My Smart is in! A 300 mile review! with lotsa pictures!!!!

[74AMX304V8]

good review, I've got 374mi. on mine, had it a month, I agree no cruise control, sucks. My opinion, the tranny doesn't learn you,you learn the tranny. Mine shifts the same way now as on day one. I don't lift on shift. Got my foot into it on a freeway onramp last nite as some moron was riding my bumper (even tho there was another lane to get in to go around me) I was doing 55mph, accelerated to 80mph very quickly...

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by 74AMX304V8

My opinion, the tranny doesn't learn you, you learn the tranny. Mine shifts the same way now as on day one...

Some at the "source" will agree with you. But let's not say it too loud, it may ruffle some feathers... or dispel some expectations

[Springlering]

Steven, nice review. Just remind yourself it's a quirky little car with personality,in spite of the Mercedes pedigree, and you'll get along fine. You'll get used to your transmission. (Or it'll get used to you!) I have a ball with the paddles. I just love the silly things.

We followed the tip of others here on the board and checked the tire pressure. Tires on all of our Smarts were overinflated, grossly overinflated on one of them.

Since my husband let some air out, my car now rides much better and is not nearly as skittish on the freeway, and he says the same for his.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our cars thus far, accepted their little wierdnesses and occasional miscues as "personality", and are enjoying the celebrity status while it lasts (and I confess, I hope it does last a while!). They make running errands, driving to work, etc something to look forward to.

Driving the Smart is like taking a great big chill pill. We've all slowed down, begun to enjoy the ride, and even the daughter's fiancee says, "wow! She drives so much slower and better now!"

hmmmm.....there's an idea for a vanity plate.....CHLLPLL.......

[Dave Van]

I am almost the same size as you. I rate the Smart a little higher than you....I have a Pure with the alarm as the ONLY option. I think the less weight of my car makes a BIG difference. With only 70 hp no A/C, power steering and other even small items taking hp there is a difference. I understand A/C in Texas and many other places....just glad I don't need it here.

Curise control...I have never bought a car without it since about 1983....and lack of it made me rethink about the Smart....but after a week of driving...I do not miss it and understand why its not offered.

Enjoy and congrats!

[Steven79]

Originally Posted by 2ar3g

I think I saw u last Wednesday around 10ish around sugar mills... do you live around that area too?

it was probably someone else since I just got my smart on friday.

[Steven79]

I found the receipt. Part number 115-584-06-40 or 211-584-19-38

There are 2 part numbers on my receipt, but all i purchased was the sticker. so its one of the 2 numbers i provided.

enjoy!

[jwight]

What happened to the G. Daimler stickers? That's what I'd like.

[LinuxGuy]

One important question. Do you still get to drive it or does your wife now have custody?

My wife and daughter reasoned that it's a city car so they should get to drive it since I commute 50 miles a day. I bought my wife a new car about 18 months ago too! So, I had to declare quite clearly that it's MY CAR but that she's welcome to drive it SOME times!

[Steven79]

Lol, i've been in the "safe zone" so far because the car is still under break in. lol

She agrees to let me break the new Smart in first before she takes it out. sigh....

haha its all good. a car is replaceable, but a good woman is not.

take care!
Steven

[SuperGeek]

I got my new toy and have already put it through 684 miles of training.


To summarize:

I LOVE IT!

Now, some detail:

Transmission/engine:

It took me about 20 miles to get the hang of manual mode and the paddle shifters. I didn't stall it once, which in Houston is a very good thing. A true manual would have stalled a hundred times. Test drives are deceiving; my salesperson (Berta at Houston North) was kind enough to take me on a training run... she drove the first 2 miles, we parked in a lot and I took over. First mile was funny as hell, watching me try to learn. After 5 miles I was passing people in auto mode. This is a manual transmission, with computer assistance. Starting from a red light, I let off the brake for 2 seconds; if I try to punch it faster, the transmission lags a bit. In a true manual, you start with a partially applied clutch; this car doesn't seem to do that, maybe to not burn it out? When Gear 1 grabs on, it gets 0-20 fast.

The engine has pick up, beyond the "pep" I would associate with a Geo Metro at 7,000RPMs. The first 10-20 miles are rough because of either driver training or engine/transmission AI learning; I'm still curious as to how much AI is involved. 65MPH straight at 3,000 RPM - no effort. Uphill, I could press it in 5th and get 65, but I felt better in 4th. I never tried to get past 70 in my first 1,000 miles. Engine was quieter than the road noise.

Brakes work! I drove in Houston. Trust me, they work.

Steering is quick. In fact, I dodged a piece of rebar or something that fell off a truck in front of me... car moved 2 feet to the right, metal hit my left side and bounced off. Yep, 68 miles on the odometer and I had my first battle scar. Service manager said it's just paint damage, any body shop that works on a Mercedes can repaint it.

On highway it handles well, but is susceptible to wind. I-10 pushes you to drive 80mph if possible, and with the coastal winds, I was being pushed around in the lane... I never once left the lane, though. Quick steering was really important there.

I can feel the road. I-12 and I-10 in LA and TX... Good God, could I feel the roads. Suspension is tight, not much travel. For this reason and the wind, I consider the Smart mostly a city car. It'll go on the highway if you take it easy.

We had a major storm pass by; about 6 hours of thunderstorms overnight. No problem; a little rust on the front brakes but that's expected. No traction problems on a rained-out dirt road.

Overall design:

This was engineered well, like I'd expect from Mercedes on a budget. Solid feel, quiet engine, nothing feels "cheap." Rain sensor kicked on the wipers when a truck splashed water on me. I didn't even notice the water until the wipers were going.

Too bad there's no spare tire, but really where would it go? I'll buy a spare rim and tire and put it in the garage. Roadside service can fix a minor flat; if the rim's damaged the spare rim can be brought to me from home.

I think it far exceeds my expectations. Anyone that doesn't like the shifting in a test drive needs to give it time to train the driver. I was trained in under an hour.

Mileage is great... 37mpg hwy first fill up, 44mpg hwy third fill up. Details will be in the MPG thread.