Reclining passenger seat - Page 4 - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Smartdavis · 11-07-2008, 05:20 PM

The ratchet still works. Notice how your latch mechanism lets you move the seat back a fraction at at time before it locks the seat? The tab that gets bent/broken has nothing to do with the latch (it's on the opposite side), you just get to recline further back with additional latch positions. Make sure you hold the latch mechanism in the "unlatched" position when you push the seat, otherwise you are pushing against both the tab and the latch.

mike-in-sa · 11-08-2008, 03:53 PM

When I was in europe I was told that euro smarts are fully reclining. For what ever reason, U.S smarts are blocked.

Smartdavis · 11-08-2008, 05:08 PM

It's the French sense of humor no doubt.

Karl Roth · 11-08-2008, 05:19 PM

We have a tendency to do stupid things and then call a lawyer?
karl

**jediknight36** · 11-08-2008, 05:42 PM

Someone please do this and tape it and youtube it! Or at least show that it still ratchets. Void warranty?

Smartdavis · 11-08-2008, 06:01 PM

I had my doubts too, and this is not for the faint of heart. My seat still latches like it used to, except now it reclines all the way back. I have no idea if this is a bad idea or not, but I wanted to be able to recline, and whatever is broken can always be fixed again. The tab came off far too easily to be a safety issue IMHO. I agree it would be a very bad idea to drive with the seat reclined anymore than the original limit so that you are not interfering with the side airbag deployment. I only plan to recline when I am parked.

KarenS · 11-12-2008, 09:05 AM

I'm going to try it....hope I'm strong enough!

ExonicJay · 11-12-2008, 09:48 PM

The real reason we don't have what is available in Europe (like reclining seats) is our government.

More exactly our Congress and the enforcing arm... the DOT.

That is why we don't have the highly efferent Smart diesel in the USA.

Way too much government intervention in this country.

Europe must think we Americans are all woozy.

I think they maybe be right.

smart fortimo · 11-12-2008, 10:29 PM

Anyone have a protractor and can share the before and after angles they are talking about? Looking for empirical data instead of "wow it lays way back"...

Come on lucky 170*

**jediknight36** · 11-13-2008, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExonicJay

The real reason we don't have what is available in Europe (like reclining seats) is our government.

More exactly our Congress and the enforcing arm... the DOT.

That is why we don't have the highly efferent Smart diesel in the USA.

Way too much government intervention in this country.

Europe must think we Americans are all woozy.

I think they maybe be right.

Watch it now. Not to get political, but on average our Libs here are Ultra Conservative in Europe. Not saying anything one way or the other.

Maybe this "tab" was a mistake? A fluke in production of teh US 451? Are the two really that different?