Road and Track review; warranty terms

[gimhoff]

The Road and Track 2008 annual new car magazine is out, and has a half-page review of the Smart. I can't find it online, but the review is very positive. Chief among the positives they note: "relentlessly cute," which is coincidentally what I call my wife. Chief among the negatives is a question: "too small?" Too small for what?

The news, however, is that they list the warranty terms as four years or 50,000 miles, both power train and bumper-to-bumper. I take that as good news.

[SmartBob]

Yeah, thumbs up on the warranty for sure. Now, when can we get solid mileage figures? The best I figure with all I've read is an average of 40+ mpg. Is that the general concensus?

[jonnysan]

It's my bet that that number is ultra conservative for political reasons. PAG and MB doesn't want anyone getting anything less than that so they can complain (with validity) if they got 39 by hammering the crap out of it using obviously unconservative driving habits. Without even knowing, I have to say that a car that light with such small HP HAS to score much higher mileage using reasonable driving habits. I will be disappointed if I am wrong, but that will hasten my move to PHEV or EV even faster and sooner rather than later as that is my longer term objective anyway. I'm guessing the real mileage will be more around 45-50 or maybe even better with alittle trickery in tuning and in other things. Back in the days when I had my Saab 93 with the 750cc, 2 cycle motor, it always seemed that after I washed and waxed it, it ran faster......think that'll help? LOL

[PassionforPassionCT]

Just took a look in Barnes and Nobles in the Oct 07 issue and couldnt find a think, what issue was it in?

[gamernotwatcher]

Originally Posted by jonnysan

It's my bet that that number is ultra conservative for political reasons. PAG and MB doesn't want anyone getting anything less than that so they can complain (with validity) if they got 39 by hammering the crap out of it using obviously unconservative driving habits. Without even knowing, I have to say that a car that light with such small HP HAS to score much higher mileage using reasonable driving habits. I will be disappointed if I am wrong, but that will hasten my move to PHEV or EV even faster and sooner rather than later as that is my longer term objective anyway. I'm guessing the real mileage will be more around 45-50 or maybe even better with alittle trickery in tuning and in other things. Back in the days when I had my Saab 93 with the 750cc, 2 cycle motor, it always seemed that after I washed and waxed it, it ran faster......think that'll help? LOL

Back in the day, my 9 year old Honda 600 2 cyl 600cc averaged 42mpg it better do better than 40

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by PassionforPassionCT

Just took a look in Barnes and Nobles in the Oct 07 issue and couldnt find a think, what issue was it in?

Yeah, I keep on forgetting to look for this - anyone confirm whether its the Oct issue?

Duh...I just answer my own question by re-reading the very first sentence in the thread:

"The Road and Track 2008 annual new car magazine is out...."

So its neither the sept or oct issue, its the separate new car buyers guide, which supposedly hit the newstands on 9/18.

[lhoboy]

Originally Posted by gamernotwatcher

Back in the day, my 9 year old Honda 600 2 cyl 600cc averaged 42mpg it better do better than 40

Your Honda 600 was also 160 pounds lighter with 16 less hp: Honda S 600

[SmartBob]

I had one of these back in the late 70's. Ha ha ha ha I drove it in S. Cal on the main hiways from Newport Beach to Fullerton.

[Old smart]

I remember them well; never had one. Is it an optical illusion that the front wheels are larger than the rears?

Otherwise, it

[SmartBob]

The wheels DO seem to look different in size. As I recall they were 13" rims. I was always having tire separation problems....even with good brand names like Pirelli and Michelen. The sidewalls would bubble. The car was still a hoot and it's size and speed didn't keep me off the freeways.