Woo Hoo!!!!....(long post with observations)

[jefferios]

Thanks for the EXCELLENT review...now my keyboard is covered in tears I'm so excited!!!

[MicroNut]

I was going to write my own mini-review, but I couldn't have put it better than Springerling. The "get off my a$$" comment made me laugh, because I've had the exact same experience - you really have to get used to other cars appearing very close in the rear view mirror, especially when stopped at a light.

The biggest surprise for me is how smooth, quiet and comfortable the car is at speed on the highway. After driving back home from Denver I'd have no qualms about taking it on longer journeys in the future.

Incidently, it was very windy on the trip home, and yes the smart does get blown around. But I found that it's pretty much self correcting if you let it do its own thing. The trick is not to fight it or over-correct (it's actually easier to drive in a strong wind than my Isuzu Trooper). My smart has manual steering - I don't know if this observation would hold true for the power set-up.

And yes, the transimission is, IMO, brilliant. It combines all the fun of a manual with the convenience of an auto. It's quirkiness is the perfect complement to the smart's personality.

[stevenvillatoro]

Originally Posted by MicroNut

I found that it's pretty much self correcting if you let it do its own thing... I don't know if this observation would hold true for the power set-u.

Yes, your observation is correct for power steering, as well. A relaxed driving style will let you be 'one with the smart' on freeways and in windy conditions.

[Springlering]

Fought off the pollen and drove home with the top all the way down after work yesterday evening.

I have to say, my first experience at 65 mph, the convertible with top down is a challenge. I was actually relieved to reach my exit. I wonder if the buffeting would have been less had I removed the bars. Will be brave and try that this evening. (I'll be fair and say the chunks of pollen under the contacts didn't help. I had tears streaming down my cheeks. I hope other drivers interpreted them as tears of joy.)

I think maybe that's why they have the "demi" half open setting setting? Drove in this morning with the top on the demi setting til I got to the expressway, then I closed it. Didn't even muss up my hair. Very pleasant part of my commute.

Also experienced the freeway "grooves" this morning. I've heard CandlerPark mention those, so I'm wondering if those are unique to Atlanta freeways. Funny thing is, no problem at all with them up to about 62 mph, then don't feel them after about 67 mph. There's just that little window of speed where they make me feel a bit white-knuckle.

Had some funny experiences last night. Was stopped at a stop sign, and a lady my age on the other side hung her head out her window and started screaming "Cool Car!!!!!!" at me. From the beauty parlor window, watched a much pierced and tattooed guy oohing and aahing over it in the parking lot. He would have been appalled had he known how uncool I was, lol!

On the way back home, I was stopped at the same stop sign, and a guy in a humongous SUV was staring so intently at me, he flew right through it without stopping. I've also nearly been hit by several other drivers who were staring, and started straying from their lanes. It's particularly noticeable when I come up behind people, and they are trying to ogle via their rearview mirrors. I even lip-read some guy on a cell phone, "What the hell is that? You oughta see what's behind me!"

I like to think of it as the SMART Phenonmenon: other drivers who forget where they are when they see a Smart.

The flip side of the SMART Phenonmenon is, I forget what I'm doing, too, because I catch myself trying to see the reactions of those around me. It's better than going to a show. I get to be the show and enjoy the show at the same time. This is definitely the car for second childhood or exhibitionist tendencies.

Can I just say again how enamored I am with the paddles? OMG! They are so flippin' cool!!!!!!!

[akekalos]

Thank you for taking the time to write this interesting and VERY informative "real life" update. Calms many of my "pre-delivery" concerns.

Tony Kekalos

[esrazor]

We've driven our little black/silver/black leather orphan over 700 miles in the first week and are having a lot of fun with it! About 500 miles highway and the rest city/rural driving. The questions we get in order of most asked first:

What is it?
Is it electric? Response: No, it's gas.
Is it a hybrid? (asked by the same person who asked if it's electric and was told it's gas!)
What kind of mileage do you get?
Is it safe?
How cramped is it?
How much does it cost?
How much gas did you just put in that? Is it already filled?

The car is so cute and small but when you're in it you feel like you're in a full size car. It's not until you see it driving down the road from the side that you realize just how small it is and then you get a big grin on your face. The seats are comfy but would be better with an adjustable lumbar support. It definitely rides like a small car on the freeway but that is to be expected since it is a small car. The less traffic on the freeway the better the ride. The car is a real kick to drive on country roads and around town. We don't have any problem with the acceleration and have found it to be peppy. If you want to go from 0-60 in 5 seconds you will find it slow but we definitely aren't holding up any traffic when the light turns green. I love the paddle shifting and have found if you press the shift paddle at the same time that you let off the gas (not after you let off the gas) that the shifts are much smoother. Like any manual transmission you just need to find the car's rhythm for a nice ride. I also manually shift down when stopping as if you let the car do it on its own you may not make it into the correct gear before you're ready to accelerate. The auto wipers work well most of the time but seem to work best when the rain/snow drops are large. We got the windows tinted and would recommend that as well.

It's a great, fun little car. I find myself peeking into the garage when I'm not driving it just to get a another look at it and put a big grin on my face.

[xcrew229x]

At last, people who are happy with their smarts. I was beginning to feel like the Lone Ranger.

[stevenvillatoro]

Originally Posted by xcrew229x

At last, people who are happy with their smarts. I was beginning to feel like the Lone Ranger.

It seems that people who have their new smarts are EXCEEDINGLY happy. I SURE AM (3,000 miles later)!!!!! I want a different color smart for every day of the week... but they only make six colors. There's my complaint!

[ex300SRT8]

Originally Posted by Springlering

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.

Great write-up. You'll love your smart more and more every second you are inside of it. Thank you for the observation I quoted you on because I thought I was crazy for noticing it or that my car was somehow flawed. BTW, the scent is better now after a couple of months, but I regularly use a vanilla scent at the car wash to help.

[skyzdlimit59]

Great write up. Couldn't agree more. At 1300 miles now and still in love. I like reading the first impressions of those new owners. It is a phenomenon. Happy driving!