McElroy says the jerky transmission in this tiny two-door has hurt it the worst — he called it “the worst transmission maybe of all time.”

Where have I heard this before.

 

Yes we'll have to concede on that one...

 

More like, "the worst opinion [about the transmission] of all time."

 

Who cares, i love my Smart car!

 

I am not going to click on the link and reward those people with a page view.

I'll say, however, that it is self-evident that 99% of the people prefer the comfort, power, and spaciousness of larger cars, as we see sales flops in both the smart ForTwo and its closest broadly available competitor, the Fiat 500.



Fiat 500: Yup, It’s Flopping - TTAC

The iQ and iMiEV aren't genuinely yet available, so we don't know yet how badly those are going to flop, but signs aren't good.

 

I wish you didn't have to sign up to make comments over there. Frankly, you see many of the same comments that you see for the smart. There are lots of small-car haters out there!

I think you are dead on the money about what most Americans are looking for. Here, we are all about being unique, having fun, etc. Most people want a low-maintenance appliance that is comfortable for long-distance traveling. I think it is a bit early to call it a flop, but it may well end up there. I think the Abarth is really more what people are looking for with regard to performance, and it does look a little less chick-like, for what that will be worth. Personally, I'm also waiting for the Abarth rather than the 100 HP standard edition. It sounds like the supply is heavily biased toward automatics, and a fair number are looking for sticks -- I would be. I'm guessing the Abarth likely won't even be available as an automatic, so no problem there.

And to make a confession, my wife wants at least one nice car for taking trips in -- sure you can do it in a smart, but face it, it's much nicer in a Lexus, Camry, or Accord. Me, on the other hand, I'm a micro car nut, so bring it on, but I think I'm VERY likely in the minority. It will probably be a used GS350.

I think their business model is still a major problem -- just like a smart where the dealers are really spread-out, which really discourages people from buying, especially if they tend to be the type who doesn't do much car stuff on their own. Chrysler could have sold them through a TON of dealers, but NO, everyone had to build a really expensive studio, which means WAY fewer dealers and more money for the cars -- stupid. The same goes for smart -- kind of a tactical error IMO.

And, I would LOVE to shift my own gears!

 

£25 a month insurance, £35 a month pertol, no tax, no congestion charge.....NUFF SAID!!!!!!!!!!

All u muppets getting rinsed by the government for driving a big car with no where to go!!!


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...if u aint got nothing good to say about smart cars...then PSSSSSS OFF!!!

 

also, come to england their everywhere

 

We can Rant/Rave all we want about the poor reviews the Smart gets on it's trans. But the bottom line is most of the USA car buying public hates it.

Smart's sales bottom line in the US proves it. A2Jack

 

I'm quite sure that's part of it, but I do think vwW12 point about Americans love of big automobiles is well taken. It's hard to know the exact percentages of course, but anything that adds negative points can't help sales. At this point, the 500 is still outselling the smart on a month-to-month basis; time will tell whether that will continue. Personally I dream of a manual, and I'm betting we'll get one in the next iteration (along with an actual automatic trans, but that's just a guess).

 

I lowered myself to the standards of the nitwits who bashed the smart and responded. Forgive me...

 

Maybe smartUSA should offer "Automated Manual" driving schools around the country to teach noobs in how the car responds to the transmission with topics like:

What does feathering the gas pedal to smooth out the shifting do to the gas mileage?
Does it significantly impact the computer's learn mode?

How to use the paddle shifters and floor shift in manual mode without a tach?

Why does the automated shifting seem lethargic and not shift sooner?

Performance shifting in manual mode with and without a tach.

yadda, yadda, yadda

 

Sounds good.

But then again, that's what dealerships are for. It's just unfortunate that people read these silly opinions, then they visit the showrooms and accuse us of exaggerating the truth, and just trying to make a buck, and all the hostility they were coached to have by Internet rumors.

Visit smart center West Covina and they'll get the good information they are looking for! :wink:

 

I don't need no darned dealer to "teach" me how to shift a transmission that shifts itself. :rofl2:

I agree with the above statements but jeez, a school?

Here's your first lesson, put your foot in the brake and shift into "D". Congratulations, you've graduated transmission training.

 

I don't need no darned dealer to "teach" me how to shift a transmission that shifts itself. :rofl2:

I agree with the above statements but jeez, a school?

Why not? Many people went to driving school before they obtained a license. Truckers go to school to drive trucks, so they can learn how to master upshifting, downshifting, engine braking, and shifting automated-manual transmissions. What makes a car so different?

If people learned how to utilize automated manuals the way they were designed, there wouldn't be any room for complaints because they would understand the technology and understand the benefits. They don't perceive any benefits because they lack the understanding.

