VIDEO: My friend Paul tries out the Smart Car for the first time - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

BobDiaz · 08-15-2009, 12:54 AM

My friend Paul tries out the Smart Car for the first time at the Smart Car Center, Cerritos, California. Special thanks to Harout Boyadjian (Brand Manager, Smart Car Center, Cerritos) for allowing me to video tape Paul's experience.

YouTube - Smart Car Test Drive

This was shot, edited and uploaded to YouTube on 8/14/2009.

Bob Diaz

NukleoN · 08-15-2009, 02:32 AM

Really interesting to see someone's first reactions. True, it smooths out after break-in when there are some miles on it.

I'm curious to hear if your friend pulls the trigger on it, I guess we'll find out in about 6 months!

forestacademy · 08-15-2009, 05:57 AM

That little Button that fell off was the stop on the seatbelt.
It took me a while to figure it out on mine where that came from.

**jwight** · 08-15-2009, 08:16 AM

Thanks for posting, Bob. Paul is a very perceptive guy but he may enjoy having no car payment vs. getting right back into another one.

OCMike · 08-15-2009, 08:48 AM

Great video! thanks for posting

BobDiaz · 08-15-2009, 09:48 AM

Thanks for all the comments. If you get a chance, please go directly to the Youtube page and post a comment on how much you like your Smart Car. I know that some dummy who has never driven the car is going to say something negative and it would be nice to have several positive comments before the stupid comment.

YouTube - Smart Car Test Drive

EDIT: Sorry, but I can't put a link without the video showing up. However if you do a rapid double click on the video, that should take you directly to the Youtube page.

Thanks,

Bob Diaz

SubSlr88 · 08-15-2009, 11:35 AM

Thanks for the posting Bob - great video~!

SmartJoeMN · 08-15-2009, 12:09 PM

Test drives a convertible and doesn't even have the top down??

BobDiaz · 08-15-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmartJoeMN

Test drives a convertible and doesn't even have the top down??

I'm glad he did NOT put the top down. I had to use a wide angle adapter on the video camera and lay it in the open glove box to get the shot of the test drive. Any time the sun light hit the front of the lens, all the dust on the lens showed up like crazy. OK, I was stupid and forgot the lens cleaning paper and fluid. With the top down, the sun would have hit the lens all the time and ruined every shot. The other problem would be the extra road noise that the microphone would have picked up....

This simple little video seemed to work out so well, I'm now thinking of doing one as if it were a news report by a TV station on the Smart Car. I may pick one of the gatherings in or near the Torrance, California area as the group to film. Assuming that the people in the gathering are willing to help out.

Bob Diaz

superstevie · 08-15-2009, 06:55 PM

that was a really interesting video. I do love it when people drive a smart for the first time and think "wow this is a cool fun little car!"

I work for a married couple here in Edinburgh, and Anne a few years ago, having been in my roadster a few times, decided she wanted a smart fortwo. her husband Les, said he would never drive it! However, he now loves it, and uses it every day instead of his beetle convertible. They use the smart so much, that the beetle is up for sale!

Have to say though, that its interesting to see that when you hold the left paddle it goes back into auto mode. I have paddles on my CDi and I wish it would do that!