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Article Comments 2008 Smart Fortwo First Drive

110 messages,  Last post on Aug 07, 2008 at 8:31 AM

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What is this discussion about? smart fortwo, Hatchback

Article comments for First Drive: 2008 Smart Fortwo - The 2008 Fortwo is larger than its predecessor, but it's still outrageously small, some 40 inches shorter than a Mini. In real life, it looks like an artist's impression of what a car might look like if we all drank skinny lattes. (more)
 
Full Test: 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion - Bottom Line: Hugely versatile as a city-only car, but perhaps not the best choice for those who go farther or need to carry more. (more)


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#76 of 110
Maybe the next generation will nail it? by tcolberg85
Feb 28, 2008 (6:57 pm)
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Having a small car seems great, but here in LA the Fortwo's power deficit is killer. Maybe it isn't too bad on the West side where the 405 is almost always moving below the speed limit, but I don't think it'd be a good idea to take it on the Pasadena section of the 110 freeway (for non-Angelinos, the freeway has on-ramps that are only 10 ft long in some places). And considering how inadequate the acceleration is, the mileage is very disappointing.
 
The small size and relatively safe enclosure are enticing, but the powertrain, fuel economy and surprisingly high price make it less a practical car and more a second or third car for the fashionistas amongst us in the city.
#77 of 110
No mention of requiring Premium fuel by tonyride
Feb 29, 2008 (6:40 am)
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I just read Edmunds Full Test of a 2008 Smart ForTwo Passion. I thought it was very informative, especially when they compared it with the similiarly priced Yaris and Fit. But I wonder why they never mentioned that the ForTwo requires premium fuel. Shouldn't budget minded consumers be made aware of that fact? Especially with the price of gas these days and most places charge more that $.20 per gallon extra for premium fuel. It doesn't make sense to me that a car for the budget minded requires the most expensive fuel.
#78 of 110
Re: No mention of requiring Premium fuel [tonyride] by dmathews3
Feb 29, 2008 (8:15 am)
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Replying to: tonyride (Feb 29, 2008 6:40 am)

I think I read somewhere else that you could use either but Premium would give you a little more power. GM has done that a few of their cars in the past, allowed either but commented that prem. would give you more HP.
#79 of 110
Re: No mention of requiring Premium fuel [dmathews3] by tonyride
Feb 29, 2008 (8:29 am)
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Replying to: dmathews3 (Feb 29, 2008 8:15 am)

I know what you're saying but this is not a case where you can use regular. Some manufactures say premium is recommended and others say it is required. For the ForTwo premium is required. By the way, for GM cars that recommends premium, by using regular you lose more than just HP, you also lose some of the rated fuel economy.
#80 of 110
Re: No mention of requiring Premium fuel [tonyride] by snakeweasel
Feb 29, 2008 (3:40 pm)
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Replying to: tonyride (Feb 29, 2008 6:40 am)

Premium is only 6% more than regular (and that percentage will only go down as gas prices go up) and the Smart gets 20% better mileage. Sounds like a good trade off.
#81 of 110
Re: No mention of requiring Premium fuel [snakeweasel] by tonyride
Feb 29, 2008 (5:07 pm)
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Feb 29, 2008 3:40 pm)

That's not the point I was tring to make. Some may think that's a fair trade off but others may not but the fact that a budget minded buyer should need to know that they will need to buy premium gas. Some may not mind that it only accomodates 2 with minimal storage compared to Fit which has 4 doors and can sit 4 comfortably but will squeeze in 5 and has a trunk. A Yaris seats at least 4 with 2 or 4 doors with more storage. The trade off is too much in my opinion. Also, I don't know where you live but premium here in central NJ is 10% more than regular.
#82 of 110
Re: No mention of requiring Premium fuel [tonyride] by snakeweasel
Feb 29, 2008 (5:36 pm)
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Replying to: tonyride (Feb 29, 2008 5:07 pm)

Ok the trade off for you may not be worth it, but lets face the facts there are a lot of cars out there that only see one person and little or no cargo. On your next commute to work take a notice of how many cars are single occupancy. A great many of those cars will never have more than two people in it (if that many).
 
So with that in mind the trade off is for those people to spend more money for a back seat and two extra doors that will never be used. I for one cannot foresee any time when I would need a back seat in my daily commuting car. While I will admit that not everyone is like me but I will bet that there is a sizable number of cars that will never see a back seat passenger.
 
As for where I live its in the Chicago area and typically its 10 cents between grades which puts premium just over 6% more than regular.
#83 of 110
Re: No mention of requiring Premium fuel [snakeweasel] by tonyride
Feb 29, 2008 (6:27 pm)
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Feb 29, 2008 5:36 pm)

Granted, but my point is not about trade off. I don't know if you read the review I was originally referring to but they point out the pluses and minuses of the ForTwo and I just thought it was interesting that they chose not to mention the premium fuel requirement.
 
As for needing a back seat, well I guess your situation is different but although I do drive to work by myself, I do have family, friends, and 2 dogs that will occupy my rear seats on occasion. Buying and insuring another car just for my commute to work is just out of the question.
#84 of 110
Re: No mention of requiring Premium fuel [tonyride] by snakeweasel
Feb 29, 2008 (6:49 pm)
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Replying to: tonyride (Feb 29, 2008 6:27 pm)

As for needing a back seat, well I guess your situation is different but although I do drive to work by myself, I do have family, friends, and 2 dogs that will occupy my rear seats on occasion.
 
So do I and here is the thing, I never said it was a good car for an only car but the perfect second commuter car. In my personal life I would have many occasions to use a back seat and need more cargo room but me and "she who must be obeyed" both don't need a bigger car. One of us can have a Smart and the other a larger sedan.
 
There are many two car families out there where the second car could easily be filled by the Smart. When you go out on the weekends or evenings with family and friends take the other larger car.
 
If you are single and only have one car the Smart is not the way to go, if you are married with two cars and one is primarily used for commuting then the Smart is that perfect commuting car.
#85 of 110
Re: No mention of requiring Premium fuel [snakeweasel] by magbarn
Mar 01, 2008 (7:33 am)
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Feb 29, 2008 5:36 pm)

The problem with this car is you HAVE to spend more money to lose the back seat lol. A 2008 yaris sedan can be easily be bargained/bought for $12000 before TTL with a proper manual tranny. My roomate's yaris also gets 38-40MPG on REGULAR. This car is definately more a fashion statement unless it was priced around $9000, then we're talking.

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