Used 2008 smart fortwo Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
2008 Cabriolet
I love this car. Even though there is a jerky shift between 1st & 2nd gears, it's not that bad. The gas mileage has been great (38-45 mph). Most of my driving is around town but I have traveled on the highway. The space inside is surprisingly roomy. My husband and I are both tall and I have to pull the seat forward. The convertible allows you to fold partially or totally down. I like that feature.
2nd Smart Car in a month
My son shamed me out of my V8 Silverado. So driving the Smart Car to work - 100km/day. Emissions - from 12 L/100 km to 4 L/100 km. Lost my Diesel 2 days ago. Dealership never explained the parking procedure for the 2006 model. Read the Operator's Manual carefully before purchasing the Smart Car. Anyways it rolled across the street even with the EBrake on. Now have the 2008 Limited Edition. Gas Model. Always stopping to fill up the tank - a bit of a pain. But I figure I saved about $250/mos. in fuel and emitting a smaller foot print. Off to dealership again 135 km away-glitch in Cargo Door window. Normally I go to the city once a year- so far I've been there 6 times.So much for the carbon issue.
- passion cabrio ConvertibleMSRP: $7,995209 mi away
- passion 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $4,999280 mi away
- passion cabrio ConvertibleMSRP: $10,900290 mi away
This is such a cool car~!
I am a college student who wanted an inexpensive car to get to and from school. This car is so fun to drive, especially with the top rolled down. It gets many stares and many questions. I love everything about it! Obviously this car isn't for everyone. Some people need trucks for work, but for many people like me, this two-seater is perfect. It holds everything I need for my classes and squeezes into tight places when I'm on the hunt for parking. My family owns a Mini Cooper S, and although it leaves the Smart in the dust performance wise, the Smart, for me anyway, is much more entertaining to drive due to it's unique character. Don't expect to be an Indy 500 racer in this car.
Ordering Number Two
Gas mileage better than estimated 50 plus on highway. Good timing to cut gas expenses. Great fun! Easy to drive! Lot's of attention and questions! Everyone comments that there is much more room than they thought! Makes me smile every day I drive! 33 SMART cars racing around the Indy 500 track!
my daily driver
After one year of ownership, I find I still look forward to my driving time in the smart fortwo. The car has peppy performance, and is quite comfortable, even on the long road trips. I find that I can accomplish 99% of my driving and cargo tasks with this excellent car. Initially, I had several of the "smart car gremlins" occur, but the dealership has performed admirably with all warranty work. Here in the desert, the climate can be extreme: the smart fortwo handles the cold, searing heat, wind, torrential rain, uv extreme sunlight, snow and ice very well indeed. I am looking forward to an all- electric smart in my future.
You cant be serious
Transmission is a disaster and you have to be nuts to take the car on the highway. It's cute, but for its size you ought get better mileage. Car is a disappointment and am getting rid of it. People like its looks, which is basically all it has, so its easy to resell.
learn how to shift
I continue to read reviews with people complaining about the transmission! My wife and I each have a fortwo. Last month we drove it 2700 miles from seattle to Spearfish SD.It was terrific in the mountains.The paddle shifters work like a dream. We left our Cadillac at home and drove the smart car. If people will take the time to learn to shift the car it is the best transmission on the road today. We have been in the auto parts business for over 40 years and have had many different vehicles, but these are amazing. I have 15,000 miles on mine and it runs just like the day I bought it! The roominess inside continues to surprise people. More headroom than my cadillac.
Driving a Smart Car
The somewhat leisurely acceleration is expected and can be circumvented by flogging the engine in manual mode using the paddle shifters. Initial fuel economy was disappointing, but rapidly improved after putting "Sea-Foam" fuel system cleaner in the tank. Am now getting 38.5 mpg in city driving. The local Smart dealership was very friendly and reprogrammed the transmission to largely eliminate the 1-2 shift lag in my 2008 as part of a no-charge update to 2009 standards. This made a huge improvement in driveability! Highway stability in cross-winds is somewhat squirrely, but I had no trouble keeping it in the lane even when x-winds topped 35 mph on a fast causeway.
Two Months with the Passion ForTwo
I first drove a SMART a few years ago from Vienna to Prague. I loved it, and it was much less powered and of less quality construction that my new 2008 model of 2 months and 2000 miles. It's a great little car for convenience, handling, economy and appearance. Just watch out out for potholes and speed bumps, and remember that it is a small, basically low powered car, that will still drive at 80 MPH if you want to - and maybe have to on the Interstates, where huge tractor-trailers often enjoy driving 5-10 feet behind you at that speed. Where are the cops when you need them?
Just bought a new smart
Just picked up my new smart car (passion) yesterday and drove it 300 miles home. How fun! It is the first smart in our little hometown. It handled well and I got 40 mpg. So far so good. It will be a car that I will use for getting back and forth to work. I own a 430S Mercedes, but the smart will be my "run around town car"
Excelent Vehicle
It's the right car for me and my spouse to get around town and on the highway.
