Year 'Round Drivers in Calgary Winters - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Airmunkey · 04-27-2009, 11:37 AM

Hey everyone,
I am very seriously debating purchasing a Smart. I do however have a few concerns about the bitter cold winters here in Calgary, Alberta. If you are from Calgary and drive your Smart year round, could you give me some feedback on its performance and possible problems? I do mostly city driving but occasionally hit the open road to see my family. Thanks.

Airmunkey · 04-28-2009, 01:13 PM

Any Canadian winter advice would be a great start! thanks

headless · 04-28-2009, 01:39 PM

Hi Airmunkey, looks like you are pretty friendless, so I will give you some advice, I am from Scotland, and have been to Calgary, twice, great city with really friendly people, and the greatest show on earth, the Stampede.
The little smart copes quite well in most situations, and not too bad in the snow if you get an extra set of wheels and put snow tyres on them, if running on standard tyres in snow it struggles for traction.
As it is a semi manual you can make smooth progress in the snow and there is'nt too many big hills in Calgary or surrounding district, so as long as you are'nt making a trip into the rockies the smart should be ok.
I am not that sure just how harsh the winters get up there as I have only been in the summer but maybe someone else from the area will post and give better advice.
Happy Trails.
Ellis

smart142 · 04-28-2009, 04:11 PM

Have gone through 5 winters in SW Ontario with no problems.
But do buy a passion so that you will get the heated seats.
You will find more Canadians over at clubsmartcar.ca

Carl242 · 04-28-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smart142

Have gone through 5 winters in SW Ontario with no problems.
But do buy a passion so that you will get the heated seats.
You will find more Canadians over at clubsmartcar.ca

I'm just a namby pamby San Franciscan, but I will say this--when buying a Passion be sure there are heated seats. Here in the US at least you have to have the comfort package to have them. My wife's Passion has them and mine does not.

smart142 · 04-28-2009, 05:05 PM

and I bet you wish you had the heated seats, eh?

Airmunkey · 05-03-2009, 12:16 PM

Thanks for the tips...I will get heated sheets for sure.

tilleybabe · 07-13-2009, 08:15 AM

Hi, I am not too far from Calgary and have gone through 2 winters with my Smart. I only had a problem when it got down to -30 Celsius at Christmas time last year. I worked an 8 hour day and was so busy I didn't get out to start my baby, that was not plugged in, so by 5 P.M. she just said no go. It took us 3 days to get her started and she was plugged in for those 3. We actually got her going when it finally got up to 10 above. I love to drive all over and have put on 52,000 km in just over 2 years. I don't have heated seats but do have a heated cushion now. That is one of the things I did not know about when I bought her.

kitkatt1960 · 08-09-2009, 10:21 PM

Well the wifey and I made it through the last winter with our Passion with not a hitch..... the gas version that we drive has no block heater, and the garage is not heated... never missed a day of work .... drove it thoughout our long winter this last year and had a great season. The traction control on the ice is AMAZING and freaky the first time you get it to kick in.... scared the p****** out of me the first time.... This little car is a true all year commuter. We live in Medicine Hat, (2hours out of Calgary for those that dont know where it is...) and the only time that I resorted to my Envoy was during spring breakup...... and the only reason for that is because the ruts in my crescent were too deep for the smart... We never saw a snow plow for the full winter!

Thinking of getting one? Think no longer... the results are in as far as I am concerned!

OH as far as the traction control... on really slick ice the little car "Walks" right through it!

Fred and Cathy

Arlene · 08-11-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitkatt1960

Well the wifey and I made it through the last winter with our Passion with not a hitch..... the gas version that we drive has no block heater, and the garage is not heated... never missed a day of work .... drove it thoughout our long winter this last year and had a great season. The traction control on the ice is AMAZING and freaky the first time you get it to kick in.... scared the p****** out of me the first time....

OH as far as the traction control... on really slick ice the little car "Walks" right through it!

Fred and Cathy

Did you have winter tires on? How much are winter tires?