Has anyone had any experience with Smart cars? Any tips if I was going to get one?
Smart cars?
- Thread starter Modette
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Smart cars?
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One thing you should be aware of is theres no sump drain plug (so I have been told). You have to suck the old engine oil out through the dipstick hole. If you are a DIYer then you are going to need a suction tool.
Don't...! They're about as Smart as Compo....
Sorry... -- I know these things are personal; but I once had a ForTwo (or whatever they're called...) as a 'courtesy' car, when I was having some work done on a Merc 190. (Talk of going from the sublime to the ridiculous....) It was cramped; horrible to drive (probably because of the very short wheelbase); felt unsafe... -- and, when I found out how much it cost, overpriced. There are many much nicer cars around for the money....
The only good car -- in my humble opinion -- Smart ever produced, was the low-down, sporty one: and I don't think they make that anymore. The ForFour was based on the Mitusbishi Colt -- and that was much nicer to drive than the Smart version...!
Sorry: not very helpful; and very opinionated... -- but I'd rather drive a Yugo.... :shakehead:
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Don't...! They're about as Smart as Compo....
Sorry... -- I know these things are personal; but I once had a ForTwo (or whatever they're called...) as a 'courtesy' car, when I was having some work done on a Merc 190. (Talk of going from the sublime to the ridiculous....) It was cramped; horrible to drive (probably because of the very short wheelbase); felt unsafe... -- and, when I found out how much it cost, overpriced. There are many much nicer cars around for the money....
The only good car -- in my humble opinion -- Smart ever produced, was the low-down, sporty one: and I don't think they make that anymore. The ForFour was based on the Mitusbishi Colt -- and that was much nicer to drive than the Smart version...!
Sorry: not very helpful; and very opinionated... -- but I'd rather drive a Yugo.... :shakehead:
LOL, dont hold back! I understand what you are saying. We just need one car in the house that has rock bottom expenses and this seemed to be the best option. One of the Stilos is currently on Ebay so we will keep the other one and share it and the smaller car - whatever that ends up being. I have been sitting here all night dreaming about convertibles but the insurance is higher than my 1.6 so I wont be gaining and the Stilo we are keeping has a skyroof so I will just have to be happy with that
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The only oil I ever change is whats in the deep fat fryer - Ill be paying someone else to do that LOL.
If you want a small, cheap 2 seater which is good on fuel, insurance, etc and is a convertible you could always go for a Honda Beat, Daihatsu Copen or Suzuki Cappucino
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That's why we went with a TwinAir Panda! I know we won't get the claimed economy; but, basically, for the next few years, we have a very good idea of how much we'll be paying out per month....
The smart roadster is pretty decent. Ive driven one a few years ago, handled reasonable and the small engine was gutsy. Only issue with it was the stupid auto box.
My missus wants a Smart Car.
Being a community nurse she does a lot of town driving. She wants something small, cheap and easy to maintain.
3 of her colleagues already drive Smart cars. £30 a year road tax.
She's driven all of her colleagues Smart cars, describes them as compact, practical and funky looking.
Been looking at them myself and once my wallet has recharged I plan to buy one for her.
A cheap run around for her means I get to spend more on my XC90 ..
Being a community nurse she does a lot of town driving. She wants something small, cheap and easy to maintain.
3 of her colleagues already drive Smart cars. £30 a year road tax.
She's driven all of her colleagues Smart cars, describes them as compact, practical and funky looking.
Been looking at them myself and once my wallet has recharged I plan to buy one for her.
A cheap run around for her means I get to spend more on my XC90 ..
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For £2k you can get a nice 1.3 multijet diesel punto (mk2b) which will cost only £30 a year to tax insurance is cheap parts are very cheap and it will do 62mpg (that's the official figures mine is currently on 66mpg) it's also a good strong engine with no cambelt to change
I'm sure the panda has better fuel economy but the initial purchase price is higher, in any case the 1.3mj mk2b punto is a very wise buy for the money at the moment
I'm sure the panda has better fuel economy but the initial purchase price is higher, in any case the 1.3mj mk2b punto is a very wise buy for the money at the moment
there is a specialist Independent not far from you, but not sure of their new address as heard they moved, i'll try and find out
member on here called arc also has some experience with them see vid
edit found new address
http://www.s2smarts.co.uk/home.htm they are mates with tony who has remapped loads of ff cars, he now runs the rr there
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My Mum has a Smart ForFour (the 5 seater hatchback Smart car). The car is a 1.5 and incredibly good on fuel, it's as if it runs on thin air sometimes and easily achieves 48mpg on a motorway at 70mph. In town it achieves low 40's if you're careful, I'm sure the smaller engines are even better. Other than that its only other plus point is its quite a fun car to drive, the auto version is awful and I recommend the manual (only available on the ForFour though), the 1.5 that my Mum has is actually very quick and pulls from low revs very happily. On another note the ride is awful and the wind and road noise is loud in the cabin.
DRIVE ME CRAZY
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I asked an old college friend who's got his own garage ,as my wife wants one he told me apart from the older ones blowing head gaskets, starter motors are problematic engine has too come out to change it .How true i dont know but are real pigs to work on.
Put someone who knows how to drive in it and swop the 699cc engine for a Hayabusa engine and there's no rolling over, just shed loads of fun ..
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Best thing about them? Can parking them like this.
Can do that with a 126 too, and the 126 has 4 seats and is infinitely more awesome
Can do that with a 126 too, and the 126 has 4 seats and is infinitely more awesome
thats a good idea if you want a small car get one from the people that have been building small cars for years
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They suck beyond belief. The Auto box gear changes could be mapped on a Gregorian calendar.
I know someone how has one, only gets 48mpg out the petrol one. On a run about 52-53. I get that in my GPS, have more than double the power, 6 times the Torque, more than double the space and only slightly higher insurance.
I know someone how has one, only gets 48mpg out the petrol one. On a run about 52-53. I get that in my GPS, have more than double the power, 6 times the Torque, more than double the space and only slightly higher insurance.
Or you could do what this guy's done...
I think you could pretty much park wherever you wanted, then; and the only "rolling over" would be over other cars...!
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Thanks for the info everyone, I have just realised that I can also combine the need for a small car with my desire for a convertible
Been looking at this:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170893303...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_5780wt_1066
Any comments appreciated!
Been looking at this:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170893303...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_5780wt_1066
Any comments appreciated!
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