My 2008 smart car review with brabus accessory photos

[smartboy]

Hello Everyone

I am new to this site (as a registered member) but have been reading it for some time. I recently traded my 2005 CDi smart (from Canada) in for a new 2008 smart cabrio passion model. I am been completing a running blog on the car and have just added a bunch of photos including some of the new brabus photo's installed. If interested, swing over to CsC for a look.

Go to:
Club smart Car > Region Events > Canada > Central Canada > Ontario > and look for smartboy review

James

If you have any questions dont hesitate to ask here or there ...

[smartboy]

A brief history:
I purchased my first smart September 04 after a 10 month wait. The car did have some initial issues but these were resolved through Mercedes without difficulty and their service was fantastic.

[smartboy]

I ran the car for just over three years everyday through Ontario heat waves and our cold winter freezes ... the passion cabrio model I had was great, slow to warm up in the cold due to the CDi engine.

[smartboy]

When i saw the new smart I just had to get one and ordered another red passion cabrio model. I have an ongoing review of the car plus many photos which i will continue to add too - check it out if interested.

James

http://clubsmartcar.com/index.php?showtopic=12784

[dancote]

Thanks for posting the link to your mods. The set of pictures is excellent and is helping me decide what to add to my new smart (when it arrives).

[Gortok]

Looks great, James!
Thanks for sharing...

[nscaler]

Thanks for the info. Especially the cabrio pictures.

[jwight]

Lots of interest here in the diesel models, even though we won't get them in NA apparently. Can you compare the performance of your CDi 450 with the new 451? Thanks!

[SMART]

Hey Smartboy,

Don't hesitate to add your photos to our gallery so we can all see them!

[smartboy]

hello and thanks for your comments - i have many pictures which I can upload - i can see how to do that - just new to your site. To answer the question regarding performance between the CDi and gas engine - truly there is little that can be compared ... the CDi is full of torque but is very slow, quite loud, in the outgoing model, rough, and somewhat unrefined. I had a blast for three years, dont get me wrong. I enjoyed my 2005 cabrio model very much but there simply is no comparsion. I liken it to a rough-tough kid with scrapped knees vs his older more educated brother in a three piece suit. In a few sentences - the CDi was slow - but tons of torque, great fuel economy, extremely slow to heat in the winter - I installed heated seats. It also felt like a microcar - a legal dune buggy and was far more fun to drive then you can imagine - always a good time. The new car is slick, smooth, very well put together (superior fit and finish) very fast in comparision, a smooth transmission (my friend didn't nickname is older smart - nosedive for nothing) ... the new smarts cabrio top is FANTASTIC - the old was was not - it was plastic - yes - that means easily scratched - the new GLASS roof is terrific - can go up and down at 160 km, I've done it ... If I could go for a CDi if both were available in our dealerships, I would have to say I would go gas again. A few things got tiresome ... if our climate was warm - I live in Ontario Canada - i might consider it but little to no heat after 10-15 minutes on my way to work in a cabrio model was just no way to start the day. The gas model has heat in seconds. The CDi shaking did seem to cause some issues with the cars - the AC had a terrible time and many many CDN cars simply would loose their coolent - calked up to leaking joints due to the constant shake of the engine on its mounts. If mileage is really important and the climate is warmer than mine - sure a CDi is probably a fair option but not again for me. In terms of the mileage - I can tell you that I filled up for 33.00 CDN dollars and I drove just over 600 KM ... that means about 4.4L per 100 km or 4.72 cents per 100 km which to me seems pretty good.
Hope this helps
James