There are orphans available in Indianapolis but most are Cabriolets which I don't want (security issues). The few Passions I have seen were colors that don't do anything for me.
You might ask Max about swapping panels. He made that offer to me when I was checking out the orphans, but ended up getting White/Black which is exactly what we wanted.
Anyway, just a thought. Yes, there would be an additional cost, but you could have your smart TODAY!
As for a Mini....yea, would LOVE to have one of those too, but the wifey says only one toy at a time!
I am laughing at some of you that say it gets tossed around in high wind. Well, I don't get tossed around anymore then my kia Rio. Which was double the weight. I do notice that I don't over correct, thus getting tossed around in the wind due to I did not get the electric steering. It is a friggin go cart so who needs to have finger turning. High wind hits, you over correct and car goes all over. When high wind hits me, I don't over correct due to stiffer steering, thus no all over the road syndrom. I test drove both with and without before I configured. I found no difference at high or low speeds. Just making it too much easier to turn the wheel which is easy enough without it. Just my 2cents. Not going to help manybe ppl in high winds if they have the electronic steering which you paided extra for. If you buy another one, drive a NON electric before you buy your next. See the differnece.
Looked at Mini and liked it in a general sense. I prefer the almost all black look of the Smart interior. Mini a bit tarted up. Also do not like the colors. Black is metallic. Great fun to drive but just not for me. Wife hates the smart and says I should have gotten a Mini. Kid grown and extra space just not needed. Price for S which one would have to buy is $5-6000 more for what? Gas mileage is worse. Not really in love with the Smart but I do like it. Real car of choice is the TR6 but it not very practical. Great fun telling people Smart made by Mercedes Benz especially Mercedes Benz owners. Most people seem to like the Smart and I usually complement them on their car so everyone starts happy with each other. Only a few people, usually very fat in giant SUVs, seem to give me grief. On subject of power steering I agree it is a $400 option not needed.
Glad to see you are finally enjoying your smart. I'm amazed how well it does in windy conditions considering it's short wheelbase, narrow track, and high profile.
This car requires a little more focus to drive than the average jalopy, it's part of it's fun factor to me.
Found out something fun. If you are in 5th gear even using the toggles and mash down hard on the gas the car drops down into 3rd and jumps like a scalded cat. Nice to know you have the power to get out of the way when you really need it. I learned this the hard way. A semi seemes to want to occpy my space.
Yes, there is a switch all the way in, you can feel the click. It downshifts in manual mode too. I like that feature when driving in auto mode but in manual it bothers me, I want to have full control on what gear I'm in without having to worry that I'm about to trip the switch.
Been thinking about installing a toggle switch to disable this when I doing dyno runs or driving aggresively.
First and foremost I just want to say that I drove my larger car for the last few days and thoroughly enjoyed driving it. It needs to be used once in a while, but I just had the craving to get back into the little tomato, because as someone else stated that it's like a little go cart and so much more fun to drive.
Within the time period of 6 hours driving the larger car I saw three other smarts on the road. That was a first. I followed one that was going the same direction close to home and attempted to contact the driver to ask about the car and then quickly realized that I was now was one of the many others that always ask about the little smart. I was ignored of course.
As for the kickdown feature, it feels like a miniature turbo kicked the little car forward after a 1/2 second delay. That delay though feels much longer when one is in a situation one wants to get out of quickly. Then all of a sudden the sound of a very large sewing machine motor rotating at full rpm is heard as the neck snapping action begins...or so it seems...
Hummers, Corvettes and all the rest of you, get out of the way for here I come...I don't do this very often because it feels that the little engine that could... won't one day, never mind the little transmission...
Hmmm...will there ever be a stock and customized smart cars only race be developed...?
I had to run into South Bend today. It was a balmy 67 degrees so I took down Charlie Brown's top and made the drive. It was SO NICE! I'm thinking that I could try this even when it is in the 50's if I turn the butt warmer on HIGH!
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My Two Blue Beauties
The Cabrio That Will Not Tell Me Its Name
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Today
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