Smart car... Remove passenger seat?

Just wondering how difficult it is to remove and install the passenger seat in a Smart car... If done right, it could be very handy to be able to snap it in and out given the limited space in one of these cars.

Reply to
Noozer
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Anyone?

Reply to
Noozer

I think most of us have too little hands on experience with these little cars to be able to answer. One would hope and expect the seats would be ultralight to allow for easy removal.

I have only had two cars with intentionally removal seats. One was an 83 SAAB. The SAAB was easy because the seat unclipped easily and was light.

Reply to
<HLS

"Noozer" wrote in news:Lxdvh.812662$1T2.745513@pd7urf2no:

Not meaning to be a smartass, but it seems to me something like this would be easily discernible with the aid of a strong flashlight and a bit of time.

Most seats I've seen are held in place with just four bolts, with maybe one or two electrical connectors needing to be unplugged.

Reply to
Tegger

IF I happened to have one of these cars, or was at a dealership.

It sounds like a very logical feature to have, but I've never seen mention of it. I was just hoping there was a SmartCar owner in the group here.

Reply to
Noozer

"Noozer" wrote in news:s8Bvh.825663$1T2.347721@pd7urf2no:

I guess you'll have to call the dealership and ask. This is one of those features, that, if present, would be well-known to the salesmen.

Reply to
Tegger

messagenews:Xns98C76A23B2118tegger@207.14.116.130...

I own a StupidCar (TM) but I'll throw in 2 cents. If this hypothetical seat has a side airbag built in - and possibly an occupancy detection system, I would exercise caution in removing it. Minimum procedure would be to disconnect battery for x seconds (see service manual) then remove seat. Expect an airbag light and codes unless the manufacturer was thoughful enough to include simulation connectors and to price the car high enough to cover the ensuing lawsuits. This is all assuming it was designed for US roads as I know nothing of safety requirements outside of the US. This is also assuming that so-called smart cars would be allowed on US roads. Just food for thought from a lazy, stupid American (TM).

Toyota MDT in MO

Reply to
Comboverfish

One of the exotic used car dealers here has one, so I guess they can be imported and used on the roads. Local paper did a story on it a while back...

Reply to
aarcuda69062

Actually, they should be starting to sell them in the US next year (late this year?) but with a gasoline engine instead of the diesel we have here.

The wife loves them. I can see owning one IF this "half car" cost about half of a normal car (well, a bit of an exaggeration).

They're just too expensive for the market their targetted at.

Reply to
Noozer

exotic used car dealers here has one, so I guess they

I've seen a few in parking lots here in the USA and they are tiny for a car priced at around $20k. I've seen a lot of them in europe.

I'm trying to sort out how these cars are imported. At one point Smart Car USA was importing the Smart Car and Zap World was the distributor and they were lining up dealers and apparently selling cars. According to a 2004 MSNBC article Zap paid $10mil for exclusive rights to distribute the car.

Fast forward 2 years. In a 2006 Business Week article United Auto Group was been named by Mercedes Benz as the importer. Their website shows no Zap dealerships yet.

So do we have two distribution channels for the same car and two warranties? I don't know.

Reply to
John S.

I am so fat nowdays,I can't even hardly get behind the steering wheel of my 1948 Willys Jeep.One night at Tan Son Nhut in 1964,(I wasen't so fat back then) I ''borrowed'' a Ford MUTT Jeep one night to go to Saigon to see my Vietnamese girlfriend.On the way back to Tan Son Nhut,I nearly got side swiped by a big old 1940's/1950's Citroen car cutting way too wide around that corner.I can still ''see'' that old French car now! cuhulin

Reply to
cuhulin

[snip]

Better for the OP to ask the service department. They might even let you take a peek at the shop manual.

But do be careful when removing the seat. The car might tip over. ;-)

Reply to
Paul Hovnanian P.E.

I did a little poking around and can't find many dealers in the USA, so there are presumably fewer service departments that might have a shop manuals . Zap World does have a website though so maybe an email could get a copy. Come to think of it the company that does the safety and emissions conversions would hopefully have one.

Weight imbalance might make it look like it is perpetually turning right...

Reply to
John S.

If it was my car, (I could be mistaken about this) and if I had reason to remove a seat.I would disconnect the battery and eyeball how the seat is fastened down. cuhulin

Reply to
cuhulin

On newer cars you need to worry about interconnects withthe airbag, etc.

Reply to
John S.

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