Any manual that shifts faster than humans is not a problematic transmission. The car hits its gears just fine, and it requires half the effort to do it. Yes, I recommend school for those out there who don't have enough driving skill to figure it out.

We ask professors for grades on essays because they have the knowledge, training, and expertise. We don't ask high school dropouts to grade essays because their opinions are poor ones. In the case of the smart fortwo automated manual transmission, all the "critics" are missing the skill and education necessary to have a valid opinion. Why? Because they don't even qualify their opinions with anything valid other than how the car feels when using it.

Here's your first lesson, put your foot in the brake and shift into "D". Congratulations, you've graduated transmission training.

That's not driving with skill and expertise. Every driver on the road doesn't have the same skill or understanding of how to utilize a vehicle to the best of its ability. That's factual. Some people get it, some don't. Assuming everything should be that simplistic is almost like saying you have the same driving skill as a professional race car driver.

"Just push the accelerator button when you need to go, hit the brakes when you need to stop, steer the car when you need to steer." Nice try. You'll lose every time with your attitude, and I won't be going to racing school at your institution.

I should change my name again. Maybe "Defender of the smart fortwo transmission."

 

Nevermind...that is either a horrid joke or you're actually serious...:rofl2:

Every time find myself behind the wheel of one, I shift into D then over to Manual mode where I leave it until I park.

Since there's no clutch pedal, all I do is throw a shifter or paddle and let it do the work.

All this stuff about needing to be taught how to use it is ridiculous! It's a self shifting tranny, it isn't rocket surgery!

No, I'm not against it and I do like it, but I sure as heck don't believe one needs to be taught to use it. :rofl2:

 

THE REAL REASON FOR PITIFUL US SALES:

People in the USA eat gluttonously and can't fit comfortably into a small car.
Fat people's legs tend to slop over to the shifter, making it difficult to reach.
Two typically obese people in the USA can exceed the capacity of a smart car.
So, you seldom see this large (no pun intended) part of the population at a smart dealer.
The other 1/3 are divided into groups, as follows: Those who can't read, those who believe anything they read, those who will believe anything without reading it, and the really smart folks who stay fit, trim, well educated, green and can afford to buy a smart. Part of the later group are not quite as smart, but the finance companies love them anyway.
:angelanddevil:

 

Hey ****** ~ are you implying that by owning a smart, I'm one of the fit and trim ones? thanks!

 

I’m guessing the Ferrari auto manual shifted faster than the one we have in the smart… and AFAIK the dual clutches they use now, they have virtually no delay (now there you go!). And, as pointed out, the short wheelbase exacerbates any flaw in the shifting logic. However, I’m still not quite sure, why there is a failure to understand that it bugs people, or that it does any good to shoot the messenger. Sure, most of us don’t care that much since we love the car, we are willing to forgive it quirks. Most people aren’t us [evidently]. The concept that someone should have to be trained to do something that is automatic is beyond silly, and into the denial zone.

I’m guessing that may be part of the problem. MB, and other apologist think that they can train people to accept it the way it is rather than change it to what people are comfortable with – I don’t think that’s working too well. MB isn’t going to be able to sustain a sales rate of 400-500 cars a month – it’s just not enough to make it worth it to the dealers. So, as much as we don’t want to see the car change, it likely HAS to change, or it’s doomed. I don’t want to see that happen. I’d be more than happy to give up the Bucky-the-wonder-horse shifting if it meant saving the brand. Keep the small; keep the cute, and dump Bucky – it’d be a start.

 

I’m guessing the Ferrari auto manual shifted faster than the one we have in the smart… and AFAIK the dual clutches they use now, they have virtually no delay (now there you go!). And, as pointed out, the short wheelbase exacerbates any flaw in the shifting logic. However, I’m still not quite sure, why there is a failure to understand that it bugs people, or that it does any good to shoot the messenger. Sure, most of us don’t care that much since we love the car, we are willing to forgive it quirks. Most people aren’t us [evidently]. The concept that someone should have to be trained to do something that is automatic is beyond silly, and into the denial zone.

Nice! Compare a $300,000 Ferrari shift speed (a street legal race car with the clear objective of being the fastest on the road) to a $14,000 smart fortwo (with many other objectives that don't include being the fastest on the road). That's realistic.

Say what you want about the smart fortwo transmission, but it still shifts up and down faster than you!

I’m guessing that may be part of the problem. MB, and other apologist think that they can train people to accept it the way it is rather than change it to what people are comfortable with – I don’t think that’s working too well. MB isn’t going to be able to sustain a sales rate of 400-500 cars a month – it’s just not enough to make it worth it to the dealers. So, as much as we don’t want to see the car change, it likely HAS to change, or it’s doomed. I don’t want to see that happen. I’d be more than happy to give up the Bucky-the-wonder-horse shifting if it meant saving the brand. Keep the small; keep the cute, and dump Bucky – it’d be a start.

