[JohnC626]

I just test drove a convertible 2008 Smart Fortwo with 75K miles. It's orange and black with all black interior. It felt awesome. The car was so much fun and everyone was staring lol. Then I test drove an '09 hard top with 34K miles and it felt like crap lol Guess miles don't mean anything. Maintenance says it all. Surprisingly too, the shifting felt so much better than the 2015. Interesting.. Anyway, for sure I'm getting a convertible!!

 

[Mister_smart_LA]

I just test drove a convertible 2008 Smart Fortwo with 75K miles. It's orange and black with all black interior. It felt awesome. The car was so much fun and everyone was staring lol. Then I test drove an '09 hard top with 34K miles and it felt like crap lol Guess miles don't mean anything. Maintenance says it all. Surprisingly too, the shifting felt so much better than the 2015. Interesting.. Anyway, for sure I'm getting a convertible!!

The 2008 shift programming usually makes crisper, but slower shifts. By the time 2015 came around smart dealt with so many (totally unnecessary) shift complaints and concerns from automated-manual transmission rookies, that they felt the need to adjust the programming to try and hide and mask all indications that it was a manual transmission vehicle. As such some of the shifts are smoother and faster, but less controlled...

Sometimes I prefer the older, crisper, slower shifts to the newer faster and less controlled by the driver shifts... a personal preference thing.