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Hatchbacks Smart Car Smart Fortwo
491 messages, Last post on Oct 07, 2009 at 6:46 AM
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I’ve been a SMART enthusiast since I saw them while working a consulting gig in the UK years ago. We are a three car, two driver family due to my commute which is nearly 500 miles a week. I’ve had the $99 reservation with SMART for a year and as mentioned here before, I received a call two weeks ago from my local dealer that my car would be built this month and arrive in April. I visited the road show back in July and drove the cars around a big parking lot – whoopee, what would I ever get out of that experience? Well I did get one thing out of that drive: the car feels much bigger than it is inside and driving. I think there is real value in SMART. SMART is standard with ABS, multi air bags and vehicle stability control. I can’t think of a car under $17K has stability control as an option yet alone standard. Last night I took a SMART Passion out for an extended test drive up on the highway where I spend most of my time. Like my drive around the parking lot, I felt again that the car feels bigger than it is and very confident on the highway. I read somewhere where someone described the inside of the SMART to be like the inside of Dr. Who’s telephone booth which is a great analogy. It’s not “scary” passing a dozen 18 wheelers or massive SUVs like the Suburban or Hummer, I wasn’t sweating being squished by those enormous gas guzzling tanks! The car is very capable of meeting my requirements as a utility commuter car. The only thing you will notice more with a SMART is rough roads, it just doesn’t have the wheel base to smooth them out! Here comes the “but”: But, #1 I don’t like the transmission. I’m 40, lazy and I want a real automatic. You drive the SMART like it’s a stick that you don’t change the gears but you have to back off the gas when the gears change else your in for a rough ride. Maybe it’s something I could get use to but I can see me getting in our other two cars and start driving them like the SMART! #2 there is more road noise than our ’99 VW Cabrio soft top! I don’t think many people consider interior sound levels at speed but I do and I can do without many creature comforts easily for a quiet ride. #3 Super Unleaded! That’s right folks; SMART requires the most expensive petro! You could probably run regular unleaded, but I’ll bet your MPG goes down and the engine runs rougher (than it already does). I ran some quick real world numbers and a car that doesn’t require super could get 3 or more miles less per gallon and the annual fuel cost would be the same. I won't give this a number but I found there to be a lot of travel in the break peddle before it kicked in. Makes it sound like I don't like the SMART but I really do. The transmission took some of the fun out of driving the car but it's a really fun car to drive! The car I drove had the preimum stereo and it rocked the car. I didn't include this with my reserved car and that might have been a big mistake and I should have included the alarm system in my order. I like the glass roof, found the seats to be comfortable and large and the control layout to be "normal" for this unusual car. I will soon have to decide if the SMART is right for me. Honestly, the two things keeping my interest is the novelty of being an early US SMART owner and the SPM (Smiles Per Mile). My reservation car has a MSRP of $15.5K before tax and fees where a Prius at a little more than $5K (don’t have to pay sales tax on it in my state) might be a smart purchase for me (sorry for the pun) but it ranks very VERY low on SPM!
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Here is what everyone is waiting for, feedback from an owner of a USA delivered, 2008 Smart Passion. Like many, I have been impressed with the Smart Car after seeing it in Europe on business trips. But my reasons are different then a lot of the arguments that are made in so many postings. I am not looking to validate any ones position just provide some information. First and for most I am 6’-4” tall. Every car dealer says, “That is no problem you will fit.” Yet the problem is my legs are short and my body is long. For instance most people that are 6’-4” have a pant inseam of 34-36” I have 32”. So for me head room is always a problem. While in Europe on multiple occasions, I always sat in a Smart Car at the dealer across the street from my hotel, and always head room, and this is true in our new Passion. With this personal requirement here is a short list of cars I can never own due to head clearance, BMW (all), Porsche (all), Mini, Toyoda (Yarus, Prius), Honda (Civic, Fit), Subaru, and Suzuki. The other factor is that my wife works nights and I work days. So 90% of our trips require no more than one passenger. Now, when you declare you can get another car with a back seat I have to agree. The question I have is how valuable is that back seat. In my case, with the seat fully back and reclined to even get in there is no value of the back seat since no one could ever sit there, don’t want it. Now for my personnel impressions of the car after the first week of ownership: 1. The car has more performance then I expected. With my first ride at the dealer I was a little worried about overall performance. But the real definition of how to drive it is, “Drive it like a motorcycle.” I did not order the tachometer option, but have ordered the kit and will install next week. When you drive a motorcycle you rev the engine up let off the gas and shift, accelerating again. Do this in the Smart car and you will have a blast, still not a Ferrari, but enough. In reality it is still over powered. 2. So far fuel mileage has been around 38mpg, probably due to the fact I am having fun driving it like a motorcycle. I am sure my wife is getting the advertised 40+. 