Possible New Owner Here

[SmartCookie]

Hi fellow Smarties... Ok..I have been researching and trying to decide. Maybe you can help me with a few decisions. I live in the lower (hot and humid) part of Alabama.
We just went with some wonderful friends of ours to B'ham to pick up their Smart (Black Metallic with silver). While there, I test drove one and was simply sold on them.

My decisions to make: Cabrio vs Passion? I love the look and feel of the convertible. But am concerned with the extremely hot temps and possible vandalism. So the Passion would be my next choice. I have red hair. So may can base color decision on that alone. What would look good? LOL

Color choice? First is Red w/ blk? But when I saw the red in person, it kind of had an orange hue when compared to the Honda Civic Si's Ralleye Red. Loved the Blue w/ silver or black, yellow w/ black, and also the silver metallic w/black. Can't order all of them...LOL
Just indecisive. I am leary about reserving right now since I don't know which one I want. Also would consider the orphan list.
Basically, want feedback from everyone. I have looked at all the member pictures and love all of them.
How do you like the Cabrio?
Does the Passion get hot inside from direct sun even with sunscreen pulled closed? Is the EPS (electronic Power Steering) necessary?
Anything I need to consider before ordering one? You're feedback will be most appreciated. Thanks... "Smart Cookie"

[chieftmc]

No one can make the decision for you OR sway you one way or the other; BUT since you mention you're a redhead, I must assume you are also fair skinned and burning would be a factor with a cabrio. Just food for though!

Welcome to the board and the world of smarts!

[SmartCard]

One thing to point out regarding the colors- you would be getting an 2009 model (at least) and the orange-red metallic is being replaced with a non metallic red. Also yellow is being discontinued (I know! ), and a grey metallic being added. But your more important decision lies with the Cab vs coupe. You can't discount the vandalism thread, however some of us feel that the soft top may actually be cooler inside as compared to the panoromic roof - which seems to heat up quite a bit when sitting out in the sun.

Whatever your ultimate choice, welcome to the forum!

[Rmichael1]

I can only speak to the Passion's Panoramic polycarbonate roof and sunshield. It does heat up the cabin and the sunshield is not much help here in central Texas. I, and others, have installed our own sunshield helper and you can find numerous posts about it. Mine is working great and has really cut down on the heat and light. I'm pretty fair skinned and in Texas there are not that many days I would put the top down, but I have not owned a convertible since my Triumph Spitfire days back in college. I love the color of my smart and I will remind you that you can always have the panels painted or wrapped to suit your personality. Happy trails.

[MikeDCop]

It's HOT and HUMID here in all of Alabama, not just LA.

Common sense is that you don't leave anything in your car that a thief would want to have like a laptop computers, PDAs, GPSs, MP3 players, and ladies purses. By the way, those and aftermarket stereos are the LEADING things stolen in a car burglary.

I had a convertable several years ago, and I would not even lock the door. I left a Bible in the car just incase the thief really wanted to take something.

Both will be fun to have and I can't wait for mine to get here.

[SuperGeek]

I live in Mobile, with a black/black Passion, black leather seats. Yeah, I'm nuts. Certifiable.

The pano roof lets in a lot of heat, even with the shade which only blocks about half of it. The seats don't heat up much. What I did to combat heat:

Tint the side windows to 35% with a product called Platinum Plus (Precision Auto/Window Tinting did the job), rear window to 20%. About 70% of the heat is gone with that alone, especially if I park so the rear faces the sun and my reflective rear window just bounces the sunlight right off. See my gallery for pictures.

I bought a Magic Shade (windshield shade) and stuck it up in between the roof and shade. Now that's gone from 50% to 99% shade, and my chrome dome doesn't glisten like Rudolph's nose anymore. In the 12 days a year that it's not raining, crack the windows an inch. There's no ventilation in the Smart otherwise. With all that, the only thing that gets hot is the dash area, and a window shade helps that a lot. Remember, the car's all door and window.

EPS to me is helpful... on the highway I think it adapts to the speed and makes it more responsive when needed. Some have said it tracks straight even in wind; I had no trouble driving from Houston to Mobile... a big gust of wind would make me grab the wheel but I never left the lane once.

[danag]

Might as well go ahead and reserve now. It won't be till well into next year before smart ask you to commit to a color and model. I reserved last month and smart has my DDE as Oct '09 to Dec '09. LOTS of time to thing about color and model.

[SmartCookie]

Thank you for all of your insightful feedback... Hmmm, now I need to consider my options. I could just get the car in my first choice color, and collect all the other color panels along the way...that would work. So many choices... LOL
I like the idea of magic shade also. And, yes, I am porceline fair. So I think the cabrio might be out for now. Thanks again! Take care all.

[angel]

If you place your order now it'll be a while before you get yours unless you luck into an orphan. And the red color is suppose to be different next year as are some of the other color options.

[Belleveu1]

Smart Cookie,

Put in your reservation now. You aren't locked in to a model until your confirmation date which will be months away. You will have lots of time to ponder which model and colors. If you decide later to do something else, you will get your money back.