Article Comments: 2008 Smart Fortwo First Look and Drive

65 messages, Last post on Jun 22, 2008 at 7:42 AM

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Article comments for First Look: 2008 Smart Fortwo - Americans' newfound love affair with small cars is about to be tested with the arrival of the 2008 Smart Fortwo. (more)

First Drive: 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion - Once you get some momentum together, it's a pleasure to drive the Smart. Despite its short 73.5-inch wheelbase, the Fortwo absorbs bumps and potholes quite well. The ride quality isn't exactly as supple as a Maybach, but the motions are surprisingly gentle. (more)

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#64 of 65 Civic Hybrid by scottl Jun 22, 2008 (7:42 am)
Yes, Civic Hybrids are nice, but around here they are going out the door at $24K! My Passion model with climate control, heated seats, six disk changer, stability and traction control, etc. was $15K. They are not in the same league, pricewise. Even gas Civics are 18-19K when equipped comparably to the smart. The current Civic Hybrid is a bit undecided, but the first generation have had major battery and electronics problems late in life. If the batteries die, I understand it is about $6K to replace them. Except you can't get them, because they are backordered for months. As are the controller boards. A guy I work with wrangled with Honda over the batteries going bad on his '03 Civic Hybrid. He ended up selling it just to get it out of his life. I think for someone who fits a specific profile, which seems to be driving 12-15K a year, the Civic Hybrid makes sense. People who drive short trips and few miles per year seem to be having battery problems, as are people who put a ton of miles on them. Good luck.

#64 of 65: Civic Hybrid by scottl; Jun 22, 2008 (7:42 am)

Yes, Civic Hybrids are nice, but around here they are going out the door at $24K!

My Passion model with climate control, heated seats, six disk changer, stability and traction control, etc. was $15K. They are not in the same league, pricewise. Even gas Civics are 18-19K when equipped comparably to the smart.

The current Civic Hybrid is a bit undecided, but the first generation have had major battery and electronics problems late in life. If the batteries die, I understand it is about $6K to replace them. Except you can't get them, because they are backordered for months. As are the controller boards. A guy I work with wrangled with Honda over the batteries going bad on his '03 Civic Hybrid. He ended up selling it just to get it out of his life.

I think for someone who fits a specific profile, which seems to be driving 12-15K a year, the Civic Hybrid makes sense. People who drive short trips and few miles per year seem to be having battery problems, as are people who put a ton of miles on them.

Good luck.