View Full Version : Drove a smart fortwo
SARAFIL
07-19-2007, 07:36 PM
Short version: not impressed
Somewhat longer version: very slow (slower than I expected), very jerky acceleration, and the clutchless manual is not as smooth as you'd expect. Handling is ok, it's pretty decent but not as tight as you would expect from such a compact vehicle. Steering is very heavy, I don't even know if it has any power assist but I didn't feel any if it did have it. Interior is pretty basic and the materials aren't the best. The doors also close with a very hollow sound, doesn't sound like the car has alot of substance.
On the good side, I guess it's have good fuel economy but no one could give me any better idea than "more than 40mpg". There's plenty of interior space for 2 passengers... I had to move to seat up to comfortably reach the brake pedal. Oh, and it's easy to park.
Verdict? If I wanted a cheap car to tool around in that was small and good on gas, I'd pass on the ~$14k smart and get a basic, $18,700 Cooper and get ALOT more car in every aspect.
A car that weighs that much shouldn't need power steering.
My dad is still excited about it after driving it, but he didn't realize the first 5 series he drove had active steering, so his opinion isn't exactly one to base any opinions on.
On the other hand, while I understand what you are saying about getting a MINI instead (and happen to agree with it), you are talking about a 33% price increase. It better be a better car in every way.
lupinsea
07-19-2007, 09:55 PM
Well, I think I hear was 'FIL is talking about in that the $19k MINI is a better value than the $14k Smart.
The smart is cute, I've seen them a lot in Europe but haven't driven them. Never expected them to be speed demons but rather micro-city cars. For that they seem cool. But for what you "get" when you buy a Smart I'd expect them to be in the $7-8k range. . . not the $14k rang.
And at the 40 mpg fuel economy (I think they do get a bit better) it seems there are better cars out there that can handle any potential freeway duty much more confidently and safely.
Thanks for the feed back, SARAFIL.
lemming
07-19-2007, 11:06 PM
the MINI diesel gets damn near close to 49mpg "combined" duty in the UK and emits emissions as low as the stupid prius.
(smarttwo seems like asking for a huge insurance premium given that everytime it gets hit or hits something the vehicle is totaled).
Fil,
How much would a 2-yr lease on a mini go for (ballpark figure)? We're looking for best mpg and lowest cost here (school commuting).
SARAFIL
07-19-2007, 11:28 PM
Fil,
How much would a 2-yr lease on a mini go for (ballpark figure)? We're looking for best mpg and lowest cost here (school commuting).
how many miles do you need?
On a basic MINI Cooper you'd probably be in the low 300's plus tax on a 2 year lease with fees down, 12 or 15k miles per year.
A lot - 15k at least. Ok, thanks, I'll report it to her.
If the Smart succeeds at all over here, it will be in dense cities. If the car is marketed properly towards the hipster urban crowd, it will make lots of city dwellers happy. Low cost, easy to park, easy on gas -- perfect. I think that highway drivers will be less than impressed.
SARAFIL
07-20-2007, 09:09 AM
A lot - 15k at least. Ok, thanks, I'll report it to her.
depending on the mileage, you could probably even finance it with a 72 month term and have a similar payment to the lease... might be better if you do alot of miles. they hold their value very well so unloading in 2-3 years if you get tired of it (or maybe sooner? :eeps: ) wouldn't be very difficult.
Well, I think I hear was 'FIL is talking about in that the $19k MINI is a better value than the $14k Smart.
The smart is cute, I've seen them a lot in Europe but haven't driven them. Never expected them to be speed demons but rather micro-city cars. For that they seem cool. But for what you "get" when you buy a Smart I'd expect them to be in the $7-8k range. . . not the $14k rang.
And at the 40 mpg fuel economy (I think they do get a bit better) it seems there are better cars out there that can handle any potential freeway duty much more confidently and safely.
Thanks for the feed back, SARAFIL.
When I first saw the Smart in 2000 in Germany I felt the same way. "Cool car! For the 8K it must cost it's pretty neat." Then I went online and the currency conversion at the time (from DM) made it about 12-13K. I thought it was crazy expensive since back then a stripped civic started at 14K or so.
SARAFIL
07-20-2007, 09:11 AM
If the Smart succeeds at all over here, it will be in dense cities. If the car is marketed properly towards the hipster urban crowd, it will make lots of city dwellers happy. Low cost, easy to park, easy on gas -- perfect. I think that highway drivers will be less than impressed.
