Most worthless features! Smart Made it!!

[retiltxet]

ok, check out feature number 8..... lol

Top 10 Scariest New Car Features- Yahoo! Autos Article Page--

[SunDiego]

Hahaha....

[wahi]

glad my smart didn't drive like that reviewer's!!

[trigga]

I read that yesterday, i dont have mine yet but the test drive didnt feel anything like they described.

[smartHHO]

Originally Posted by trigga

I read that yesterday, i dont have mine yet but the test drive didnt feel anything like they described.

I agree. I test drove 2 differnt ones and both did not drive like the guy in the article. I am almost wondering if this guy drives a SUV and is trying to keep them off the road.

[SuperGeek]

Funny that it made the list, and it's obvious the reviewer is someone with no experience with the car. It does that on a test drive if you're expecting an automatic transmission. Sorry, reviewer, it's not.

It's a manual. Without a clutch pedal. To rev match smoothly, just plan ahead for your gear changes like you would a manual if you didn't want to burn out the clutch in three weeks.

I've got 3,000 miles on mine and in manual mode I can shift smooth as butter. In auto mode, I know how much gas to apply to prevent the jerkiness they describe. It's simply a driver training issue... pass training and the car's actually pretty fun to drive.

[rwjrn]

How has most people's experience been with the rain sensing wipers on the smart? I don't have them now, but my next one will and I"m a little leery. I wish that one didn't have to come with the comfort package.

[Dunerunner]

I like the auto wipers, I can always take them out of auto and operate them manually.

As for the "Worthless Features List", at least we made a list!!

[NCC1701]

RE: auto sensing wipers. I generally like mine. But, sometimes when it first begins to rain they don't activate as quickly as I would choose. And, occasionally I'd prefer they pick up the speed a bit more for the conditions.

But, I should emphasize, those complaints are sporadic ... most of the time they seem to operate very well.

[jwight]

Here's a quote from the reviewer's full test of a "2008" smart:

Getting the power to the rear drive wheels is another story. A five-speed automated-manual is the sole transmission; from the driver's standpoint it operates like an automatic, but really it's swapping gears like a conventional manual, complete with an electronically operated clutch.

What that means is that you drive the ForTwo like you would a regular automatic, but the transmission lurches through gear changes with the awkwardness of a 15-year-old learning stick on his brother's Corolla. The transmission has a single clutch, so it has to disengage one gear, pause momentarily, and then engage the next. Prod the gas pedal while the process is happening and you'll experience pronounced hesitation. I found it especially apparent in the first-gear-to-second shift, which is right when I most needed a swift transition.

Fortunately, many journalists are smarter than one. After a couple hours swapping stories at each stop, we'd come upon a solution: Let off the gas slightly at each shift, like you would while driving a stick, and the gear changes are much smoother (though still not very fast). It's hard to tell when the shifts will occur with the transmission in Drive, so smooth acceleration requires using the gearshift's manual mode. There's a plus/minus gate on the shifter, while the Passion adds shift paddles on the steering wheel.

2008 smart fortwo Expert Reviews

The review was dated Nov 12, 2007, so I doubt he was driving a 2008; more likely one of the 2007 451s from PAG used for the road tour. Either way, a one day stint with the smart is hardly enough to get in synch with the transmission, as most of us found out with our own cars. So, another review that perpetuates the idea the smart transmission is somehow "scary."