, is about superiority, not function. It's the anti-Humvee.

I think we can all agree that the Humvee, based on an American military vehicle, is ridiculous in its own way. Great under fire and able to overcome the kind of pot-holes left by Iraqi insurcency attacks, it was never your best bet for the corner of Thrulow and Robson.

The basic message is: "I can crush you, pay for a lawyer to get me off - and have enough money left over for gas and a Big Gulp."

The Smart Car, by comparison, was conceived by the man who brought you the Swatch. No kidding! It's arrogant in its own, prissy, elitist and self-righteous kind of way.

Even the name is offensive. Its basic message: "I'm a green martyr, willing to endure humiliation to further my cause, not to mention certain death in a traffic accident."

At a cross-walk the other day, I peered to my left only to see Mayor Larry Campbell behind the wheel of a Smart Car.

I'll give him his due - at least he has the courage of his convictions. But the mayor is a big man. he looked like he was about to spill out the doors.

It was somehow un-mayoral. And that's the other problem with the Smart Car. Good vehicle design needs to have an element of romance to it - especially in North America.

Wide-open highways, sleek lines, the promise of horsepower: it's all part of the legend. Thelma and Louise never could have happened in a Smart Car - where would they have put Brad Pitt? On The Road would have been a different book in a Smart Car - one involving a lot of lattes and angst. And Born to Run? The Smart Car will never serve as a muse to any self-respecting songwriter.

A car shouldn't be a fashion, or a political, statement. We're told these things are huge in Europe. But that's not entirely true. Financially, the Smart Car has been troubled since it went into production.

But perhaps I'm wrong. After all, it has already achieved iconic status - just like the Studebaker. Maybe the Smart Car's time is coming. Mark it by your Swatch.

- Vancouver writer Jason Proctor

[Xandria]

Keith, you wouldn't want to share your response with us, we do?

as for our dear friend Jason, it seems as though he has his panties in a bunch. Why is he feeling guilty? Why is he having the reaction he is having? My mother always taught me that if I didn't like something, I should just walk away from it. It is far less aggravating that way, than exposing yourself to a barrage of negativity and pain. Mind you, by his account, there are smart cars on every corner 24/7. Perhaps some strong sunglasses are in order.

It is all well and good to not like something, but to waste one's time on something that one does not like? Who is he kidding? He is jealous as hell! :-)

But perhaps I'm wrong.

Bottom line, he doesn't understand the smart car fanatic's mentality. We simply love our cars, for a variety of reasons, but love them we do. if people want to join in on the love, then so be it, and if they do not, then that's fine too. We're not about to cram our smart cars down everyone's throats.

[MikeT]

The "funny" thing is, this satirical piece is not funny; I'm surprised that someone paid this writer for that drivel...

Probably the worst thing to do is respond/rebut (especially earnestly).

If the guy is even semi-serious, it will have been "mission accomplished" (i.e. get a rise out of the self-righteous and humourless smart car owners).

If someone else responds, a well-written piece of satire will be the most effective vehicle.

And.....a 1984 Honda driver thinks a smart fortwo is unsafe? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[bsmart]

Yeah my thoughts exactly Mike, 1984 honda...lol

Funny though, I never think about saving the planet when I think about the smart car. It was not one of the reasons why I bought the car. I originaly wanted one because I thought it was cool and you couldn't get one in North America. Then I heard about the paddle shifting, then the glass roof, I was hooked. Is is the stuff you only see on high end cars, or on those prototype cars you only read about in magazines. I love cars in general, the fortwo and roadster just appeal to me in some way...but not on an environmental level. But that is a bonus.