Love it, Attention getter, Best so far
If someone wanted to trade me, title for title, Mercedes, corvette, etc... and I could not sell there trade, would not trade. Love it, fun to drive, S A F E. Read the info, published, go to a smart car dealer and look at the frame.
Fun for 2
We have just got the fun car 10 days ago and a lot of heads turned. We park the car in the drive way and strangers came up to us and wanted to see the car so we showed them the fun car and let them sit in it and they were all surprised how big it is inside and the seats are comfortable they like the color ( red and black trim). When you take the fun car anywhere be ready for extra time because people want to know everything about it. I love to drive it and my husband does to. I think everyone should test drive one. Thanks dagmar
40,000 miles and still no problems
I'll admit it. I have loved these cars since I first saw them in Italy in 1998. When they FINALLY came to the USA I'd been on a waiting list for 18 months. My actual mileage experience with crappy "boutique" Phoenix gas is 45 - 48 mpg highway, 41 combined and 35 city. I don't know where Edmunds gets its 37 mpg? I beat the crap out of this car and it performs like a trooper. Drove it cross country, drive it 75 miles per day city/highway. I am personally gunning for 250,000 miles before I sell it. Would not recommend the sun roof for AZ. Downgraded comfort to 9 because AC can't keep up in AZ. Anyplace else would probably be fine.
Excellent & SuperSafe!
We researched the smart car for the past 2 years. Bought a used one last Saturday. Initial impressions are excellent! People complaining about the tranny don't know how to drive a manual! Car has plenty of pep. Handles very well. Overall build quality is excellent. Why the disconnect between so many actual owners loving this car and the mostly poor reviews by "professional" reviewers? Can't figure that out. This car is the safest small car on the road!
Should cost more
I drove the Smart 920 miles the first day I had it. Averaged 44 MPG. The fit and finish look more like cars costing twice the price. If you are in a hurry be careful where you stop. People just go crazy over this car and will delay you for sure wanting to know all about it!
A little EU in MN
After seeing the Smart in Europe for years, I was pleased when mine came (as an orphan car). I have never experienced less than 40 MPG in city and freeway driving. Poor Mileage. The upright seating is remarkable. Tested a Honda Fit, the seating was low and uncomfortable. Although not a high performance machine, it's very peppy even at freeway speeds. I was surprised at the space behind the seats with the two-way opening rear door lets you put even tall things in upright. Electric top is great, with windows up it has minimal wind whipping around. Very fun to drive. Can go anywhere without people with questions, one person followed me home to ask about it. (yes it was annoying)
Pros and Cons
I purchased my Smart in October of 2009. Overall for what it is, the Smart is a good car. The Smart only holds approx 8 gallons of fuel. I have clocked the mileage at 48 mpg driving at around 55-60mph. 65-70 it drops considerably. A steady foot on the gas pedal helps. Try to avoid slowing down and speeding up frequently. This will decrease your mpg. It does not do well shifting on it's own. It lugs a lot which I don't care what anybody says is not good for the engine!! The entire car also jolts when it shifts. You are better off shifting manually. There is no cruise control. The lumbar support is not very good. Other than those few issues, its really a great vehicle. Have no other complaints
impossible to get repaired
Our smart car got hit in an accident. The authorized repair center did not have any of the parts in stock. We waited 6 weeks for parts to come in from Germany. I have never gotten such bad service or waited so long for repairs on a car. I would never buy another Smart Car. They are not yet prepared to enter the American market
motor light up
The car is fun and economical but I have had the car for 38 days and I have to send five time to the dealer for problems about the motor light up all the time. It is economical and saves gas but you have to spend more time in the dealer. They have to put a record for that or the smart is not ready for U.S.A.
Makes Life Easy
I love my smart, and it makes my life in the city easy! I live where people will pay 30K for a parking spot, but why do that when for half the price you can have such a wonderful car! I NEVER have parking issues any longer! Drives great in the city and the freeway, holds lots of groceries, plenty of luggage for a weekend jaunt to the country, and enough space left over for those can't-live-without-it purchases. People have said that they cannot see themselves in a smart. I tell them that they are missing out. NOTE: The transmission is a manual that is designed to shift automatically. It is not an automatic. If you are used to the way a manual trans feels, the smart will feel very normal.
Smart 2008
The vehicle has been a joy to own. It has pep and most of the time you want to pass everyone on the road. The only thing done to the vehicle since I've owned it is one oil change. It has a good cruise speed of 70 MPH.
Smart Car is the Best
Best car ever for those who need something to drive back and forth to work with. Not good for family use.
