Used 2008 smart fortwo Consumer Reviews
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Great car
I just downsized from a huge full size sedan to the fortwo and I couldnt be happier. It may be a bit utilitarian in its features but its worth saving $500 a month in gas, is easy to find a space and helps keep life simple. Well worth the purchase, despite the funny looks people give. I'm 6'2 and its surprisingly spacious.
Bought a 2008 with 29,600 miles
UDATE: March 2020 .... I owned my smartcar for 5 years with NO PROBLEMS. It was a really great car. I wish I had another one now!! UPDATE: August 2019......I've now put 100,000 miles in my smart fortwo and still absolutely love it. Of 60 cars I have owned, this fortwo is one of my favorites! I've had no problems, only basic service .... still runs and handles great. It is a very small, easy to maneuver and park automobile. The only thing that ever worries me are how other drivers are so aggressive and when on the interstate, I keep my distance so that crazy drivers who tailgate or change lanes without blinkers do not get too close. I love this car. UPDATE: smart fortwo has performed flawlessly. Now over 77,000 miles and recently replaced front brakes, battery, tires. NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. AC still blows cold, will have it refrigerated soon and gas mileage is better than ever! PREVIOUS REVIEW: Had 2 previous owners I LOVE IT! It's like new, love, love the interior. It's roomy, comfortable, the best looking red and black cloth seats and dash. Peppy engine. Love the transmission. The complaints about the transmission are unfounded. Just let it shift, don't floor the gas, this car is a city car and if driven reasonably, the engine has power and the tranny shifts better than [non-permissible content removed]! Really, it is not a sports car and if driven like you live in the city, it performs flawlessly. I Iive in the mountains and it goes up the steepest hills and has hill ascent and descent control which helps a lot. All cars should have it. On the highway it is stable, a little loud. And I'm averaging 38 to 40. It's all I need and the build quality is Mercedes. The AC is wonderful. Very cold and strong. The packaging is amazing, roomy and stylish. I WILL buy another!!! (UPDATE: 6 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, NO PROBLEMS, DID OK ON THE ICE AND SNOW, GOOD TRACTION GOING UP AND DOWN MOUNTAINSIDES. I WILL BUY ANOTHER, GREAT GAS MILEAGE AND NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER.)
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- passion cabrio ConvertibleMSRP: $7,500195 mi away
- passion cabrio ConvertibleMSRP: $4,999285 mi away
- passion cabrio ConvertibleMSRP: $7,995613 mi away
horn & door problems lies on extended warranty
I love my 2008 Smart passiion. I have less than 12000 miles on it. The first time i had to use the horn, it does not work, the plastic part on the door hinge is missing. I bought a platinum ext warranty at the time and was told it covered bumper to bumper for 5 years. Now they told me the horn problem is not covered and the door hinge missing part is not covered either. what a rip off, never buy any ext warranty from mercedes benz again. I won't touch any MB either, Lexus gave much better service and had no problems.
Daimler Won't Back
My 08 smart just turned 50K miles and now I am told that it needs a new engine. Daimler wont back up their product or even work with me in any way. I am warning social media to consider other auto companies when it comes time to purchase a vehicle.
2008 Smart hatch
My wife and I purchased our smart in 2008, paid way to much. The original dealer dropped it,(like no one knew that was coming) and then went to Mercedes. Other then being treated like a red headed step child by the dealer, probably because this thing is so cheap the car is not bad. It took me a while to get the hang of the herky jerky response, and the A/C stop when you really stomp on the accelerator, which other cars I have had did, so no big deal. I now have 25K miles on it and drive it like you beat a rented mule. No real problems to speak of. I use Royal Purple in it and find that seems to work best for oil. I run with the big dogs on the highway and like it a lot.
Smart
It is time to reduce America's carbon footprint. This is the first import I have purchased. Unfortunately, the domestic companies do not get how to make small cars. The smart is fun to drive. Surprisingly peppy. Extremely easy to park. They have made use of all of the very limited space available. When inside, you feel like you are in a much larger car. The fit and finish is spetacular for a car that is only price in the teens. I am 6'2" and have plenty of room.
