smart fortwo: The future of personal transportation

[jirplara]

I have one here in Puerto Rico!!! i love when i buy the car!!! but now i hate it. in the interior everything do noises like cracking!!! i dont know cus is just have 15,000miles on it. Im going to trade this smart for a Mazda 3! I dont recommend this car to anybody! its just for people whit money who wanna go outs the weekends and things like that!! and is not to stable in the highway specially the windy days!! sorry if i dont spell well the English but im from Puerto Rico and we spanish here!!!

[blackpool321]

This presenter is gorgeous

[Tarikace15]

I got Smart fortwo just 4 minutes ago and I am even more excited cause I installed my Pioneer F90BT it works great and the car is simply awesome.

[bimboaq]

@Tarikace15 Awsome! I'm thinking of getting one, still feel the same about the car??...how's your budget now with less gas consuption ?

[Tarikace15]

@bimboaq Well I can make a comparison this Smart is my first car,my friend has a Toyota RV4 and his budget is pretty good but mine is at least 5 times better I do drive a lot and I only have to refuel my car once in 2-3 months so by now I refueled it 3 times including today,so it's awesome and about the transmission it's very good that is if you know how to drive a manual car so yeah it's awesome.

[DoctorNapkin]

Contrary to many opinions I tend to see regarding the Smart Fortwo, I think this is a really nice car that I wouldn't mind driving around in.

[BlueHeavenBound]

I had a Chevrolet Cavalier, which got (33) MPG on the highway; I was surprised this car didn't do much better for the size. Also, I didn't feel like I was about to DIE driving the Chevy...

[Neonspinnazz30]

@BlueHeavenBound You're quite funny, because the Cavalier got crap safety ratings!

[blackpool321]

This presenter is hot !

[6SpAr6TAN69]

Someone would be driving a car like this only if they threatened him with... jail time if he didnt... LOL.

[Shomelife]

"smart fortwo: The future of personal transportation" - yeah except for me. See, I'll still be driving my gas-guzzling, barely able to pass IM mustang 351w. Good luck to all you guys in the smartcar.

[KingCorvette]

It sounds great, but is it really that smart? If it received that gas mileage and could include four seats, then I would be all over it. I do want a car like that, but I have to be able to take at least four people. It seems like it should be a car built to carpool efficiently.

[Ryoske6]

Then get smart FORFOUR. Thats not the only species or smart cars.

[KingCorvette]

They stopped making Smart Forfour in 2006. They may return to production in 2013. Until then, there is only one species of smart car.

[Neonspinnazz30]

@Ryoske6 The forfour is sadly not a smart but just a Mitsubishi Colt with some smart in it. =(

But smart and Renault are possibly in a deal to bring a 4 seat smart in 2014...built from the ground up...

If they bring it to the USA, drool...and then there would be some competition for others too...

I miss the formore and the crosstown, two good concepts gone bad.

[infinitgang]

1. ugly 2. slow 3. no back seat 4. you will never get a girl in that shit...

ill stick to my ninja. or my i30 infinity!

[Ryoske6]

It's an attractor of women actually.

[Shomelife]

@infinitgang Lol, I thought the same thing. I'll stick to my 'stang. She's cooler, faster, has a back seat, and girls tend to love it, lol. Plus its safer =P

[alexbarsan]

@infinitgang you forget that this is a CITY CAR!

[Billy1RBstudios]

@infinitgang 1.badass 2. fast with turbo engine, 3 no back seat for people who dont want to have childs (that was a city car and Fortwo! That's why his name is fortwo) and a good 2nd car too 4. in the smart car you can do sex with a girl very well!

[voyce0reezon]

sorry...this piece of shit is already on its way out...in real world crashes, it loses every time unless it hits a 9 year old on a scooter. you want fuel economy? get a motorcycle...you're safer on one and you look a millions times cooler than that douche mobile

[smartcincinnati]

@voyce0reezon

sorry but you need to "open your mind" SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE TO WORRIED ABOUT BEING COOL INSTEAD OF SMART?

[Anavengertg]

But is it smart? The gas mileage isn't that great.

[Nununda]

In response to endurance of the smart, I'm pulling a little over 22k per year, just broke 31,000. So far, not a single check engine light. I replace the oil about every 7500 miles, just did the transaxle fluid, and will do spark plugs in a couple more weeks. Like almost every vehicle, I'm sure something random will break in the next 30k, but so far, she hasn't said 'no.'