Smart
Seems like a good car, have several really cool cars to choose from in the garage, but I keep going to the smart. Peppy, nimble, seems huge inside. Valets love it, makes everyone smile. All for 15k out the door.
What a SMART choice!
At first I was hesitant about buying such a small car, but I saw the crash test ratings online before buying the Smart, and I signed up to buy it. It gets great gas mileage, plus you can garantee that as soon as you pull out of your driveway, your car will get attention. It is fun to drive and it looks sporty.
Love my car
The car is fun to drive, handles well in the corners and in traffic it is very nimble. Interior is comfortable and when you keep in mind what the car is designed for it meets all the criteria very well. Fuel economy is basically how well you control the right foot. Need to adjust to limited space.
Finally they're here...
As a third car for commuting to work this thing rocks. Not a lot of power but once you learn to use the manual mode the highway isn't a problem. It looks cool, gets a lot of attention, and my gas mileage is excellent. It's a lot bigger on the inside than it looks and very fun to drive.
Love my Smart Car
I love my Smart Car. I have had mine for 3 months now and my husband just picked up his Smart Car 3 weeks ago. We love them !
SMART and SAFE
There's a conspiracy by some to paint the SMART as unsafe. I've even seen a photo of a small car squashed between two semis that was falsely identified to be a SMART car. SMART cars have only 3 lug-nuts. The squashed car had FIVE lug nuts! Moron! My only complaint about my 2008 Passion SMART is the whack-a-doodle electronic interlocking systems. SMART designers please take note: Every component that makes an interlock circuit longer also makes it more prone to failure or malfunction. Just today, I couldn't get the rear window to unlock with the remote, which gave a double-beep when I pressed the appropriate button and then re-locked. Back window/tailgate had to be unlocked manually.
Not What I Was Expecting
Rides horribly. Faulty transmission has left me stranded a couple of times and the dealership won't do anything about it. original battery was "bad" and left me stranded, but they replaced it. Gas mileage in the city is only ~25 mpg., much less than I was expecting.
What a Car
I bought this car in June. I dearly love the vehicle. It drives great and is a fun car. Gas mileage is great! Love my navigational system that is in it.
'08 Cabriolet
'Fun to drive' does not do justice to this little car, if you want attention, this is the car. Everywhere I go people stop and ask questions about this car. Some have even asked to sit in it or take pictures. I let my wife drive it sometimes and when she's leaving I am thinking "Boy that thing is small", but when you are inside, it seems much bigger, headroom and legroom is no problem, the ride is a bit bumpy, and the trans is something you either get used to or you don't like it. As far as power goes, I have no problem getting up to speed to enter the expressways, and I have had my car up to 85 mph with no problems. You do get tossed around abit when a semi-truck passes by though.
First 2000 miles
I was averaging 38-40 MPG around town, the last 2 fill-ups were 42.9 & 45.6 MPG. Fun to drive, draws lots of questions. Transmission is electronically shifted 5 speed manual (no clutch pedal). It takes a few days to learn when to let it shift automatically or when to use the paddles to shift it yourself. I am totally satisfied and have recommended the car to all that ask.
I love it!!!
I drive 102 miles daily on my commute. Backroads and Interstate. My little bumblebee (yellow and black) takes it all in stride. I buzz along the interstate at 75+ with no problems and tootle down the backroads in fine style. I have talked to dozens of people about the car, given away a dozen brochures and extolled the virtues of Smart driving to anyone who would listen. I'm a big guy 6'3" 250 and have plenty of room.
They almost got it perfect
Had this been a 10,000 car it would have been perfect, but not at 15 grand. Reliability = 1 star for obvious reasons - anybody who sells a car with the worst waranty in America (2 years) doesn't trust their own product. Performance is fine if you don't mind accelerating from 0-60 in 14 - 15 seconds. Certainly something I'd deal with for 100 mpg (not even near what this car gets) Gas Mileage - we're talking about pushing around a golf cart with a 1 liter engine, and 30-40 mpg on premium gas is all it gets? If this were a 10 grand car, and averaged 80 mpg I'd have 2.
So Far SO Good
We've had the car for about a month so it's hard to tell you how it will hold up with NYC driving conditions but from what I've experienced so far, it is an incredibly well designed vehicle for what it was intended for, local and medium ranges driving. I've had it up to 80mph on the HWY and it handles very well. I love the paddle shifters and the dealer has taken great care of us so far. Glad we purchased it.
Fun runabout!
I find that I get over 40 MPG I have 24,000 miles on the car now and love it. It parks anywhere and I haven't had a lick of trouble with it. The car is amazingly stable on the highway and has plenty of space for two and a weekends worth of gear and supplies. I love it and would buy another one.
Bad Acceleration
Great car for commuting, Good gas millage, low emissions. Love that you can just park sideways in a parallel parking spot. Transmission has problems from 1st to 2nd, takes time for it to kick over which can be a problem when trying to accelerate quickly.