2008 Piece of Junk
I purchased this vehicle new and within 1 year was having trouble with the transmission ...Wont go into reverse. Dealership says nothing wrong. 1 year later..NO WARRANTY and now it wont go into reverse or forward. How do you drive a car that wont do forward or reverse..YOU DONT...
I hate this car so much...
I've had to take this car in for work more than my used '92 Mazda Protege. For various reasons, from plastic pieces falling off the interior to the air dam in the front snapping off and dragging on the freeway. The gas mileage is atrocious for a car this small (around 25 mpg). The transmission is a confused and nervous little curmudgeon that can't decide what gear it wants to be in when you're under 15 mph and keeps jumping back and forth between 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear. Every time the gear shifts the car lurches back and lunges forward like I've slammed on the brakes. And this is normal for smart cars, every one I've been in does it, even after having the transmission firmware upgraded.
Words Cannot Describe How Much I hate this car
Since I have owned this car, the battery died within the first year, random pieces of plastic have fallen off, it has had numerous transmission "software" problems that have left me stranded and ready to walk away from it, the engine blew at 23,000 miles, AND NOW it has yet ANOTHER transmission problem that the service department can't figure out -- I can't get it to shift out of Park when it is cold! THIS IS A PROBLEM! I tell everyone I see when I am at the dealership, I tell everyone that ever asks me about it. The guy in the parts department even agreed with me: "Yeah, I have never heard of a car having that many problems in that combination."
58000mile valve job
58000 miles and had to replace fuel injectors..now it needs a valve job. 58000miles????? are they kidding me. every time i bring it to smart they break something. changed a tire and they broke the sensor. had an oil change and they broke the valve. got it back from service and they forgot to put on the engine cover. now it took them more than 2 hours to diagnose low compression in #2 cylinder..remove engine and try to do a valve job. with out changing the guides. now they want to replace the head because they don't know how to redo the heads. is this on the jobs training with my car. also had the no reverse shift problem in the past. smart does not want to help. buy a new one ..yeah right!
You will forever regret this!
I have had my smart for just under 2 years now. At first it seemed perfect for New York. 150 Dollar Parking per month, fits in tight places, etc. Very quickly however did I find out what an unreliable, terrible little car this is. It has broken down multiple times due to computer errors, failing transmission, clutch, etc. It shakes everything lose on the car whenever you hit the slightest bump. Even a sewer lid produces a noisy thump and a jolt. The car shakes at highway speeds and now my roof is starting to crack. And where is smart? They don't want to have anything to do with the car, the service departments don't know very much about it, the customer service is horrific!
Smart Metro Car
I live in Tucson, AZ and the only hwy driving I've done is to take it 90 miles to Chandler for servicing once a year. Not fun to drive in strong cross winds where everyone wants to drive 85+ mph (limit is 75 mph). Helps to find a mid-sized truck or large van going 75 mph to follow behind. Got 57 mpg on one hwy, 50 mph on my most recent trip (with A/C). Car is perfect for driving around Tucson where hwy travel is limited. The high profile is not great for high wind at high speeds, but it makes getting in and out much easier on the knees. Well worth the trade off for me. Can override auto shifting when needed. Not good with "California stops" as it confuses the auto shift.
It's an electronic nightmare Mercedes fault.
