Reasonable Expectations?

[rawlus®]

i don't find the rear view mirror to be that obstructive. and the hockey-puck was invisible to me after a few weeks of driving. i'm well over 6 feet. sun visors are pretty much useless to me on any vehicle tho.

[unicycle]

My main reasons for purchasing a smart: parking (NYC) and mileage. The smart is great for both of those: The best parker in the country, and one of the best for mileage, esp long distances.

Yeah, there are aspects I'd have preferred, but I later found that I'm better off sans cruise control (it's not as good for mileage as driving carefully, and I drive really slowly and use pulse&glide anyway, so cc would have been pretty useless to me). I'm fine with the radio.

I'd love an adjustable shoulder strap and an armrest, but I've driven nearly 10,000 miles and have loved the car so far.

And I'm certainly not in a position to complain: I never even test-drove the car or did any real research before buying one -- I didn't have time, as the orphan became available less than 1 week after I'd first considered getting a new car! But it's been great so far on the positives-outweigh-the-negatives scale.

[rwjrn]

I think we can still love this car and wish for improvements. Anything that costs over $10,000 shouldn't be limited to one type of driving. I didn't buy a burger, I bought a car. I do realize this isn't a luxury car, but that doesn't mean cruise control wouldn't have been nice. I love and appreciate my car. I drive it a minimum of 90 miles a day. I'm letting other people drive my other car just so it doesn't sit. I don't understand the criticism that the car isn't wide enough. That obviously is somehting you should have researched before buying. However, there are some design issues that could be improved. The point is just becuase I might have some problems with some parts of my car, doesn't mean I want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I don't feel wanting cruise control, armrests, homelink, decent sound from your stereo, or functional sunscreens are unreasonable expectations in today's market. I also don't think these simple items should jack up the cost of the car by all that much.

[rawlus®]

the aftermarket will support or already supports most requests in short order. with likely better componentry, with more choices and at a better price.

[ASmartMan]

Hey All

For those who don't know me I have a Gray Market 450, got it a little over a year ago and put 11K+ on the clock.

I am still happy with my choice (YEA don't post about parts/support, price,etc). I knew what I was getting in to and knew it was a challenge most would not attempt, but having said that.

How many of us have ever gone to eatery someone recommended only to feel at the end the meal was bad, how many of us have gone to a movie everyone raved about, only in the end to think it was bad, different people are satisfied with different things.

I have made purchases in my life I've regretted, HECK how many of you out there have been divorced (talk about regretting a decision)?

The only point I'm making is, some may of fallen in love with the "concept" of the Smart car yet they feel the execution isn't complete.

When we (wife and I) go out I ask her to drive her car (2005 Chevy Aveo) and I'm in AWE of how smooth her transmission shifts and how quick the AC cools down her the entire car.

There is NO WAY you can get smooth shifting in a 450, the 451 is better but still horrible compared to the cars willing to waist a little MPG for comfort, if your not willing to live with that then the Smart is not for you.

Remember most of you are still in the "Pink Cloud" phase of your relationship with the Smart, but once the phase is over (usually about 6 months), reality sets in. So don't trash the people who have a Smart and are second guessing their choice, they are where you may be in a few months.

WOW how can you tell one of my wives was a Psychologist (Yea there has been more than 1)

In the beginning my Smart could do NO wrong then I really started to notice the ride, the slow take off (when in first gear), the cost of getting Snow tires, $500 for cruse control (instead I ended up building my own), $500 for a trip computer (instead I built my own), THEN it happened.

It was a snowy evening, knowing the highway would be blocked I took the back roads home. This being the first time I drove this car in the snow (about 6 inches of the heavy stuff) It was a white knuckle ride all the way.

While focusing on the road ahead, I couldn't help but notice a Ford Explore had spun off the road, both occupants were standing along side their SUV, as I drove by, they both nudged each other and pointed as I drove by.

Well me being me, I could not resist, I tooted that little horn and waved as they stood there awaiting the arrival of the tow truck, at that moment I became relaxed (well almost), I arrived home and decided to try going "UP" the driveway, well it made it with out a hiccup (unlike my 2WD Ranger that would NOT of made it).

I had entered the "acceptance phase", I knew there were bad things about the car, but there were also some good things about the car, luckily for me the good things out weigh the bad things, not everyone will have the same feeling about the car (in time).

So if someone is having 2nd thoughts about their actual Smart purchase (for what ever reason) offer them a shoulder not barbs, they waited SSOO long and are not happy, it takes a strong person to admit that.

WELL enough for 1 night

ASM

[amad1972]

Everybody keeps saying it is a city car. It does seem more in its element in the city, but I wouldn't hesitate to take it on a long trip. My first driving with it was 550 interstate miles. No problem. A little more bumpy than a normal car, but that was on Virginia's sucky roads. No offense to any Virginians. I love this car!!!

[74AMX304V8]

I could detail pages about engineering flaws, not just design and marketing flaws. I researched this car for six months BEFORE sending the reservation. Everything I had read said the NEW and IMPROVED 451 model for NA was to be an improvement over the existing one. I was disappointed to see euro models trotted out for the US roadshow almost like a bait and switch. It still took a leap of faith to purchase. Even the manufacturer has little faith in it, in a day when many manufacturers are touting 7yr plus warrantees, the little smart has a little 2 yr warranty. Some people are willing to settle for mediocrity, others expect more value for their dollar. To each their own.

[rawlus®]

i suspect the shorter than avg warranty has much more to do with a weak US dollar than a lack of confidence by the manufacturer in the vehicle.

[jwight]

Originally Posted by amad1972

Everybody keeps saying it is a city car. It does seem more in its element in the city, but I wouldn't hesitate to take it on a long trip. My first driving with it was 550 interstate miles. No problem. A little more bumpy than a normal car, but that was on Virginia's sucky roads. No offense to any Virginians. I love this car!!!

Although the smart does OK on the road, it was designed as a city car and aimed at that market. As pointed out elsewhere, North Americans will use them as long distance cars but that's not what they are intended for. I did a round trip to Texas a month ago in the smart, and repeated it last week in my wife's Town Car. The Town Car wins hands down as a highway cruiser.

[kwagar]

Originally Posted by jwight

Although the smart does OK on the road, it was designed as a city car and aimed at that market. As pointed out elsewhere, North Americans will use them as long distance cars but that's not what they are intended for. I did a round trip to Texas a month ago in the smart, and repeated it last week in my wife's Town Car. The Town Car wins hands down as a highway cruiser.

jwright,
My point exactly! We are all free to use these cars in any way we see fit but that doesn't mean we aren't using them outside of their design purpose. I once rode a 3000 mile round trip on my Harley in 6 days and I frankly had a ball doing it but that is not to say it is the most comfortable, safest, most relaxing way to go that distance.

Use it any way you want but recognise it may have some shortcomings relative to other choices under some distances and conditions.