Cold weather starting

rwj53 · 02-08-2008, 08:48 PM

I live in Wisconsin and we get well below zero here. How have the smarts been starting in this kind of climate? Are they struggling or do they start right off? Anyone with cold weather starting problems?

dblreeder · 02-18-2008, 07:32 PM

Hi...I live in Bemidji MN (Go Pack!!!! I grew up in Eau Claire). Anyway, I have placed my reservation for a Passion with the new dealership in Bloomington. I too have wondered how starting is in 20-30 below zero weather. The folks at the dealership say that their cars sit out overnite and start right off. Just would like some confirmation on this. I am also interested in anyone's experience with snow/ice tires. I have used nothing but Nokians for years now and would plan to put them on the Smart right away. Again advice would be appreciated.

smartah · 02-19-2008, 07:11 AM

I Live in central Iowa and I know that we don't get as cold as either of your locations but we still get in the teens below 0. I've had my smart for two weeks and have had no problems starting at all. It is in an unheated garage, so there is some protection but not much.

a2jack · 02-19-2008, 07:15 AM

Lots of NA 451s now being driven throughout Canada. Check out their forums.

http://clubsmartcar.com/index.php?act=idx

A2Jack.

jonnysan · 02-19-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dblreeder

Hi...I live in Bemidji MN (Go Pack!!!! I grew up in Eau Claire). Anyway, I have placed my reservation for a Passion with the new dealership in Bloomington. I too have wondered how starting is in 20-30 below zero weather. The folks at the dealership say that their cars sit out overnite and start right off. Just would like some confirmation on this. I am also interested in anyone's experience with snow/ice tires. I have used nothing but Nokians for years now and would plan to put them on the Smart right away. Again advice would be appreciated.

I've used them for the last 25 years, dbl, with no complaints and much fanfare about them. Unfortunately, the sizes we need are not made by them just yet...hopefully they will make them this year.....

John

muffinsmama · 02-20-2008, 09:11 AM

We were -20 below this morning (2/20/08) and it started right off. We picked our car up last Tuesday and are in LOVE with this car.

dblreeder · 02-21-2008, 01:03 PM

Great!! Glad to hear it and congrats on your new Smart. Did you get it from the dealership in Bloomington?? How long did you wait to get your car?

muffinsmama · 02-22-2008, 01:51 PM

Yes, we got it in Bloomington. Everyone there was very nice and helpful. She is an orphan. I called them and told them we would take an orphan and about 10 days later they called with one. The crazy thing is it is just exactly what we ordered except the safety cell is black and we had ordered silver. Haven't cancelled the order on the other one yet, we may decide to take that one too.

2mutch · 02-22-2008, 03:52 PM

No problems starting to report here either. My smart is now 10 days old and while it gets parked in a garage (unheated) at night, it sits outside for 8-9 hours at work each day. There have been a number of sub-zero days since picking it up and it starts right up every time.

Mine's a loaded cabrio - from the Bloomington smart center. Great service and responsive followup. Stay patient. Your's will be here in no time!

- FRED "2 MUTCH"
Is it a car? Is it a mind set? It's BOTH!

dblreeder · 02-24-2008, 02:20 PM

Thanks everyone! This has been a cold winter and a good test for the Smart. I live in Bemidji and they had Smarts up here for Cold Weather Testing last winter. I figured that this was a good indication. Can't wait to get ours!!