So, I thought I would let the car bake in a bit before writing up my initial thoughts, remarks, likes and dislikes of the US smart 451. A good thing too. I think my initial day, I was not too pleased. I actually kept reminding myself that I COULD possibly sell the car for around what I had paid for it (based on current demand and waiting list) and this could be a lesson but not a HARD lesson to have learnt. Happy to say that that most likely WON’T be happening, we’ll be keeping the little guy a while longer at least.
On with the show:
I should qualify my responses and review of the car with the following history. I have had a smart before, 10 years ago, vehicle #3 off the line. I had the car for about four weeks when I first moved to Stuttgart during the summer of 1998. I had rain, sun, and later in the winter (I had a different smart at that time) in snow. I “recall” generally liking the car, but it had a manual I believe and not the “clutchless” manual we have in the USA. There WAS talk on the SPG gearbox coming to the smart back then (it may have already been available at launch as I recall) but I don’t recall having it.
I guess I was thinking that 10 years would have moved the car UPWARDS in fit and finish, performance for economy, features, etc. It has in some respects, not in others.
I won’t go into my US dealer experience. I have commented before on that. I think the dealer where I picked up was just getting their processes up to speed and didn’t necessarily follow the plan. Items in their checklist weren’t followed and I’ll be expecting a tank of gas when I go in for the first service. Nuff said.
EXTERIOR:
I still like the cars exterior and style. It is STILL cute, and fun to look at, fun to rally around in. It will be fun to mod and possibly change the panels on. We’re thinking about black or yellow, depending on weather and such. I think the shape is a little bit more masculine than the original version – that is, IF one can even USE the word masculine with this little car. I think the wider stance, beefier bumpers, silver mirror housings, and contrasting safety cell (we got all that in our model) give it this bolder appearance. So, like it.
INTERIOR:
We got red seats and interior, which I think really compliment the STYLE and expectations of this car. Black leather just wouldn’t work for me. The red is snappy and fun, and that works. I am not a fan that the DRIVERS seat doesn’t go back as far as the PASSENGERS seat and don’t really understand why not. But, all the way back and tilted back, I am fine (at 6’5” to boot) Seating position is great, as is visibility – with exception of the large blind spots of the c/d pillar on both sides. When pulling out of a parking space, I find myself always looking right, left, back, right left, THEN pulling out. I am concerned that I might hit a pedestrian that I don’t see as opposed to being hit by another car that doesn’t see ME (which is actually a larger problem probably)
The radio is pretty much bunk, reception is fine, but the speakers are crap. I bought just the base radio (thinking the upgrade was RADIO only and not better / more speakers (this wasn’t represented well on the website IMHO)) The biggest issue is the speakers, only TWO in the doors and they don’t put out either much or much good sound IMHO. Directionally they are also poorly placed. An upgrade is going to be necessary but apparently difficult. Had I know that the stereo upgrade would bring 2-4 more quality speakers, I probably would have done it at the time or order. This is something smart could really improve on their website, as well as highlighting that the alarm system is optional, only 160$ and cannot be added AM. No QUESTION I would have ordered it at the time.
The RADIO ALWAYS TURNS ON at startup, which is crazy. I don’t find this “fun” or “sporty” I just find it annoying and is probably some ECU glitch that needs to be fixed. What ELSE is happening that we don’t know about?
The cup holders are nice to have, but their placement is pretty bad. One BEHIND the other, makes it hard to USE BOTH. Their LOCATION is also right under the ciggy lighter (which is used to power my navsystem) and the cable coming out is cluttering access to the cup holders. Ours have a large rubber insert in one of them, still trying to figure out what THAT is for. Word to the wise, PLEASE don’t try putting your grande starbucks coffee in EITHER of these locations, since it will soon be part of the floor. The jolting and stability of the car is such that even HOLDING a cup of coffee and going over a bump is going to make the coffee a part of the car sooner or later. This means that even though I would like to have BOTH hands on the wheel, one is going to be holding a coffee many of the mornings that I drive the car.
There is no ashtray (not that I smoke, but one can use it for coins, keys, etc) and no additional storage easily reachable to the driver. The cubbies next to the steering column are fine, but not really visible when driving, and not closed up. I would LOVE an armrest over the parking brake ( I know there is one aftermarket) with a little bit of storage space. A drop down storage bin under the button panel would be IDEAL!
There really isn’t much space for STUFF or storage to speak of. Which is good, one has to be frugal and practical about what one brings in this car. I normally am picking things up during the day and dropping it all in the backseat in the jeep. The back seat fills up with STUFF and months later I clear it out. I know, this is BAD and the smart will encourage me – no MAKE me better that process. Since, one cannot really just PUT stuff anywhere, passenger seat or boot and leave it there, since it will MOVE everywhere are some point, usually the first left or right turn will do.
