thinking about getting one!

[npalao]

Hello all!

I am completely new to Smart. I am an owner of a Mini Cooper and a GTI. I need a car that I can drive around town with low gas costs. I haave heard tons of both good and bad reviews on the ForTwo. What do you guys think about your vehicles? Will I be satisfied if I get one? Please focus on all the technical issues about the car, I already know I love the little car's looks. I am just very iffey on all the bad stuff I have heard on it's quality, specially the tranny! Thanks all! Cheers!

[SuperGeek]

There's no real quality problem. The tranny's a manual, sold as automatic. Technically it's listed as "automated manual" which is accurate, but that's a new term in the USA so people don't understand. You'll find a thousand different threads discussing it, because people generally come in expecting a smooth automatic shift and there's no single clutch manual in the world that is smooth. They did improve shifting in the 09s and offered to upgrade the 08s for free, and most people agree it's a tangible improvement.

For a $12,000 car it's solid on the inside. I've driven a Hyundai Accent and a Chevy Cobalt, both near the price range, and the Smart is by far the most solid feeling - better quality and thickness of materials. I was bored with the Accent rental within 10 minutes. The Cobalt took me on the 12 hour drive to pick up the Smart. Cruise and XM Radio were its only saving features. The Smart was far more comfortable on the way back.

[JD10367]

Transmission's fine, once it wears in.

"Driving around town" will probably net you 32-36 MPG. Don't expect miracles.

Also, don't expect a smooth ride. The suspension is horrible and you feel every bump.

On the good side... They're fun to drive, easy to park, and get a lot of attention. (Then again, so does your Mini Cooper, I would think.) I love the height, and the open airy feeling of the Passion with all the light coming in through the windows. My wife and I fight over who gets to drive him every day.

[npalao]

I have heard those two things, rought ride and rough shifts, which honestly do not bother me at all. I am very concerned about the overall quality of the car, mechanically speaking. I have had a horrible time with my Mini Cooper and I do not want this to be the same story. Have you guys experienced any other glitches? Or, have any other gremlins appeared?

[gniwok]

Originally Posted by npalao

I have heard those two things, rought ride and rough shifts, which honestly do not bother me at all. I am very concerned about the overall quality of the car, mechanically speaking. I have had a horrible time with my Mini Cooper and I do not want this to be the same story. Have you guys experienced any other glitches? Or, have any other gremlins appeared?

I've personally had no glitches yet. The ones I've heard othes having here on the forum were easy fixes for the most part. The great thing about the smart is that it's simple, affordable, and VERY solid in frame and drive.

I plan on having this car for the next 20 years! The solid tridion steel frame (called the safety cell) is essentially the grounding point of the entire car. Everything around it is simple to fix/replace/clean/modify and you will probably be safer (in the unlikely event you can't see that accident coming) in this car than you would in many, many others. I call the tridion cell a "rolling panic room" because judging from the crash test ratings and videos I've personally seen, you are very safe in it.

SuperGeek and JD above are absolutely right! The transmission feels like any other manual transmission when it's in operation, even in the 09 model. I have an 09 passion, and the tranny is a lot smoother of a shift than I could possibly have done in my old Geo Metro. If you expect it as that, even in Auto mode, you will not be disappointed at all!

And whether you want or expect it or not, you will get a lot of attention when tootling around town in it!

~Jas...

[RVGRINGO]

For a longer view; we've had our 2007 Passion since October, 2006 and have had no problems. Our daily driving includes speed bumps, cobblestone streets, potholes and other road hazards. When just a few months old, we drove it from Guadalajara to North Carolina and back, a 5000 mile round trip, and we were comfortable and up to speed with interstate traffic. Our only 'glitch' was a blowout in a construction zone in Alabama. The car handled it without a wiggle. Fortunately, bead rubber remained on the rim as the body of the tire passed us on its way to tire heaven. We drove on those beads for a couple of miles into Mobile, where we called for a truck to take us to a tire dealer. That was before Smarts were in the USA and we envisioned a destroyed rim and a 'vacation' in Mobile while we waited for one to arrive from Guadalajara, Canada or Europe. We were lucky enough to find a tire to fit; only one, so we ordered another when we got back to Mexico and now have matching rear tires by Bridgestone; just a bit larger than the originals at 185 50R 15. Now, we carry the odd Continental original as a spare and might even buy a rim someday if we can find a used one cheap enough. So, you now know my only complaint: Why did Smart choose such an odd size tire and those damned three lug rims? Oh yeah, captive marketing.

[npalao]

Good to hear from some GUANATOS people, since they know what I am talking about all the hassles we can have between roads, bad service in dealerships, etc. I can see from the little posts, and the lack of bad references, that the car is mighty solid. That eases my mind.

[Bill Marshall]

Originally Posted by npalao

Hello all!

I am completely new to Smart. I am an owner of a Mini Cooper and a GTI. I need a car that I can drive around town with low gas costs. I haave heard tons of both good and bad reviews on the ForTwo. What do you guys think about your vehicles? Will I be satisfied if I get one? Please focus on all the technical issues about the car, I already know I love the little car's looks. I am just very iffey on all the bad stuff I have heard on it's quality, specially the tranny! Thanks all! Cheers!

The tranny's a complete non-issue as far as I'm concerned. It's like saying don't by a car with a standard transmission because it doesn't work like an automatic. Duh! It is quirky & does require some adjustin, but it's really no big deal. I find that it makes my driving a little more interesting because it's something else I have to pay attention to. To improve fuel efficiency, I'll take it an day of the week.

I'll tell you some things you should be aware of:

1. The ride is bumpy. It doesn't matter to me, but only you can decide if it matters to you.

2. I find the seats a little uncomfotable at times. That's just the way my butt fits into them. Your smay be different. It's an individual thing. Adjustment of seat positions is limited.

3. You have to look through the steering wheel to see the speedometer & other information on the display. I couldn't find a proper seat adjustment to do this right away. I eventually have. But the steering wheel is not adjustable, so it may not work for everyone.

4. The car is susceptible to movement from high winds. It's not a deal killer for me, but it's real & you should know about it.

5. Acceleration & response time of the passing gear are slower than wht I've been used to. You should know that. It's a factor in highway driving. It's actually made me a safer driver because I don't take as many risks.

6. Although there's plenty of leg room & head room, there's not as much elbow room as I've been used to. It's a narrow car.

7. It's a small, light weight car - only 1800 pounds. Although its built extremely well & innovatively designed & engineered, there is no changing this fact. In a collision with something bigger - which means just about everything else on the road except a motorcycle - you lose. The car will not be crushed or collapse around you, but it will be thrown more easily than a bigger car.

8. You probably know this, but it's worth repeating. As fuel efficient as it is, it uses premium gas, which is a little more expensive.

Having said all this, I really like this car. It's my preferred car to drive & I have 2 others. However, I think that you should buy with your eyes open & know what you're getting. It's not for everyone.

You should also know that in addition to being cheap to buy & cheap to operate, reports on reliability & owner satisfaction from Consumer Reports are both excellent. They couldn't be higher.

[BigWarpGuy]

I have had no real problems. The transmission was easy to get used to. There are times I go faster than I realized. It is really fun to drive. I think it will fit in with the other cars you have. I am amazed what I can fit into the back. It is easy to get into and out of. This is good since I am six foot tall and weigh 330 pounds. It is remarkably roomy for such a small car.

[jetfuel]

...can we make Bill's answer a sticky...good job Bill...short, sweet and to the point..

jetfuel...in Naples FL