Bought it 2009 from used car dealer. Old lady in a home owned it first. When it runs right it is a great car, even with its queer transmission shifting. Too bad the idiots that built it don't know how to SOLDER! There's a Youtube video on how to fix its horrible SAM computer for free. It's not rocket science, no matter what the liars at the dealer tells you trying to get another thousand dollars out of you. Here's my 10 years with my 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe. Three times it just died in the middle of traffic. The fuse to the tiny fuel pump in the 10 gallon plastic fuel tank blew. The Smart computers aren't smart. They don't know there's no fuel pressure and try to start it anyway. Three tow truck rides, total. Trip one, nothing found, replace fuse, car ran nearly a week before fuse blew again. Trip 2, "You need a new fuel pump." Pump replaced, fuse replaced. It ran a day, blew fuse again. LUCKILY, I demanded my old pump and all parts. Ran pump with little valve at 42PSI for 4 hours at 14VDC. Pump faultless. Trip 3, demanded my $1,086.53 returned for parts and misdiagnoses. Dealer offered to return only $550 of my money plus all new parts Service manager found pump power wire screwed to ground under gas tank mounting from factory. Soldered wire and taped up bare spot. Tape later came off and blew fuse again. Mercedes geniuses put ABS computer UNDER cabin outside where driving through any water flooded it. Battery voltage caused electrolysis and soon rotted pins off leaky plug. Thousand dollar computer replacement refused. Bought one from a junker in salvage yard. Like Apple computers, car will not run with replacement parts unless you let them fix it for thousands. Hacker in AZ reprogrammed junk comuputer over internet at my 3rd party Mercedes shop. DON'T DRIVE IT THROUGH ANY KIND OF WATER! ABS is expensive! 4 times the cracked and crazed plastic sunroof was replaced before MBUSA bought out Smart America from the importer. I gave up trying to have a sunroof you could look through and see the sky. Top 4 is as bad as top 1 was. Top is glued on over the hole. There is no security in this car. Even the black roof of the cheap one is glued on. WARNING - NEVER ALLOW THE CAST PREMIUM WHEEL TO HIT THE CURB! My guest boy hit the curb and broke BOTH right hand wheels off the car where the rim meets the spokes. SMART OWNERS - Replace your cast wheels with the steel wheels from the Pure. I paid $200 for a set of steel Smart wheels from a California recycler. The car crashes to the ground when, not if, the cast wheels break off it. There is a bad capacitor in the radio. Unfortunately, the company that also makes all Ford radios says any schematic to fix it is proprietary and you can't have it So, the AUX and thousand six hundred dollar CD player no longer work and the radio is distorted. The computer lost control of the idiotic shifting program, but I reset it by disconnecting the battery for a day and rebooting. Thiis also worked to reboot the ignition computer that failed running for miles in the boondocks on 2 cylinders. Shut off the key, wait 10 minutes, restart and all cylinders run again. For the last 8 months the heater fan failed to run, yet again, in hot and freezing weather. The first two times it died, I, first, re-aligned the brushes in the crap Behr fan motor but the commutator soon chewed the brushes up, yet again. So, I bought a set of better brushes from an Ebay seller and filed the sharp edges off the commutator segments to save them. Hella-Behr knows better after all these years but chooses to build bad motors to make dealers profit. The new brushes ran for years before the wiring and poor solder joints on all boards in the car disconnected, somewhere. Again, owners are never allowed to possess a REAL SCHEMATIC of the little beast so one can trace the poorly coded wires through the maze of wiring. Even dealers have nothing but an interconnect diagram between"mystery modules". Keep swapping thousand dollar modules until something works. As you can see this owner is not a fauning fan of the Smart mistake. It must not be compared to any of my other Mercedes cars. It was 3 times the cost of my 1983 300TD diesel station wagon that still run flawlesslly at 850,000 miles. Let me change the oil and we can leave for California in the morning......
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Don't buy a 2008 dealer buyback = LEMON
Really disappointed with this car. Yes it's fun to drive, great to put the top down, and yes its cute- however when I went to trade it in- it turns out that a dealer buy back = LEMON in the car world. Thus- hideous trade in value. Shame on you Annapolis Smart- Mercedes. Buy back = Lemon- run don't walk from the 2008- check the title history, if you see dealer buy back look elsewhere unless you plan on keeping it forever.
Randamley doesnt go in Reverse
Personally believe that Smart car needs to fix the problems with the reverse issue. This nearly caused me to be in an accident at the end of my driveway. When I thought my car was in reverse is wasnt it actually was rolling down the drive way. I was stuck in the mioddle of the road trying to figure out why I couldnt get it into gear, had to shut it off while on coming traffic had to slam on the brakes! Very scarey and very close call. I feel that this is a saftey issue. Smart car has done nothing about it and does not want to recall it. My car is the 2008 Smart for two. I think that most people that have this car have the same problem. To help this get resolved people have to get on safecar.Gov and make the report for complaint, so then it will be forced into recall. I believe that people may have tried to make the report but the safecar.gov wasnt easliy working for that make or model until I called them directly. I just want people to be safe and companies to own up to their products. From my research its a computer update that is needed and yes its pretty expensive, well maybe just to me, to fix it is about $500.00
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Like no other car!
