OCT 10

No. I don't think it's very smart at all but I guess it'll get them some media attention...

What a great ad - really appeals to me :)

What is reasonable gas mileage? I get 50mpg in a (european) car that's quite a bit bigger than a Smart ForFour, that's reasonable. I expect the Smart would do much better. I have to laugh when I read american predictions for the end of civilisation when petrol (gas) reaches $5 a gallon. Here in the UK we pay nearly 1 UK pound ($2 US) for 1 litre (& there's what, around 4 litres to the US gallon?)

I get 50mpg - I meant miles per UK gallon (= 4.55 litres, vs US gallon =3.785l) so I get about 42 miles per US gallon.

I like the ad :), but kind of risky marketing-wise to put it up in the US - is that where it was?

This ad was run in Johannesburg, South Africa, and happened well over a year and a half ago.

Ah well, it is sensible marketing outside USA, so it gets my vote

It is going to take a Whole lot more than the Volt being released to restore confidence in American auto makers. They are going to have to start building Quality instead of talking about building quality. They try to increase sales by building cheaper and using cheaper materials and selling cars at a loss. The reason American cars aren't selling is that they just plain SUCK.

American nothingadvertising

Check out the plain as day ClearChannel logo underneath. ;D

Hey! I feel a little like I was punched in the heart! America is just a little slow right now--our rap superstars are still cruisin' in the escalades and hummers. Give us time to develop some new heroes and we'll be jumping on the low emission train before you know it!

In a globalized interconnected world, this billboard is just irresponsible advertising. It's like bad-mouthing your ex-girlfriend to your new girlfriend and they happen to be roommates. Smart going Smart!

A previous commenter suggested that the billboard was a year old and located in South Africa. What is the point in negative messages where few Americans reside? The point is to just encourage negative messages or jump on the band-wagon of anti-American sentiment. The strange thing is, is that Smart has been trying to develop a market for their Smart Fortwo in the US for some time and have been available in both Canada and Mexico for a few years already.

Sadly, I think America may never get completely behind the small vehicle simply because the culture, unlike Europe, is based around the large: the country is large, the cars are large, everything in the country is far apart so you need a car to get there and you need a large car to haul all the stuff you just bought there, so you can bring it home and put it into a large self-storage unit. Hybrid technology and alternative fuel development seems to be the way to allow Americans to keep their cars, while being more environmentally conscious.

it's a Chrysler product to boot--oh wait, aren't they american?--oh yeah... ;)

Why buy such a small vehicle when it gets about the same mileage as a VW Deisel?

The tipping point will come when you can ride four, get over 60mpg, have a range comparable to regular ICE cars, with comparable pricing.

You can be all snobby about how greener and better you are than those loud, stupid Americans, but until it makes economic & practical sense, people won't make the change.

I believe that time is very near, though.

The funny thing is, that everybody forgets that Ford (American) sells loads of cars in Europe. In the UK Fords are one of the most (if not the most)common cars.
Granted, for some strange reason they seem to produce better quality cars for the rest of the world, than they do for their home market.
But Ford produce a lot more cars than Mercedes and if you have ever driven a Smart car, you would know why you dont see that many about.
Also the Smart car made losses of $5.2 billion between 2003 and 2006 and is still not profitable now.

hey guys,

remember when we invented the first motor car? that was cool. just wanted to remind you.

best wishes,
USA

The Ford motor cars that are popular in Europe are designed and manufactured in Europe...

and remember when we invented the first motor car?..

what do you mean, "we"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile

it's a Chrysler product to boot--oh wait, aren't they american?--oh yeah...

As American as Mercedes-Benz... ;) Smart is German and was part of Daimler, which became DaimlerChrysler, until Chrysler was sold off this year. Now they're merged with Mercedes-Benz, and made in France.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_(automobile)

Dear Johnny,

Your post makes no sense.

What do the USA have to do with the invention of the car? Who's "we"?

Sometimes the truth hurts.

Given current trends, it makes great sense to start actively competing with the Japaneese and Europeans. Obviously detroit disagrees. It is not hard to see that American cars are very much counter productive to what many people seek: enviromental concerns, safety, and traffic in urban areas.

Given the abuse, warlord support and general democracy bashing that the USA has conducted in Africa, it seems like sensible marketing to me. I've never met a South African with something nice to say about Americans...

...In fact they've all thought that Americans are these deluded tossers who think they've invented everything, are the best in every way & believe they DEFEND freedom and democracy in the rest of the world... ...when in truth not ALL Americans are like that.

...I still remember the first time an American told me Ford invented the car though... lol

Here's a 9 minute review of the SMART:
http://thescooterscoop.blogspo...ride.html

thanks a lot :)

Karl Benz is usually credited with inventing the first automobile 1885/1886. (I'm an American by the way).

And that's synthetic oil. I'm not talking about Mobil 1, Castrol, Vavoline, Havoline or any of that crap. We're talking about good old Amsoil. That oil is the best oil on the market and it's proven by certified lab tests to BEAT ANYTHING on the market. And it's MADE BY AMERICANS right here in the good ole US of A.

;D

At least we have one thing to be proud of.

i hate smart cars dey r so gay ;D

well a lot of the top brands have come from europe such as vw, saab, smart, bmv, mercedes. i see your poin thoughj

At least we have one thing to be proud of.

Are you serious ? if it wasnt for america we would all be speaking german. One thing us americans can do is Kick Ass