Driving Impression - 2008 smart fortwo

[jwrebholz]

This afternoon I attended a ride and drive event promoting the new smart fortwo to be sold here in the US. On display were a couple of cars--one fully-equipped model people could sit in and look at, and a cutaway model showing the safety cage and the like. They also had about a half dozen running fortwos going around the block for short test drives.

First we'll start with the interior. The fortwo is surprisingly spacious for a car only 8.8 feet long--I put the seat all the way back and not only couldn't reach the steering wheel, I could barely reach the pedals! I moved it up a couple notches and immediately got comfortable. All the controls fell to hand easily, the gear lever was in the perfect spot, and I could reach all the radio and climate controls without leaning forward. The large speedo was easy to read, and the entire car felt airy and roomy, especially with the glass roof. The car's twin bucket seats were comfortable and supportive, but I felt they could use a little more lateral support.

All cars were equipped with a 3-cylinder gas engine mated to a 5-speed sequential gearbox. Flipping the gear lever to the left of Neutral put it in manual mode, and pressing a button on the side would switch it to automatic. In automatic mode it behaved, well, much like a normal automatic transmission. In manual mode, you could either bump the shift lever forward or aft, or use the paddles mounted to the steering column.

On to the drive. The car I got to drive was the uplevel Passion model which included a lot of extras like power windows and locks, an upgraded stereo and AC. As I pulled out of the line and onto the city street I noticed the engine responded quite willingly, and I felt it'd have no trouble squirting into and out of traffic. The steering, which did NOT have power assist, was light and communicative, feeling almost like a precision instrument. It had just enough weight to it to make the car feel stable, but it was still light enough that you didn't have to be Charles Atlas to navigate something like a parking structure. The car turns in nicely, though things like body roll, squat and dive were hard to pick up at the low speeds called for by the relatively dense Pittsburgh city traffic. It felt very stable though, as I was expecting such a short, narrow car to be a lot more tippy. My only real complaint about the car were the brakes--while they were ABS-equipped and also had electronic assist, they were quite touchy. You hit the brake pedal and nothing...nothing..nothingBLAM into the windshield you go. I would have liked the pedal feel to be more linear and progressive instead of an on/off switch.

The fortwo is a surprising car in every way I can think of. Surprisingly light-footed, surprisingly solid, surprisingly roomy, and surprisingly affordable (the loaded Euro-spec Passion model I drove would have a sticker around $14,000). I wonder how much in trade I could get for my Cavalier...

(also posted to the forums at www.mcadf.com )

[rueben44]

Yea they seem to be great little cars but I expect more MPG for the price and the size of the car. Heck there is so much you can buy for 14K that is fuel efficient and safer if you ask me. Now if it was 8-11K then I would be a little more impressed.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by jwrebholz

My only real complaint about the car were the brakes--while they were ABS-equipped and also had electronic assist, they were quite touchy. You hit the brake pedal and nothing...nothing..nothingBLAM into the windshield you go. I would have liked the pedal feel to be more linear and progressive instead of an on/off switch.

Ever drive a Mercedes? That's exactly how they brake.
No surprise, seeing as it's part of the family.
You get used to it. But guaranteed, when you need to stop... you'll stop.

Nice little review. Thanks!

[likearock00]

Yeah, I think they are a bit overpriced as well. They would be alot easier to operate in the city though. They'll sell all of them, largely due to the cool factory they bring with them.

[AndrewGS]

I really wish Smart would update their US site a bit. Don't they go on sale nationally in January?

[E. Haskell]

I read that it gets 31 city and 43 highway - is that correct?

I wouldn't buy one because it only seats 2 people, has no luggage space, doesn't look too good (it looks odd and catches your eye....for now), the gas mileage isn't great and it's slow (0-60 in 13 seconds I believe ).

For those in dier need of easier parking, I can sorta see how they might like it....probably as a trendy second or third car to drive to work.

[jwrebholz]

If they decide to bring the diesel version over, look for mileage in the high 50s.

[vsd]

I saw a bunch of them in Toronto in early late May/early June and was pretty impressed, and I finally saw one out here on the Interstate, being followed by lifted Dodge Ram(looked like he would have no problem rolling over it, would that count as off-roading? Cause thats the only way most lifted trucks around here would have anything to do with that). I think they'll sell well but its gotta be a lil disheartening to be the smallest car on the road before you get used to it.

[King Riffle]

Originally Posted by vsd

I saw a bunch of them in Toronto in early late May/early June and was pretty impressed, and I finally saw one out here on the Interstate, being followed by lifted Dodge Ram(looked like he would have no problem rolling over it, would that count as off-roading? Cause thats the only way most lifted trucks around here would have anything to do with that). I think they'll sell well but its gotta be a lil disheartening to be the smallest car on the road before you get used to it.

I've been the smallest car on the road before. It's not as frightening as you guys make it sound. I especially doubt it would be bad with the Fortwo, since you sit up higher (unlike the Fiero, where your arse is an inch from pavement).

I'm gonna have to check out the smart when I go car shopping. Are they just going to be sold at Mercedes dealerships now? Or are Chrysler dealerships getting them too? Will they have their own dealerships?

[Old Dood]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Ever drive a Mercedes? That's exactly how they brake.
No surprise, seeing as it's part of the family.
You get used to it. But guaranteed, when you need to stop... you'll stop.

Nice little review. Thanks!

True...no different when Power Brakes came into being way back. I remember watching my Mother use the brakes in our brand new 1963 Impala. She was backing out of the drive way then just starting to take off when my Dad said something to her. She applied the brakes like she has for years and SCREECH! She just wasn't "use" to them as most people were not back then.

[impala02]

Smart had a ride and drive event in our town a few weeks ago. I wanted to attend, but didn't have the time to wait. I did see them zipping around town though. I was amazed at how little space they took up. Instead of having them parallel parked along the road, they were angled in towards the curb, so 2 Smarts took up the same space as 1 "normal" car. They do seem a bit pricey and the gas mileage is a little underwhelming.

On another note, about a month or so ago, I saw a Smart in the mall parking lot. It had the Mercedes emblem on it, so I gather this was imported here??? It sure did get a lot of looks and drew quite the crowd of curious onlookers. Myself and everyone else that walked by stopped and stared for a few minutes.

[King Riffle]

Originally Posted by impala02

On another note, about a month or so ago, I saw a Smart in the mall parking lot. It had the Mercedes emblem on it, so I gather this was imported here??? It sure did get a lot of looks and drew quite the crowd of curious onlookers. Myself and everyone else that walked by stopped and stared for a few minutes.

AFAIK, No smart comes with Mercedes badging. Are you sure it wasn't an A-class?


Otherwise they just stuck Mercedes badges on their smart.