Amsterdam becoming the car tipping capital of the world?

by Scott Carmichael on

Ever seen one of those little Smart cars? They may be pretty rare in the US, but in Europe you’ll have a hard time not being able to find the little buggers. Especially in the major cities of Europe, the small cars are extremely popular, as they are a breeze to park. In fact, they are so easy to park, that many owners can fit two of them in a single parking spot.

Smart car owners in Amsterdam may be starting to have second thoughts about their little cars, because of an alarming new trend.

“Smart Smijten” is the Dutch name for it, and it translates to “Smart Tipping” – the “sport” of tipping the vehicle into a canal. If there is one thing Amsterdam has no shortage of, it is canals. And since many owners park their car with the rear facing the water, it is easy for a couple of drunk hooligans to pick the car up from the front, and dump it into the canal.

Of course, the cars are a total loss when they have been in the filthy water, and the crane required to lift them out probably doesn’t do them much good either.

Apparently, the Dutch police have known about he phenomenon for some time, but tried to keep it quiet, to prevent copy-cat criminals. It is probably only a matter of time till other cities try to compete. So, if you own or rent a Smart (or other small vehicle), keep it away from any canals when you park!

European Smart Car Hits American Streets

by Anna Brones on

Anyone that has traveled Europe knows that Smart Cars are nothing new. The tiny, trendy and energy efficient vehicles have nearly taken over the busy, narrow streets of European metropolises. Think of the sleek design of the Swiss watch company Swatch combined with the automobile precision of Mercedes Benz and you get a little taste of why these cars are so popular.

The European within me loves them. They’re cute, fun and nice to the environment, what could be better? This last summer when I was in France, many of my friends questioned why Americans were so behind that we didn’t have the infamous car cruising down our own streets. Well, good news Europhiles, the wait is over: Smart Car is making its American debut. But how will the miniature vehicle fare in the land of everything big? In Europe, a continent already known for smaller vehicles, even Smart Cars stick out. So put one of the bite-sized, candy colored cars next to a lane of large and in charge SUVs and the image might seem a bit humorous.

Size aside, some Americans are already sold. Smart USA started taking reservations for the Smart ForTwo at $99 a pop last year, and drivers tired of dumping their savings at the gas pump, or just wanting to drive something a little hipper, quickly jumped on the bandwagon. This week the car finally made it from the floor of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City (yes, the car really is a symbol of chic design) and onto American roads. The New York Times says Californians will be the big buyers. Priced between $11,600 and $18,000 it remains to be seen whether the car will take off here much like it did on the other side of the Atlantic.

Just like Swatch made watches into a fun and funky clothing accessory, Smart Car has made their vehicle into a life accessory. You’ll seem “greener” (think of all the gas you’ll be saving), more European, and best of all, if you get sick of the color, give Smart Car a call and you can get the replaceable door panels in a different shade to better match your eyes. Now it’s just a matter of learning how to drive your tiny Euro car next to the rough and tough American trucks and SUVs. Makes you long after those pedestrian-filled passageways of Europe doesn’t it?

Dirt Cheap Rental Cars in Europe

by Iva Skoch on

It is sad, but true. The cheapest rental cars in Europe typically come equipped with stickers advertising the rental car company. And, no, we are not talking subtle advertising here. The car companies, Alimex in the Czech Republic, and others, such as Sixti (renting similarly “stickered” Smart cars for as little as $6/day, as well as other cars, all over Europe) do it.

The car in the picture is a Skoda I rented in Prague to drive to Switzerland, not realizing that it would look like this. Needless to say, the circus-car made quite a few heads turn around the upscale Lake Geneva. BUT, it did cost less than a dinner for two in Lausanne. In fact, if you drive this thing in Switzerland, it is quite likely people will just pick up dinner for you out of pity.

One thing about it is practical. When someone asks you how much you paid for the rental, you can just point at the door, which prominently displays: 450Kc/day. (That would be some $20/day, even given the sad state of the dollar these days.) Of course, it only works if they didn’t notice the price from a mile away…