Cute, but is it reliable?

[vwW12]

Originally Posted by VWScottie

I've heard the "flaws" mentioned a few times, so what are they?

1. Strong crosswinds may appear at first to be able to throw you off course. Does not seem to be the case, though, especially with power steering.

2. You have to explain that the car is relatively safe over and over.

3. The trunk gets warm because the engine is under it.

4. There is no spare wheel

5. If you want red seats, you can't have leather

[Lisa and Leslie]

As for the reliability of the Smart, I take comfort based on the following:
1. Reputation - Smart cars are manufactured by Mercedes;
2. Track Record - Smart cars have been selling in Europe for more then 10 years; and
3. Additional Assurance - I purchased an extended warranty.

[nscaler]

2051 miles - no problem. Driving up to Reno/Tahoe tomorrow. Up Cajon Pass. 340 lb. passenger - pretty good test.

[rollingtones]

Originally Posted by rawlus®

i agree to a point, however, smarts are not manufactured by mercedes. they are manufactured by smart, which is owned by daimler.
and while the original smart has been in other markets for nearly a decade, the US-model is the first production year of a 98% new design. including a new engine. so, reliability estimates can't really be drawn based upon the older model.
and while an extended warranty gives many peace of mind, being 3rd party, it cannot credibly be factored as an element of overall reliability.

only time will tell how reliable the new smart will be. there have been small kinks along the way thus far.

i think the big watch-outs for the moment are the limited number of dealerships nationwide, a relative scarcity of replacement/repair parts and that all parts are currently coming from overseas sources, technicians in those service depts across the country as as new to the vehicle as us owners are, it will take time and experience to build up adequate proficiency in problem diagnosis and repair, there is not a shop manual available to the public and it does not appear there is one on the immediate horizon, which will make self-diagnosis and repair difficult if not impossible in some instances....and of course it is a first-model-year vehicle, it would be natural to assume some changes for the better made on future models, however slight.

Mercedes-Benz is the passenger car division of Daimler, a huge industrial concern. The car was designed 10 years ago by Mercedes-Benz. It was ALL done in-house. The factory is 10 miles over the German border in Hambach, France, just like Acuras and Hondas are designed and manufactured by Honda, but built in many plants, including Marysville, Ohio. That does not make them American cars, they are still Hondas. And the design is not 98% new. Technically it is 80.3% new.

[faith in dc]

I know the smart felt more solid than my 98 Geo Metro. I also like the design of the it for easy fixing, when something does go wrong. It should cut dow on the labor cost.

[rollingtones]

I started driving my smart on June 1st and as of today I have 11,400 miles on it. I have had zero problems and to reassure the lady who started this thread, I would not let any concerns about reliability bother you. I do not baby my car and it is proving to be a tough little bugger.

[rawlus®]

Originally Posted by Lisa and Leslie

As for the reliability of the Smart, I take comfort based on the following:
1. Reputation - Smart cars are manufactured by Mercedes;
2. Track Record - Smart cars have been selling in Europe for more then 10 years; and
3. Additional Assurance - I purchased an extended warranty.

i agree to a point, however, smarts are not manufactured by mercedes. they are manufactured by smart, which is owned by daimler.
and while the original smart has been in other markets for nearly a decade, the US-model is the first production year of a 98% new design. including a new engine. so, reliability estimates can't really be drawn based upon the older model.
and while an extended warranty gives many peace of mind, being 3rd party, it cannot credibly be factored as an element of overall reliability.

only time will tell how reliable the new smart will be. there have been small kinks along the way thus far.

i think the big watch-outs for the moment are the limited number of dealerships nationwide, a relative scarcity of replacement/repair parts and that all parts are currently coming from overseas sources, technicians in those service depts across the country as as new to the vehicle as us owners are, it will take time and experience to build up adequate proficiency in problem diagnosis and repair, there is not a shop manual available to the public and it does not appear there is one on the immediate horizon, which will make self-diagnosis and repair difficult if not impossible in some instances....and of course it is a first-model-year vehicle, it would be natural to assume some changes for the better made on future models, however slight.

[SunDiego]

Anyone who takes Consumer Reports has got to be kidding me.

[donald1]

danag,
We picked up our "lil red" on Jan 31, one of the first in Houston.(we live 80 miles west).
Had the two problems most of the early deliveries had:
engine light (replaced unit - no more problems)
Gear shift locked up .. smart picked up car and replaced unit - no more problem. i don't hear of too many problems anymore.

We just passed 10,000 this past Monday. I wouldn't want to be the one who tried to take it away from us.
by the time you get yours they should be nearly perfect.

d

[dbwill]

MB, according to much of the auto community, has been in a quality slump and is just now coming out and is getting back to the quality level of earlier years. From sometime in the mid 80's till the mid 90's their cars were not what many of my old time MB owner friends had experienced in years past. It is good to see the resurgence of the marque.