New driver and smart car

[MaybeWereCrazyBaby]

Hi, im new driver. Im getting my license in about 2 or 3 weeks, im a senior in high school and im starting college in the spring. Im going to commute and I want a car that can fit in my driveway (i have a really small driveway already with 2 cars in it) and one thats good on gas for the commute to and from school. I saw the smart on the highway over the summer, and fell completely in love with it, and wanted one since. Its pretty affordable for a new car. My question is, is it a good car for a new driver?
what are some of the cars flaws?
thanks so much!

[HGB]

Welcome...
There are no flaws in my opinion except for two issues. You will only get a two year warranty/24 thousand miles and the most important one is where you need to discipline yourself. It'll be more fun driving around with the smart than sitting on your rear studying. Be warned...

[gbryers]

Originally Posted by MaybeWereCrazyBaby

My question is, is it a good car for a new driver?
what are some of the cars flaws?

Okay, that's two questions, but I'll let it slide, this time...

At any rate, IMHO, the smart is an EXCELLENT first car - small, agile, inexpensive to buy and operate...

However, you may want to check the neighborhood. For commuter colleges, you may not have a problem, but there are reported incidences about where juvenile delinquents are having fun flipping small cars (guess they can't tell the difference between "car" and "cow").

Other than that, and unless you require excessive interior space for all your buds (or Buds, but I am not an advocate of DUI or DWI), you can't go wrong...

[SunDiego]

I think this would be a great first car. Easy to drive, park and safe too!

[jmatero]

As a first car, you may want to consider something like a used Honda Civic. It's safe, very reliable and fun to drive.

[Orphan-Beggar]

Originally Posted by MaybeWereCrazyBaby

... I want a car that can fit in my driveway (i have a really small driveway already with 2 cars in it)

You may want to rent a fortwo,
and test-drive a few other cars.

[lkern]

Even with 10 years of smarts in the world, the USA experiment is just beginning. I'm not sure I'd recommend this as a first car for a college student. What you need is reliable transportation, cheap to operate, a healthy warranty with a long US history. Since you'll, most certainly, be concentrating on studies, the last thing you need is more worry or anything to distract you from the task at hand. Also, my forecast is this: It will be tipped inside the first month. But if you have the dough, it's a VERY cool car to operate. Otherwise look into some reliable beater mentioned elsewhere.

[fortow]

I also agree that this is not a proper car for a student, particularly a new driver. It is best used in manual mode, has only two seats and young people fequently like to take friends for drives, is more expensive than a student should pay unless money is no object, is unusual which can attract unwarranted attention, may be the object of pranksters, and although it generally engenders smiles and is considered "cute", it might also be the object of negative comments by other students.
There are more trouble free, less costly, traditional and better behaved torque converter automatics, and more spacious alternatives available.

You really should try driving a smart and a few other options. Consider carefully what all the ramifications might be to ownership of any car and most particularly the smart. What do your fellow students think of this car?

[Neonspinnazz]

Not this again!!!!

As being a Sophomore student (2 years from you) and new driver I chose the smart for my first car that I will not only have but pay for...

I get my license in 2 months so I'm kinda in your area of experience...

My reasons:

1. Price (affordable on the wallet)
2. Size (you don't need a tank to get you to work | parks anywhere and in any position )
3. #'s of seats (more teens = more distractions)
4. Gas (small engine + big mpgs = more money in wallet)
5. Style (something about the smart makes me happy )
6. Options (Comfort Package, Smart Soundsystem w/ Tweeters and Sub...)
7. Uniqueness (when you park at college many others might have the same car as each other but you will have something else!)
8. Attention (nothing will turn heads as much as a smart)
9. Speed (Who needs 0-60 in 5 seconds anyway?)
10. Meets and clubs (big event in the midwest this summer! )
Need I add more positives?

[2smartArizona]

All postive arguments are true about this car, inexpensive, great mileage, fun etc, but to take it to a University...this is the only thing I would really worry about....if not for this...


A good used compact that you are not going to mind so many bad things happening to would be better.