This is very true... if I had to drive this car on the open road, on the highway, etc. it wouldn't work. In a downtown environment, it would be a different story.
It will be interesting to see how well it does here. At near it's price point , you can get a Honda Fit or a Toyota Yarus or whatever that thing GM sells is, all with seating for four and all with 40mpg ratings and all with more substantial size for that feeling of safety (giants among midgets and all that).
But better values or not, some people don't have the extra $2k or $4k to pony up. It will be interesting to see what happens.
It will be interesting to see how well it does here. At near it's price point , you can get a Honda Fit or a Toyota Yarus or whatever that thing GM sells is, all with seating for four and all with 40mpg ratings and all with more substantial size for that feeling of safety (giants among midgets and all that).
But better values or not, some people don't have the extra $2k or $4k to pony up. It will be interesting to see what happens.
I predict a very obvious geographic distribution of these things, with the vast majority sold on both coasts and quite few in the middle of the country.
Pinecone
07-21-2007, 09:35 AM
We are considering one. Our commute is 5 miles each way to the train station. Max speed limit is 50 on the route. Even though we are not in a city, it would be fine for running around the county. Not likely to take it down I-95 though. But there are other ways of geting towards Baltimore that are not Interstate.
Low cost, high gas mileage, and doesn't take up much space in the driveway. :)
I have not driven one, but have ridden in one around Paris.
lupinsea
07-23-2007, 01:06 PM
Low cost, high gas mileage, and doesn't take up much space in the driveway. :)
Driveway?
Naw. Just park it in the front coat closet. Then you just grab it and go as you head out the door in the morning.
But better values or not, some people don't have the extra $2k or $4k to pony up. It will be interesting to see what happens.
If they don't have an additional $2K to pony up, then they probably shouldn't be buying a new car, and certainly shouldn't be paying cash for the whole thing. They should be financing a good portion of it; leaving them open to the more intelligent decision: the Honda or Toyota.
If they don't have an additional $2K to pony up, then they probably shouldn't be buying a new car, and certainly shouldn't be paying cash for the whole thing. They should be financing a good portion of it; leaving them open to the more intelligent decision: the Honda or Toyota.
Oh, bull. Everyone has a price point. Some people can fit $14k into their budget, some people can fit $18k. Some people can fit $50k and some people don't have an effective limit for car purchases. If you translate the total amount into payments, the fact still remains that everyone has a price point.
The difference between the Smart and the MINI is huge. It's a third. The difference between the Smart and the $2k you mentioned is half that - so 17% or so? Still significant.
Something used would make much more sense if that was the edge of your budget, but . . . it makes more sense to me. For someone that just wants a new car, it might not be that easy.
SARAFIL
07-23-2007, 03:00 PM
I wonder who will be buying this car. I was figuring more people buying it as a 2nd or 3rd car and not many would be buying as their primary means of transportation. If someone can afford multiple cars than they are probably more able to afford the "extra" $2-3k, no? I'm thinking people with larger vehicles that want something small to drive around town in...
Oh, bull. Everyone has a price point.
I don't look at it as a percentage difference in price. It's a flat dollar amount. If you go into the dealer with $14K in your pocket, and can't afford to spend a penny more (which is how I took your original post) on someting better, then I say that you can't afford even $14K. You should be financing part of the purchase, or you should be buying something used and cheaper, a few years old. Either way, you're opening up the possibility of making a more intelligent choice (Honda or Toyota).
If the person has figured out that $14K is the absolute maximum they can afford for a car (all, or mostly financed), and go out and buy a $14K car, then I still contend that they might not truly be able to afford $14K. It would be stretching to the max what they can afford to pay each month.
The Honda Fit starts at under $14K, so I guess this discussion is pointless anyhow.
The Honda Fit starts at under $14K, so I guess this discussion is pointless anyhow.
Yeah, but don't you have to get the upgrade package to get an Ipod jack? Who's going to buy a Fit without an Ipod jack?
I agree that there are "better" choices for the money. I certainly don't plan on buying one. I am just saying . . . to say you should just buy a car that is 1/3 more isn't necessarily the right answer if it is a first car and the buyer is stretching to acquire it. Not everyone has the financial resources that most of us on the board seem to have.
If it succedes, it will probably be b/c it is bought in the cities or as a third car, as others have suggested.
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