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I just got my silver Passion Coupe a couple of weeks ago. What a hoot! I get an ear to ear grin every time I drive it. I am having a blast in this thing, and I am surprised by all the attention the car (and I) have been getting. I can't even walk into a burger joint or local gun shop without all kinds of people crowding around asking me about "that little silver car"...
I really appreciate the test drive I was given by the Boston dealership. The salesman was a former Smart technician, and when he realized I am used to driving sporty cars with a stick, he gave me the "big revelation" about the Smart car... the automatic is really a 5 speed manual, with a couple of "robot monkeys" actuating the clutch and the shifter. Glad I have a tach in my Smart Car, for once you figure out the optimum shift points, just letting off the gas at the right times lets the "monkeys" know it's time to shift... and you can get smoother, quicker accelerations than just letting the Smart shift for itself in full-throttle take-offs. Once you decide to let the "monkey" on the shifter "take a hike" by slapping the shifter into manual mode... what can I say? For those of you that haven't finalized your order yet, I strongly suggest you get a version with the paddle shifters! (Smart Passion Coupe and Cabriolet). What a hoot this car is to drive! And I have the "normal" 70 hp engine...
I recently was "surprised" by the Smart's susceptibility to strong (55 mph) cross wind gusts on the highway. I guess I should not have been surprised, physics is physics:
1. The Smart is a pretty tall car for its size.
2. The Smart is a pretty narrow car for its height.
3. The Smart only weighs 1800 pounds.
4. The Smart's center f gravity is BEHIND its center of pressure (like the old VW Beetle, or the Porsche 911). Thus, when it's pushed from the side by the wind, the nose steers INTO THE DIRECTION IT IS BEING PUSHED, which exacerbates the effect of the crosswind.
I guess I'll just have to keep the speed down in heavy crosswind gusts (which we have some serious ones, up in the NH mountain passes)...
On a plus note:
1. I got better than 45 MPG on a recent trip to Hartford and back. This was done blasting along to "test out" the frisky performance of the Smart...
2. The Smart is uncommonly stable in overtake-and-pass of big trucks on the Interstate. It resists the truck's "bow wave" push and the venturi-effect "suck" as you go by these behemoths at speed.
3. The Smart makes you feel like you are in a much, much larger car when driving on the highway.
4. Although the Smart can give you a rough ride around pothole-marked city streets, IT NEVER SEEMS TO LOSE CONTROL. The tires and suspension seem to stay planted firmly no matter what... Kudos to the Mercedes engineering staff for an competent design of steering, suspension and electronic stability control systems. I think this car, with a little more power and different tires, might make a good candidate for a rally...
Outstanding car
Live Free or Die!
Last edited by Greymantle; 12-03-2008 at 07:49 PM..
In cross winds it is noticable. Just take it at the speed limit and it'll do OK. My ride includes an exposed and windy interstate section. Just do your best to know where those are and keep it at a reasonable speed .
As a fellow New Englander, you may want to consider snow tires and snow rims. Lots of info on that on the tire section.
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