Page 1 of Smartcar

I had a drive in one yesterday,at a friend`s birthday party.

I thought it was the cake to start with. :D

Seriously,I`ve always been curious as to the appeal of these things so I gave it a blast.

I`m now convinced the only possible reason anyone could have for buying one is the overwhelming desire to be `different`.

Ugly-pug thing or the ForFour?

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Been nowhere
Done Nothing
Stole the T-shirt


My Collection

The little one. :/
Has spin-cycles instead of gears. :D

Not great customer service, so i hear. A chap my GF works with has had so many problems with his coupe (the `sporty` one) they ended up giving him his money back.

First of all it came with scratches down the side then when he got it changed the speedo was in KPH, then the electrics kept cutting out, meaning he couldnt even unlock the damn thing. Eventually he used the lemon clause, got his money back and bought one of those 2 seater vauxhalls, which are pretty smart.

I just really cannot see the point of them.
If they were significantly cheaper than `proper` cars I could see the point,but they`re not.
There are umpteen cars you could get for the same money.
It was slow and noisy.
It wasn`t comfortable.
Stability was questionable.
I would dispute the fact that you can park it in any smaller a space than any other 3 door car.

It`s just an example of `style` :/ (in some people`s eyes) over function.

The owner made such a big deal of the "Schumacher style gearchange".
Gee,that makes it all worthwhile.... :/

At least I now feel I have the `right` to laugh at people driving them.... :D

Sorry, but I`ve had my smart for 4 years now and love it. It does everything I need as I spend most of my time commuting around the M25. It`s reliable, fun, does great mileage, is the most comfortable car I`ve ever driven (it`s the only car that doesn`t give me backache after half an hour) and I can park it anywhere I like while my collegues are still circling looking for a space big enough for their BMW estates/4x4 monster trucks.

I understand that it`s not to everyone`s taste but I love being able to drop it from manual to automatic when stuck in the traffic and not having to remember to change down gears when coming to a stop.

It`s not the worlds quickest car but I`m just as fast as anyone else on the M25 and it comes into it`s own around town which is what it`s designed for, so it`s horses for courses really.

Cheers,
Nick



Download it here

not being one to knock things without trying them, but wtf would happen
if someone went into the back of you whilst driving on of these "smart" cars? :/

Ste.

........is that gasoline i smell?

Quote:
and it comes into it`s own around town which is what it`s designed for, so it`s horses for courses really.

In what way is it any better around town than,say,a 3 door Fiesta/Mitsubishi Colt though ?
Both are in the same price range.
Probably do the same sort of mileage.
They are infinitely more practical,but still stylish,though.

I know which I`d feel safer in on the M25.... :/

If the Smartcar were significantly cheaper I`d see the point.
At the same price as a `proper` car,it`s madness. (:¦

I`m now convinced the only possible reason anyone could have for buying one is the overwhelming desire to be `different`.

Your so right, and why not?

Why drive a Eurobox, where there`s an identical car like your own driving down every street every two minutes.

As for the price, well I agree its well overpriced for what it is, so I bought the wife a newish RHD secondhand one and saved two grand, Its great, More room inside than you think, tardis like, sitting in a high up position, looking down on the traffic in front like an MPV, it also has a bigger boot than you think, for the shopping,

My son and his wife even had a family tent and holiday gear with them, when they borrowed it for a weeks holiday, (maybe they even put the Smart in the tent with them :D )

I also seem to use it more nowadays as it returns 57 MPG, even with a lead foot.Its £75 road tax/year and the insurance is only group 2 or 3 for the PURE and PULSE models.

Its still a head turner after five years production, Most people that buy these cars are more out for the smiles per mile, rather than a trully pratical car.

So like new mini, we smarties think of it as more of a club, so a smart is for life not just Christmas :x

This item was edited on Monday, 28th February 2005, 13:31

Quote:
not being one to knock things without trying them, but wtf would happen
if someone went into the back of you whilst driving on of these "smart" cars?I must admit I was thinking the same thing, not sure I would want to go round the M25 racetrack (at times) in one.