Very enjoyable, and great response from other drivers and people. Lots of smart fans around! I really enjoyed it. I sold it for a VW Golf, that feels like a cruise ship in comparison! The transmission is AWFUL and needs getting used to. Slow and heaving when it shifts gears. Also, it had a bunch of repairs, recalls, bulletins under warranty, that were marvelously and fully and competently addressed by Smart Center Portland. Very safe and fun on the freeway.
Smart Car - a Dissappointment
Very dissatisfied with our smart car. The transmission is a joke with very rough head snapping gear shifts, which, because there are five gears, seem to happen all the time in city driving. (At one point our transmission failed to be able to go into reverse. The merecedes dealership fixed this for no charge saying there were "thousands of smart cars with the same problem." If thats the case mercedes should do a recall and fix them all.) The suspension is rough with even minor bumps being uncomfortable. The car was so uncontrollable on ice that special winter tires had to be purchased for it. With the winter tires it is about the same as any car on ice with summer tires. Costly mistake
Smart fortwo is great!
I was concerned that the smart car would be slow but if you have ever driven a stick shift than you know it is all in the wrist. I love my car and never believe the reviews of the test drivers, the consumer knows best. Best wishes to all and have a Smart day. David Wayne Rumpel, Dallas Texas.
Lies and and verbal promises
We were one of the first people (71/72nd) in Florida to buy this car 28 months ago. We bought the convertible with all the extras 24k total from the start we started having mechanical problems. We also bought an extended warranty $1400. Time after time the car was having to be towed and it wasn't just one thing. It was the shifter twice the engine twice the a/c and it goes on and on. The car is now broke and sitting in our yard with 30k miles. The warranty doesn't cover transporting the car after 24k. This was after a sales person assured us the if anything go wrong including the tires for 70k miles it will be towed and fixed at no cost.
The Killer Bee - My smart car and Me!
I reserved a smart car as soon as I heard that they would be imported (and after a little research.) I love this little buzzing bee! I fold down my passenger seat for my service dog, a golden retriever and still have plenty of room to carry dog food and groceries! People will gather round where ever we go. Even have folks track along side to ask questions at stop lights and such. The local TV station WTOV9 Wheeling/Stuebenville ran a piece on it. They were driving by, spotted it in front of the house (I live right on old Route 40/ National Road) banged on my door and asked for a demo and interview. I love to wave at the gas stations as I buzz by. Maybe next week, fellas!
Expected More
Reading about smarts online I was very excited about the purchase. I had heard tales of astronomical fuel economy and how the EPA numbers were grossly overrated. After owning a smart for several months I can say that this isnt the case. It only gets about 2-3 MPG better than the civic it replaced. It is much slower, doesnt brake as well, doesnt handle as well, and has far less room. The build quality is also dubious with minor trim pieces breaking or feeling very flimsy. For such a small car with such a small engine and so few amenities I feel it should get much better MPG. If you are buying this looking for an ultra fuel saver spend a few dollars more and get a civic/focus/corolla.
2 years and still loving my Smart
I reviewed my Smart 2 years ago just after purchase. 2 years, 10,500 miles later I still love driving it and besides gas, 2 maintenance visits, an armrest I just had installed, and an accessory for the back "trunk" for covered storage, I haven't put an extra dime into it. It still looks like new and is even more fun to drive. On my recent oil change visit, they made the upgrade on the transmission and installed a free battery (due to ? recall)so I'm good for another 5000 miles.It is even peppier now than before the upgrade. I have never regretted buying my Smart and hope to keep it forever. It still gets smiles from other drivers. The only reason to trade it would be for an electric model.
Big Fun - Micro Car
This car handles well at any speed. Minimal noise and sturdy drive. Due to the lighter weight of this car, you may feel the wind during a VERY windy stormy day, but not while passing semi's. Feels like an average size car, taller than most sedans. Plenty of power and fun to drive. And get ready to make some friends at every stop light and gas station, I picked up SmartCar brochures to hand out! I always have enough room in the trunk area for grocery shopping.
