Well, we were so pleased with the Yellow Peril that there was no question we were going ahead and getting the Passion we'd reserved at the same time. Dealer called yesterday, and it came home this afternoon.
So we are now a dual-Smart family.
I drove it to the grocery store a little while ago. Love the sunroof. It's so big and open, it's like having a picture window on the roof. Sorely regret that it won't open. I am utterly spoiled by the convertible. I am claiming woman's perogative. It's mine. Everyone else
back away from the Cabrio!!!!
I was able to fit six large Hefty bags of stuff for Goodwill into the Cabrio, as well as several small bags, without folding the passenger seat down. People were staring out me as I pulled it all out, like I was doing a magic trick.
I noticed when I was loading grocery bags, the Passion trunk deck area just seems smaller, a
lot smaller, than the Cabrio. But when I look at them side by side in the picture, it can't be. Maybe it's all in my head?
I also noticed that the shifting on the new Passion is tighter, stiffer. I didn't realize the Cabrio, which we've had for nearly three weeks now, seems to have gradually adjusted itself to my driving, like others on the forum have mentioned. There was a definite difference between the two.
Otherwise, just about identical in handling, etc.
Some people have complained about the finish inside the car looking cheap. Well, I disagree. I had a base model Caravan and the Smart's head and shoulders above the plastic interior of the Caravan. The Caravan was practical, but you could practically hose the darn thing out. Now mind, you it
was the base model. Didn't even have power windows.
But the fit is tight, the cloth seats are tight and tailored, nothing rattles particularly bad, I like all the information in a tight area on the dash (clock, mileage, odometer, fuel meter, love the outside temperature guage), and the power buttons for the locks, mirrors, etc are ....how to say......tightly clickable, not cheaply installed. And I cannot rave enough about the intuitive stereo system. Good Lord, if you coulda seen the aftermarket Pioneer monstrosity we installed on the minivan! Didn't even have an on/off button. Salesman told us, "Oh they don't make those anymore". Yeah, we
beleived it, too.
I like the Smart's cloth seats far better than the gawdawful velour that's in our Honda Accord, and I joyfully realized today after getting out of the Honda, Hey! I don't shock myself getting out of the Smart
because it's plastic. That used to just annoy the daylights out of me to the point of doing high comedy routines to shut the doors with my elbow, shoe, lunchbag, or anything else that wouldn't electrocute me. Laugh if you like, but that's a major selling point with me.
Yeah, it's not as tailored and chic inside as my SLK was, but then again, consider the price!
The Yellow Peril is a quirky little car, but sometimes in a car, that's a good thing. My SLK would fly, but it had no personality. It was like "yes, Madame, where would you like to go today, Madame, certainly Madame, I smell like leather Madame. Is that a tshirt you're wearing? *haughty sniff*".
My Smart is more like, "Hey! Lookin' good! I've been waiting on you! Let's go for a ride, get some wind in our hair, what's playin' on the Ipod today? Turn it up some. Louder! Don't look now, but those people are staring!"
Anyway, we're so pleased, we're on the orphan list for another Cabrio. Don't know if we'll be priced out of the market with all the dealer options, but we'd like to have one more.
How to rationalize multiple Smarts to your significant other:
* We won't have to expand the garage!
* But honey, I
was looking at a CLK......three of these is cheaper!
* We just cut our gas bill in (insert fraction here)!
* We can each take a dog for a ride!
* We can have our own rally!
Finally, the newly-licensed daughter we had reserved this Passion for way last year, drove my Cabrio around the block and cried her eyes out. She
hated it. She's not a confident driver at all. At least she was honest enough to say she didn't feel comfortable in it, even though she'd wanted it so badly for so long. If you're thinking about getting one of these for a kid, the dealer probably can't let a kid test drive one for insurance purposes. Beg borrow or steal one to
make them drive it before you plunk the bucks on the table.
My other daughter gladly stepped in, and the youngest gets the Honda, so everyone is happy now. Except my husband, who constantly plots excuses to drive the Cabrio and diddle with the stereo settings.
I guess what I'm saying, in my wordy way was, if we'd disliked, distrusted, felt unsafe, had mechanical problems, yada yada, there is no chance a second Smart would be sitting in our driveway tonight.
Today
Linear Mode
