Jump to content

Need "Smart" Advice


Heavymetal

Recommended Posts

I have sworn to myself never to crawl into a Smart car but,,,, my wife would like to have one for small trips so I am in the market now I need some advice.

 

1. Is there any special thing I should know or look for?

 

2. Auto or stick?

 

3. Year models to stay away from?

 

Anything advice you can give would be deeply appreciate.

 

Richard

2016 Western Star 5700xe (Pathfinder) DD15 555hp

w/12 speed automatic 3:05 diffs

2005 Newmar Mountain Aire 38RLPK

2 Great Danes

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Richard,

Suspect we'll have a few Smarts at Tampa RV show. We shouldn't be short of opinions and sounds like the making of a good "campfire" discussion.

 

You can take ours for a spin if you like. Surprising how the look from the inside is different from the exterior. My son and I drove 1100 miles in the Smart to pick the truck up in Kilroy, not an experience I'd like to repeat, but around town and parking, it's sweet.

IMG_3217a.jpg.c718bc170600aa5ce52e515511d83cb7.jpg

Jim & Wilma

2006 Travel Supreme 36RLQSO

2009 Volvo VNL730, D13, I-shift, ET, Herrin Hauler bed, "Ruby"

2017 Smart

Class of 2017

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just when I was getting on the road this am.

I will respond at the 1st pit stop if there is a McD for WiFi.

Using this phone with my blunt fingers doesn't work.

Go to the Smart car of America forum.

I will see discussions of issues.

The biggest is the timing chain, oil pump away. Another is the fuel pump and hi pressure and low pressure fuel pump. Rest shocks on gen1 cost over 600 pr.

Stay away from gen1/diesel. Little service in USA.

Don't let gen 1 fuel led indicator sit long on 1 bar. Fuel pump Will get hot.

It uses fuel to keep it cool.

60 mpg vs <40 for gassed.

Gassed had lots more power, cruise control, some kind of anti buffering for side winds.

Mine is fully auto or can put it in manual like I shift.

Gen 1 has more leg room but not much more.

Can't speak to standard trans.

Easy to rig tow bar/hitch on 2017's

 

I'll fill in blanks later

65

Roger.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Richard,

Suspect we'll have a few Smarts at Tampa RV show. We shouldn't be short of opinions and sounds like the making of a good "campfire" discussion.

 

You can take ours for a spin if you like. Surprising how the look from the inside is different from the exterior. My son and I drove 1100 miles in the Smart to pick the truck up in Kilroy, not an experience I'd like to repeat, but around town and parking, it's sweet.

They do have a few here, we walked around one yesterday and we were impressed by the interior room on the Smart. We started looking on line and there seems to be quit a few of them for sale, most at a very good price comparing to other small cars.

2016 Western Star 5700xe (Pathfinder) DD15 555hp

w/12 speed automatic 3:05 diffs

2005 Newmar Mountain Aire 38RLPK

2 Great Danes

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am one that said I could never see myself in one. Well, own my second now. You can park it where others skip over. It cheap to operate. The 2016 up are greatly improved cars. They don't fare well in accidents. You are fairly safe but the car is usually totaled. Deer totaled my 13. Everything plastic up front to crush and absorb impact. Had a drunk on a bicycle vere in front of a loner, 2016. I only running 35ish. No one hurt but bicycle faired better than car. You have good room in it. I sleep in mine in parking lot at work. Have to get here early to get a decent spot. They don't like high winds but what light vechile does? It sure is a great fit on my truck. Lol

2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Like so many things in life, it's a compromise. But the smart is a pretty darn good compromise, given it's size and price. I'm one of those who made fun of them at first. Now we have one, and even though there's another car available, my wife uses it as her daily driver. We take it whenever we're headed to the city, as it's so easy to park. 3 years and nothing but oil changes, no other issues.

KW T-680, POPEMOBILE
Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN
Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row
Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer.
contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I will add with any low small vechile the windshield is in direct line for rocks from tire. My new, few months, Smart has crack in it now. Bummer. Do they market a stick shift Smart in America? I not seen one

2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reading the specs on the gen1 vs gen 2 is that the 2 is 106" long! Is this correct?

Shhh... If that were true, we would be over width hauling them. :ph34r:

KW T-680, POPEMOBILE
Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN
Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row
Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer.
contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gen 1, 98.4 in. Gen 2, 106.1 in.

I think the shhhh in rickeieio post meant we weren't going to talk about the length because it's over the 102" limit.

2016 Western Star 5700xe (Pathfinder) DD15 555hp

w/12 speed automatic 3:05 diffs

2005 Newmar Mountain Aire 38RLPK

2 Great Danes

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the shhhh in rickeieio post meant we weren't going to talk about the length because it's over the 102" limit.

Now, how do you get the toothpaste back in the tube?

 

I've only heard of one instance where someone was busted for over width, in Houston.

KW T-680, POPEMOBILE
Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN
Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row
Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer.
contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have no fear on the safety issue. We are on our third smart. The second one sacrificed itself to save the life of my buddy and I. We were making a left hand turn and a full sized pickup came through a red light at 50 plus and hit us on right front corner. All of our injuries were caused by seat belts and shoulder harness (broken sternum for me, ribs for my friend).

 

Check out the pics here, particularly the interior, if you ignore the deflated airbags there is no damage visible inside!

 

The safety cell had one small kink on the right front A pilar. The drivers door still opened and closed normally.

 

I feel a lot safer in the smart than I do in my Jeep Wrangler.

Dennis & Nancy
Tucson, AZ in winter, on the road in summer.

1999 Volvo 610 "Bud" 425 HP Volvo, Super 10 spd.
2005 Mountain Aire 35 BLKS
2013 smart fortwo CityFlame riding on Bud
(Replaced '05 smart first loaded in '06

and '11 smart that gave it's life to save me!)
Our Travel Blog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are at the Tampa RV show with 8 other hdt' s and have had a chance to really look over the Smart and will make the plung when we get back to Texas.

2016 Western Star 5700xe (Pathfinder) DD15 555hp

w/12 speed automatic 3:05 diffs

2005 Newmar Mountain Aire 38RLPK

2 Great Danes

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...