Im my view, The reason it goes in the order of PRND Rather than any other system is like you sugest, is a lot of Americans have more than 1 Car in the household. You don't want to make folks rethink in every car, it's just not safe.
The order of PRND makes a lot of sense for the American driver. Especialy those with a garage. You pull in to your garage and put it in Park.
The smart euro-style shifter pattern does not seem to be a problem for other markets, they just learn to drive it. And if potential confusion about an unconventional shifter is an American issue, do people have trouble adapting to Saabs (console ignition, engage reverse to park) or the Prius (unconventional starter, shifter, and shift pattern)? Doesn't seem so....
That sounds like you are talking about my 2007 Smart; console ignition, RND is all we have and the engine is a Mercedes, not a Mitzubishi. We also don't experience all the problems the new US 2008 models seem to have. For a while, I had debated waiting a few months to get a 2008 instead of a 2007. I'm glad I didn't. Our doors close, our sun shade is a solid slider, we park in reverse without thinking about it, our mirrors aren't etched so that we have to read about the size of objects, we have rear quarter windows and a rear baggage cover, a good Grundig radio and rear fog lights, etc. What more could we want? Besides, if I stop in at the dealership in Guadalajara, Annette always give me a kiss. Then, she gets me coffee.
RVGRINGO, you mention some of the many reasons I like the earlier 450 model. But the only 450s in the US are gray market conversions (nice ones), but they cost almost twice as much as a comparable Penske-imported 451 and the future of service & parts is less certain.
In the final analysis, I had to be practical and get a new 451 to use as my daily car. It has been flawless for almost 10,000 miles, but I would still love to have the "original" design features of the 450.
I think parts availability will always be a problem, no matter the model, because the dealers don't seem willing to stock everything. There will always be market for junkyard parts in future years, after a few have been wrecked or otherwise 'retired'. Of course, our only concern is if we drive the the USA again. Dealers there don't have any 450 parts! We did drive in the USA a couple of years ago and blew a tire. It was an adventure getting one (rear) that would fit; sure glad it wasn't a front tire. Other than that, we have had no problems at all and continue to love our Passion. In fact, Saturday, we're taking it to the beach on the Pacific coast, some 4-5 hours downhill, where we'll just be lazy for a week. Feliz Navidad a todos.
Just joined a couple of minutes ago...googled "smart car hesitation between shifts" and got to your lovely forum ;)
Long story short (I'll try), bought a M-B B200 three weeks ago, but they didn't fix some scratches at the time because their paint guy wasn't around. Yesterday, the dealer has a guy bring over a car to replace it for a couple of days or a bit more.
Shocked to say the least (I have kids), he brings over to my work a Smart Car - a two door, two seater. I have nothing against these cars, just find them da*n small to the back of the frond doors. So I kept neutral until driving it a bit, since I've always wondered about driving one.
I'm actually quite impressed. I expected a well built small car, not one of those dinky small cars from other manufacturers. Handling and brakes are very good...but this da*n HESITATION BETWEEN SHIFTS!!!
It's an auto and feels like I'm learning how to drive stick, and letting the engine idle between shifts and dropping the clutch.
The engine literally feels like its cutting power between shifts, to maybe go easy on the tranny?
It's the only thing that right now would keep me from buying this car, if I was in the market for something like this. If this car was a manual (a true manual), it would def. be fun to drive, I'm sure.
Now that I've vented, I'll read the other 10 pages in this thread.
Just joined a couple of minutes ago...googled "smart car hesitation between shifts" and got to your lovely forum ;)
Long story short (I'll try), bought a M-B B200 three weeks ago, but they didn't fix some scratches at the time because their paint guy wasn't around. Yesterday, the dealer has a guy bring over a car to replace it for a couple of days or a bit more.
Shocked to say the least (I have kids), he brings over to my work a Smart Car - a two door, two seater. I have nothing against these cars, just find them da*n small to the back of the frond doors. So I kept neutral until driving it a bit, since I've always wondered about driving one.
I'm actually quite impressed. I expected a well built small car, not one of those dinky small cars from other manufacturers. Handling and brakes are very good...but this da*n HESITATION BETWEEN SHIFTS!!!
It's an auto and feels like I'm learning how to drive stick, and letting the engine idle between shifts and dropping the clutch.
The engine literally feels like its cutting power between shifts, to maybe go easy on the tranny?
It's the only thing that right now would keep me from buying this car, if I was in the market for something like this. If this car was a manual (a true manual), it would def. be fun to drive, I'm sure.
Now that I've vented, I'll read the other 10 pages in this thread.
