After 3 weeks w/ my Smart Fortwo, I am convinced

[jose3030]

The folks that complain about the car not having power to merge onto highways, etc....

just dont know enough about spacing and driving, in general.

Before you bash a car, learn how to drive first.
Then talk.

[nprsmart]

Originally Posted by jose3030

The folks that complain about the car not having power to merge onto highways, etc....

just dont know enough about spacing and driving, in general.

Before you bash a car, learn how to drive first.
Then talk.

I just tell folks it goes from 0 to 60 eventually.

Seriously, it has much better pickup than the 72 Super Beetle I drove while in college many moons ago.

Like many other here, my smart learned my driving habits and started shifting better after 800 miles or so. Either that or maybe I learned how to drive it better...nah, had to be that adaptive transmission....

I do find that I'm just not in as big a hurry as I was when my Trans-Am was new.

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by jose3030

The folks that complain about the car not having power to merge onto highways, etc....

just dont know enough about spacing and driving, in general.

Before you bash a car, learn how to drive first.
Then talk.

I've only had mine a little over a day, but right out of the gate I had to make a 300 mile trip to get it home. Now have 375 miles under my belt. Probably most people who complain about lack of pep are people who haven't driven it, period. I find no problem in traffic nor on the freeway. Fact is, I'm gonna have to use a bit lighter foot to get the expected MPG. Although it's not a sportscar, it is perfectly capable of leaving a pack of fuel concious drivers behind from the traffic light. Naturally, with a foot like that the smart's MPG suffers.

[jose3030]

Originally Posted by nprsmart

I just tell folks it goes from 0 to 60 eventually.

Seriously, it has much better pickup than the 72 Super Beetle I drove while in college many moons ago.

Like many other here, my smart learned my driving habits and started shifting better after 800 miles or so. Either that or maybe I learned how to drive it better...nah, had to be that adaptive transmission....

I do find that I'm just not in as big a hurry as I was when my Trans-Am was new.

My other cars are manual transmission Acura Legends
a 1990 and a 1993.
Different beasts but I drive like a grandma in them.

Honestly tho, the fortwo shifts faster than I shift in those cars...
Perhaps cuz I can always depend on being "in gear" and all the extra HP.
But honestly, why waste more gas than you have to?

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by nprsmart

I do find that I'm just not in as big a hurry as I was when my Trans-Am was new.

I need to learn that, I guess, to improve my MPG. I often feel compelled to prove my car isn't a slug. And, as others have noted, often have other drivers seemingly compelled to pass me ... even though my acceleration is adequate to not impede traffic.

[jose3030]

Originally Posted by NCC1701

I've only had mine a little over a day, but right out of the gate I had to make a 300 mile trip to get it home. Now have 375 miles under my belt. Probably most people who complain about lack of pep are people who haven't driven it, period. I find no problem in traffic nor on the freeway. Fact is, I'm gonna have to use a bit lighter foot to get the expected MPG. Although it's not a sportscar, it is perfectly capable of leaving a pack of fuel concious drivers behind from the traffic light. Naturally, with a foot like that the smart's MPG suffers.

Yea, my first 2 tanks have been basically 37 and 38 mpg.

But I'm a lead foot myself, I will start driving 60 mph everywhere to see if that changes.

[Dave Van]

No issues here on power and take off...I keep up with the best of them...real world anyway. On a drag strip the difference may show up but day to day driving it does more than fine.

[jose3030]

Originally Posted by NCC1701

I need to learn that, I guess, to improve my MPG. I often feel compelled to prove my car isn't a slug. And, as others have noted, often have other drivers seemingly compelled to pass me ... even though my acceleration is adequate to not impede traffic.

I've noticed one thing, I think most people pass us because they cant see PAST us.... Since it's such a tall car. It's not that the car appears slow but the fact that they cant see past us. I know I pass people when I cant see past them, big humongous SUV's w/ women talking on cellphones seems to do the trick for me.

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by jose3030

I've noticed one thing, I think most people pass us because they cant see PAST us.... Since it's such a tall car. It's not that the car appears slow but the fact that they cant see past us. I know I pass people when I cant see past them, big humongous SUV's w/ women talking on cellphones seems to do the trick for me.

Do you really think that's it? I mean, I understand what you mean about the SUV's, totally! But, I didn't think the smart was like driving behind a wall.

[jose3030]

Originally Posted by NCC1701

Do you really think that's it? I mean, I understand what you mean about the SUV's, totally! But, I didn't think the smart was like driving behind a wall.

We're at eye level w/ SUVs.
I bet you cant see past most SUV's.
Even though we're small, I'm sure folks cant see past us either.

So I think it's a combo between "looking slow", "being slow in reality" and "not being able to see past us".

Most folks that own these cars also aren't mashing in the gas pedal either so I'm sure folks are driving it slower than it could be driven, knowing that they're still being broken in and all.