Shifting - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Shane5500 · 09-13-2008, 10:13 PM

I don't have my new Smart yet. The estimated delivery date says it will arrive between September 2008 to November 2008. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Maybe even this month.

I have heard many mixed reviews about the shifting and it sort of worries me. I have never driven a car with a manual transmission in my life. Never had the need to. Will I have to learn how to drive a manual if I want to drive this car? I'm a quick learner and I'm sure I could pick it up quickly. But probably not within the first few days. Will I even be able to drive the car home? That's something to worry about.

NCC1701 · 09-13-2008, 10:17 PM

The short answer is no. The smart gives you three (yes three) ways to handle the transmission. One of them is the automated manual. Until you get more comfortable with the car, this will likely be your choice. The car has a clutch, but no clutch peddle. The car's computer handles that, even in 'manual mode'.

fortow · 09-13-2008, 11:10 PM

This is the simplest manual transmission you'll ever drive. Anyone can operate it. Most learners of manual transmissions only have difficulty starting a car off from a stopped position. It's the modulation of the clutch pedal coupled with the throttle that gives them trouble - no such problem with the smart since there's no clutch pedal. It's all computerized and you can't go wrong. Your only concern should be to be in the right gear at the right time and avoid lugging and over-revving. If your car has a tach then it is simple matter to keep the engine revs at an optimum level. Even so, you can vary the revs between 2000 and 6000 without concern. It won't take you long to figure out what the most efficient revs are for any given situation.

headless · 09-14-2008, 02:07 PM

Let me get this right, you have ordered a car that you have not had a test drive in, and then you ask complete strangers on a forum if you can drive it or not

My answer is, go for a test drive first before you buy the car, and find out for yourself.

Shane5500 · 09-14-2008, 02:20 PM

I wasn't really worried too much if I could drive it or not. Like I said, I am a quick learner and I could catch on with no problems. I was just wondering if the car was really that tough to shift. Thanks to the other two posters who responded, I figured out that it was not tough at all.