Gothamist: Smart Cars Fan Gentrification Flames in Harlem

spnyc

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:04:06 -0500

Frenchification, not Gentrification! When I was in Paris last year, I counted literally DOZENS of Smart cars parked between the apartment building I was staying in and the nearest metro station--a few hundred yards at most. And that didn't include Smarts actually driving down the road. Anything that makes NYC seem more like Paris is OK by me, so merci beaucoup, bonne nuit, and a bientot to you all. Kiss, kiss.

Brainwash

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:42:58 -0500

Emmanuel Goldstein is a hipster!

paolo mastrangelo

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:30:19 -0500

The owner of the Yello Smart Car comes forward: http://www.haloscan.com/comments/nyctheblog/966277194564027721/#29087

Kojak

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:21:23 -0500

I agree JCBra. You'd get better gas milage with a Prius, and you won't look as ridiculous driving it. I love the caption under the picture. "And it's over."

lanciano

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:39:14 -0500

Small cars are the only thing that makes sense in this economy. Frankly, I would love to see the bright yellow hummer on my block replaced by the car in the picture above. Frankly, this response smells a lot like the attitude that states that being educated or speaking in full, grammatically correct sentences out means you're "acting too white." ARGH! In other words, people aren't upset because it's the right thing to do, but because it's the "white" thing to do. double ARRGH!!! When are people going to realize that that kind of attitude is insulting to every non-white person in America !!!!

TSOL

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:29:27 -0500

Do any of the Smart Cars have curb feelers?

smacky

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:25:16 -0500

down with whitey. Respectable people of color drive Escalades with fresh rims.

JenChungsBra

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:19:35 -0500

I see those things around my neighborhood a lot. It would be nice if every car on the street was one. That being said, they're no bargain for what you get. Crappy acceleration from a 1-liter 71-horsepower 3-cylinder engine, good but not fabulous gas mileage (33/41), only two seats, no trunk and the feeling that you could definitely be smushed by the nearest Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit. And that base model doesn't even come with A/C, power windows/mirrors or a radio!

Think twice

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:07:21 -0500

Everyone loves band wagons and scape goats.

paolo mastrangelo

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:31:10 -0500

oh wow, this is great. Curbed has a sighting of a fourth Smart Car! on the corner of St Nicholas and 149th. !!!

Quidnam

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:21:13 -0500

The Smart Car in Harlem hoopla is overblown. Basically just some uptown bloggers who take every available opportunity to pontificate on signs of change. The appearance of the Smart Car in Harlem just happens to something that seems incongruous on a visceral level and somehow culturally fraught -- so it has been seized upon. Most of them (Harlem Fur, for instance) probably actually favor it. Others (NYC the Blog, perhaps) seem to be inclined to look down on it, in the same way that "real New Yorkers" scoff at big box stores. Somehow it's not gritty enough. Too effete, or not effete enough. Whatever. Back on planet earth, the Smart Car is something that makes sense for a lot of urban people, regardless of their neighborhood. It's efficient and relatively inexpensive. It's not as if the Four Horsemen are going to fly out of the trunk (if it had one).

Snoopy

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:17:36 -0500

The Smart Car is perky in appearance, and I like it's look and package, but don't let it fool you. It is not that great on gas as it appears it should be. The European versions get better gas mileage but are a little too slow off the line to match US driving habits. Not drag racing, but getting up to speed on a controlled access highway. It's a shame that New York City for the most part does not allow perpendicular parking. It would shine in that department.

zodak

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:13:38 -0500

"recently saw a black smart car with tinted windows and chrome rims parked on Freddie D & 142nd street." that's how i roll, son! & what!!

Billiamsburg

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:12:33 -0500

Why does a cheap SmartCar equal gentrification but the black full size super expensive Escalades with spinning rims the guys from the housing projects down the block from me all drive doesn't? Is it because one indicates a higher level of intelligence then the neighborhood is accustomed?

abzme

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:04:29 -0500

I wish Smart Cars were alive. They'd be screaming prejudice at such profiling of their kind.

paolo mastrangelo

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:36:43 -0500

nnnathalie, are you for real? That is so hott i def wanna see that one.

JacqueMehoff

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:36:29 -0500

SWPL.

Ethan

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:27:13 -0500

Car: Smart People: Stupid

JRod5417

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:27:03 -0500

I'm missing the connection between Smart cars and gentrification, thus making me feel dumb.

MT

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:24:58 -0500

The Smart Car starts at only $12,000. Maybe people are just buying it because they can afford it. If Harlem is supposed to be for the budget-minded (like this guy who moved there to afford his rent) then Smart Cars makes sense don't they? Get over the whole gentrification whining already.

nnnathalie

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:14:15 -0500

Whatev, I live in Harlem and recently saw a black smart car with tinted windows and chrome rims parked on Freddie D & 142nd street. Awesome, for so many reasons.

dr zippy

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:06:28 -0500

The Harlem Fur commenter really needs to go back and read what HF wrote. Also, the Smart Car phenomenon has nothing to do with Harlem or the gentrification of Harlem.

SP

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:05:12 -0500

NEWSFLASH: people are stupid!

edEx

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:04:34 -0500

Why are people so distressed about gentrification? It's not all great, but for the most part it's good. The rents have to go up to support the neighborhood and to maintain buildings. No one, 60 years ago, was pissed off when the neighborhood(s) went to hell and stayed that way for this long. Now that people want to move back to the area and help keep it from deteriorating, people like this one are pissed because their rents are going up, that's it?. I'd be upset too, don't get me wrong, but it's not always "about you." On a side note I think it would be pretty hilarious to see a gangsta driving one of these...