New Car

DJWFLORIDA · 05-10-2008, 07:30 AM

I just ordered a Smart Car a couple of days ago so it will be a year I am told before delivery. Perhaps I can get some information from some current owners. When i test drove the car I wasnt able to drive it on a highway. My plan is to use this as a commuter car, 60 miles a day on the freeway. How does it handle at highway speeds say 70-75? Do you get blown around like a leaf when a truck passes? Do you feel that any second you could become a wet spot on a Hummers bumper? Where I live in South Florida, there are massive numbers of gas guzzing Hummers, trucks, etc. I am a bit unnerved about this upoming event, pulling onto I95 in this tiny car.

Reliability. What has your experience been with reliability? Anyone had one long enough to notice any intrinsic problems? Being designed by Germans, I suspect its very good in this area.

Thanks for any information and your time!

**JPaul** · 05-10-2008, 07:40 AM

Welcome DJWFLORIDA,
Speaking of time, I spent, spend, a lot of time browsing around the forum and I did find, and still do, lots of useful tidbits and reactions, including about the car's behavior at highway speed. Reliability: lots of members and visitors have plenty of miles. And you'll have plenty of time to do same, both: in finding what you're after and miles once you get yours... Many Smiling Miles...

If you don't mind, share what model, options, etc...

DJWFLORIDA · 05-12-2008, 08:42 AM

Thanks for the information. Have you heard of anyone that has installed an after market cruise control device? Im planning on doing that, I wish that was an option when ordering..........I hate to start hanging aftermarket junk on the car but a cruise contol device is a huge benefit when you are trying to economize on gas usage.

curtis · 05-12-2008, 09:01 AM

i guess the cruise control is still not fully available, also if you didnt take it on the hwy i would go back to the dealer and do another test drive and get it on the freeway!

sheureka · 05-12-2008, 09:38 AM

There's a forum with information on the development of cruise control here - http://www.smartcarcruisecontrol.com/index.php? - and welcome!

kwagar · 05-12-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJWFLORIDA

Thanks for the information. Have you heard of anyone that has installed an after market cruise control device? Im planning on doing that, I wish that was an option when ordering..........I hate to start hanging aftermarket junk on the car but a cruise contol device is a huge benefit when you are trying to economize on gas usage.

DJW,
I live in Central Florida and have 3100 miles on my smart and have had no issues with driving on the highways at 70 to 80 MPH.

Having said that I lived in the Miami area a few years ago and I-95 in Broward and Dade counties is one of the scariest highways in the USA due to the combination of truck traffic, high speed travel and very slow and uncertain elderly and vacationers.

I would buy and use the car, they are great fun but I would also be very, very careful and drive very defensively.

DJWFLORIDA · 05-29-2008, 09:13 AM

Odered a Passion, blue with silver although theres one in the show room that is black and silver. Looks very good I may switch to that when the time comes. Also want the guages on the dash. Still cant believe cruise control is not an option at a time when saving gas is so important!

Wdhitch · 05-29-2008, 01:45 PM

DJ,

I too was stuck on the whole cruise control thing... I live near Tampa and we're on I75 quite a lot... but when we got Serendipity last weekend it really didn't cause an issue... It's not hard to keep it at 70 or 75 and not having CC actually keeps you more focused on your driving... as for driving feel, sometimes there's a noticeable vibration on the steering wheel above 65 or so but it seems to dissipate after about 10 miles or so... my guess is the tires warm up and the ride really seems to smooth out.

awchief · 05-29-2008, 01:45 PM

My wife is driving a red/black Passion on I-5 about 35 miles one way each day. I-5 in the Seattle/Tacoma WA area is one of the most congested in the USA according to what the WA DOT is saying, and the speeds vary from 75+ down to rolling parking lots from day to day. So far she has had no complaints about the way it does in traffic at any speed. She did point out that when taking a trip to Richland, WA the cross winds in the open desert country did bother her, but that wind will blow an 18 wheeler over from time to time. When ever I have been a passenger (she let me drive it twice so far, that is back it out of the drive way) with her it will jump up to Interstate speeds well with in the acceleration lane. The little thing will really scoot if you want it too.

smartfloridadad · 05-29-2008, 07:56 PM

I live in st pete ,and have had mine just over 3 months ,have 2000 miles on it ,I have found that the interstates with grooved concrete tend to cause the little car to wonder a bit ,not bad ,just need to keep both hands on the wheel ,as far as cruise control one of the tech's told me it could be as high as 1000.00 if installed at the dealer ,a few companies are working on an after market system