The HAL Car

[Spinner2]

When we returned from our port day in Dover this was parked right outside the Dover Cruise Terminal. I've never seen another one; DH George snapped a photo and I'd forgotten about it until today.

Thought you might enjoy!

http://www.wilde.org/cruise/halcar 1.jpg

[Math Guy]

What a cutie.

[piscesgal223]

I want one!

[mudscraper]

Made by Fisher Price and Hasbro. Coffin colors only.

[ariawoman]

Haha it's a cute little smart car!

[TiogaCruiser]

Gee, they're not going tO transport many pax in that!

[azalice]

I've seen several traveling around the Phoenix valley area, even on the major freeways.

[scopewest]

We've rented a smart car for a day when our car was being repaired. It turns on a dime and parks anywhere, but obviously there's no back seat and little storage space. DH said it was fun to drive.

[erewhon]

Thank you for posting the photo of the HAL car.
A great way to advertise.

[Spinner2]

Erewhon, we also thought it was a smart:) way to advertise! I've heard that HAL really wants to increase its visibility in the UK where apparently very few people are aware of them; this looks like a good idea. As several of you have mentioned this isn't an unusual car there.

I have a friend upstate NY who had one; loved it but when her work required her to travel longer and longer distances she traded it in; she wasn't comfortable safety-wise on the interstate--wind was a huge problem--and goodness knows it was hard to find room in the car for the items she needed to transport for her job--projectors, display boards, etc.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Cute - thanks for sharing.

[samnewbie]

Erewhon, we also thought it was a smart:) way to advertise! I've heard that HAL really wants to increase its visibility in the UK where apparently very few people are aware of them; this looks like a good idea. As several of you have mentioned this isn't an unusual car there.


You are right, HAL are not always the first line TA think of here.

I was aware of them but did not have any experience or know anyone who had sailed on them.

When we wanted to book a med cruise we were only offered NCL and RCI as options for myself, husband and teen daughter. I researched both and we narrowed down 3 choices, 1 NCL and 2 RCI .We booked NCL Epic as daughter loved the look of the slides the day it went on sale here in the UK. On the face of it it seemed great and our TA was very enthusiastic.

Though after it was finally built and started sailing we began to question our
decision as we were able to look at the ship detail more closely and read reviews - the lack of open views to the sea really was a bad thing to us, no library for quiet just relaxation (our agent thought libraries were the elderly!) The overall vastness of the ship with only lifts forward and aft and the very smoky area emitting from the casino which meant miles of walking to bypass.

Anyway after research myself I found a cruise we really liked the look of, it had beautiful teak decks, wraparound promenade, lots of views to the ocean , quality food as opposed to quantity and yes a fab library area! ... We cancelled the NCL one (we even lost our deposit sadly but hey ho - we think we would of prob 'liked' the NCL cruise - we think we will LOVE this one) ...hope so anyway! :D

Our TA was really surprised as she thinks of HAL as for 'older' people, I think I re-educated her!!
She is also now in agreement about our worries over the EPIC and said I showed her elements to the ship she was totally unaware of...like the lift situation.

It is a shame she never thought to show us the HAL brochure along with the other two, we would of booked HAL first off and not lost those deposits.

So, anyway , now looking forward to our first HAL experience and I love the cute car, I want one!! :D

Sam :)

[VMax1700]

It is a shame she never thought to show us the HAL brochure along with the other two, Sam :)

Did your TA actually have a HAL brochure? I understand they are a very rare species in UK. They are non existant in Ireland, as are TA's that actually know anything about HAL:(

[hpf]

I hope you have a great cruise with HAL, Sam.

I wonder ---- maybe that's our transportation from Southhampton to London. !!

Nice picture Marney.

Helen

[samnewbie]

Did your TA actually have a HAL brochure? I understand they are a very rare species in UK. They are non existant in Ireland, as are TA's that actually know anything about HAL:(


Yes, nice big fat stack of them on the very bottom shelf behind a counter out of sight! :eek:

She told me "they are not a popular cruise line and only a few elderly people ask for them" !! :rolleyes:

Maybe we should all just revel in this "exclusive club" in the UK and Ireland and enjoy HAL for ourselves ;);)

Sam :)

[Sir PMP]

Yes, this is the new Hal tour bus!!

[solocanadian]

Marnie: The Smart Car has been very popular in Vancouver, Canada for the past 4-5 years. They are pricey little devils considering they only hold 2 people - not even room for a small dog.

[LoyHAL]

Very cute! I'll be watching for it in Dover next month!
LoyHAL

[FRANKIEDNYC]

:p May become as popular as the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile!

[Globaliser]

... she wasn't comfortable safety-wise on the interstate ...Although the Smart car is really aimed at city driving, it's fine in safety terms as it's built to the required standards. This video is worth seeing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s.

[Typhoon1]

Too small for my liking.

[Taxguy77]

:p May become as popular as the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile!

No Way. :cool:

[luvcruisn']

My sister-in-law bought the first Smart Car delivered in Canada. She loves it, although she uses a van when she is going long distances.

[readytocruiseagain!]

I bought a Smart car when they first came to the US (1 year on waiting list). It was fun, and I never felt unsafe, even driving it on the interstate for a couple of hours. I did grow weary of all the constant attention it drew. People even asked me whether it was an electric car -- and this while I was at the gas station with the nozzle while filling up!

I sold mine after 6 months because it was my third car and not really necessary, I was slightly concerned about the reliability over time, and gas prices spiked to $4 a gallon (3 years ago), so I made a killing. Got $1,500 more than it cost me new (only $14,500), even though it had 6K miles.

Since then resale value has fallen significantly.... (And stupidly I turned around and leased a car that cost almost 5x as much -- great car to drive but a poor financial decision.)

[sail7seas]

AAhhha..........

A smart car. :)