smart car

[cabrioman]

i am thinking about buying a smart car, can anyone who has one tell me what they are like to own?

[gkf]

My daughter is also thinking of buying one so I would be interested in opinions on them.

[vansboy]

www.honestjohn.co.uk clik Car by Car Breakdown link.

Then go & by a Fiesta...or even a Ka, if you're desperate for a funky motor!!

VB

[carl310166]

Ask Martin,he's got one!

[tomstickland]

I've got a friend with a Smart Coupe - the little low down coupe thing. Good fun to drive, but the interior build isn't up to much. The main "roller skate" car is remarkably good on crash safety. A bit stupid though - tall, small wheels etc. A proper original mini is a much better idea for light, cheap to run (but not to buy) car.

[TheChillPill]

I used to have use of a company smartcar. Very economical (fill the tank for £12!), and surprisingly fun to drive. If you're only going around town, they're great - but they can be scary as hell on motorways. They are extremely light, so even just a small amount of wind can really move you between lanes.

They're not all that cheap to buy either - corsas etc are cheaper to buy 2nd hand, so it's all swings and roundabouts.

[jjames]

Yeah but a Smart is a much nicer car than a Corsa, which I have to say in 1.0l form is by far and away the worst car I have ever driven.

The bigger Smart car is a Mitsubishi Colt in plastic clothes. They pretty much are an "image" car, there's nothing particularly good about them to recommend. Being based on Mitsubishi/Chrysler mechanicals though they're generally tough and reliable.

[intel]

Please buy one as I cant stop laughing when I see one.

[funkydom]

I bought a smart car Pulse Cabrio 04 plate 6 months ago. Use it mainly to drive to work in (65 mile per day round trip, including motorway, A roads and urban driving), and I have to say I am very pleased with it.
It is extremely efficient, i'm getting over 300 miles on a roughly £25 full tank, and I don't drive particulary slowly. I did have the engine remapped when I bought it, so its a bit more nippy than the bog standard smart; I can wipe the smiles off the BMW and Mercedes drivers' faces if I catch them un-awares :)

When looking into buying it, I was worred about the comments i'd read about it being unstable, especially in high winds and at high speed on motorways but its not really been a problem for me. A couple of times i've felt a gust of wind, but if its windy I tend to just take it a bit slower and hold on to the steering wheel tighter and its fine. You just have to get used to it when you first drive it, once you are comfortable with being higher up you realise it is actually just as stable as any other car. And the mark 7 models (04 onwards I think) all have ESP (electronic stabliity control) which kicks in if it senses that you are losing control at all, and does its best to correct you.

>>The main "roller skate" car is remarkably good on crash safety. A bit stupid though - tall, small wheels etc.

The wheels are actually 15 inch, so no smaller than any other average car really. The design is such that the wheels stick out wider than the main bulk of the body which makes it extremely stable. The height isn't an issue.

One other thing to note is the safety - it has an NCAP rating of 3 stars, which brings it inline with much bigger cars. I think its the only mini car to have such a high rating. The shell is made from extremely hard metal and is designed to absorb the forces of impact and distribute them around the body. So if you crash, the car will probably be written off but the people inside should be unhurt. Its something they knew people would worry about so invested a lot of research into.

[gkf]

Thanks for that info, daughter has bought one - collecting it tomorrow. Looking forward to it :xmastree:

[MrSmartprice]

Mrs Smartprice had one for 3 years and had some great fun with it. The owners are all very friendly, and their events are excellent. The cars are amazing to drive, (ours was LHD too) and very quick if you have a remap. We didn't do too much long distance stuff in it, but after all they are town cars. The odd motorway trip is ok.

I don't agree that build quality is dodgy. They are far better than, say, a Ford, where in my experience bits fall off on a regular basis. The engines are surprisingly robust, but then they are Mercs. Have loads of fun in your Smartie!

Try the link too: http://www.thesmartclub.co.uk/main.html

[scheming_gypsy]

Please buy one as I cant stop laughing when I see one.

i agree, they're awful. This century's version of the Robin Reliant.

[gkf]

Husband and I collected daughter's car today as she was at work. Very impressed, loads of legroom, definitely feels like a much bigger car inside. Daughter loves it as well.

[tomstickland]

If they made the Smart Roadster with a manual gearbox and a revvy 1.3 16v engine then I'd buy one.

[MrSmartprice]

You are right about the room inside. I am 6' 3" tall and there was plenty of legroom and also loads of headroom. Far more space than most bog standard small cars. Obviously the gypsyman hasn't been in one, sounds like he drives a Rover!

As for the Roadster, don't even be tempted. Unlike the original Smart, they were released far too soon and have been plagued by all sorts of problems. I believe they are now going out of production.

