my test drive - rough ride

[CTJon]

I finally got to the local SMART dealer to do a test ride. I still have about 8 months till my SMART is due.
The shifting wasn't smooth but I expected that and it wasn't that bad. I was surprised about two things. First the brakes. They seemed very strange with very sharp response. I'm sure I'd get used to that.
What did surprise me and what I hadn't really read about was the ride. I felt every little bump and every crack in the road and was bounced about. My back hurt when I was done.
Is this normal? Is the ride very rough - it was considerably rougher than my Corvette with the the stiff suspension. I have to say that it really concerns me and I'm not sure. Have to drive one more.

Any one else thing the ride is very harsh?

[imcquade]

I think mine drives much the same as my Corolla did.... not a Rolls or anything but certainly not a back breaking ride

Cheers

[nprsmart]

Originally Posted by CTJon

I finally got to the local SMART dealer to do a test ride. I still have about 8 months till my SMART is due.
The shifting wasn't smooth but I expected that and it wasn't that bad. I was surprised about two things. First the brakes. They seemed very strange with very sharp response. I'm sure I'd get used to that.
What did surprise me and what I hadn't really read about was the ride. I felt every little bump and every crack in the road and was bounced about. My back hurt when I was done.
Is this normal? Is the ride very rough - it was considerably rougher than my Corvette with the the stiff suspension. I have to say that it really concerns me and I'm not sure. Have to drive one more.

Any one else thing the ride is very harsh?

I think the suspension is helping tone up my back muscles. No backache after the first week or two.

That being said, my wife joked last week that we don't need any more speed bumps in town, all they need to do is put the paint on a little thicker than usual... Yes, we feel the paint....

Even with the stiff ride, I love my smart.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by CTJon

... (sic) Any one else thing the ride is very harsh?

If the standard has to be BMW or Corvette, you might want to bail out.

[JPaul]

Being partial, Id' say it's "tight", not "harsh"!
Exactly what to expect from such a short car. It may even be van-like over wavy roads, seating so high. But I'm used to it.
Except when I don't miss or see a pothole. That can be an issue, then... ouch!

[gbryers]

Having owned both small and large vehicles (67 & 69 Beetles, 82 Nisan Sentra, MG Midget on one end, Caprice Classice, Ford LTD Wagon, several pickups on the other), I can say that the Smart, IMHO, rides about the same as the small cars (and even some of the pickups I have owned, when they had no load). Anyone used to a mid- to large-sized vehicle may find the experience jarring, but anyone that wants to know what the road serface is like, in order to better maintain control, won't mind the ride at all.

[sharonlee]

Hi CTJon,

Sure, ride is a little ruff. Sort of reminds me of my husband's pickup truck...in ride only. Of course, you can't compare it to a Corvette. That would be totally unfair, but I can honestly say that it is the most fun I've had since my Corvette. I think the biggest problem is distance from the dealer and I am closer than an awful lot of folks.

[IcePlanet]

It takes about 200 miles of driving for the Smart to learn your style of driving. Until then the shifting will be rough, shift badly and at the wrong times. Plus you have to learn yourself how to drive this type of transmission. If you are driving a test drive Smart the Smart has had many different people driving it all with different driving styles. They are also not used to this type of transmission so it will drive rougher than normal. The shifting does get smoother! In the beginning you might want to drive in manual mode for smoother shifting. It also takes time for the breaks and shocks to break in. They are very stiff in the beginning. You will always feel bumps in the road more than you would in a larger car. You just don't have the weight to smooth things out and the shocks need to be where they are for safety reasons. It will never be as smooth of a ride as an SUV, sedan, or sports car. For me it just adds to the fun. You FEEL the road!

Together, after some practice, you will make a happy couple. It is an amazing car and so much fun to drive.

[angel]

Originally Posted by CTJon

What did surprise me and what I hadn't really read about was the ride. I felt every little bump and every crack in the road and was bounced about. My back hurt when I was done.
Is this normal? Is the ride very rough - it was considerably rougher than my Corvette with the the stiff suspension. I have to say that it really concerns me and I'm not sure. Have to drive one more.

Any one else thing the ride is very harsh?

Mine rode rougher than a cob when I first got her. Checked the tires and they were over inflated. It's possible that the ride was rougher than should have been if the tires were over inflated. Make sure when yours comes in to have them check the tire pressure then take it on a test ride before taking delivery if you really have concerns.

[Prospero]

Yes, it's a bit stiff, and the auto-shifting isn't as smooth as a normal automatic transmission.

Brake is positioned badly.

I found it took about 100 miles to get used to.