The back storage area is fine, but yes small and impractical for even a couple of grocery bags, Since, the bags instantly slide or move around at the first left or right turn after leaving the super market. Bottles are the worst, they don’t just MOVE they pretty much FLY around. So, a box, cargo storage, the netting, SOMETHING is absolutely necessary in this little guy. We’ll be buying that stuff soon as soon as I pick out the best option.
‘nother note to the wise. Don’t put anything perishable or like ICE CREAM on this back cargo area/deck. EVEN BANANAS. It gets WARM, since well it is OVER THE ENGINE and the heat it generates is going to melt your ice cream. Makes sure things like that are in the front seat after leaving the market.
I was surprised (as were many of us) that the PANORAMIC “sun-roof” SCREEN meant, clear plastic roof that doesn’t move. I should have known this, since I remember when the original sliding roof (sliding fabric roof) came out in germany to offer a true sun-roof experience. Of COURSE there was no way to put in a real sun-roof without having that ROOF GO SOMEWHERE. Ah well, I don’t really use the panoramic sun-roof too much since here in CA the HEAT just bakes right through it.
The other thing about the interior are the WINDOWS. Up down, all works fine. One touch down is nice, but I never go all the way down. If one opens the drivers window be ready for a wind tunnel! No WAY is this a way to bring air into the car. Of course, there is no rear window to open to allow air to flow from front to back and out, but I can reduce the vortex a bit by opening the passenger window. Air comes in, some goes over my head (yeah, there is only about ½” there) and out the passengers window. What this DOES do though is make life worse for the passenger since they are now getting the brunt of THEIR window air vortex and spill off from MY Open window vortex. Maybe I’ll try venting out the trunk lid or something.
EXTERIOR/INTERIOR
My DOORS don’t seem to fit very well. I don’t just mean the THUNK they make when closing which makes me re-close them about 20% of the time, but for example when I go over a bump on a bridge I have the feeling that the DRIVERS DOOR is bumping DOWN and since there is no DOOR FRAME (the window has no round and goes directly to the CAR FRAME) the door shifts DOWN during the bump, making the WINDOW shift down and creating a small gap for a second. A second where I can hear the OUTSIDE more and I wonder if it were RAINING would some water come in? It seems LESS so on the P2 side, but maybe that is because I am driving.
BUMP-STEER.
Since the first day, I have the feeling that either a steering control rod/arm is broken, loose, or the alignment is off. Even on perfectly flat smooth asphalt, I get a wiggle transmitted through the steering that I can feel. It is a niggle wiggle, not perfectly constant but there. I’ll have that checked out first thing when the car goes in to fix the stuff the dealer needs to fix up. But, I don’t know if this is standard, the power steering or just a feature. Anyone else notice this?
ENGINE:
The engine is actually better than I thought it was going to be. I was thinking that going to 50% or 15% of the performance of some of our other cars was going to be REALLY bad, but the engine actually manages to get the car up to city and highway speeds quite well or at least respectably. Our mileage for the first tank was about 37mpg with mixed city and highway driving, and that was getting used to the transmission, manual, auto, AC, etc. So, I think it should get a bit better, and it could be better managed. I sure HOPE it will pop about 10% or so in the future. 20% would be nice if I was going all highway driving. Next week, I’m doing five days back and forth to the big city, I am going to TRY to do 55 mph the whole way and will record the mileage I get.
I am surprised that I don’t HEAR the engine more basically sitting right on top of it. The sound proofing that has been done in the engine bay does a good job at keeping it pretty quite. The noise one does hear is more road, air friction, and the niggle wiggles
:-)
Ah TRANSISSION: (no write up review would be worthy without it!)
I knew it going in, the transmission was going to be the bane for some of us smarty adopters. Day ONE, it was a nightmare. Trying to drive in Auto with an AUTO mind set just wasn’t working. As the car wanted to up-shift (which it REALLY wants to do often) it was of course decelerating the engine, and then pitching/bowing, and then catching and then lerching. When I moved to manual, it wasn’t too much better since I was coming from a world of porshce and audi tiptronics where I just flick and BOOM within .500ms, the gear is engaged. No need to lift off or nothing. But, this is of course with decades of engine management software and technology all of which is NOT in the smart. So, I have learned the art of the “lift-off to take-off”! In auto, I can sense when the engine is going to want to upshift and I just lift off just slightly. It puts ME and the CAR into the expectation that the upshift is going to occur. Putting ME and the passenger in this expectation puts us psycho-physically prêt not to lerch, but to yield and prep for the much reduced BOW that would occur with a sudden engine/transmission led deceleration. When using manual, I can greatly accelerate the up-shift and engagement of the next gear if I lift up (just a tiny bit will do ya!) and then click the paddle and then on the peg again. OFF WE GO!!