[tomstickland]

Yes, they stopped making them a while back. They are lot more fun than the numbers would suggest though.

[scheming_gypsy]

You are right about the room inside. I am 6' 3" tall and there was plenty of legroom and also loads of headroom. Far more space than most bog standard small cars. Obviously the gypsyman hasn't been in one, sounds like he drives a Rover!



i just don't like the look of them to be honest. Probably are a nice drive but they look gay.
For the record i drive a Golf VR6

[intel]

i just don't like the look of them to be honest. Probably are a nice drive but they look gay.
For the record i drive a Golf VR6

They look Gay..... yes yes they do.

Should be called tha Fag Car. :rotfl:

[david29dpo]

i have one and love it. saying they are " gay" is very childish. for the "record" i have a lotus esprit, but what that has to do with it, god only knows.

[intel]

i have one and love it. saying they are " gay" is very childish. for the "record" i have a lotus esprit, but what that has to do with it, god only knows.

Lotus are Gay aswell :rotfl:


Were only having a joke... they are both very nice cars ;)

[---lee---]

I bought a smart car Pulse Cabrio 04 plate 6 months ago. Use it mainly to drive to work in (65 mile per day round trip, including motorway, A roads and urban driving), and I have to say I am very pleased with it.
It is extremely efficient, i'm getting over 300 miles on a roughly £25 full tank, and I don't drive particulary slowly. I did have the engine remapped when I bought it, so its a bit more nippy than the bog standard smart; I can wipe the smiles off the BMW and Mercedes drivers' faces if I catch them un-awares :)

When looking into buying it, I was worred about the comments i'd read about it being unstable, especially in high winds and at high speed on motorways but its not really been a problem for me. A couple of times i've felt a gust of wind, but if its windy I tend to just take it a bit slower and hold on to the steering wheel tighter and its fine. You just have to get used to it when you first drive it, once you are comfortable with being higher up you realise it is actually just as stable as any other car. And the mark 7 models (04 onwards I think) all have ESP (electronic stabliity control) which kicks in if it senses that you are losing control at all, and does its best to correct you.

>>The main "roller skate" car is remarkably good on crash safety. A bit stupid though - tall, small wheels etc.

The wheels are actually 15 inch, so no smaller than any other average car really. The design is such that the wheels stick out wider than the main bulk of the body which makes it extremely stable. The height isn't an issue.

One other thing to note is the safety - it has an NCAP rating of 3 stars, which brings it inline with much bigger cars. I think its the only mini car to have such a high rating. The shell is made from extremely hard metal and is designed to absorb the forces of impact and distribute them around the body. So if you crash, the car will probably be written off but the people inside should be unhurt. Its something they knew people would worry about so invested a lot of research into.

Just thought I would add the reason they put ESP on them is because they are inherently unstable and therefore need it to be able to stay upright.

NCAP star ratings are class based. Obviously a huge 4x4 with a 3 star rating can’t be compared to something like this.

You say smart have put a lot of thought into safety but manufacturers like Renault have 5 star cars and these are the basic models with ESP etc.

[scheming_gypsy]

i have one and love it. saying they are " gay" is very childish. for the "record" i have a lotus esprit, but what that has to do with it, god only knows.



you having a Lotus has absolutely nothing to do with it so i don't know why you bothered to tell us. Me saying i have a VR6 has a lot to do with it as Mrsmartman said i probably drive a Rover.

Why is saying they look gay childish? did i say they look like a homosexual would drive them? nope, i said they just look gay, i don't find them very appealing to the eye.

[tomstickland]

Golf VR6 is the pink pound favourite. According to top London "badger watcher" Ron Davies when I asked him.

[scheming_gypsy]

i won't ask what you were doing when you asked him

[tomstickland]

Actually, the main criticism of the VR6 is too much weight over the front end.

[david29dpo]

i rest my case.

[intel]

i rest my case.

Not on the Golfs bonnet please that'll make it heavier again..... :rotfl:

[david29dpo]

nice one!!

[BoltonMinx]

Personally I just love the original Smart cars. My left brain knows they are expensive for what you get and for the same price I could get a KA, or something similar. My right brain however goes girly girl whenever I see one and I just want one :confused: :rolleyes: They're so cute :D The mercedes brand behind them also helps.

[funkydom]

Just thought I would add the reason they put ESP on them is because they are inherently unstable and therefore need it to be able to stay upright.


I think the name Electronic STABILITY Protection is a bit misleading; as far as I can see from reading around it has nothing to do with controlling the roll of the car, only the yaw or lateral movements. So it will attempt to dampen understeer/oversteer and general skidding, but will not attempt (and has no way of attempting) to stop a car that is about to roll over. So I don't think ESP exists to keep the car upright...
I'd be interested to hear where you got the information that they are inherently unstable... I've only ever had the ESP light come on when cornering on wet roads and have got some sideways movement. I've never felt as if the car is about to tip, and I corner at similar speeds to my old Rover 216.

