Well, we took delivery of the first of our Smarts yesterday evening. We have another on order, reserved at the same time, and are on the orphan list for a third.
First of all, let me say, just for kicks, my husband put both our names in the DDE, and both said "delivery sometime between 3-20 and 6-20". We've already taken the one, and the other is in port in Jacksonville, just waiting for it to get up here. So don't give up the faith.
Our experience at Mercedes/Smart Center of Buckhead was just fine, very casual, in fact, no pressure whatsoever. It was kind of like going into Target to buy underdrawers. When I couldn't understand about the paddles, Victoria jumped in the passenger set, sped around the parking lot, and showed me in a few seconds.
I got a yellow/black cabriolet, with no options, which still seems fully loaded to me! It was MSRP, including $645 delivery, $399 doc fees, out the door price was $18, 614.04.
I've got 50 miles on it as of this morning, the fuel gauge indicator is an LED bar, and it is still on full.
My impressions, based on what I read here the past few months versus real life:
Lots of folks complain about Smart being stiff and bumpy. I was really worried about this. My last "fun" car was a Mercedes SLK. Lemme tell you,
that is a stiff and bumpy car. I guess it broke me in, because my Smart is a
much better feeling ride than the SLK, and was well above my expectations.
It's also a
lot quieter than the SLK.
The standard Cabrio stereo system rocks. The 6CD changer is overkill. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I
had a CD in my car. The MP3 player is infinitely better than the one I had in the van. On that one, if you forgot to turn it down before switching to the radio, it was an instant heart attack because the radio would be blasting so loud. The Smart stereo does it automatically. The speakers are really good, too, and it's a very simple and intuitive sound system to work, and has big, readable dials. Even has an on/off & a mute switch. Piddly stuff, I know, but my last sound system was like running the Millenium Falcon. With reading glasses.
This is a big deal to me, and rates up there with "does the car run?".
There are some really well designed things I love already. The door lock/unlock function is on the dash. I can see at a glance if the doors are locked. Cool!
The safety bars come off the convertible with a simple click, and store
inside the tailgate. Neat!!!! The tire repair kit and something else are neatly stored under the passenger side floormat. A lot of things open and close with simple springloaded clips. A good example is opening the cabrio on the tailgate. Just simple, clever design. If you marvel at how IKEA does what they do, you'll love the Smart, lol!
I love, love,
love,
LOVE the paddle shifting. I put it in automatic to leave the dealer, but by the time I got acrost the street, I had changed it to manual. I'll probably never go back to auto. I was taught to drive a stick by sound and engine feel, so I ignore the arrows. The arrows seem (to me) to want you to shift a tad earlier than needed. The paddles are uber convenient, shifting is pretty smooth (certainly no worse than any other stick car, and a darn sight
better than some I've driven!) Some people have commented about having problems shifting when turning. It just takes a couple of times to get the knack of it, although I confess, I did bright light a couple of people trying to click the downshift last night.
You don't have to downshift, the car does it automatically, but I find that downshifting as I approach a light or traffic makes a nicer ride, and at stop signs, if I wait for it to go back to first gear, it prevents me from doing a "California Stop", as I am wont to do. That's not a bad thing at all, since there are five well-policed stop signs in a row on the drag out of our neighborhood. Our family has contributed mightily to the county coffers.
My husband, who can't drive a stick to save his life, caught on to the paddles immediately. I love my brilliant husband dearly, but if
he can figure it out...... have no fear. The paddles are easier to work than a calculator.
I drove it on I-285 this morning, kept up easily with traffic at 65 mph, although I stayed in the right hand lane because a.) the roads were wet b.)I wanted to see if I felt small and vulnerable (I didn't) and c.) I didn't want to push a new, unfamiliar vehicle. But no problems, and I didn't feel the grooves in the road, like others have mentioned. Again, a
much nicer ride than the SLK, although stiffer than the minivan.
My husband drove it to the store last night, and was fussing at some guy to "get off his a$$", when I reminded him, "you don't
have one in this car. He's keeping the usual distance." That was kind of funny.
My mother, who is a very large woman, was very surprised at how roomy it was, and I overheard her tell my dad, "Even I could get in one of those", which I tried not to laugh at.
My daughters are having absolute hissy fits that my Smart came before theirs.There is great gnashing of teeth and rending of hair taking place. I let the eldests' boyfriend drive her up to the store in it. He flipped out over it. He had been dead set against her getting such a small car, but now he's a convert.
On the way home, I saw a surveyor on the side of the road nearly turn his head 180 degrees to look, and one guy nearly hit another head-on, because he crossed the center lane while looking at me. I think I am a traffic hazard, which reminds me, I am really pleased with the bright yellow both colorwise, and because I think traffic sees me better that way.
When we pulled in the driveway, we attracted a flock of about six kids chasing us down the street.."That's the cutest car I've ever seen!" "My daddy says he'll get me a car when I'm 16 and I want
that one!"
The crabby man who walks his dog 24/7 actually cracked a smile and saluted me. I checked to see if the sun had gone into eclipse, looked for locusts, but then remembered I was in my Smart.
Parking it in the garage was laughable. It looked like a chihauhau in a doberman's doghouse.
A few things I don't like about the Smart-minor in the scheme of things-the new car smell is more like sour, spoiled milk. It's
dreadful and I hope it passes really soon. And when I put my lunch in the storage area, it slid into the crack behind the seat. I can't figure out how to tilt the seat, so had to contort myself to get it out. I couldn't reach over the tailgate to get it. That must be the reason for the tray that everyone keeps talking about. I wish the MP3 player plug was outside of the glove box. The box is pinching the MP3 player cable.
Floor mats are on backorder, and I will probably get an armrest.
Over all, 50 miles into the thing, I am very pleased with the car, and can't wait for some sunshine and warm weather to put the top down and take my favorite fluffy red dog for a ride.
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