Stupid Car!
Had issues from almost day 1. Went through a small puddle during rain storm - caused the passenger seat airbag light to go on. Has never turned off. Barely touch the key while it's in ignition it will turn the engine off. Completely unsafe when you are driving. Had it happen a few times (dog touched it). Have repeated issue with the engine not wanting to go into gear, especially reverse. Don't want to even attempt to do a u-turn because it might not go into R and you are stuck in middle of road. Goes through phases. Works for a few weeks then it doesn't. Someone suggested rain might affect it. Battery dies often too. I live on an island & to ship it over costs $400. Have not seen dealer.
HORRIBLE experience, worst car I've ever owned!
We bought our first Smart in 2008...it shook so violently at speeds over 40mph we had to take it back..I know the car was new to the market then, I think they rushed it out with MANY problems...we had to go back to the dealer and ask them to replace it..they did, but they added that to my loan for the second car...the second car was ok but the loan was now very high, nearly $400 a month for 7yrs..I was too distracted as the recession hit us hard and we were scrambling to survive. We moved far away from the original dealership and the car died in 2012 while still paying the loan off...no service shops near us could diagnose or fix the car..it had to go back to the dealer only. I started reading online reviews abt the car..and that year...many people reported transmission problems..ours wouldn't go forward or in reverse..it could be a chip reset or transmission..but either way the tow truck, diagnostic fee and repair would be all on us...we couldn't afford all of that and we felt Smart should have RECALLED these cars. We got no help from the dealer, or the 800 numbers. My friend's car was purchased the same year and needed the same thing..a new transmission...a 4k repair. My loan over 7yrs was approx. 35k and now the car needed a 4k fix...the car isn't even worth 4k for resale. I am beyond disgusted and pissed. I am looking to take a law suit against Smart.
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Not a smart decision
Yes this car will get you attention but once this fad wears out, it will be nothing but a joke. After driving this car for 4k miles I have gotten mixed reviews, some laughs and some positive remarks. I average 31 MPG but when I drive on the highway at 70 MPH it drops to about 26 and it has zero power for passing. The transmission shifts very hard and abruptly from 1st to 2nd gear. The ride is rough but it is fun to drive a small car. The 2 year warranty is a joke. Every trip to the dealer costs $100 just to look at the car. As I said the car is fun to drive for a few weeks but exhausting to own and no worth buying if you need a reliable, fuel efficient car. A Honda Fit is a better value.
Two Year Update
After two years, the honeymoon is over, but the marriage is still good. I adapted to the fussy transmission. A relaxed driving style works wonders. The ride actually improved with time. Winter driving is okay, but winter parking after a snowstorm is painful because the smart is so light. In the Summer, the AC occasionally blows hot air or the fan stops, and this is after the fan was replaced, a popular warranty fix, I've been told. The driver side airbag cover popped a bit. Unsightly. But that's the extent of the bad stuff. Overall, the smart is still mostly a pleasure. I'm 5'9" weigh in the high 200s and the car is comfortable and easy to enter and exit. The ragtop of choice.
Smart is for Smart people
I have driven this car for 2 years, local and cross country. The speed and mileage is second to none for the size. I recommend this fun and notable car for people who are anxious to enjoy and pleasurable and comfortable driving event every time they drive..
My Favorite Car Ever!!!
This car is a blast to drive! I feel like I'm in a sports car. I'm 5'9 and fit in with no trouble, as it is so roomy. I love the thumbs up, gawking, crowds I draw, and the oohs, and aahs. I've even had people pull in my driveway to have a look. The shifting takes a little getting used to but what fun!! Ever since I saw these cars in Europe I've wanted one. Best of all it is so easy to find a parking space!
This is the best car ever :)
This is the best car ever. I have owned a lot of car but this is my favorite. everywhere I go I feel like a moviestar. the ride is awesome for a small car. I love the auto wipers and HID lights & heated Seats. and I can put the top down at any speed on the highway how cool is that :). driving around town my milage has been 38 worst (ethanol gas) 44 best (pure gas). highway is around 49 as long as you drive under 70 MPH I think I could get 50 MPG If I drove the speed limit :) I wish It had Cruise Control and the trans takes some getting used to. the subwoofer under the seat doesn't seem to work. my dealer will look at it when I bring it in for service.
