Cute, but is it reliable?

[danag]

I know many of you are still waiting for your car to arrive or are fairly new smart owners. However my husband asked me this question the other night so I thought I would put it out to the board and see what people think. How reliable is this car? We are long time Honda owners and so are spoiled by their reliability. Can I expect the same thing from my smart, which by the way won't be here for a long time since we just put our reservation in earlier this month.

Thanks for any feedback.

[rawlus®]

it won't be as reliable as a honda i don't think. not for it's first model year. by the time you get yours tho - most of the kinks should be worked out.

that said, it is likely a way more fun vehicle than a honda. it is a unique driving experience, where as a honda is vanilla ice cream, reliable and predictable.

if you're not in love with the car and not prepared to love it with it's faults and shortcomings, then it may not be for you. if you're the type that will always be comparing it to something else - xyz has more room, abc has 4 doors, def is faster, etc. then the smart is not for you probably.

the smart is most ideally suited for people who can't imagine not owning a smart. people who need to own one on more than a purely practical level.

the smart does not stand up to deep practical analysis.

[vwW12]

Originally Posted by rawlus®

the smart does not stand up to deep practical analysis.

I think it depends.

Ours has 2500 miles on the odometer and has performed flawlessly so far. It certainly meets our wants for:
(a) a convertible
(b) easy to park
(c) usable in streets and highways around town at up to 90MPH
(d) dirt cheap to own and use
(e) different (911 cabriolets and SLKs are as common around here as Chevys elsewhere)
(f) upholstered dash —very hard to get those short of certain bespoke euro models
(h) ASC and 4 SRS bags
(h) tiptronic

Then again, we have no kids, have a large sedan for when the inlaws are in town and for long drives, and are utterly disinclined from the DIY world and the need to bring big stuff from Home Depot.

[jimrb66]

Hi I wanted reliable and cute so I bought a 08 Honda FIT ssm sport.
Jimrb66

[RLove]

Originally Posted by vwW12

I think it depends.

Ours has 2500 miles on the odometer and has performed flawlessly so far. It certainly meets our wants for:
(a) a convertible
(b) easy to park
(c) usable in streets and highways around town at up to 90MPH
(d) dirt cheap to own and use
(e) different (911 cabriolets and SLKs are as common around here as Chevys elsewhere)
(f) upholstered dash —very hard to get those short of certain bespoke euro models
(h) ASC and 4 SRS bags
(h) tiptronic

Then again, we have no kids, have a large sedan for when the inlaws are in town and for long drives, and are utterly disinclined from the DIY world and the need to bring big stuff from Home Depot.

I'd agree with all but (h)...it's so far away from a Tiptronic, it's like comparing apples and oranges

[BigWarpGuy]

Since Smart is owned by Mercedes, one would think it would have the same reliability as a Mercedes. I have been driving mine since March 2008. I have not experienced any problems(yet?). I really like my little car.

[danag]

I hear you on the vanilla ice cream comparison with Honda cars. My husband drives an Acura and I drive an Isuzu Trooper so we have reliable up the you know what. But I need/want a small car to just drive around town. I don't even have to worry about practical, because even though I will be mainly driving around my 10 year old son a lot (he is homeschooled) and myself, I still will have my SUV for when I need to drive around more kids or just need a big car. It's just the first time I saw a smart car in the in a movie I knew I wanted wanted one. Hey if I were totally practical I would just buy a Honda civic, which BTW are great cars, but boring compared to a smart.

I will add though as much as I would like my smart now, I am happy to have the second year model. Have not had great experiences with first year models. Let them work the kinks out, then I'll buy.

[DaveInTexas]

I had a Honda....

...two transmissions in 37,000 miles is not what I would call reliable. I got rid of it for a Mazda.




Said Honda was a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid with CVT transmission.

[Dave Van]

I had a 1990 Civic...far from perfect but a great dealer made it a good car. Thats all part of it. Predicting the future reliability of the Smart is a bit tough. Taken care of by the book, as I am, and more (5000 mile oil change etc) I FEEL it will be average or better. It is in the MB family after all.

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by RLove

I'd agree with all but (h)...it's so far away from a Tiptronic, it's like comparing apples and oranges

I would take issue with (d) as well.