[Nununda]

I really wonder how they drive these smarts. I have owned my Passion Fortwo for 16 months now, and 37.8 was my worst tank ever, and that took a -14F cold snap and snowy roads to accomplish. I frequently get 52mpg tanks in the summer time, and my grand total average(confirmable with all receipts kept and a MS Excel spreadsheet) is 44.6. These are numbers that even scare the all powerful Prius, which isn't saving the planet when it's time to replace a $7,000 battery pack.

[palebeachbum]

The batteries actually cost $1,500 to replace. I still think that's crap, but wanted to correct your error. I like that a Smart costs literally half what a Prius does. That kinda makes me laugh because it's half the size.

[kwg2005]

i think 41 highway is good, but not a lot better than a ford focus that gets 35 highway and is a lot more car. If they made these get 50mpg, then i'd consider one.

[palebeachbum]

The smart requires premium gas. So doesn't it make sense that a more traditional hatchback like a Hyundai Accent or Toyota Yaris, which both get hwy mpg in the high 30's and run on regular, end up costing roughly the same at the pump as a smart? Not to mention the traditional hatchbacks are cheaper and easier to service and repair. The all cost about the same to buy too. The smart is more of a gimmick in my opinion. There is no advantage to owning one over a regular small hatchback car.

[Neonspinnazz30]

In a recent study, the smart was proven to cost less in the long run than any other gas powered, non hybrid on the market. And that's with 20c more per gallon!

[stuartl1989]

your hyundai would kill u in a crash where as the tridion safety cell of the smart will protect you, i think thats worth a lot!

[palebeachbum]

True, the Smart is structurally more sound than the Accent. The Accent's safety isn't bad, but just not as good. But when you factor in the fact that because the Smart is in such high demand and a good deal is nearly impossible to haggle, the Accent is much more desirable. A few thousand dollars difference at the end of purchase is a lot to me. So is safety, but if cost weren't an option I'd buy a HUGE car if I wanted the safest vehicle on the roads.

[Neonspinnazz30]

Some owners have gotten it to 55mpg with a feather of a foot

[palebeachbum]

I've never read that anywhere. I'll believe low 40's on the highway with a light foot. Some guy online said he's gotten up to 45mpg in his Accent hatchback with it's 1.6L 110hp 4cyl, which runs on regular. It can seat 2 adults and 2 children comfortably. Fully loaded, it's actually cheaper than a Smart. It's also cheaper to maintain and repair because parts are more easily accesible and readily available. The Smart has more of a fun factor, but the price is too high and not frugal enough.

[Neonspinnazz30]

The Accent uses conventional body parts, which cost way more than the smart's. In fact, you can change the whole body of the smart for about $1000USD. You can't do that with an Accent. Yes it is a proven study that the smart costs less than any other petrol only car in the LONG RUN. At first with the initial sticker and the breakin stage a Yaris or an Accent could be cheaper but after the fact even with Premium the car pays for itself.

To find out more go to:

w w w . smartcarofamerica . com

[palebeachbum]

You also have to factor in reliablity and maintenance costs of ownership. My Mom was very interested in a Smart for her short commute to work and around town, but I mentioned the Smart to her the other day and she said "I'm not hearing very good things about those. Lots of problems." And anything she's heard is strictly word of mouth. So that can't be a good sign for the Smart's reputation.

[Neonspinnazz30]

Ok let me feed you my numbers:

Maintenance: basics + 10K oil change. The car has some of the littlest costs to run in the nation

Reliabiliy: smart has been rated #5 in the category of most reliable by Gizmag.

Problems: Mostly any problems that a US smart might have is on an 08'. This year 08's had recieved a free transmission upgrade (faster, smoother shifting) but the downside is that the 08' clutch plate couldn't take it. But replacement is FREE

[palebeachbum]

I've also heard people complaining the shifter gets stuck and has to be towed to the dealer. Some people have vids of this on youtube. What cars did Gizmag say are #1-4 for reliability?

[Neonspinnazz30]

That goes along with that 2.0 upgrade I said before, that's also a free fix.