Fun, but be careful
I drove the Smart for 14 miles each way to and from work for 6 months, enjoying the good mileage and fun handling. Parking was easy and it was a comfortable ride. The problem I ran into was a lack of stability in windy settings. I had a scary incident when I was blown into the lane next to me as a result of driving on a windy day and having a truck drive past me, which moved me over to the next lane. Thankfully there was no one in that lane, but it could have been a real problem. As a result I sold the car the next day. I don't think this is a typical situation and in no way blame the design. It's something to keep in mind when you are considering the Smart.
Mercedes Should be embarrassed!
What a shame! Great concept - horrible car to drive. I have 5 drivers in my house and after the initial novelty period passed, no one wants to take this car. It drives so poorly. I won't drive it anymore as it's jerky ride makes me wish I has an air sickness bag in the car. Gas mileage is disappointing, car is woefully underpowered and the silly transmission should cause me to get my money back under the lemon law, the dealer keeps saying that it is supposed to work the way it works. Shame on Mercedes. I feel bad that a company like them has to be affiliated with such a joke of an overpriced car. I can't wait to sell it to some hyped up fool who falls for this scam of a car!
Passion ForTwo
I'm on day three and am absolutely loving driving my passion coupe. I like that it's roomy, pretty comfortable and just a lot of fun. It turns head and sparks conversations all over the place and it's been great to meet people that would simply go about their business if I was in my Impala (another wonderful car!)
If it fits, wear it instead of a Fit.
This is definitely a unique car. It is sure to trigger love and hate among the owners. The good: great interior for such a small car. Great visibility. Mileage is better than epa if you drive it properly. Features galore, like clear roof, paddle shifters, fold flat passenger seat, storage in tailgate, heated cloth seats, heated mirrors, climate control. The bad: suspension needs more travel and needs to be stiffer. Too much roll. Too many thuds when bumps are hit. Automatic/manual trans is both the best and worst feature. I would prefer a straight manual. No spare tire. Premium radio is only so-so.
It is what it is
Averaging 36 MPG in heavy stop and go, bumper-to-bumper traffic. On the road I get mid-40's. With AC off I can average over 50 MPG at 55-60 MPH. If you currently enjoy driving / riding in a large luxury vehicle you will be disappointed. If you are looking for a fun to drive, small, easy to park, inexpensive, economical vehicle for mostly city driving and you have no need for more than 2 seats or a lot of storage, it will be difficult to beat the smart. This vehicle is not perfect - it is what it is!
I love my SMART CAR
My hubby got me the smart car. I love it. I think it is one of the best new cars I have ever had. I am only 5 feet tall and I fit into it very nice. I just can't say how much I love this car.
Smart review
Gas is great after 1500 miles on the car gas mileage went from low 40's to low 50's. Love the paddle shifter on the country roads.
Weekend transportation
It has been almost 2 weeks since I picked up the beast. Got about 42 MPG on the 1st tank, while showing a drop for the 2nd tank. Semi-auto tranny is somewhat abrupt. Engine is a bit noisy. Great highway stability at 50-65 MPH - did not feel any drift. Lots of questions about the make (manufacturer) from curiosity seekers. Wish I had handfuls of brochures to use as promotional tools.
I love my Smart Car
I bought this car as a fun backup car to my large SUV, but now I only drive Smart Car. I love it. At first the shifting seemed strange, but now I'm used to it. It's fun to pass Porsches on the freeway at 85 mph. My only problem is every time I stop people always ask me questions about it. It gets too much attention.
Ideal Key West Car!
I have a very early 2008 Passion Cabrio. Really enjoy the car, but it's 150 miles to the dealer. Have had many driveability problems. It took Smart 2 1/2 years to figure what the backup problem was. I had cruise control installed, the dealer blamed the backup problem on the cruise. I had the cruise uninstalled still had the problem. I truly love the car but just don't understand Smarts logic as to marketing and service. I'm out of warranty and ready to trade cars Smart Weston acts like they don't want my car back. It is a wonderful car, would be even better if the dealer wasn't 150 miles away. They need better warranty and better service centers.
First smart delivered in Oklahoma
The smart is a fun car to drive, it is roomy inside, power is good, and the automated five speed manual transmission works well but takes a little time to adjust to. The fuel econmy in mixed driving is about 38 mpg. Every where we go people want to know about the smart.
Hello Smart Car
I love driving my Lil Tic Tac. The hardest thing so far is getting out of parking lots. Everyone wants to talk about the car. Big SUVs seem determined to zip by, but I just wave at them as I pass them at gas stations. I've had no problems on the freeways at 70 mph and still getting 40-42 mpg. All town driving is getting 33-35 mpg. It is fun to drive and while it doesn't ride like a Mercedes Benz, I didn't pay for a Mercedes Benz.