Smartfortwo vs MINI a green car deal, comparison

©Copyright LillyGrillzit all rights reserved December 25, 2010.MINI® USA all rights reserved Smart Car® all rights reserved, Google images®©, clear.bludei.com®©, commons.wickimedia.org ®© www.nitorbahn.com ®© www.ausmotive.com ®©

A tight budget means that all costs must be calculated when taking a step such as purchasing a new vehicle. This is doubly important when a car buyer is concerned about their carbon footprint, and rising gas prices. This environmentalist, frugal, tree-hugger did her homework when considering purchasing a Smartfortwo Car, or a MINI USA car. Lilly is sharing her homework with fellow earthlings. Hoping this helps you make a greener, safer choice.

Lilly has always kept up with tax law changes, and any programs that come along which can help those that are less fortunate. Lilly likes helping the more fortunate too. Lilly likes helping others.

When our President, Barack Obama initiated the ARRA (American Revitalization and Reinvestment Act) Programs, it was to save our economy from total collapse. Lilly is not approaching this topic from a political standpoint, but from and environmental and tax advantages view point.

CARS, Car Allowance Rebate System was approved for go on August 1, 2009 , and ended November 1, 2009. The program allowed certain vehicles, under specific criteria were able to be traded in, for a Government Rebate of from $3,500.00, to $4,500.00 . This program was monitored by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) . The DOT, created a website where all the information one needed could be linked on the CARS.gov site .

Lilly is the proud owner of a 1999 Jeep Cherokee. Her SUV fell into the highest rebate category. If she could find a trade, of vehicles that reduced her emissions and fuel usage, a certain percentage, she could take advantage of the CARS program, or as it has been heralded; the Cash for Clunkers Program .

1. Go to CARS.gov, to find out what vehicles are eligible. What the clunker owner's responsibility is, and what should be expected from the automobile dealer, according to the DOT, and IRS (Internal Revenue Service) http://www.Cars.gov
2. CARS.gov Eligibility guide. That link is where it begins they simplified it at the end, but the process to decide the optimum trade was assisted links to Car & Driver. Since the end of the program the CARS.gov site, is not as expansive.
3. Kelly Blue Book on line, will let you compare any vehicles.

In a diligent search for an automobile that has a low carbon footprint, while maintaining the highest safety ratings are primary. With the Feb 14, 2011 unveiling of the pure electric® SMARTfortwo, It is easy to see their cute little cars pulling ahead on sales. Check out the Electric Pure SMART for two®

There is also an important thing to consider, that is Automobile Insurance.

The Smart Car® offers payment plans and the low starting price of the more basic Smartfortwo® cars, is a big draw to a consumer who is careful with debt and money. All of that is for nothing if an expensive cost of living; Insurance for the vehicle. The Smart Car does not look like much up against a semi, but Smart is Safe.

As Lilly mentioned before, making a purchase such as a Mini usa car, or a Smart Car is a big decision. This was a decision based upon a program introduced to: 

1. Help our crashing economy
2. Reduce greenhouse gases
3. Get Clunkers off the streets

At this particular time Lilly was working in professional position with a government agency. She just got a raise, so it looked like this was the perfect opportunity to trade in her old Bessie Clunker, the Jeep.

Although Lilly got a raise, she had lived with such a narrow income/basics ratio, that she did not want to go into very much debt, for very long. 

Lilly had always dreamed of having a MINI Cooper, for years, she played on the website of MINI USA. Every few months she would build a new MINI® custom with the fun and connected game apps on the MINI® USA website.

The more research she conducted, the closer she got to her dream of owning a MINI Cooper! There was only problem with the Lilly bank. The MINI was more than Lilly could go into debt for, even with the $4,500.00 rebate. 

Wanting more than ever before to reduce her carbon foot-print on the Earth, Lilly looked toward the Smart Car®, or Smartfortwo®.  For nearly a decade, Lilly has been driving a Jeep Cherokee. It is very handy to load, grands, dogs, camping stuff, and you name it. The Jeep® has been the family vehicle when an SUV is needed, going into a Smartfortwo® would completely change the way Lilly transported her family and stuff. This would be a big change.

Finally, Lilly had two certain models. One Smart Car, one mini usa car, the next step would possibly cause Lilly to start over on the drawing board. Insurance rates. How safe were these little cars?, and how much extra would insurance be on these shorty, small, smart, mini cars?

MINI has an overall 9.1 out of 10 on safety on the 2010 models (the convertible has rear vision issues)

Smart Car has an overall 8.1 for safety. 

Lilly's Insurance agent quoted insurance rates on the brand new cars, full coverage, that was more than what Lilly pays for Liability on the Jeep Cherokee. After doing a lot of research Lilly felt the Smart Car would be the most economic decision.

The Smart Car has a short history with consumers, while the MINI Cooper is older than me. When it comes to green choices, Lilly must consider manufacture to final disposal when thinking green. 

The MINI is going to stay around for a long time. The structure is built for longevity and lasting quality. 

The Smart Car is like the Swatch of cars. In some cases it can be considered for a viable form of transportation around the town, and again, videos prove how tough the Smart Car is. The ability to change the panels, puts Lilly in the mind of high school, and it is a cute idea, but transportation is serious.

Lilly still builds her MINI's, but would take either one, as a viable green option for personal transportation.