Scion should make a Smart car beater

[Bill]

We all know that Toyota could do it. Why not make a 2 seater for the U.S. market to compete with Smart?

Bill

[burstaneurysm]

I honestly don't think the US market is quite ready for such a small vehicle. The Smart is way cool, but I can't imagine it selling well in "bigger is betterville".

The fact is, no matter how much gas costs, people are still gonna want to drive their Hummers.

[rfzl]

I don't know. Judging by the new truck sales, a small car might do alright. I'd give it another couple of year though. They have to get rid of all of that old stock (a.k.a. big, new, trucks/cars). Once the current run of cars starts to get low, I suspect a few more orders for small cars will pick up. It will get to a critical mass and BANG!, the Smart Car will have success. Of course, by that time the electrics will be catching up quickly.

For me, I expect to be too old to drive once the Smart Car or electric car are common place. Then I'll just have the grandkids drive me around!

[Greg]

I think a "cutesy" small car would be quite En Vogue in the yuppy "stay at home mom" crowd. Just like the New Beetle did; it became a status symbol of sorts for a lot of moms. I could see this becoming the same thing. For the moms that don't work, and just have to tote the kids back and forth to school, and go to Starbucks, Jazzercise and the grocery store, they'd likely rack up 3000 miles a year, and only have to fill the tank when they pay the mortgage each month!

[burstaneurysm]

The backseat of a New Beetle is one of the worst I've ever been in. The way the roofline curves, your head is against the C-Pillar, so you hit your head constantly.