What you fail to acknowledge is the fact that the smart fortwo isn't chasing after the accepted 'norm.' Sure, you want to be mainstream you install the less efficient, larger, heavier, more maintenance intensive auto transmission with torque converter and transmission fluid.

MB won't make a change because the engineers have chosen the proper transmission for this car. Just because it's an unpopular stance doesn't mean it's the wrong stance to take.

Some of the greatest inventions of mankind had to overcome obstacles from many "haters" (to borrow from hip-hop lingo).

As far as the brand goes, there will be future product. There will be more models to choose from and a more diverse product lineup.

 

DEALERS....DEALERS.....DEALERS, Put Smart at EVERY M-B dealership AND ADVERTISE. DEALERSHIPS MEAN SUPPORT. Sure I know that I can lease/buy a M-B, Ford, Chevy, VW, ..... for $XXX.oo mo. Who is going to buy a car (no matter what cost) and drive 2 hours, if you're lucky, for service? No local mechanic will/should touch it. Thank goodness for the Forum and everyone on it, I do most of my own maintenance. IMO, If M-B is serious about keeping this brand to round out their fleet, i.e. U.S. fuel economy standards, they had better get on the stick.

 

With this flywheel? I think the TCU does pretty good. The transmission would suck as a full manual too.

 

You're talking about something completely different. We are all talking about how quickly the gearbox's internals can switch from one ratio to another; you appear to be talking about how quickly the transmission computer can switch its target gear ratio from one to another...

 

...the computer this and the computer that..will do this ...will do that...
...I just shift into " phu***** gear" and go...

jetfuel...NOT a west coast dreamer....be real dude...

 

Jeesh, everything here from gluttony to smoking (something) - why not just agree to disagree? Nobody's is changing anyone's opinion from where they started, and there's no right or wrong answer. Another thread proving the saying "opinions are like....., everybody's got one." :wink:

 

..yep...belly-buttons...
..but mine is not full of lint...

jetfuel...nothing here...or the belly button

 

No, I like the transmission. I just don't agree that we all need to go to a darned school to use it!

Kamaal makes it seem like you need a PHD to drive a smart. Look, reviewers hate the shift lag and rock of the suspension, deal with it. A stupid transmission shifting school is the worst idea I've heard since nuclear powered cars and the use of Chevy Aveos as Police Cruisers.

 

No, I like the transmission. I just don't agree that we all need to go to a darned school to use it!

WE don't, but the reviewers DO...

 

Neon, We are not smart enough to drive a smart. Everyone with an opinion is just wrong. Accept it, update your ignore list, and just enjoy life! (and buy yourself one of these cars soon! - they are a blast!)

FYI - I like the transmission too, but I could still shift faster in my Geo...

 

FYI - I like the transmission too, but I could still shift faster in my Geo...

Please. That's ridiculous. Getting out of first gear to second gear requires the usual acceleration to get the rpms up, clutch engagement, shift to second to get the rpms up, clutch engagement, shift to third to get the rpms up, clutch engagement, shift to fourth to get the rpms up, clutch engagement, shift to fifth. Now, coasting in fifth, suddenly a car cuts you off and you want to aggressively go around that car, clutch, gear level danced over to 4th gear, ooops, you missed your gear, now you're slamming on your brakes and couldn't lane change. Doggone it, should have driven the smart fortwo.

Oh no, terrible traffic on the 405 freeway. This is ridiculous. What is there, a ballgame going on? Clutch, first gear, clutch second gear, clutch, first gear, clutch, second gear, clutch, first gear, clutch, second gear...

smart fortwo? You don't have to push the clutch. Work that gas pedal correctly and it's working first/neutral/second/neutral/first/neutral/second gear much faster. Especially if you just switch to manual mode.

 

Sales figures don't lie, but I'd prefer to call it one of the better flops of 2011, if not the best.

I couldn't watch Monday Night Football at the local bar last night without going through the question routine. It's still new and unique after 3 1/2 years. Attracts interest....... right up until I tell them the nearest dealer is 105 miles away near Philly. Until sales expand beyond the limited number of smart boutiques, sales won't expand.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again..A modern day 60's VW..It is what it is..accept it or don't buy it. We are all still lucky that banks still want to finance it. It could go to the banks' wayside as a "salvage" vehicle does, "No, we won't finance a Smart" Then what?? I have two of them and hope that they stay around...for our parts sake.

 

Perhaps you should get some training on driving a manual transmission - you might not miss as many shifts then. Peace out!

 

So you've never in your life missed a shift? That means you aren't working your gearbox very quickly then! Driving your Geo like a school bus I guess does lead to perfect shifts. Race through your gearbox in a Geo and you'll have a chance to shift up AND down faster... but you will start missing shifts when you race to beat the smart. :wink: