Weird driving "normal" car now. - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

fpage77 · 04-08-2009, 11:07 PM

My Scion Xa has been sitting for over a month not being driving so I took it out for drive. I felt like I was driving a tank and the steering was so freaking crazy and felt like the slightest touch would make wheel move totally around. I have accustomed to the smart and it's bumpy ride, lack of power steering and size. I wondered if anyone else felt weird driving regular car now.

erikdfier · 04-08-2009, 11:23 PM

I had the same feelings last year when switching from the Smart car to one of my other cars. 06 Solstice, 4 door Jeep Wrangler, Toyota MR Spyder now a track car. Your Scion probably has the same Electro/hydrolic steering like my MRS which makes the car turn without any grip or effort which is very unlike most Euro Cars.

They all feel the same to me now since driving them all for over a year.

SuperGeek · 04-08-2009, 11:28 PM

I have to drive the Explorer at least once a month so I can remember what a tank feels like.

If you think that's weird, drive a big V8 SUV for three days solid and then get back in your Smart. That's a melon tweeker right there.

erikdfier · 04-08-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperGeek

I have to drive the Explorer at least once a month so I can remember what a tank feels like.

If you think that's weird, drive a big V8 SUV for three days solid and then get back in your Smart. That's a melon tweeker right there.

Touche' the 4 door Wrangler is a monstrosity as well. The biggest -What the heck- feeling I ever encountered was during the 1st week of owning / driving. I would get out of the Smart car and close the door while looking back. For a split second I thought "Wheres the rest of the car?"

roetcr01 · 04-09-2009, 12:05 AM

I had to drive my friend's Explorer last weekend to help them out and I too felt like I was driving a tank. As soon as I jumped in behind the wheel, I was like "Whoooh." I was very happy at the end of the day to come back to my Smart.

mdfortwoguy · 04-09-2009, 05:09 AM

When I get in the VUE, it does feel a bit odd. The smart is nippy and responsive in turns, brakes well, and is easy to park. For what the VUE lacks in nippiness it makes up for in acceleration and a significantly softer ride, while still handling well... and I get my sometimes missed clutch pedal, sunroof, and cruise control back. Engine noise in the VUE also is a bit unsettling... I am used to hearing the smart mumbling or growling behind me pretty much all of the time, and in the VUE you really don't hear the engine unless you are using a heavy foot (including with a modified intake)... it's a surreal woosh that drags you to speed rather than being pushed by a growling beast behind you.

The biggest things that get me when I am in the VUE are that the steering wheel rim is narrow in diameter, and the wheel itself is huge. Also, it's a bit odd that looking in the rearview mirror literally results in me looking down on people.

psychobeth · 04-09-2009, 11:21 AM

I had to take my old LeSabre in for some work before I sold it (last night) and after driving Tiny Red, the Buick was like driving a rolling sofa. Big, soft, mushy...

I'll take my little smart any day!

theguywiththelongestname · 04-11-2009, 10:22 PM

when I drive the Jeep Cherokee, it feels like a huge cumbersome beast...the Jeep Commander is worse: a massive lumbering tugboat...

after one year, the smartmobile is definitely my ride-of-choice!