1. Honda

2. Mazda

3. Toyota

4. Subaru

5. smart

Google: most reliable car brands gizmag

[palebeachbum]

Keep in mind, people who are buying smarts hardly drive them. Not nearly to the degree that the other mentioned brands are driven. I've yet to see anyone put even 10k miles a year on their smart car in the US. Every one I've seen for sale only has a few hundred, if maybe a couple thousand, miles on them. So to be at #5 with a fraction of the mileage says a lot about the reliability. I'm really not impressed. When people start driving these 20k miles a year in the US, we'll see how they hold up.

[Neonspinnazz30]

Where did you get those mileage numbers?

SEVERAL owners on smart car of america have put on 50k on their smarts in just a year. Many people use them as a daily driver...like I will...

And most members already have in excess of 20k in just a year...

w w w . smartcarofamerica . c o m

[palebeachbum]

So 1/7 of Smart drivers put typical mileage on their car as compared to the average vehicle of 15-20k miles per year based on the used ones i've seen for sale online. There are far more with just a couple thousand miles at 1yr old than most other regular cars. If 3 out of 20 Smart drivers put 15-20k miles a year on their car, that's very small percentage in comparison, which would easily explain why they have fewer problems. They're not driven as much as regular cars!

[Neonspinnazz30]

Not to mention all of the other owners in American, Canadian, and European sites are reporting that they drive about 20k yearly. Where do you get 1/7 from?

[palebeachbum]

Used Smarts on Ebay. Check them out. Last time I looked there were about 20 for sale. Only 3 that were a year old had 15k miles or greater. A handful had 5k-10k miles on them. The majority only had a few hundred or a couple thousand miles, which means most Smart owners don't drive them as primary transportation, or simply do short distance driving in the city. I just saw the crash test on here of a Smart vs. a MB C300. Mind you the C300 is a smallish midsize car. The Smart got a "poor" rating.

[Neonspinnazz30]

One should not use eBay as a reference to how far owners drive. You had said about 20 smarts were for sale, of about 50,000 smarts in the USA. And there's not many on Craigslist either.

I just checked out SUVs for sale on eBay and most of the 08's and 09's are right in the 20k or less range. And those are "popular" cars.

Yes the C300 is a smallish midsize but it's not about size, but weight. The C300 weighs as much as a midsize SUV.

It also depends on the distance of your commute.

[palebeachbum]

Whatever is for sale on Ebay or any vehicle sale site is a true sampling of real world examples of used vehicles. So I have no clue what you're talking about. Furthermore, the C300 weighs roughly 3500lbs, which is hefty for the size, BUT is nearly identical in weight to COMPACT SUVs like the Ford Escape and Kia Sportage, not midsize SUVs as you claim. Even furthermore, if the Smart does so poorly against a midsize car, imagine it against a full size car, or worse yet full truck or SUV.

[Neonspinnazz30]

I still don't agree that eBay is an accurate site to base how many miles a certain car goes in a year.

And in response to your comment on safety, it might have recieved "POOR" but four letters mean little in real world situations.

Take some time reading stories here:

w w w . safeandsmart . c o m

The IIHS may have labeled it "POOR" against cars of twice it's weight but these people have proven that the smart is no deathtrap.

[palebeachbum]

Apparently to you life is worth gambling with. If there is clear evidence that the safety is poor if you hit anything larger, which is ALL other vehicles on the road, then to me it's not the safe car it's being made out to be. I'm sure people have gotten in bad accidents in Smart cars and lived. I saw on TV news a guy who was crushed beneath a semi that flipped on top of his car. He lived. If you want to chance your safety and that of others based on luck, that's very foolish of you.

[Neonspinnazz30]

Okay, since you want to put it like that, here's a larger vehicle that's deemed "safe" also by the IIHS.

watch?v=PbzbxPz1DLc

Now lets put that Hummer up against a Nissan Pathfinder, Hummer loses.

In the end of the C class vs. smart evaluation the IIHS said that the driver of the smart risked injury to legs and slight injury to head. Nothing else, not even death

Now what the resonsible thing to do is see why the car had earned "POOR" instead of just saying that you'll die in a crash.

