Smart in bumper to bumper traffic?

[gamernotwatcher]

Originally Posted by spdickey

Biggest problem is the car is not thin enough to get in between the cars. I sometimes pull up on the hand brake when crawling. It shuts off the creep function (which can be too fast in LA Freeway traffic) and keeps my left foot happy.

Could you please explain this? Does the car recognize the parking brake engagement and pulls the car out of 1st gear or hill assist gear or a crepp gear?

[SmartAzz]

Re: bad stop and go traffic - ironically on my very first drive in the car after taking delivery I was stuck in horrible traffic. The car did great and I was stunned at how high up I was and how well I could see. The only thing I'd say is be careful getting used to the brakes, they are new and overall the car may not act the way you are used to, just give yourself time and space to get used to everything about it - you'll love it

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by gamernotwatcher

Could you please explain this? Does the car recognize the parking brake engagement and pulls the car out of 1st gear or hill assist gear or a crepp gear?

Pretty easy, pull hand brake, car stops. Happens when going flat or up a hill (same for down, too).

Hill assist is a brake function. Take foot off brake, car will not go backwards for a few seconds until you step on the gas. Car beeps at you if you fail to press gas and then starts careening backwards.

When creeping, if you pull up slightly on the hand brake, the car gets out of creep mode and stops.

[KingNine]

In crawling traffic under 5 -10 mph I put it into manual mode and keep it in 1st. It seems to work pretty good overcomming the tendency to upshift and bog.

[BeSmart]

Originally Posted by spdickey

....
When creeping, if you pull up slightly on the hand brake, the car gets out of creep mode and stops.

So the 451 smart recognizes when you hit the brake and the engine/transmission stops creeping? So you are not fighting against creep? But you have to keep the brake on, don't you? How do you know the motor is just not working against the brake? Creep still engaged? Wasting energy? Is creep adjustable? Can be toned down? Thanks for any insights.

[BandSofC]

Originally Posted by spdickey

Pretty easy, pull hand brake, car stops. Happens when going flat or up a hill (same for down, too).

Hill assist is a brake function. Take foot off brake, car will not go backwards for a few seconds until you step on the gas. Car beeps at you if you fail to press gas and then starts careening backwards.

When creeping, if you pull up slightly on the hand brake, the car gets out of creep mode and stops.

Mine sure doesn't work that way! As soon as I pull up on hand brake (even just a little) the car beeps and creeps away as usual. It does not disengage the clutch. For me all it does is beep and apply the parking brake slightly.

[kmeinhold]

Originally Posted by BeSmart

So the 451 smart recognizes when you hit the brake and the engine/transmission stops creeping? So you are not fighting against creep? But you have to keep the brake on, don't you? How do you know the motor is just not working against the brake? Creep still engaged? Wasting energy? Is creep adjustable? Can be toned down? Thanks for any insights.

You can feel the clutch disengage if you press hard enough on the brake. If you press lightly it will not disengage, just start to slow down and the rear end will slightly squat and the engine will start to bog.

In summary - the transmission is different (in many ways) and takes a bit of getting familiar with, not bad - just different, I find I actually like it.

[prash]

and it works as stated. If I pull up on the brake one notch the creep function and the hill holder do not work. I wish I could disengage creep most of the time. I prefer the car without it, but don't want the constant beeping and potential brake drag (although at the fist click it does not seem to drag).

[BandSofC]

My parking brake drags before it moves a 1/2 inch to the first notch. It seems to have no - zero - nada effect on the clutch operation. In fact I moved my car around in the driveway with the parking brake set by accident (I thought the beeping was my seat belt warning).

Is mine not working correctly? Let me get this straight: Say you're coasting down a hill - foot off the gas - let's say your in 4th gear - RPMs about 3000. If you pull slightly on the parking brake, your clutch will disengage? Mine absolutely does not. Should it?

[rant]Why do I have to ask this dog gone question? Because my smart has an idiotic automagical clutch - that's why! I've never had or heard so many questions about a car's transmission before! Give us an optional clutch pedal in the next model or this is my last smart![/rant]

Please, mother! I'd rather do it myself.