3. The ride is better than expected although windy conditions will buffet the car heavily. From inside you think you’re all over the road. But, while viewing from behind when my wife was driving the car appears stable. This was experienced on my trip home from Omaha, NE. Cruised home at 70-75mph, with a short dash at 80 without problem. 4. Stereo system is below average and will require some additions to overcome the road noise and all the music pointed at my legs. Road noise is louder than expected. 5. The see through roof is spectacular. 6. The headlights are excellent are the best I have ever experienced. 7. The key is as big as the car, still haven’t figured out how I am going to get on a key ring. 8. Warranty is to short, but I fit in the car, extended warranty. Since, they were coming to a US market they should have meet customer expectations. This is typical German, overly proud and missing the key points. To back up this point, “Mercedes says they are the best built car, but Chrysler has the life time power train warranty.” 9. They will need to establish more dealers. 10. I order the comfort package upgrade and the leather seat. Wanted the heated seats for cold Iowa winters. Will be interested on what it handles like on snow. 11. Controls are located well. 12. 10k between service. 13. Things I will be looking for on aftermarket. a. Arm rest b. Addition stereo speakers c. Snow tires d. A Ipod mount Finally, I am glad I have waited for this car. Is it a good decision? Only time will tell! Will it be like my Chrysler Town & Country, 167,000 miles with no problems and after a fresh detailing feels and runs like new; or like my worst car ever a Mercedes S420 that dropped a transmission at 67,000 miles and long with a long list of repairs? With that I conclude my review; I am not a critic, just hopeful new car owner that expects fuel price to exceed $4/gal and believes there is no reason to have a commuter car that is 4WD, V8, V6, seats four theoretically, and get 20 mpg.
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Replying to: paecific (Mar 22, 2008 7:05 am) It handles terrible in the snow! Our neighbors to the North have had the Smart car for a while and did a test of it in the snow along with many other cars. Here is the link. The Smart Car is in there and there is a video on the page as well I think. http://www.canadiandriver.com/winter/traction2006.htm Here is the quote. Our smart fortwo had all the bells and whistles: traction control, stability control, ABS, and winter tires. But none of it helped much. The smart's rear wheel drive configuration (even though the engine is over the driven wheels) coupled with its super-short wheelbase made this vehicle a major challenge on the slippery surfaces used for our exercises. smart fortwo. Acceleration from a standstill or occasionally when moving was difficult. When cornering on icy surfaces, the smart wanted to rotate on its axis. Even when stopping the smart wanted to rotate, although it did stop, ah-hem, smartly. Although everybody wanted to drive the smart, the experience didn't meet expectations. Canadian winters can be pretty brutal. But they do love small cars and the Smart wasn't one of them. I will be test driving a Smart next week.
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Replying to: paecific (Mar 22, 2008 7:05 am) |
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Replying to: tiff_c (Mar 22, 2008 1:35 pm) Scott
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Replying to: scwmcan (Mar 23, 2008 5:46 am) I have no idea, I posted the link after I read that article. That site is very reliable and realistic. They don't drive their cars in sunny california and Florida. They drive them in the snow and ice and slush. No idea how good a smart would be in snow until i drive it myself. I'm 4 hours drive from Montreal. We get awful weather here as well. I love seeing the pics of the cars as they truly are in the winter covered with salt and road grime and reviewing the cars based on real world for the snow belt versus 75 degrees and sunny with occasional rain. 
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Replying to: stanwict (Mar 19, 2008 6:44 am) I drove the car a few weeks ago, and the transmission is what caused me to cancel my reservation. I'm not sure that I can describe it that well, but basically it is like having a manual transmission (without the clutch) as you still have to still take your foot off the gas when the transmission is upshifting. So, it is easier to work than a manual transmission, but it seemed odd to take your foot off the gas without needing to depress a clutch. I also drove the car in the paddle shifter mode, and you still have to take your foot off the gas when shifting. The salesman said "shift and lift", it sounded like they made up that catchy phrase to make it sound a little more fun. Bottom line was that it was not bad to drive, it was roomy, but I didn't see myself in the car. I think a lot of potential owners will be surprised by the feel of the transmission. |
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Replying to: tiff_c (Mar 23, 2008 6:04 am) Scott
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Replying to: scwmcan (Mar 24, 2008 5:25 am) I think the comment made does sum it all up. The problem is lack of weight and there is a limit to what snow tires can do. Imagine driving a motorcycle in the snow. Yes it can be done with super studded tires or spikes but not what you'd want for your daily commute. The Smart would need really good studded tires for starters and how well it would be, i can't say but if the Canadians don't think much of it in the snow (and they have the diesel version) then how good can it really be? I thought their test was very fairly done. If you do get one and drive it in the snow I would be very interested to see how you make out with it. 
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Replying to: tiff_c (Mar 24, 2008 6:19 am) (BTW the link worked for me, but not until I hit the back button on the browser, don't know why just letting you know) link title Scott
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