Smart fortwo vs whatever car you drove previously...

[Salt227]

Hi everyone! I apologize in advance if this question has been asked a million times around here.

Currently I drive an 05 Mini Cooper S, but am seriously considering the switch to a Passion Coupe in the very near future. My question is, compared to the car that you drove before your Smart, how well does it accelerate (in situations such as highway merges, etc). I realize the car is smaller and much lighter than what I'm driving, but such a significant drop in HP is a little daunting as I'm used to driving somewhat...fast.

Any stories would be greatly appreciated! I will be going in for a test drive this week, but wanted to hear what other people had to say about it first.

[forestacademy]

Take it for a long test drive. Get to know the way it shifts and how to use it to your advantage.

In auto mode it is tuned for fuel economy, but you can drive it the way you want to. Take advantage of the manual mode and don't worry if you forget your in manual, the car will down shift when you come to a stop without you going anything.

Read these to get you ready to drive it

[WhiteNBlack08]

Obviously it's not a race car. It definitely isn't a Mini Cooper S either, but that being said, I have no issues merging onto freeways at speed. The only time I have any issues, is when I get stuck behind some dope that doesn't want to accelerate beyond about 40 mph until they are ready to merge, then puch it. The smart doesn't accelerate that fast. If you smoothly accelerate and use the majority of the on-ramp(if it can be done safely), you will find you can be up to 70-75 mph easily at the end of the ramp, and not have to really stomp on it.

Two things I will warn you about though:
1. You will get a lot more looks in the smart.
2. The smart is more fun to drive than anything else you have ever owned.

If you go into the ownership experience with your eyes open, and accept the car for what it is, and not what some meat head journalist thinks it should be, you'll be fine.

[Salt227]

Thanks to you both! I have already contacted the dealership about the test drive and intend to get the most out of it that I can. I'm very much looking forward to testing it out! My Mini has the same type of transmission, so there won't be a learning period there.

The merging thing was my biggest issue, but what you've just said works for me. I am fully prepared to be the center of attention. I know that I'm always one of the people looking when I see one on the road.

[Kermit]

Hasn't been a million times but it has been asked before. It has been quite a while since the question came up so it is a good time to revive it.

It has been a long time so I can't remember too much what I replaced. Pretty sure it was a VW Jetta diesel, non-TDI but it was a Turbo. Acceleration is about equal. The Jetta was very roomy but that is where it stopped as far as being better than the smart.

The smart isn't the fastest thing on the road but it is plenty decent. It corners great, maybe not as great as the Mini. What I love is the size, you can squeeze into some unimaginable places - the Mini is a behemoth when compared.

Drive one and see if you feel it is for you, it isn't for everyone.

[sato7]

how true that you start finding little spaces everywhere in traffic, in parking lots, all over to "fit" the smart in. people think that 500hp is the only way to have fun in a car.... not really. My smart is the most fun vehicle I've had.. well unless you go way back to my BIG wheel, back, way back!

[John_H]

Compared to my last car, the smart's acceleration sucks! But then my last car was a BMW Z4 roadster. While I loved the old car, I don't miss it a bit. After driving the smart almost exclusively before I sold the Z4, the rare drive in the roadster was a bit of an adrenaline rush when flooring the accelerator.

The smart gives me all the acceleration I need. I still end up leaving a crowd back at the light most of the time when first in line at a green. I've never felt uncomfortable in the least when getting up to speed to merge properly. If the smart was still stuck at the old 450 version's 40hp, it might be trouble. Give me the 70hp in today's 451 model and things are a breeze.

[rfernatt]

I came from a Civic Coupe and have never felt underpowered merging on the freeway. The smart is obviously not the quickest things in straight line acceleration, but it is more than adequate and it performs better than you'd think when things get twisty, especially with upgraded wheels/tires.

It's hard to describe... The smart is not a stellar performance car and a car starting at $12K new is not designed to be put up against true sports cars. BUT! There is something about pushing the limits to see what it can do and maximizing the performance that you do have. I liken it to someone who enjoys camping in a tent. Why not just bring a motorhome or a big camper and do it the easy way? Because, there is something about the challenge of tent camping, being more in control, relying on yourself, being more at one with nature, etc.

From a performance standpoint, the smart is like that for me. It NEEDS YOU TO PERFORM correctly and choose the right gear, time that open spot in traffic, judge that curve, etc. Of course, I typically drive for economy since the smart is my commuter, but it's fun to let loose from time to time on empty back road.

[wiltjk]

If you push the smart, it will respond fairly well with even a little growl from the engine. Manual mode is the best experience I've found.

But, as the others honestly state, it will not compare to your super-charged mini. But, notice how many [pleased] smart owners are also coming from higher performance vehicles only to be equally pleased with their smart, but for different factors.

For me, my Weterauer chipped TDI Beetle's 0-60 in under 7 seconds won't be matched by my smart, but neither will the tickets :-)

I get the same "rush" at lower, safer speeds and it's handling is quite impressive.

[TMACK]

We own a Mini (manual) and smart (*automated* manual) and I can honestly say: when I punch the smart for emergency acceleration, it moves out with no problem. Indeed, this freaks other drivers on the road; they don't expect it from such a small car. Granted, your mpg will suffer, just don't do it too often.

The only *funner* car I've had was a Wrangler TJ. Of course, most of the fun was off-road, something the smart does NOT do too well.