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Now that I've pass the break in period I took my smart out for a leisure drive this afternoon on some back twisty roads in North Texas. I gotta say the handling is great. I was easily navigating through those twisting curves ast 20-25 above the posted speed limits. Some of those turns are fairly sharp. When you're doing a turn at 55 when the posted limit is 30 you can really feel the smart hugging the turn the entire way. It's awesome...reminds me of when I had the MINI. I also tried down shift at several occasions so I had more power exiting the turn. I was grinning from ear to ear as I felt the back wheels hugging the road through those twisties. The car felt very solid during my handling test. I never felt the car was going to tip over or lose control or spin out. I did not drive it rough or hard basically keeping it at around 45 - 55 in 5th gear with the occasional downshift. It was a great experience.
Last edited by bumblebee; 02-17-2008 at 06:42 PM..
Reason: can't spell
That's what I want to here. It's great that it's environmentally correct, gets great gas mileage, is easy to park and can squeeze through traffic. Having fun through the twisties is also very important to me. Thanks, Bumblebee!
That should be interesting. I'd be looking for a way to disable ESP. Quoting from the recent Road & Track review of the smart: Although studies have shown that stability control systems are the second biggest savers of lives (after seatbelts), ESP wreaked havoc in our tests. On our 200-ft. skidpad, the fortwo understeered its way to a 0.72g rating, our driver doing his best to keep ESP right on the cusp of intervening. In the slalom, ESP was simply too active, limiting the fortwo to a 57.6-mph weave that earns it the distinction of being the slowest slalom car in our Road Test Summary, booting the Rolls-Royce Phantom from that spot.
Is this a speed test? Is the goal to go through a course as fast as possible? Because I'm thinking this is as useful to me as the 0 to 60 rating.
I drive hilly, curvy, occasionally twisty, and pot-holey roads. My Subaru rocks. I'm expecting my smart to rock too, and so I'm really happy to read Bumblebee's report of real world driving.
Is this a speed test? Is the goal to go through a course as fast as possible? Because I'm thinking this is as useful to me as the 0 to 60 rating.
I drive hilly, curvy, occasionally twisty, and pot-holey roads. My Subaru rocks. I'm expecting my smart to rock too, and so I'm really happy to read Bumblebee's report of real world driving.
Think of autocrossing as practicing for sudden maneuvers you must take once in a while to avoid those potholes that suddenly pop up. Also good for avoiding a loose rock or two that might fall in front of you while driving those hilly, curvy roads.
That should be interesting. I'd be looking for a way to disable ESP. Quoting from the recent Road & Track review of the smart: Although studies have shown that stability control systems are the second biggest savers of lives (after seatbelts), ESP wreaked havoc in our tests. On our 200-ft. skidpad, the fortwo understeered its way to a 0.72g rating, our driver doing his best to keep ESP right on the cusp of intervening. In the slalom, ESP was simply too active, limiting the fortwo to a 57.6-mph weave that earns it the distinction of being the slowest slalom car in our Road Test Summary, booting the Rolls-Royce Phantom from that spot.
I guess smart/MBZ doesn't trust smart owners enough with the ability to disable the ESP.
Oh well. At least we beat the Rolls Royce at something.
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Today
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