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Stability_Program) and Bosch (http://www.bosch-esperience.co.uk/uk/language1/technik.html), who designed the system in the Smart can tell you more about it.


NCAP star ratings are class based. Obviously a huge 4x4 with a 3 star rating can’t be compared to something like this.


OK I didn't actually read in detail how the NCAP ratings work. So they can't be compared to cars outside of their class, but I still maintain that for its size its extremely safe. As safe as, or safer than many cars with engines in the front and seats in the back to cushion the impact for example :)


You say smart have put a lot of thought into safety but manufacturers like Renault have 5 star cars and these are the basic models with ESP etc.

I'm not sure if you can ever make a car the size of the smart with a 5 star rating and keep it affordable. Its tiny even compared to cars in its class. All smarts from 2004 onwards have ESP though, even the basic models. And all smarts before had something called Trust which was a different system that gave similar results.

[scheming_gypsy]

Actually, the main criticism of the VR6 is too much weight over the front end.


Only one arguement with that although it is a massive engine in a small car.

My main criticism is the amount of petrol she drinks... i could power a small country one the amount of fuel i go through. I'd get rid but for what i'd get it isn't worth it, plus i'd end up getting something equally stupid (ie a Scooby) and need to put money towards it.

[tomstickland]

Depends on whether you want to go fast in a straight line or go round corners. I've opted into the cheap to run but still fun camp now. I used to run a tuned up 165BHP* 2.0 8v engine on twin 40s and that managed 22-24mpg most of the time, but did acheive 32 on a long mway run at 80. I've got a 135BHP BMW E30 318iS now, same sort of power to weight as a MK2 Golf GTi 8v, but it really entertains me and isn't slow if you maintain momentum. The consistent 28-32mpg is good news, it can do nearer 40mpg if I was sensible.
*real numbers, not made up by a max power reader.

[scheming_gypsy]

i get about 24ish round the streets but i only really drive to and from work. On the way home i come down the motorway and country roads and get to about 27. Had an impressive 37 going round Loch Lommond once which was nice.

[tomstickland]

I used to spend far too much money on cars, so going for a car with jusssst enough power but a really sweet chassis and handling has still got a lot of novelty value for me. I used to think that, for example, MX5's were a bit "gay" and underpowered, but I'd buy one now. Elise with "only" 115BHP is the pinnacle of the less is more concept. Which brings me back to the smart coupe - sounds slow on paper, but felt fast enough when I was a passenger and a lot of fun.

[scheming_gypsy]

which is the Smart where they put the effort into? was it the Coupe or the Brabus or something? actually looks like a decent motor and shifts on a small engine

[tomstickland]

Coupe is 2 seater sports car thing. I liked it apart from the silly auto box. If it had a revvy 1.3 16v and manual box then it'd be a winner.

[scheming_gypsy]

bit off topic but i like the sig. Probably contavenes the 'slating petty forum rules' forum rule.


ok ok it was completely off topic

[MrSmartprice]

You don't need the Brabus version of the Smart to get it to move. The car comes with the Engine Management System governed to 84mph. This was apparrently for taxation purposes in Germany. Many owners have the engine remapped, and they will comfortably exceed 100mph. Lots of Smarts are modified and customised, and will invariably be remapped too. But also many that look quite standard have also been done, so don't be surprised if one goes haring past on the motorway. The real advantage of remapping Smarts is that it improves the gearchanges 100%.

[jjames]

100 in a Smart? Scary.

[jjames]

What really bloody annoys me about all this talk of Coupes, MX5s etc, is that I'm too big to fit in the flippin things. Even the Hyundai Coupe/Toyota Celica, which relative to these other cars are cavernous things, I just don't have enough headroom. Grrr.

So, even though I want a silly sports car next, I'm stuck with various small Astra-sized boring efforts which are no better than my current cars other than the bigger engines. Some VW Golf (a dull car at the best of times) with a big engine isn't a fun car at all.

[Altarf]

I'm not sure if you can ever make a car the size of the smart with a 5 star rating and keep it affordable. Its tiny even compared to cars in its class.

Toyota are trying hard. The new Yaris (which is not a big car and has a very short front end) gets a 5 star rating. Toyota have managed this by developing its own internal standards and tests to ensure its cars better protect passengers in 'real world' circumstances.

The crash tests they used for the first time on the new Yaris are:

• Frontal impact against 2-ton vehicle, with a 50% overlap (both vehicles driving at the same speed)
• Side impact from a 2-ton vehicle
• Rear impact from a 2-ton vehicle, with a 50% overlap.

i.e. crashing into something twice the size of the Yaris.

