Diesel Smart For Two; the better car

Cool ForTwo · 03-06-2008, 06:23 AM

I was wondering, has anyone else bothered to ask about getting the diesel version? I really loved mine when I was in Germany. I asked but got a brush off at the dealership, as if I was crazy, but they do get better mileage. A lot better really. And they interact better with the transmission. I really miss mine and wish they were sold here. Is it possible to buy the engine seperate and retrofit? Can I post this link now?
http://www.epinions.com/content_419075034756
That article may have been critical of the gas version, but Id say he's absolutely right about bugging Smart to death about the diesel version. Mike

Karl Roth · 03-06-2008, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cool ForTwo

I was wondering, has anyone else bothered to ask about getting the diesel version? I really loved mine when I was in Germany. I asked but got a brush off at the dealership, as if I was crazy, but they do get better mileage. A lot better really. And they interact better with the transmission. I really miss mine and wish they were sold here. Is it possible to buy the engine seperate and retrofit? Can I post this link now?
http://www.epinions.com/content_419075034756
That article may have been critical of the gas version, but Id say he's absolutely right about bugging Smart to death about the diesel version. Mike

Mike welcome to the forum nice to have someone that has lived with the car for a while here. You may want to spend some time reading some of the material that is on the ground already before asking things like has "anyone bothered to.." There are lots of people that would like to be able to buy what is available in Germany but we don't have that choice yet.
Cheers karl

Cool ForTwo · 03-06-2008, 06:55 AM

I wish I had more time to look through everything. Being on the road six to eight days a week makes it difficult. I have to find wi-fi at the stops to get in here. I'm sure I'll have more time when I get home to research more. Thats why I ask, maybe ya'all can point me in those directions. Anyway, headed for VA now, be home in a few days. Mike

LinuxGuy · 03-06-2008, 09:12 AM

Here's one reason "smart" quite smartly did not offer the diesel engine in the US.

The 40-hp", 0.8-liter turbocharged diesel engine delivers abundant noise and the slowest acceleration of any vehicle we've tested. The ForTwo took 23 seconds to accelerate from 0-60 mph, almost twice the time of other small cars. (In fact, we almost ran out of track trying to get it up to 60 mph.)"

Consumer reports reference
http://tinyurl.com/yxdypg

The 50hp diesel does 0-60 in about 19.3 seconds.

jasonlava · 03-06-2008, 09:23 AM

You'll get creamed on the interstate... and the 18-wheelers will mow you down. At least my TDI Bug can get on the road quick and keep up.

randyzimmer · 03-06-2008, 09:32 AM

Sorry to be contrary but I drove a German gas in Germany and a Canadian Diesel in Canada (both the same body/year/version) and there was no comparison.
In Germany, the traffic is fast-paced but the cars are slower to reach velocity. There are fewer really quick cars and cars considered sluggish here are the norm not the exception.
The diesel I drove in Canada was a demo and I was directed by the salesman to enter the QEW on an uphill stretch and the view of the ramp was obscured by an ornate bridge railing. As I putted up the hill at 40MPH, the ramp was running out and traffic was flowing at 70+miles.
I wasn't too pleased with that deal.
If I knew the area, I could have pushed it through the curve faster and added 10 miles but no more.
The biggest question I had was why he directed me that way in the first place, it was the worst possible route to show the car favorably.

SmartAzz · 03-06-2008, 10:06 AM

The more they find out about the repercussions of diesel, certain emissions (even from the good cars) and how it contributes to asthma and respiratory problems in the young and elderly the less I want it around - and besides I believe we largely have cruddy diesel fuel in the US, which doesn't help.

(Of course many don't see these issues because the chemicals/paritculates tend to float and settle in certain areas, and in places with lower population density and/or where it tends to drift away from the ramifications won't be apparent.)

Old smart · 03-06-2008, 10:13 AM

The whole subject of what US diesel now is (since SEP '06) is complex and best left to "The Car Lounge."

rgaus · 03-06-2008, 10:55 AM

Legal reasons, Cool For Two. 2008 emissions standards in US and in Canada currently prohibit the current Diesel smart from being legally driven in the US. (See Old Smart's great explanation in an adjoining thread). Earlier Diesel Smarts would have had to be converted through a registered importer. It took three years to get the gas version approved (2003-2006). Diesel would have been an additional nightmare. Though it would be an extremely popular car, there is currently no importer pursuing the EPA/DOT conversion for Diesel smarts.
Ron Gaus, asmartcar.com

mdfortwoguy · 03-06-2008, 11:05 AM

Everything I have read also states that the diesel and the 5 speed 451 transmission are not well suited to each other, either.