Smart, well-engineered convertible
Pros: Attention-getting, economical, affordable (for a convertible) Cons: Weak warranty (but I hope I won't need it -- this is a Mercedes!) I challenge you to try to find a convertible so elegantly designed or better engineered than this. And for $16,590. You can open the top from a distance with your key (nice to cool off the vehicle before you get to it). The side rails come off and store in a special compartment in the rear designed just for them. This vehicle is put together with true attention to detail. Some whine about the transmission, but I'm used to driving a five-speek stick so this one doesn't bother me at all. In semi-auto mode just pretend it has a clutch and go!
2008 smart Passion
The smart is definitely fun to drive, and has excellent mileage. My best tank so far, driving conservatively on the highway, has been 53 MPG. Realistically one should expect high 30s to mid 40 MPGs, depending on driving. Mileage suffers above 65 MPH as the drag increases. The quirky transmission is the car's greatest weak spot. It is neither as smooth as a traditional auto, nor as quick to change gears as a manual. It literally takes a certain learning curve to get used to it and get smoother. Nevertheless, the car is super fun to drive. If you don't want to wait a full year for a reservation, get on your local dealer's "orphan" list for cars that have been turned down.
Smarts are just smart
I received my Smart Cabriolet after a 12 mo. wait. It is worth every minute of the wait. Fun, fuel efficient and cute as a lady bug. The convertible feature is cool in that the top can be taken down or put up while driving at any speed. The stereo is great for such a small car. I put myself and a buddy, (both 200# plus) and accelerated 0 to 60 in two blocks, not bad for a care that gets 40 mpg in town and 50 hwy. If you have a chance to drive one, I recommend it and if you can buy one, do it. They are getting harder and harder to find.
Love it, love it, love it!!
I was driving a 99 Porsche Boxster that I loved but was willing to trade for something different while it still had value. My husband convinced me to drive a Smart and I loved it. Now we negotiate about who will drive it the next day based on time and miles to travel. It is much more comfortable than a Boxster and as much fun. It doesn't have the power but still has plenty of zip and is so unique in that it just makes people smile and wave.
my smart
I just love this car. It is fun to drive and everybody loves it.
Perfect for the Beach
I'm in line for another cabriolet, but the wait is now 18 months, so I found one in Sherman Oaks, CA. With only 2000 miles on it an no dings at all. It was just like brand new. I traded in a Ford Explorer. I have owned Ferraris and this car is as much fun (different kind of fun). I tried it on beach streets (Manhattan Beach), freeways (LA to Orange, 405, 5, 55) and it handles great. I am glad I got the Cabrio, it is great at the beach.
My Smart Car
I have been waiting 11 months for this car and now that I have it and have driven in the highway for 125 miles, I know I made the right choice. Not only is it fun to drive, it's cheap to drive. I did invest in a LOJACK since the vehicle only weighs 1800 lbs - you can actually pick it up with ease, of course not by yourself but with some help you can I am sure (lol). We like so much we have a second car on order.
High SPM (Smiles per Mile)
Comfort, fun to drive and all the elements under the Design heading, I would really give an '11'!!! This car is really well thought out and well put together. Plenty of power to get onto highways and keep up with normal traffic at whatever speed. I have had a very new experience with it...buying a new car and after one month nothing broken or any mechanical failures. Once I got used to the 'manual' transmission, it is kinda fun to drive whether in auto-mode or paddle shifters or stick. I'm not really a convertible guy, but I'm having a super great time with it on this car. Surprise, surprise, it even has a trunk...amazing!
