Thursday, November 30, 2006

Miller eyes parking lot tax

Mayor floats possible surcharge as one way to use city's new taxing powers to fulfill his green agenda
Nov. 27, 2006. 10:12 AM
JIM BYERS
CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF
Mayor David Miller, freshly armed with new taxing powers by Queen's Park, is considering the possibility of parking lot surcharges in downtown Toronto and North York's city centre.
And newly elected Toronto councillor Adam Vaughan said the city could perhaps go further, charging for city parking permits according to the size of the car you're driving.
"If you think about it, why should someone who drives a Hummer pay the same for a parking permit as someone who drives a Smart car?" Vaughan asked.
"You could have a system where owners of cars that give off higher emissions pay more for parking permits."
Read full article here.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Spotted in England III



Opel Ascona



Perfect parking for purplish fortwo.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Club smart car gathering in High Park



It was foggy and cool as we rolled into the parking lot of the Grenadier in High Park on Saturday morning to meet some fellow smart car owners and enthusiasts. Glenn & Barry were already there and we were soon joined by Pat, Gary, Ivor, Brian, Estelle and Ariane. Our friend Clive, a Jeep owner, joined us for brunch too. There was lots of great conversation on diverse topics at the table. The sun was shining and the smart cars were attracting much attention when we returned from the restaurant.
Thanks to all who came - especially those who drove in from out of town.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Spotted in England II

Morris Minor Traveller, Spalding, Lincolnshire

smart roadster, Spalding, Lincolnshire

Monday, November 20, 2006

Spotted in England I

On our recent "Bonfire Tour" to England (October 17 to November 14, 2006) we snapped photos of several interesting vehicles, including smart cars. Over the next few days, I'll post some of these pictures.


Fortwo with Canadian flag sticker, Lewes,East Sussex


Nissan Figaro, Lewes, East Sussex

Friday, November 17, 2006

New Smart-car sales projected

44,000 possible in 2008 when Daimler releases minicar in United States

DaimlerChrysler AG may be able to sell as many as 44,000 of the two-seat Smart minicars each year in the United States when the vehicle goes on sale in 2008, said CEO Roger Penske of United Auto Group Inc., which will distribute the model in the world's largest market.
About 4,000 Smart cars were sold in Canada in the model's first year there, and the U.S. market is 11 times larger, Penske said in an interview late Thursday in Stuttgart, Germany, where DaimlerChrysler presented a new version of the Smart. No incentives will be offered on the car, which will start at about $11,000, he added.
DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche reiterated that Smart will break even next year.
Zetsche aims to capitalize on demand for fuel economy as the cost of gasoline hovers above $2 a gallon in the United States. The car gets more than 40 miles per gallon and has a range of about 400 miles, Zetsche said at the presentation Thursday night.

Read full story here.