500 Mile ride compared

[maverick1]

I thought I would post a thread here as I have really started evaluating the SMART. We have an 08 Cabrio and find it has many flaws, at least for the price. First is a real daily comparrison to an 04 Cadilac Deville, we drove at the posted highway sppeds in the Mid-West and founfg the SMARt to get 35.2 MPG and the 300HP Cadillac got 27.6 MPG. I selected the Cadillac to go way over to the other end of the size spectrum. To go along with the MPG we must state we got totally beat up in the SMART as it has no real seat comfort, places to put your feet, crusie control or a defrosting system that keeps both the windows clean as well as your feet warm. Since I come from an auto manufacturing plant and deal with cards daily I find the car unacceptable. The lack of an reasonable power to take off from an initial stop to a lacking sixth gear really make the cars design lacking. There are no ral interior lights and the "guessing" on what ear the car might be in during manual shifiting an slowing down is sickening. The car is really fun to drive for a short trip to the coffee shop but other than that it should be shelved. Side wind gusts make the car actually very dangerous on marginal roads during the Winter months. The instrument lighting, other than the spedo cluster is almost not there. If the car gets even marginally stuck the traction control will not let you get the car out of the situation and there is no way to turn it off. Yes, I know I am on the SMART forum and really like the car but who designed this thing! sorry for the spelling and yes it is for sale!

[Wdhitch]

I'll point out the fact that you were comparing it to a DeVille.... and leave it at that.



Oh... and this thread is going to be fun!!!

[jwight]

Originally Posted by Wdhitch

Oh... and this thread is going to be fun!!!

Amen! 27.6 mpg - were you towing a cabin cruiser?

[DavidV]

Sooo.... in summary, the Caddie is a more comfortable long distance freeway cruiser than the Smart?!

I always thought that Cadillacs were designed for easy parking and maneuverability around crowded urban streets and that Smarts were designed for plentiful interior room and a marshmallowy cush ride.

Who would have thunk it.

-- DavidV

[Smartfor2guy]

The car is advertised to be a CITY CAR, or were you asleep during the press release?. I assume you do not know how to operate the defroster or twist the knob to warm your feet. The more times I read your post, the more I have determined its you that has the problem, not the car DEE DEE DEE

[blackbeagle]

Wait a second....you got a 300 HP Cadillac that gets almost 28 mpg? Where can I get one? Hell, my Smart just went on sale 5 minutes ago.

I'm running to my Cadillac dealer (literally)....BYE!!!!

[redbluff]

Originally Posted by maverick1

I thought I would post a thread here as I have really started evaluating the SMART. We have an 08 Cabrio and find it has many flaws, at least for the price. First is a real daily comparrison to an 04 Cadilac Deville, we drove at the posted highway sppeds in the Mid-West and founfg the SMARt to get 35.2 MPG and the 300HP Cadillac got 27.6 MPG. I selected the Cadillac to go way over to the other end of the size spectrum. To go along with the MPG we must state we got totally beat up in the SMART as it has no real seat comfort, places to put your feet, crusie control or a defrosting system that keeps both the windows clean as well as your feet warm. Since I come from an auto manufacturing plant and deal with cards daily I find the car unacceptable. The lack of an reasonable power to take off from an initial stop to a lacking sixth gear really make the cars design lacking. There are no ral interior lights and the "guessing" on what ear the car might be in during manual shifiting an slowing down is sickening. The car is really fun to drive for a short trip to the coffee shop but other than that it should be shelved. Side wind gusts make the car actually very dangerous on marginal roads during the Winter months. The instrument lighting, other than the spedo cluster is almost not there. If the car gets even marginally stuck the traction control will not let you get the car out of the situation and there is no way to turn it off. Yes, I know I am on the SMART forum and really like the car but who designed this thing! sorry for the spelling and yes it is for sale!

All the reasons I love these cars.

[Neonspinnazz]

08' models had their flaws (IF ANY FLAWS AT ALL), but it seems as if the 09's are doing better, but we have to let their's break in first.
-As for the heavy IL. wind gusts, don't worry SUVs have it harder. But a tip from another member that has stated about wind before, don't steer against the wind the car should stay in line without countersteer.

-As for the engine, as long as you don't actually need the acceleration, you should be just fine.

-For the heat problem, other 08' owners complained about that, I'd get it checked out. or maybe it's just you

-Yeah the suspension is VERY stiff, I have no argument there.

-Instrument lighting: have you checked the dimmer dial ???

-Shifting: are you looking under the speedo when you change gears? there's a little indicator that shows the gear number.

I mean no offense or anything, just trying to help out

1 question: how do you get 27mpg out of a 300hp engine?

[jwight]

1 question: how do you get 27mpg out of a 300hp engine?

Talk to Corvette owners - manual trans LS1, 2 and 6 cars can do 30 mpg all day long at 70 mph.

[DavidV]

Originally Posted by blackbeagle

Wait a second....you got a 300 HP Cadillac that gets almost 28 mpg? Where can I get one? Hell, my Smart just went on sale 5 minutes ago.

I'm running to my Cadillac dealer (literally)....BYE!!!!

According to Edmunds.com:

EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway/Combined)
Automatic: 16 mpg / 24 mpg / 19 mpg

Mid 20s freeway - that's headline news!!!

-- DavidV