I know that's not how the smart got it's name but anyways lately, I've been using auto-shift almost exclusively to see if my mpg's will increase. The smart seems to get confused about what gear to be in, and sometimes it's a real pain. Although I've gotten used to most of the gearboxes quirks, as I slow down to turn onto another street or a parking lot, it doesn't downshift fast enough until I'm ready to accelerate and than it will downshift probable two gears at once and than a second later it wants to upshift allready. If someone were actually driving a manual transmission in that way, I think they'd never driven a manual transmission before. It can be very annoying. Another example, I went driving up in the mountains today and it actually did fine keeping up with the trafic going up the long steep grades at the 45-50 speed limit, but when coming down the steep grades, I used the paddle shifters to help control my speed (which didn't really help because there's not much engine breaking) but as I would brake going into corners or just to slow down, the stupid lcd display is constantly telling me to upshift.
The upside to all this is that I got the best mpg's so far with 39.6 all city driving. I've got 4000 miles on my smart and with the exception of the auto-shifting quirks, I still love this car.
This post is a good example of Smart offering "an enhancement" and not thinking of unintended consequences.
The Smart was designed as a clutch-less manual car. That is how the basic models are sold in Europe. Then some software engineer at Smart got creative and said "you know, since it is all computer controlled, I could write a program to shift for you". Of course, there's no way a software program can truly predict all the shift needs in a manual (which is different from an automatic), but marketing loved the idea... so it was introduced as an option.
If they simply never introduced this software feature and just sold it as a 'clutch-less manual' we would not see any of the confused press around its "bad automatic" or "terrible shifting".
Though that said, I for one really apprecite having a clutch-less manual that I can tell the computer to take over shifting any time (like when I have to answer a phone call).
not offering an "automatic" mode in lazy USA would have been a non-starter. PRND was a necessity to gain any traction with all but the driving enthusiast consumer.
This post is a good example of Smart offering "an enhancement" and not thinking of unintended consequences.
The Smart was designed as a clutch-less manual car. [...]
Though that said, I for one really apprecite having a clutch-less manual that I can tell the computer to take over shifting any time (like when I have to answer a phone call).
I too think we have the best of both worlds:
Want to have a free hand? Put the thing on "D".
Want maximum performance (correct gear for any given situation, or maximum power, or maximum gas savings)? Put the thing on tiptronic.
not offering an "automatic" mode in lazy USA would have been a non-starter. PRND was a necessity to gain any traction with all but the driving enthusiast consumer.
Much like the power steering. Before coming to the USA Smart had no P/S. But it was the number one item requested by US buyers. I have driven both, I have a Pure W/O P/S and even when the arthritis acts up I have no issue steering the car what so ever.
On the trans issue...I drive in manual 99% of the time and love it...as I do have a problem operating a clutch pedal. I say 'thanks!'....
not offering an "automatic" mode in lazy USA would have been a non-starter. PRND was a necessity to gain any traction with all but the driving enthusiast consumer.
Wouldn't agree with "lazy" as there are other reasons to prefer auto. But for me, no-auto would have been a no-go on this or any other car. A personal thanks from me for thinking of us "lazy" drivers, smart !
As for the up-shift indicator. . .I had a light that came on to indicate optimum time to up shift on a VW Rabbit years ago. I asked about it and was told it was designed to help you optimise fuel use. Once I knew it wasn't an ignore-at-your-peril feature, I ignored it until the light burned out.
I just attached a ScanGauge II to my Smart this weekend and have been trying to watch the RPMs without being too distracted from the real business of driving. This thing really does work to keep the revs low.
I've noticed when in manual that if I slow enough and don't downshift, the car takes over and does it. I knew it reset to 1st when you stopped, but as I come up to a stop or I'm cornering or something, I see the indicator displaying a 2 and then a 1, so it seems to be taking over. The real test will be in snow where I might want to hold 2nd gear or 3rd based on conditions. But then, maybe I should trust the ESP and ABS to do their jobs.
Having only driven a handful of years on automatic (nearly 40 years total), an automatic is an adjustment for me either way. When I was next to another car with a loud muffler and automatic, I could hear his shift points were the same as mine in auto (with a little offset for his leaving the light a moment sooner than I did).
So, I'm bi-transmissional. I use both auto and manual and I'm also glad for the option.
I have had my SMART for 4000 miles now and drive in D all the time yes it is a pure and no P/S or air but I am not having any of the problems you have been talking about I just figured out the avg. over 11 fills and I am getting 45.77 MPG thats .08/Mi I could not be more happy with my SMART it is the best.... Yes its a little hot on the 99 days but both windows down 65 mph and I'm good... I did notice when I first start out on a real hot day it lags a bit from 1 to 2 but after 5 min of driving works just fine. OH ya the thread I read about the head light trick no more people thinking I have my highs on so no more flashing headlamps if anyone needs to know its 1.5 turns CW on the adjusters and lowers the lights down just enough to keep other drivers happy
Thanks for all your help
Jim
Personally, the lack of being able to get a manual was almost a deal breaker for me. I prefer a manual clutch over an automatic. I'm that rare bird that had to special-order his last car in 2000 to get manual, since all the ones on the lot were auto. I'll never figure out why people want a car to handle something as important as how the motor intereacts with the wheels.
I love being able to rock out of a ditch, roll-start a car, and disengage the engine for glides down hills. While the smart can roll-start, the rest really aren't options, since the auto-shift system isn't fast enough to rock, nor smart enough to speed sync from neutral to drive at any speed.
I'll never figure out why people want a car to handle something as important as how the motor intereacts with the wheels.
Because it's hard enough with an automatic to juggle McD's fries, a cell phone, vanilla shake and smack the 6 year old in the back who just won't shut up about how he wanted a CHEESEburger Happy Meal.
See? With the smart, you get the option to smack the kid in the - oh, wait....
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