Do You Think The Major Car Magazine Reviews Are "Anti-smart"?

Iceberg · 03-30-2008, 08:29 PM

After reading most of the articles in C&D, Automoblile, and R&T all I can say is; "Were they driving the same car that I drive?". My wife & I love our little car and have not had any issues other than lots of attention. We can keep up w/ highway traffic, get 40+ mpg, and don't mind the slow shifting transmission. It seems that this car is so outside of the box that they just don't get it. How could they possibly say that an entry level Kia or Hyundai would be a better car? Of course, these are the same magazines that have told us how great the new Chevy Malibu is....lol. They even say it is better than an Accord......not in the world that I live in.

smartfloridadad · 03-31-2008, 01:08 AM

I find all these magaines only write about cars with power ,the faster the car the better it is,they dont care about conseving fuel ,and so when a car comes along our of the norm and drives a little different that the rest its a lousy car ,I haven't see one positive article from anyone ,on TV motorweek did an article a while back and they liked the car, that was a first

BandSofC · 03-31-2008, 02:19 AM

If you use a checklist to compare automobiles the smart would not do well. There are few quantitative virtues of the smart that beat other cars on the market. There are other appealing aspects of the smart which are less measurable. We value these aspects, but analytical comparisons will not extol these areas.

SmartBob · 03-31-2008, 03:02 AM

Althought the Charm/fun factor is overwhelming, as we all know, there are several practical points against us.

No spare, lug wrench or jack or place for it
Poor warranty
Little storage
Quirky shifter
2 different size tires - can't rotate
3 lug wheel - no U.S. aftermarket rims, imports are expensive
limited serivce locations

Of course all these problems can be overcome but for more $$$ Mind you this isn't stopping me, but these are valid practical objections in this purchase.

124tom · 03-31-2008, 04:32 AM

Face it we as a group here in the USA are taking a leap of faith. I for one have talked to British,German&French owners that have owned their 450's for years and will take them to their graves. For what ever reason we said this is my next car be it cute factor, gas milage or combo of both. Just not enough bang for the buck for the car magazine's add dept. $$$$$ where the real money is. THIS IS A TWO SEAT MICRO CAR!!!! they just don't get it! Have fun with your smart's for what ever reason. P.S. I took a Honda 600 sedan off to school in 1970's car Magazine's didn't like it eather. Drove that little car for five years. It had a back seat and a trunk. I am 6'3" it was funny to see the look on people's faces when I climed out so what the heck do they know!! HAVE FUN SMARTIES!!!!!!

amoore007 · 03-31-2008, 04:49 AM

Wow... Honda 600 Now that is a memory. For those of you who do not know it, see... http://www.honda600shop.com/index.php..
Hey SmartBob, you give me a question. Does smart recommend a side to side tire rotation?

Amethyste · 03-31-2008, 05:11 AM

This car is an attention getter... How can you blend in with the crowd when it looks so different and so out of the ordinary?! of course, I have gotten used to being different. On a personnal note, I am a "modern hippie" i dress in handmade clothes with loads of lowers, i look different, so i am used to get plenty of dirty looks ( i am in Germany right now and you should see all the women looking at me giving me unapproving looks ) but i dont give a flying rats a$$. When it came to the smart, my decision was purely on "its time to change my lifestyle and start small". I didnt care who came through and against my current. If they dont like it, they can go "play in traffic" and let me enjoy my life. It´s all about choices, and thats at least one good thing left here for me to take advantage of.

Yes, the reviews are horrible on the smart... Its a question of how people here are so slow on accepting changes and move forward with it. they will fight it until it is somewhat more popular with the masse(s)...

I went to buy peanut butter here in Germany to have at breakfast... The family I stay with were horrified with it. They say it tastes like a$$... But I grew up with it and thats the way it is... This trip really openend my eyes at how diversity is so present everywhere in this world.. And people ( insert any country here ) display the same kind of behavior toward changes and things that are out of the ordinary!

msjohnson1974 · 03-31-2008, 05:23 AM

Truth be told American car magazines and auto reviewers suffer from the same bigger is better mentality that most of our countrymen do - hopefully that will change. As for some of the items that SmartBob mentions... my Z4 has no spare/jack or place for one, has little storage, and two different tire sizes (rotating is actually a debateable practice, i've been told not to do it on every BMW we've had) - yet the press likes it. Probably because it goes fast... Just drive your smart and smile b/c when gas keeps rising in cost and you can park anywhere those SUVs will be jealous.