[palebeachbum]

Still missing the point and skirting the fact that ANYTHING larger and heavier crashing into the Smart, which is ALL VEHICLES SOLD IN THE US, will result in the Smart receiving a poor rating because of it's light-weight nature and design. Have you not noticed how in every single crash test, even just against the barrier, the Smart is thrown around? Even against the barrier, the dummy bottomed out the airbag and the door latch failed. At the end of the day, it provides less protection.

[Neonspinnazz30]

Yes, and they said there was a small possibility for minor injuries to the dummy for hitting the wheel. The door opening is actually a safety feature. When the car comes to a complete stop the computer is designed to unlock all doors and unlatch the driver's door. But it depends on where the impact was detected.

Ok, here's this for another one. Watch the video of the smart vs. the S class. After the crash the men say (translated) that the dummies in the smart would live.

[Neonspinnazz30]

And if that's not enough just watch ANY video where a car was put up with something twice its size and obviously, they would be rated "POOR".

And statistics show that fronal crashes are only 2% of yearly crashes in America. Yes, it could happen and it has. The smart has proven itself to be better than what the Government thinks (yes, the IIHS ratings system is based off of a human's decision after checking the dummy's computer). Like the woman that got rear ended at 70mph.

[Neonspinnazz30]

Did you even go to the site I listed or even read why the smart received "POOR" in that test?

The President of the IIHS said "High possibility of leg injury and possibility of head injury".

According to their ratings system, a car with a possibility of head injury automatically earns "MARGINAL" or "POOR".

While the Yaris test ended with:

"high possibility of leg injury, high possibility of head and pelvis fracture"

And that was the SEDAN version!

[palebeachbum]

You know why the IIHS gives any vehicle tested a marginal or poor rating for possible leg and head injury? Because most cars these days do better than allowing those types of injuries in their testing. They up the ante every few years to push car makers to make their cars safer and safer. Apparently you are under the misguided impression that no one has died in a Smart.

[Neonspinnazz30]

And one more. The smart's Tridion Safety Cell is designed to activate the crumple zones of the other vehicle while dissipating force throughout the vehicle. The wheels are a major part of this, they're designed to take as much force as possible from any direction.

Also, there's not equality in ratings. If a smart were to get in a frontal crash with a Chevy Trailblazer it would be likely that the Trailblazer's driver would receive the same injury as the smart's driver. As said by the IIHS.

[palebeachbum]

And what happens when you don't hit a car with crumple zones to dissipate the energy, but say a tree or telephone pole? No crumple zone in the Smart means YOUR BODY has to absorb the engery.

[scifiguy32]

@palebeachbum people who manage to hit an imobile object while driving deserve to die smart car or not

[palebeachbum]

the dummies head hits the steering wheel in every Smart crash test I've seen. That's just poor design and is considered such when it happens in other vehicle crash tests. Imagine being in that C300 during a crash versus being in the Smart as it's throw about. Much more traumatic to endure and much more like to receive severe injuries. The tests and data are proof enough. Tests say this car isn't as safe a people are claiming it to be. If the car doesn't take the abuse in a crash, guess who does?

[Neonspinnazz30]

I did not say that nobody has died in the smart. There has been so far only 3 confirmed deaths in the USA.

I can name 100 new cars sold in the US that receive marginal or poor due to possible head and leg injury, and they're all larger cars. (ex. Toyota Yaris, Chevy Aveo, Ford Ranger).

The frontal offset barrier test simulates a stationary object and the smart's small, yet strong crumple zones earned it "GOOD"

Any more false facts you want to throw at me? I can do this all year!

[palebeachbum]

I stated you'd be safer in the MB C300 as compared to the Smart. And it IS a fact (even IIHS say so) that you are more likely to sustain life threatening injury in a Smart than if you're in a larger, heavier vehicle, as illustrated with a Chevy Silverado who's hood is the height of the Smart's roof almost. Even though you're in a strong eggshell that you won't get crushed it (the Smart), the G's your body indures as an occupant of a Smart are far greater than if you're in something heavier.

[Neonspinnazz30]

Okay, now you're getting my point.

Yes, you can get hurt far easier than in a C300 and in most larger cars. But the risk of death is lower than all cars of about its size in America.

And also to comment, the IIHS did not say that G's were a major influence on injury because of how the car dissipates the energy.

The IIHS did not prove at all that the smart is NOT safe at all, the dummy only hit the wheel and possibly broke his legs as compared to the greater injury in similar cars.