It's doing that because that's how it is. No pun intended. That's why all the reviews call it horrible names. In my month owning it I have to say I have learned it's quirks pretty well and am able to minimize by maybe 1/2 through learning. You get far better control on the paddle side. The regular drive side has the worst lag and how it was explained to me by my buddies is that it is JUST like driving a motorcycle. It was then I got the picture of how the Smart operates! When in drive and a shift point occurs, a foot press is needed at precisely the right time.
Maybe this helps?
Just joined a couple of minutes ago...googled "smart car hesitation between shifts" and got to your lovely forum ;)
Long story short (I'll try), bought a M-B B200 three weeks ago, but they didn't fix some scratches at the time because their paint guy wasn't around. Yesterday, the dealer has a guy bring over a car to replace it for a couple of days or a bit more.
Shocked to say the least (I have kids), he brings over to my work a Smart Car - a two door, two seater. I have nothing against these cars, just find them da*n small to the back of the frond doors. So I kept neutral until driving it a bit, since I've always wondered about driving one.
I'm actually quite impressed. I expected a well built small car, not one of those dinky small cars from other manufacturers. Handling and brakes are very good...but this da*n HESITATION BETWEEN SHIFTS!!!
It's an auto and feels like I'm learning how to drive stick, and letting the engine idle between shifts and dropping the clutch.
The engine literally feels like its cutting power between shifts, to maybe go easy on the tranny?
It's the only thing that right now would keep me from buying this car, if I was in the market for something like this. If this car was a manual (a true manual), it would def. be fun to drive, I'm sure.
Now that I've vented, I'll read the other 10 pages in this thread.
Welcome to the forum! Please take a look around, but before anyone else says anything, just FYI the smart fortwo is a standard 5 speed tranny with an automatic mode. It has a robotic clutch. The car teaches YOU how to drive. Or just take it into manual and have some fun!
It's an auto and feels like I'm learning how to drive stick, and letting the engine idle between shifts and dropping the clutch.
Because that's exactly what it is - an automated manual transmission. There is a clutch, but a computer is doing the job of disengaging it, changing gears, and then re-engaging the clutch hence the delay in power delivery just like any other manual transmission car. With a little practice, you can shift in manual mode just as smooth as any manual trans car. The pause between shifts can be worsened by high RPMs as the computer will wait until RPMs are at an appropriate level before re-engaging the clutch.
You can also skip gears up and down just like a regular manual, but again, the computer will not let any gear engage unless it is in an acceptable range for your speed/RPM. I have a video of smart shifting modes that might be helpful and you can see how much delay there is compared to your experience. Also, a little racetrack experience at 1:37 in this video to see "spirited" shifting action from a stock smart.
Oh, and welcome to the forum!
Last edited by rfernatt; 05-18-2011 at 10:50 AM.
The Following User Says Thank You to rfernatt For This Useful Post:
Thanks everyone. That clears things up for sure. I'm just wishing I was doing the clutch work now. So then I'll treat the gas pedal the same as when driving manual. Ease up when I feel a shift coming up, and ease back on after a shift.
Oh, for those wondering, its a 12/10 manufacturing date (I guess a 2011 model), white with black roof (I guess the black is the safety structure?) with the tach and clock gauges, and radio/nav/aux input tech stuff. Only around 1500-1700km on it (just noticed) and made in France.
Sorry to lump all of this and skip the FAQ sections.
edit: Oh, using the paddles is a _bit_ better, but you still get the lag, which makes sense from what you guys explained about the auto clutch.
Thanks everyone. That clears things up for sure. I'm just wishing I was doing the clutch work now. So then I'll treat the gas pedal the same as when driving manual. Ease up when I feel a shift coming up, and ease back on after a shift.
Oh, for those wondering, its a 12/10 manufacturing date (I guess a 2011 model), white with black roof (I guess the black is the safety structure?) with the tach and clock gauges, and radio/nav/aux input tech stuff. Only around 1500-1700km on it (just noticed) and made in France.
Sorry to lump all of this and skip the FAQ sections.
edit: Oh, using the paddles is a _bit_ better, but you still get the lag, which makes sense from what you guys explained about the auto clutch.
We have been hoping that some aftermarket company would step up to the plate and offer up some serious improvements for the shifting but so far nothing available to get pumped up about.
With sales of the smart not being so great the aftermarket is mostly cosmetic parts.
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There is a clutch, but a computer is doing the job of disengaging it, changing gears, and then re-engaging the clutch hence the delay in power delivery just like any other manual transmission car. With a little practice, you can shift in manual mode just as smooth as any manual trans car. The pause between shifts can be worsened by high RPMs as the computer will wait until RPMs are at an appropriate level before re-engaging the clutch.
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