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Ok, OK....I won't shoot anybody. After all, you guys have given me some very good information. However, I think a lot of you are in love and people in love often see only what they want to see. Big Smile and Happy Holidays.
I appreciate your perspective (althought I think the "often" is closer to an "always"). ;^)
Anticipation can be more fun than what any product can provide.
I appreciate your perspective (althought I think the "often" is closer to an "always"). ;^)
Anticipation can be more fun than what any product can provide.
I really do wish you good luck and joyful riding, but a cab driver in your area once told me that the transmissions were the first things to go wrong because of those hills and this one has had some not-so-good reviews esp. on hills....and a two year warranty...does any other give only a 2 year? Oh there I go again...raining on a parade. As you said, it depends on your reasons for owning it in the first place.
I really do wish you good luck and joyful riding, but a cab driver in your area once told me that the transmissions were the first things to go wrong because of those hills and this one has had some not-so-good reviews esp. on hills....and a two year warranty...does any other give only a 2 year? Oh there I go again...raining on a parade. As you said, it depends on your reasons for owning it in the first place.
Sharon
No worries about a parade, if I can't hold out I'll get the natural gas Civic.
Fortunately, I will not be navigating the steep streets of San Francisco (driving down Divisidero can be horrifying in any vehicle); however, I grew up in a very hilly area and it was the brakes that needed the most frequent work, not transmissions; but, the Smart may not follow that pattern.
I may have had some scary rides and your cab driver may be atypical; but I don't think the cab drivers in SF (or NYC for that matter) represent the broadest driver sampling pool (often, they are the maniac's maniac). Besides, the cabs themselves are usually fleet sales of distressed merchandise from the big three.
When I told my hubby who has not been following this that the Smart is made in France, he said "there's the problem, they have a work week that is ...let's see now, 28 hours?...32 hours? and how many holidays? Snicker, snicker. So unkind.
A 28 hour work week and lots of holidays sounds better than killing myself 50 hours a week over a job I hate. Gotta love the French.
As for cabs - I can't speak for the transmissions, but I observed plenty burning oil nationwide. Perhaps it was transmissions in the model of car (full size Ford) that were weak for the conditions and not representative of all vehicles. In SF, brakes wear quickly. I can not think of a car better suited to San Francisco than the smart.
I actually enjoy reading the bad reviews - what's interesting is the negative comments are always the same.
No worries about a parade, if I can't hold out I'll get the natural gas Civic.
Fortunately, I will not be navigating the steep streets of San Francisco (driving down Divisidero can be horrifying in any vehicle); however, I grew up in a very hilly area and it was the brakes that needed the most frequent work, not transmissions; but, the Smart may not follow that pattern.
I may have had some scary rides and your cab driver may be atypical; but I don't think the cab drivers in SF (or NYC for that matter) represent the broadest driver sampling pool (often, they are the maniac's maniac). Besides, the cabs themselves are usually fleet sales of distressed merchandise from the big three.
Time will tell ...
08-4-2,
About the holding out...I've been looking at the Fit too. Small and not a bad review in the bunch, but then, maybe I was born to be safe and boring. We should all buy what we want or go through life saying "coulda, woulda, shoulda."
The Consumer Reports article about the smart car appeared in the summer of 2006. The "item" referred to in the article was a mention of the CR report, not the actual article.
Thanks for clarifying that. However knowing that, it still makes sense- I know I wouldn't let a poor review of the 450 model necessarily disuade me in reserving a 451!
About the holding out...I've been looking at the Fit too. Small and not a bad review in the bunch, but then, maybe I was born to be safe and boring. We should all buy what we want or go through life saying "coulda, woulda, shoulda."
I re-read the consumer reports article, now a year old. They drove a Canadian 40hp diesel version with the old transmission. For them to project their year-old opinion on a now very different car is pretty bogus; with all the reviews and information available on the 451, they should instead mention that several of their biggest issues appear to have been addressed and announce their plan to review the 451 as soon as they can buy one. That review of theirs had a whiff of Ugly American about it, too.
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