My Rollercoaster Ride
I have owned this car for 9 months. I cant wait too get rid of it!!!! Yeah it's cute but it isn't all that it's made out too be. The gas mileage is good only if you drive like an old person, A car this small should get better MPG. The transmission is the worst, annoying, uncomfortable feeling I have ever exp, even with the trans software update. It is soooo annoying if you get stuck in traffic, Shifting from 1st to 2nd constantly up and down will make you want to vomit. This is the main reason I want too sell it. Gas gauge still wont read rt, even after 5 times back too the dealer, Mercedes should be ashamed to hsve there name linked too this car. THE LITTLE HERKY JERKY ROLLERCOASTER RIDE..
Smart buy with low C02
Great little car about town, no big deal on long journeys either. Real head turner. Superb economy with a mix of urban and open road driving. Lots of space for all the shopping. So much fun and easy to park it's an amazing little car. On the negative side - a little racy with the price
Love my car
I love our smart car. It is so much fun to drive. Wish I could get my hubby one.Everyone loves it. So much fun to drive.
Think Outside the Box
Bought for our daughter who is 15 so that she can learn to drive and take it to college. I drive it now almost every day and will miss it when she gets her license. Solid, practical, great handling, efficient, peppy car to drive
Smart Right
The car was exactly as we had ordered, and the Sales Staff was terrific! They did not pressure us in any way shape or for, and were extremely knowledgeable regarding the car of its capabilities, and operation. We could not be more pleased with our Smart Car. It has performed as it was advertised and we are even more pleased with the Mileage per Gallon at 42 to 45 MPG. It drives like any other small car, and is a dream to drive. One would not know how small it is when sitting in it as it has plenty of room. The only time you are aware of its size is when you are not in it! Again
fortwo Hates Winter
Skinny front tires and auto trans makes ABS come on with every stop in snow. The rear wheels are always trying to drive forward as you come to a stop, so it's up to the fronts to stop the car AND the motor. I've gotten in the habit of popping it into neutral as I'm stopping. I have no confidence in slippery stopping times. Roads made bumpy by frost heaves and potholes make for a punishingly harsh ride. The suspension must have only a couple of inches of travel because it doesn't take much to jolt the whole car on a bump. But when the roads are dry and smooth it's fun to drive. Nice around town.
Not for everyone, but perfect for some
The SMART is not the best car for some, but, if you understand what it offers, it may be the perfect car for you. It delivers great gas mileage, fits two tall people very comfortably, can be easily towed behind an RV and is a great around town car. Don't buy the smart if you are expecting the manual transmission it comes with to shift smoothly (it is not an automatic, but a manual that can be driven in automated mode). It shifts just fine if you drive it in manual mode. If you are a baby boomer with no kids at home, or someone looking for an around town car to go to work or run down to the grocery store, or even to commute a reasonable distance to work, this may be your car.
the Helmet
We adapted an orphan and love it, we call it the helmet because we think it looks like a football helmet and we feel safe in it so it protects us like a helmet. My husband and I are neither one small people and we feel very comfortable in the car. The only thing that is sometimes uncomfortable is that people always stare. I feel like I am speeding all the time.
excellent car
I love the car. When your in it you feel like your in a normal size car. Your actually up higher than a lot of cars, which is one of the safety features. The mileage is much better than they advertise it. I find it to have great pick up. It feels like any other car going 80mph. I was pleased by how well it drives and feels.
Fun to have your arrival announced
Wherever you go, you can hear people announce your arrival ("Smart car!"). That aside, the car has unexpected power on the highway. This car, like a small dog, doesn't know it's small. Love the convertible top, though, which can open and close at any speed. Mercedes technology makes the car very quiet with the roof up compared to other convertibles (like the noisy Miata, for example). You get used to the upshift from 1st to 3rd, although my spouse prefers to use the paddle shifters for a smoother transition.
Teeny Tiny, just my size
I love my Smart Cabrio. I even get the "motor cycle" wave from passing cycles, Can you believe it? It handles well, the steering is tight and responsive. It is peppy, even going up hill with the AC on at full blast. I couldn't even get do that in my Jeep(V6) w/o some form of hesitation.My Mom calls it a "guy magnet" everywhere I go, they want to talk about the car.
Lover My Smart42
Love the car and the way it handles in city and highway driving. It's fun and economical. The transmission takes a couple of drives to get use to how it shifts and the feel of the pedal, but once you drive it a little, it responds just fine.