[Ryoske6]

@Neonspinnazz30

Don't forget the seatbelts. They're strong.

[Ryoske6]

@paleceachbum Unlike dummies. Humans would react. They would stay away from anything that can hurt them amidst(spell check?) a crash. And when u get a highspeed crash in a smart. a human would surely raise his/her legs.

[Shomelife]

@Ryoske6 Actually, you don't really have time to react in alot of accidents.When you do have time to react, your body will subconsciously cover your head. Scientifically, the brain would instantly make you raise your hands to your face. This is because your brain views itself as the most vital part of the body. You can live without a lot of things, but not your brain. Which is one reason why in dangerous situations (such as frostbite) you lose limbs before you lose anything else. Look it up! =D

[palebeachbum]

These much greater G's can kill you without so much as a scratch or bruise on the surface of your skin. People don't consider this. And it's a moot point saying the Smart is safe with the IIHS proved it's NOT when crashed into a 3,500lbs vehicle, which these days is a small midsize car or a small SUV. That's not safe at all! What are you thinking? I'm not saying if It'd do good or not, but I'm really curious to see an offset crash test of a Smart against one of the safer subcompacts like Versa.

[Neonspinnazz30]

Every time you respond, you respond with the effects of G forces and say that the IIHS has proved the smart to be a deathtrap.

1. According to them, the major damage came from the footwell crumpling and the dummy's head that hit the wheel, not G's.

2. Despite that the car earned "POOR" they did not say that the car is not safe, in fact they said it did better than the competition and it performed like a larger compact would.

[Ryoske6]

@palebeachbum

the only thing dangerous in a car is the people driving it.

as long as the person is a decent driver. the car is safe.

[Neonspinnazz30]

Am I saying that you could get into a frontal crash with an Escalade and be guaranteed to live? NO

But is the smart safe to drive everyday? YES

Tests are done in a controlled environment and are spot on and perfect. In real life you will never get into a spot on offset crash with each car going exactly the same speed and direction. Words on paper make little difference in the real world. It's the real world tests that matter and the smart has proven itself in the real world for 10 years.

[Neonspinnazz30]

That is also caused by the transmission upgrade and is a free fix.

Gizmag rated these the top 5

Honda

Mazda

Toyota

Subaru

smart

Google - most reliable car brands gizmag

P.S. Sorry if this is a double post, I'm using Firefox...

[NewFAQs]

Brilliant review! THATS EXACTLY RIGHT! I TEST DROVE ONE LASTT WEEK, AND IM AWAITING APPROVAL TO GET MINE NEXT WEEK! A blue/Black Absolutely great! They really drive like a BMW Sports car and the engine sound is amazing omg.... its orgasmic lol when i test drove it for $15,000 drive away from the dealer I left with the fuel gauge on 0 empty and did 76 k's in it lawl

[leloodallasmultipass]

my civic gets about the same mileage and I can get laid in the back! heh... laid... well, it has a lot more space, anyway.

[saenzlopez]

hey, nobody in the world buy a smart because it's fuel efficiency. if you are looking for low fuel consumption buy a tesla.

smart is part of our life stile.

[needforwil]

THEYER HYBRIDS NOW!!!!!!!!

[posha666]

I would have expected better than 37 mpg.  And it requires expensive premium gasoline, is that right?

[malyikaj]

Yes, but I filled up today and it cost me $16 (premium) for my Smart

[chops3uy91]

reason that it need premium is regular petrol in the us is not as high octane as it is over here ( Europe ) smart coupe ftw i thinks

[palebeachbum]

How many gallons was that?

[Nununda]

total mpg over the tank, not total miles.

[palebeachbum]

I was asking malyikaj how many gallons of gas $16 gave. It costs me about $29-$32 (depending on fluctuating gas prices week to week) to fill my car and I can go around 400 miles.

[needforwil]

It Can Have Diesel Aswell You Can Get To Long Distances With Harldly Any Trips To The Petrol Or Gas Staion BTW: I im British So I Dont Know If You Have Diesel In Where You Live

[carlspanoghe]

here in the US we are denied most diesel cars, so we can only dream of a diesel smart :( we just have the petrol smart for now

[SouthBankOwen]

Bare in mind that when a new car is driven, the fuel consumption is initially not very good. After a few re fills the fuel economy should improve drastically