Date:         Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:56:13 -0600
Reply-To:     Don Spence <dkspence@TELUS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Spence <dkspence@TELUS.NET>
Subject:      Re: smart car
In-Reply-To:  <20070719161157.513Q7J6BV1@priv-edtnaa04.telusplanet.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Keep up with freeway traffic...? The ones they sell here in Canada
are governed at 135 kph (84 mph). The europeans get even faster
versions. I was passed and quickly while cruising at 135 on the
autoroute in France.

There are three engine variants offering 50, 61 and 74 bhp all out of
698 cc. The top end Brabus will do 0-60mph in 12.3 secs with a top
speed (electronically limited) of 94 mph and a combined 53.3 mpg
(imperial). It's vital statistics are 2,500 mm  or 8'2" long, 1,537
mm or 5'0" wide (mirrors folded) and 1549 mm or 5'1" high.  Wheelbase
is 5'11" and it weighs 730 kg.

I'd think you could dolly tow it backwards (RWD)  and have a lot of
fun setting up your "Miniature Motor Home". You'd just need to find a
mini compressor to complete the package.

No I haven't tried to "park" one inside a Vanagon.



On 19-Jul-07, at 10:05 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> Date:    Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:17:57 -0700
> From:    Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
> Subject: smart car
>
>   Has anyone tried to fit a Smart Car into a vanagon?  Saw one
> today in
> downtown Lyle (pop. 300) Wa. and it looked like you could drive it
> right
> into a GL or a passenger van, cross ways in the slider door...
>   Maybe you could put one onto the back receiver hitch platform on a
> Westy..and then you could pretend you are "normal" and have TWO
> vehicles to
> mess with when you go  "camping" or RVing, like most Americans seem
> to do
> now a days
>   Funny lookin little dealies, but they look like they would get
> the job
> done for transportation, and keep up with the average speed of
> traffic on
> freeways in our big cities...I read somewhere the average LA
> freeway speed
> is 18mph, if you figure in all the time you spend on the
> freeway...The few
> times I've been forced through LA recently, I certainly think that
> estimate
> might be high..
>   ciao,
>   Don Hanson