I FEAR, however, that the transmission will not be as readily accepted or adopted by most automatic conditioned drivers. Without several decades of manual transmission use (And abuse) I wouldn’t have the understanding and readiness to make these changes as quickly. I also might not be willing to make these changes for the sake of maybe 5-10 more mpg. Which is what we MIGHT be getting compared to other small cars in this class (most of which DO have a manual transmission though)
The transmission always WANTS to be a higher gear. Unless I am on the peg a bit more than most, I don’t get across the center of an intersection without gear TWO being engaged. What does that do? It makes the car SLOW DOWN in the MIDDLE of an intersection. At a four way stop, during rush hour I notice that drivers at my THREE & NINE start heading out as I take-off. But, what they DON’T realize is that even though I have taken off from the line, I’m going to do a STALL in the middle of their trajectory while my GEAR TWO BOOSTER is engaged and I resurge through the intersection. I have learned as has the GF to keep on the peg a bit, and lift off once ACROSS the intersection and THEN let the G2B engage.
Another thing is the lack of DOWNSHIFTS in AUTO. I think the car likes to get to TWO by at the LATEST 10MPH. Then, THREE by about 20-25, then FOUR by 35 and then at about 39 or so, I can tell the upshift to FIVE is coming. Makes sense, IF I am increasing my speed. But, I often get up to about 40 on some areas in town here. Speed limit is probably 35 and the traffic is going 39-42 in those areas. I am in FIFTH gear and the engine sounds like it is bogging a bit. I think that even for best performance/economy, the car should be in FOURTH gear and not FIFTH, but it just won’t shift down. If I step on it a bit, I can get a downshift, but this is usually to THIRD (the two step “power” downshift) but what I really wanted was fourth. So, into manual we go and tick it down a step. I think that as optimal as the tranny THINKS it is performing, this type of scenario is NOT optimal.
But, we all know this, ja?
The last comment is about warranty.
In today’s environment, I find it really unacceptable to offer a car with only 2yr/24000mile warranty. Is there ANYONE that does this except maybe Ferrari? I know that this is most likely a COST decision and not a “well, we think that the car is going to start to break at 2yr” decision.
But, the worst part of it, and I could be wrong here, is that the CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION seems to have a 1YR warranty only? Has anyone else read this in the warranty manual? If this is true, this REALLY concerns me since I think the transmission is going to be a weak link what with frequent shifting in and out of manual and auto in order to drive/enjoy the car. If in 18 months we start seeing a bunch of clutch failures and declining transmission performance, what is going to happen then? At 15K it isn’t as if the car is a throw away over time, not unless gas was 10$ a gallon or something. I don’t see the extended warranty covered by smartusa offering a clutch and transmission upgrade. If anyone has thoughts or comments on this let’s discuss it.
So, despite the nigs (and wiggles) we are enjoying the car and more so than day ONE. Even by day THREE I was having fun with it, and the GF is getting used to the tranny. It isn’t completely replacing another car though, but it is now my daily driver for back and forth, work and weekends. Saving me more than 65% on gas which translates into about the insurance costs and depreciation on the vehicle for me. Works out IMHO.
Keep on smartin!
Step on the gas for an attitude adjustment with the tranny. Step on it more when making left hand turns, you'll find the problem of shifting to second going away. You can control the timing and duration of shifts depending on your pressure on the gas pedal.
The car reacts to you and your driving, don't try to adjust yourself to the car!
By the way, I love every inch of mine and have absolutely NO complaints.
I believe the one year coverage is for consumables, which includes brake pad/shoes and the clutch disc (maybe some other parts, will have to re-read.) Clutch failure is covered under the two year/24K miles warranty the way I interpret it.
"But, what they DON’T realize is that even though I have taken off from the line, I’m going to do a STALL in the middle of their trajectory while my GEAR TWO BOOSTER is engaged and I resurge through the intersection."
I believe the one year coverage is for consumables, which includes brake pad/shoes and the clutch disc (maybe some other parts, will have to re-read.) Clutch failure is covered under the two year/24K miles warranty the way I interpret it.
the way I read this from page 6, section E
"items covered for 12months/12K miles only whichever comes first
Brakes (rotors, pads, linings, drums)
Wiper Blades
clutch (pressure plate, clutch disc, flywheel)
windshield and rear window
wheel alignment and wheel balacing."
Step on the gas for an attitude adjustment with the tranny. Step on it more when making left hand turns, you'll find the problem of shifting to second going away. You can control the timing and duration of shifts depending on your pressure on the gas pedal.
The car reacts to you and your driving, don't try to adjust yourself to the car!
By the way, I love every inch of mine and have absolutely NO complaints.
this is exactly the method I am now applying, more hard on the gas (peg) and we're going a bit better.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
Sonic
1976 Rover Mini
2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec (SOLD)
2009 smart Passion (Gone)
2011 smart Passion
Today
Linear Mode