[SmartieParts]

I thought the bit about how ergonomically flawed the smart is was retarded... obviously the guy has never actually been in one or he'd be gushing about how suprisingly roomy it is.Even if it was (poorly written) satire - as a journalist (I know that's an insult to the profession) of any level, you should have the responsibility to research what you are writing about. Then again, that's why he writes the "opinion" column I guess.Ahh well... i wouldn't even have ever seen it except that it was pointed out.- Steve

[Bud Colby]

Albert Einstein once said, "Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence." smart owners = Great Spirits.Bud

[kay]

You know, this is funny, because I was saying to my husband last night that the smart seems to be causing two reactions: either people love it (or they are intensely curious about it, because it's so new to them) or they really, really, really, really loathe it.

I have people pulling all sorts of bone-head stunts, passing me in no-passing zones, stuff they wouldn't do with another car. (Okay, some of the boneheads would do it anyway, but compared to what I've seen when in our Matrix, it really has increased with the smart).

And I just can't figure it out. I can understand that the aesthetics of the car might not be to everyone's taste -- that's personal preference -- and that means you just go buy another car that you like the looks of better.

But the heated, hate reaction is really something else. I'm not some agressive person trying to take over the road from them -- in fact I stay out of the way as much as I can. In the end, it's Just Another Car (okay, some of you are going to argue against that, but see my point here) on the road. So why this extreme reaction?

I dunno. It has me stumped. My feeling is, if you don't like it, don't feel it's the car for you, well, just buy something else and move on. Why get so worked up over it?

[MikeT]

You're forgetting the testosterone factor, the cause of 90% of the world's trouble!

[Xandria]

You're forgetting the testosterone factor, the cause of 90% of the world's trouble!

So what you're saying, Mike, is that world peace could be a reality if we castrate 90% of the men on the planet?

Kidding, of course.

[spinner]

??Suddenly, you can't cross a street in Vancouver without being made to feel like a planet-destroyer by one of these tiny, brightly-coloured and completely ridiculous vehicles.

File under: I need :

"I hate those Smart cars, always here or there, quietly judging me."

EDIT: typo

[Xandria]

"I hate those Smart cars, always here or there, quiety judging me."

*dies* That so needs to be put on a t-shirt or bumper sticker.

[Bud Colby]

"I hate those Smart cars, always here or there, quiety judging me."

*dies* That so needs to be put on a t-shirt or bumper sticker.

Even with the "new" word?

Bud

[Xandria]

I honestly did not notice that before. But I think we can forgive Spinner. Either way, it makes a good bumper sticker :-)

[RoySkyBell]

"I hate those Smart cars, always here or there, quiety judging me."

... the "new" word?

Bud the Spelling Sleuth!

(I had to look up "sleuth")

[Bud Colby]

"I hate those Smart cars, always here or there, quiety judging me."

... the "new" word?

Bud the Spelling Sleuth!

(I had to look up "sleuth")

Are you sure you didn't mean "Sloth"

[RoySkyBell]

Are you sure you didn't mean "Sloth"

Ya, that too!

[glasslady]

We are different here on the Wet Coast, and this car was a natural to be introduced here. Now they don't have to call us only the Birkenstock crowd anymore, but the Birkenstock - Smart crowd. And we wear the label proudly.

A few people haven't quite signed on to that attitude, but the time will come for them too. I think it's the most beautiful little car. I am so hooked on it. I love the looks of it. I'ts a classy little pod.

[Caspar_s]

A car shouldn't be a fashion, or a political, statement.

Ummm, the only cars that Aren't fashion are pickups, vans etc. for jobs.

If cars weren't fashion statements, there would be only three or four types.

That is also one of the reasons I like the smart - it just doesn't look like anything else. The echo hatchback comes close (but it's so BIG!!) and it doesn't come in diesel.

Cya

[Bud Colby]

A car shouldn't be a fashion, or a political, statement.

Ummm, the only cars that Aren't fashion are pickups, vans etc. for jobs.

If cars weren't fashion statements, there would be only three or four types.

That is also one of the reasons I like the smart - it just doesn't look like anything else. The echo hatchback comes close (but it's so BIG!!) and it doesn't come in diesel.

Cya

Why... Cover Your A**?

Just Joking....