Buying a used SMART CAR

HAVEFAITH

Hi, We're looking at used Smart cars. Can I get some feedback on please from owners? Currently looking at Fortwo Cabriolet Passion 2dr auto ... total virgin & would like opinions/thoughts please .. website to buy/research from?

Lum

My stepmum bought the Smart Roadster, which is basically the same car under the bonnet*. Just outside the warranty period and the ECU failed. 3 grand for a new one and the car wasn't even worth that much so it ended up getting scrapped. Common fault apparently.

After that I wouldn't be buying a Smart. That's just far too expensive for an ECU.


*well technically I should say "under the boot lid" but you know what I mean.

j69ant

Hi,

I owned a Smart Roadster from 2006-2008..

So not a like for like comparison, but from what ive read, they both have similar issues.

You dont mention a year on he topic, as a lot of earlier ones had issues, that were rectified on later regs

My expereince is based on my Roadster, but generally

Service parts are very expensive. I did all the work myself and oil was about £11.99 a litre - 3 litres only puts the dip stick on min, so for the first service, it needs a 4th tub..

Very few parts are available from local motor factors. Theres a couple of specialist shops and main dealers. Its not like you can just order a new gasket from joe blogs in the local motor factors shop. You need to order from Merc / Specialist and pay Merc prices!
As a general idea. I paid £16 for a pair of 206 handbrake cables a few weeks ago - Cost about £55 for the Smart from Main Dealer.
I needed an exhaust gasket and this was close to £50!!!!!

Early spec ones had an issue with snapping suspension springs ( not sure if this was rectified on later models )
Hoods also had a tendancy to leak water and get stuck.
Leaks can cause water damaging the SAM unit, which controls virtually anything electrical. Mine went, but because the previous owner had FSH with Merc and it was a known issue ( although it took me several letters of complaint ) it was done for free... Or the bill would have been £2000 to replace and reprogram the SAM..

Exhaust manifolds crack, and the turbo is mated to the manifold - so its not just a manifold - its a manifold & turbo!!! - £600 jobby

Check out

http://smartmaniacs.co.uk/site/

I also read somewhere that the engine was never designed for doing more than 100,000 miles.. Needless to say, i sold mine as soon as it hit the 100,000 mark.

Overall, i loved the car and it was amazing on fuel.. 55mpg daily and great fun to drive - But a total money pit on little ( but expensive ) parts like exhaust gasket, shocks, springs etc... I replaced it with a Suburu Impreza, of similar milage and in the two years since, the scooby ( which i expected to be a money pit ) hasnt come close to costing me what the smart did.

Hope this helps

Regard

Ant

Lum

SAM unit, that's what I meant when I talked about replacing the ECU.

I guess the difference in price of a grand was for the cost of a 17yr old spotty spanner monkey at the Merc dealership to plug it in and tighten up two bolts.

LOL at the Impreza being cheaper to run, but I can believe it. Both have engines that only last 100,000 miles though.

j69ant

I wish lol... Scooby gets 18mph lol.. But in terms of other costs, ie things breaking etc, its been cheaper to yet..

As for 100,000 - no chance lol - Piston No3 melted at 65,000 so im hoping ive got a few more miles yet before it goes again

knightstyle

We have a Fortwo and it is a fantastic car. Bought it when 10 months old and now had it for three trouble free fun years. My wife has back problems and finds it so comfy great fun and easy to drive. We have chickens and got two bales of straw in the back so plenty of room for shopping. We are now selling it as it is French and we are moving back to UK. Would buy another but as we have decided to downsize from two to one car need a four seater, hence my other posts about buying an A class.
As ours has been trouble free can't tell you about problems but check the tyres as I think they can be expensive, plus put it into auto, accelerate hard to check the gearbox is smooth. PM me if you want more info.

johnnyroper

Lum wrote: »

SAM unit, that's what I meant when I talked about replacing the ECU.

I guess the difference in price of a grand was for the cost of a 17yr old spotty spanner monkey at the Merc dealership to plug it in and tighten up two bolts.

LOL at the Impreza being cheaper to run, but I can believe it. Both have engines that only last 100,000 miles though.

We have had several coupe and soft top for two's

The Sam units on roadies are killed by water leaks the reason it is so expensive to put right is ecu,loom need change and also labour to fit and repair water leaks.
The for two does not suffer same probs especially if an old 599cc as they have a zee not a Sam.

The biggest problem on smarts is the engine,cylinders tend to give up resulting in a rebuild budget for this to be done if over 50k miles it does not matter if it has full service history they are all the same,turbo's need changing aswell when the ex manifold cracks.




What age/mileage you looking at

pulliptears

I had an email earlier offering 0% APR on approved used smarts. I'm not in the market for one myself, but it directed me here:

http://www.used.thesmart.co.uk/smart-approved-used.php?csref=EML1010045019_

almillar

My mum had one of these from new for 7 years I think, from 2001 when they started selling them officially in the UK. No problems at all with it, always flew through the MOT. Only problem was my dad grumbling about the cost of changing a tyre, being a pretty specialist size (most of the parts are specialist, hence the grumbles above too), and we also had to replace the battery, probably due to the 1 mile drives it was subjected to over the years.
As above, it seems that they're designed to be city cars - that is, low mileage, so it's definitely worth paying extra for a low miler, say under 40k - most of them are low mileage anyway I'd imagine.
That 0% offer looks tasty, as long as the purchase price isn't way too high.
Good news is they're fantastic little cars to drive, loads of room for 2 people and plenty of shopping (I'm 6'2") and the engine sounds great!

bigjl

I would honestly not buy one, I would prefer a proper supermini, Yaris, VW Fox, Clio.

I justdon't see the point of a car with two seats, though they are apparently fairly safe should the worst happen. Just not my idea of fun.

Bloke at work has had a coupe since new, he likes it, but the gearbox is rubbish and when it needs work it cripples him. He actually tends to use his wifes little Fiat Siecento (?spelling).

LandyAndy

bigjl wrote: »

I would honestly not buy one, I would prefer a proper supermini, Yaris, VW Fox, Clio.

I justdon't see the point of a car with two seats, though they are apparently fairly safe should the worst happen. Just not my idea of fun.

Bloke at work has had a coupe since new, he likes it, but the gearbox is rubbish and when it needs work it cripples him. He actually tends to use his wifes little Fiat Siecento (?spelling).

Nearly. Seicento.;)

And I agree, I don't see the point of these things unless you are certain you will never need to carry more than one passanger.