They also increased the crash speed from 30 mph to 35 mph (which is a bit more like real life).

If you compare the results on the Euroncap website with the Smart you can see what the huge difference 6 years in safety development has resulted in:

Smart - http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=1&id2=29
New Yaris - http://www.euroncap.com/images/results/superminis/car_246_2005/Toyota%20Yaris%20Datasheet.pdf
Old (2000) Yaris - http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=1&id2=74

[tomstickland]

5th gear crashed a smart into a solid concrete block at 60 or 70mph and it was impressive. However, they pointed out that human body cannot withstand rapid deceleration so you'd die anyway.

[scheming_gypsy]

What really bloody annoys me about all this talk of Coupes, MX5s etc, is that I'm too big to fit in the flippin things. Even the Hyundai Coupe/Toyota Celica, which relative to these other cars are cavernous things, I just don't have enough headroom. Grrr.

So, even though I want a silly sports car next, I'm stuck with various small Astra-sized boring efforts which are no better than my current cars other than the bigger engines. Some VW Golf (a dull car at the best of times) with a big engine isn't a fun car at all.

how tall / heavy are you? i had a 95 Celica GT before the Golf and i'm 6'2 and 15 stone and had plenty of room.

The Golf with big engines aren't as bad as people make out. Mine can be a bit sluggly in second but if you hit the gear change at the right time then you can get a decent take off.

[MooseRich]

I had one! I loved it, I really did. It got hit in the back though after 3 months by an artic truck. He hit me twice and both me and my mum were fine and the car didn't look too bad but it was squashed and written off.

Safety wise, it was excellent for me.

[funkydom]

Toyota are trying hard. The new Yaris (which is not a big car and has a very short front end) gets a 5 star rating. Toyota have managed this by developing its own internal standards and tests to ensure its cars better protect passengers in 'real world' circumstances.

The crash tests they used for the first time on the new Yaris are:

• Frontal impact against 2-ton vehicle, with a 50% overlap (both vehicles driving at the same speed)
• Side impact from a 2-ton vehicle
• Rear impact from a 2-ton vehicle, with a 50% overlap.

i.e. crashing into something twice the size of the Yaris.

They also increased the crash speed from 30 mph to 35 mph (which is a bit more like real life).

If you compare the results on the Euroncap website with the Smart you can see what the huge difference 6 years in safety development has resulted in:

Smart - http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=1&id2=29
New Yaris - http://www.euroncap.com/images/results/superminis/car_246_2005/Toyota%20Yaris%20Datasheet.pdf
Old (2000) Yaris - http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=1&id2=74
Thanks for the info, I will read up on that :)

[bootman]

i agree, they're awful. This century's version of the Robin Reliant.

I bet you have never driven one!

People who make comments like this usually have not :rolleyes:

I have one. A smart cabrio. Its fantastic to drive.

I love my smart car :j

[---lee---]

I've never driven one and have no desire to do so. I would feel less conspicuous and safer driving around on a power lawn mower than one of those things.

I think they look very silly and are overpriced. On the up side, it does make me smile to see them, although not many people are brave enough to own one.

Each to their own though. Makes the world go round etc etc.

[gkf]

I agree with bootman, my daughter's new smart car is great. We both love it, I would also say you have to try one before you comment, I always laughed at them, but no more. My daughter says she wishes she had bought a smart car before she got her previous car - a Ford StreetKa.

[jobbingmusician]

I drive a Smart (Pulse Cabrio) and it's great. I thought A LOT before buying it, and bought the magazine which compares all new cars - but basically, every time I saw a picture of the Smart, I felt like smiling.

I still feel like that after

- driving it for 3 years :rudolf:

- accidentally meeting and subsequently marrying someone in the Smartclub :snow_laug

[SPARKLYBLUE]

HI! found this thread very late just to see if there were any comments on owning a smart car, I must admit it has given me plenty to smile about. How anyone can make a sweeping comment about a car looking gay is beyond me, I've had a smart cabrio for over a year now, and it is just brilliant, I'll be honest when I first saw them I thought they were quirkly and a bit odd at the time, I am a complete convert in every way, It's the best nippy car I have ever driven. Parking is no problem, there is loads of comaraderie with other smart owners, it's also the world's largest independent club. Last year there was a 5year celebration where a majority of us sped round the Aston Martin proving track. You can change the panels for a new look, there are loads of extras you can buy and more importantly they are so economical to run, of course they won't appeal to everyone, but as they say don't knock it till you've tried it, and just for a bit of fun, the ones who said definitely no, take one for a test drive!Happy driving all you money saving Smarties! including our leader Martin!:
http://www.thesmartclub.co.uk/