SMART? or NOT?
 

Hello,

don't worry, it's not a post to increase my own number, I really am interested in your opinion about this car. Now, before everybody ask, I'm talking about the genuine smart (coupe, brabus or cabrio) not the roadsters or coupe roadster, and of course not about the 2+2. Can you give your opinion and mentionned if you live in a city or not (I think that's important)
I know I'll get a lot of negative opinion as I notice here or by my friends, but I just like it... hehe

Personally, I like the principle, I live in a place where it's really difficult to park and a smart would be welcome! futhermore, I travel most of the time less than 10 km and at less than 50 km/H. The smart diesel cdi is quite good and does an incredible 3 liters/100km! taxes are peanuts and insurance like it. it not all sweet and light tough: It's expensive and it's got a crappy gearbox (inverted!!! up forward and down backward and so slowww..)

Now, tell me what you think!

http://smart.com/smart/images/cabrio...galerie_01.jpg

if someone is interested I've got a brochure of every smart, I can make scans of it.

I think it's quite a cool car to drive from my house to college everyday, it has the looks but not sure how's it like to drive it on the normal road. What's the top speed of this thing? Coz I only drive 60km/h on the slow lane to save my fuel. I'd like to own it as sson as you said it does 3liters/100km! It really can saves me a lot of pocket money. Plus it is diesel, right? Marvelous!

But the problem is, at my place it's impossible to find the dealer and have to personally import this car. Also because of my government set the high import duties for imported cars, even an A-Class can be very expensive here.

You own one of this?

So what I can do is, keep on dreaming. :) And I'll be very happy if you can post the brochure here :D

now i put it was a cool car,not for the fact that id own one,coz for what they are,they are quite expensive,but,the car is small so for people living in a town or even a small city were parking saloon cars,estate cars etc etc is hard,the smart can fit almost anywere were u could park.if the car was cheaper to buy,im quite positive in saying,a lot of younger lads would have them as first cars seen as insurance and MPG and tax would cost practically nuthin.

I'll post a brochure later tonight but I'm afraid it will be french... I'll try to get one in english tough...

I like the idea.. but aftet having drove one, I'd never spend my money on it.. if I'd need a city car, it would be an electric one.. very low gravity center.. good hangling, while the Smart is terrible to drive IMO...

so far its not really needed here yet coz sydney roads isn't congested as much as london yet and i really don't hope to see many of them. i don't see them as cute like my fiance does. i saw it at an auto show and just had the urge to rock it but i do like the idea of perpendicular parking tho.

How bad is it? A lot of body roll? Too bumpy?

IMO it's not bad at all, if you stay on city speed, no exesive roll a bit on the stiff ride side, but the steering is a bit light and this gearbox.... :twisted:

Yeah, not lot of bodyroll, but LOT of understeer in every condition IMO. Obviously, at 40 or 50 km/h you won't notice to much, but when it's wet, it's really a pain.. and we all know the gearbox is one of the slowest around :)

I'll repeat myself: city cars have to use alternative energy... not petrol.. :)

with such a short wheelbase, its expected to understeer.

totally agree, ...... hmm... but they actually don't... so I'll take a smart cdi :D

did you know the layout of a smart is very similar to a prosche?? :D

rear wheel drive, rear motor.

Re: SMART? or NOT?
 

I agree the principle is good. But it has its downsides as well. Do people who only drive in urban areas never have to move something big? The Smart has virtually no room for anything larger than some groceries. The diesel sounds good at first, but the 3liters/100km figure is probably the most ideal figure measured on long distances at cruising speed. Driving it through the typical urban traffic, which the car was meant for, would probably give different results.

I can respect it's functionallity in large cities but for most people this is not really a functional car. You can only carry 2 people and the storage space is limited. I think more people buy this car because they like it's looks, then for functionallity.

For me: I wouldn't want to spend that kinda money on a car wich performs so badly.

I'd say its cool. In tight traffic it's size is a real advantage and it's also inexpensive to run (low petrol & insurance costs). But I'd never buy it as the only car, maybe as a second or third car... And if I had to choose between the Smart and my 11-yr old Scooby, I'll take the latter. A car's got to put a smile on my face... The Scooby can do that, the Smart can't :) And if I'm running out of money to drive it, I'll take my bike or buy a ticket and ride a bus :wink:

Is it really that bad? I had my eyes on the Smart forfour concept when it was debuted earlier this year.

http://www.cardesignnews.com/news/20...-forfour01.jpg
http://www.cardesignnews.com/news/20...our/index.html

Smart car always has that furturistic feel to it, at least for us north americans. The only time we can see one is when they're used for shooting a movie or a tv show. So, I think it's a very cool car.

Will I buy one when it's available in 2005 over here? Probably not. It feels a bit dangerous driving such a small car in traffic filled with 2-3 tonnes SUVs. They should get Lotus to work some magic on the car so it becomes an economical alternative for the Elise! It's fairly light already, with a slightly bigger engine, better handling and a proper gearbox, the smart roadster should be a great car!