Wow, time flies. I joined back in 08-17-2016 when I bought a used 2013 Coupe and 15,000 miles later, I guess I never got around to introduce myself. This forum has been immensely valuable to a newbie Smart owner like myself. I installed a ScanGauge, changed the oil, air filter, and cabin filter by searching the forum for howtos. I have yet to tackle spark plugs, V-Belts, and transmission fluids, but those are all on the list : )
I've always like the Smart Car concept. I love the brand DNA that combines the quirkiness of Swatch with MB's safety focused engineering prowess. I also like the clean design aesthetics with a deceptively large utilitarian interior. I remember reading about the Fortwo in the late 90's and being excited to rent a 450 in 04' for a quick day trip from Firenze to Pisa. That experience left me pleasantly surprised and ever since I've always thought of Smart Fortwo not as a small car, but as a cool car with a capacious interior.
In some way I treat my Smart like small cargo hauler and I am constantly amazed by how much stuff I can pack into the car; everything from folding tables, ice chest, cartons, luggage, small ovens and projector screen.
Having changed my fair share of spare tires, sometimes in remote locations, I was a bit hesitant to take my Smart from Los Angeles to Oregon to see the 2017 solar eclipse. Yet, I made it there and back, including short stretches of alternate gravel roads in post eclipse exodus traffic.
The only downside to driving a ICE Smart is that my regular daily commute is ~2 miles (one way) of (sub)urban driving. If I am lucky, I get almost 30mpg and the engine barely reaches operating temperature, which doesn't happen during winter, even in SoCal. So, to remedy that situation, I recently acquired a 2013 Smart ED : )
Having zero experience with EV, I again have to thank the forum for its collective knowledge on the Smart ED. Searching and reading the forum on the Smart ED gave me the peace of mind to purchase an almost 6 year old EV. I still get ~85 miles of max range, and ~60 miles of usable range before charging (No A/C, mostly local streets).
thanks everyone,
John
I've always like the Smart Car concept. I love the brand DNA that combines the quirkiness of Swatch with MB's safety focused engineering prowess. I also like the clean design aesthetics with a deceptively large utilitarian interior. I remember reading about the Fortwo in the late 90's and being excited to rent a 450 in 04' for a quick day trip from Firenze to Pisa. That experience left me pleasantly surprised and ever since I've always thought of Smart Fortwo not as a small car, but as a cool car with a capacious interior.
In some way I treat my Smart like small cargo hauler and I am constantly amazed by how much stuff I can pack into the car; everything from folding tables, ice chest, cartons, luggage, small ovens and projector screen.
Having changed my fair share of spare tires, sometimes in remote locations, I was a bit hesitant to take my Smart from Los Angeles to Oregon to see the 2017 solar eclipse. Yet, I made it there and back, including short stretches of alternate gravel roads in post eclipse exodus traffic.
The only downside to driving a ICE Smart is that my regular daily commute is ~2 miles (one way) of (sub)urban driving. If I am lucky, I get almost 30mpg and the engine barely reaches operating temperature, which doesn't happen during winter, even in SoCal. So, to remedy that situation, I recently acquired a 2013 Smart ED : )
Having zero experience with EV, I again have to thank the forum for its collective knowledge on the Smart ED. Searching and reading the forum on the Smart ED gave me the peace of mind to purchase an almost 6 year old EV. I still get ~85 miles of max range, and ~60 miles of usable range before charging (No A/C, mostly local streets).
thanks everyone,
John