I test drove a Smart car today.

Benjamin Strange · #1 10-17-2008, 03:56 PM

I've been seeing these little buggers around town, so today I decided to go check them out. I talked with the sales dude for about 15 minutes and then took it out for a spin.

My intitial impression was that it was much bigger on the inside than I was expecting. In fact, I had to move the seat up a bit, and usually I have the seat set as far back as it will go in most cars. There was plenty of room in the back for my Walkabout/PH112s rig, and the passenger seat folds down, allowing for plenty of room for basses and stuff. Cool! Apparently it gets about 38-42 miles to the gallon, and can go upwards of 85-90 miles per hour. It's got a switchable transmission - you can use it as an automatic (which I didn't care for at all), or a clutchless manual (which was pretty neat). I drove it for about one minute in automatic, which felt sluggish to me, so I switched it over to manual, which was a lot peppier and more fun. It did feel a little weird, since the transmission actually switches to lower gears for you as you slow down, and it also felt weird not using a clutch. I kept expecting the car to stall, but that was just my inexperience with a clutchless system messing with my head. On some models, you can change gears either with the stick, or with two paddles that are on the wheel - VERY cool. It doesn't exactly fly up the steepest of hills here, but then again very few cars do 45 degree inclines without some level of difficulty.

It also had a neat braking feature that I really liked, which they call "hill assist". Basically, it keeps the car from rolling backwards when you've stopped on an incline, even when you take your foot off the brake. Very useful in San Francisco.

Overall, the car felt a little weird - the operation of it takes some getting used to, and the visability is a little strange, mostly due to the windshield being so vertical (if you want to look up at a street light or something, you have to lean forward a bit in some cases).

I kind of like it. Anybody else checked these things out? What do you think?

FL Knifemaker · #2 10-17-2008, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

I've been seeing these little buggers around town, so today I decided to go check them out. I talked with the sales dude for about 15 minutes and then took it out for a spin.

My intitial impression was that it was much bigger on the inside than I was expecting. In fact, I had to move the seat up a bit, and usually I have the seat set as far back as it will go in most cars. There was plenty of room in the back for my Walkabout/PH112s rig, and the passenger seat folds down, allowing for plenty of room for basses and stuff. Cool! Apparently it gets about 38-42 miles to the gallon, and can go upwards of 85-90 miles per hour. It's got a switchable transmission - you can use it as an automatic (which I didn't care for at all), or a clutchless manual (which was pretty neat). I drove it for about one minute in automatic, which felt sluggish to me, so I switched it over to manual, which was a lot peppier and more fun. It did feel a little weird, since the transmission actually switches to lower gears for you as you slow down, and it also felt weird not using a clutch. I kept expecting the car to stall, but that was just my inexperience with a clutchless system messing with my head. On some models, you can change gears either with the stick, or with two paddles that are on the wheel - VERY cool. It doesn't exactly fly up the steepest of hills here, but then again very few cars do 45 degree inclines without some level of difficulty.

It also had a neat braking feature that I really liked, which they call "hill assist". Basically, it keeps the car from rolling backwards when you've stopped on an incline, even when you take your foot off the brake. Very useful in San Francisco.

Overall, the car felt a little weird - the operation of it takes some getting used to, and the visability is a little strange, mostly due to the windshield being so vertical (if you want to look up at a street light or something, you have to lean forward a bit in some cases).

I kind of like it. Anybody else checked these things out? What do you think?

A family on our road have 3 or 4 of them. He's involved with Segway and somehow gets deals on or is affilated with Smart Cars. I'm 6'2" and I fit in them fine. For the flat land here in Florida, they zip along pretty well and handle nicely. If they made a truck version of some sort, I might consider one. I need to be able to haul stuff from Lowes and carry RC toys.

RobTheSkanker · #3 10-17-2008, 04:26 PM

I want to drive one.

I went to a homecoming 2 weeks ago and one of the teachers at that school had one and I ended up parked next to it, made my '90 corolla look big. looks very cool in person.

hmmm a 1.5L turbo diesel too

Loel · #4 10-17-2008, 04:30 PM

Yeah pretty neat,high safety margin as well,
does the rear hatch open?

GeneralElectric · #5 10-17-2008, 04:47 PM

I've seen a few, just not many. I just picture them being hit by a larger car and going flying in the air like a toy since they're so tiny.

iamlowsound · #6 10-17-2008, 04:49 PM

Did you have to open the window near the end of the drive so you didn't run out of oxygen?

lowsound

santucci218 · #7 10-17-2008, 04:49 PM

what is the price on these buggers?

MatticusMania · #8 10-17-2008, 04:50 PM

Flight? All the more reason to get one!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.......... (sorry, it doesnt work without the metal picture)

FL Knifemaker · #9 10-17-2008, 04:58 PM

They come with very skinny tires, especially on the front. I'm sure they help with the milelage but don't look too sporty. They make nice looking aftermarket wheels for them that fit wider tires but I'm sure they cut down the mileage. The one that my neighbors daughter has is loaded and has a suspension package and aftermarket wheels on it. It looks nice and she says it handles much better than the stock ones. I wish they would make one with 4" pickup bed. That would work for me.

Benjamin Strange · #10 10-17-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HooDoo

Yeah pretty neat,high safety margin as well,
does the rear hatch open?

Yes, the rear hatch opens. You can fit a smallish bass amp in there no problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

what is the price on these buggers?

They start at about $11,999.

HollowBassman · #11 10-17-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

They come with very skinny tires, especially on the front. I'm sure they help with the milelage but don't look too sporty. They make nice looking aftermarket wheels for them that fit wider tires but I'm sure they cut down the mileage. The one that my neighbors daughter has is loaded and has a suspension package and aftermarket wheels on it. It looks nice and she says it handles much better than the stock ones. I wish they would make one with 4" pickup bed. That would work for me.

Not planning on hauling much, huh?

oversoul · #12 10-17-2008, 05:18 PM

So you guys are finally getting into the fashion huh?

Trust me, here in the old land, those things rule for parking in tight spaces! and trust me in an ancient town like lisbon, london or Paris, that's everywhere!!

FL knifemaker: you should check the Smart BRABUS pack edition.

Baryonyx · #13 10-17-2008, 05:20 PM

I can very much see where these cars fit in in a place like Rome, where parking spaces are often small and tight and the roads are often narrow.

However, around England, I don't think they fit in quite so well! Glad to hear you enjoyed your drive though!

FL Knifemaker · #14 10-17-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oversoul

So you guys are finally getting into the fashion huh?

Trust me, here in the old land, those things rule for parking in tight spaces! and trust me in an ancient town like lisbon, london or Paris, that's everywhere!!

FL knifemaker: you should check the Smart BRABUS pack edition.

I just need to be able to haul my RC Planes, helis or cars. My wife has a full size, 4 door Hemi Ram Pickup if I need to haul more.

gold_member_321 · #15 10-17-2008, 05:40 PM

I don't even think I could fit in one, but I sure do want one of the smart cars with a Hayabusa engine in them.

iamlowsound · #16 10-17-2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gold_member_321

I don't even think I could fit in one, but I sure do want one of the smart cars with a Hayabusa engine in them.

Same here, more so if someone drops a turbo into the busa engine first. 550 bhp in a smart car? Yes, Please!

lowsound

Benjamin Strange · #17 10-17-2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gold_member_321

I don't even think I could fit in one, but I sure do want one of the smart cars with a Hayabusa engine in them.

You'd have to be really, really big to not fit in one of these. They are surprisingly spacious inside.

iamthebassplayr · #18 10-17-2008, 06:11 PM

How does clutchless manual work O.o... do you just... hit a button and it shifts?

Would be so weird.. Do you have to let up off the accelerator or anything when you shift?

L-A · #19 10-17-2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gold_member_321

I don't even think I could fit in one

Seriously, if you fit in a G-class Mercedes, you fit in a Smart no problem.

Benjamin Strange · #20 10-17-2008, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Myers

How does clutchless manual work O.o... do you just... hit a button and it shifts?

Would be so weird.. Do you have to let up off the accelerator or anything when you shift?

It uses a stick that you push forward and backward, or the flaps on the steering wheel. You don't have to let up on the accelerator, but it helps.

Yes, it is weird.