Smart car help?

[Pete Kildow]

Being I know nothing about a smart car. Looked at a clean 2013 Passion today. I have no ideal if this is what most use?

So what should I look for in a smart? Will be redoing the rear of the Kenworth bed to haul one. Will the above one work? Or do I need to look for a different model?

 

Edited July 10, 2019 by Pete Kildow

[Darryl&Rita]

13 is the narrower body style, but is slightly longer than the earlier body. Do all the things you would do for any used car purchase. Oil sample, tire condition, brake condition, interior smell. 

[Pete Kildow]

Thanks I was asking more along the model. As I was thinking it may be longer then the older ones.

[Dennis M]

We've had 2005 ( a 450 gray market - 64th smart in the US), a 2011 (451) and now a 2013 (also 451). Each has been an improvement over the previous, primarily in ride comfort. The 451 is a few inches longer due to European pedestrian impact standards and has a Mitsubishi engine, the 450's had a Mercedes turbo-charged engine. Really not much difference in performance.  We have carried all three crossways on the Volvo deck. Loaded the '05 in March of '06 and have been carrying one ever since.

You often hear comments about safety concerns and most of the people in this forum know there is no reason to be concerned. The reason we bought the 2013 was because the 2011 saved my life (and my passengers) in 50 MPH head on hit from a Chevy pickup running a red light. Seat belt broke my sternum and my passenger had cracked ribs, also from the seat belts, so the smart lived up to my beliefs. The drivers door still opened and closed.

When we are not traveling the smart is my wife's daily driver and she loves it. We prefer the look of the 451 versus the newer ones, but that is just an opinion, all of them are fine for carrying on your HDT.

[GlennWest]

I had a 2013 until deer got it. Doesn't take a huge deer to total one at 80mph head-on. We hauled it sideways. Same length as my 2016, although it is wider. 

[SuiteSuccess]

Pete,

We have a 2013 Passion we bought new.  Have had no issues and that’s what we carry.  We likewise use it as a daily driver when not traveling.

[Darryl&Rita]

As far as models, the options are pretty fluid. The  Pure is supposed to be the base model, but if ordered from the factory with the right boxes checked, they could be had with more options than a Passion. The Cabrio is their version of a convertible, and usually has the highest options list. Just remember, these are typically bare bones cars, so options are limited. 

[noteven]

delete

Edited July 11, 2019 by noteven
Off camber

[chief916]

We have a 2015 Smart Brabus.  Bigger wheels in the back like a Corvette but because of the larger tires the engineers put a 2 degree angle on them which makes it look like the tops of the rear tires are bowed in.  It wears the inside of the tires faster than the out side.  I just flip the tires over onto the other rim and keep driving.  I hear tell that the suspension is built that way for performance handling and I believe it.  The car is very nimble and it looks really nice.  We load ours in the back of the toy hauler which has a 12 foot garage.  It takes the wife and I 10 minutes to load and strap it down.

[Darryl&Rita]

27 minutes ago, chief916 said:

 engineers put a 2 degree angle on them which makes it look like the tops of the rear tires are bowed in.  It wears the inside of the tires faster than the out side. 

That's German engineering in action. All smarts have that camber built in. It's part of the package that lets a golf cart handle 85 mph, and turn like it's on rails.

[Big5er]

Chief, my tires have always worn evenly. Maybe I weigh more than you?

[Darryl&Rita]

22 minutes ago, Big5er said:

Chief, my tires have always worn evenly. Maybe I weigh more than you?

Turn more aggressively. Forces the tread face of the tire to hang onto the road surface with a flatter face. 😊

[rickeieio]

1 minute ago, Darryl&Rita said:

Turn more aggressively. Forces the tread face of the tire to hang onto the road surface with a flatter face. 😊

When I do that, the passenger side air bag hits me upside the head.

[Phil D]

2 hours ago, rickeieio said:

When I do that, the passenger side air bag hits me upside the head.

And she'll hit you again if she sees this! 

[rickeieio]

2 hours ago, Phil D said:

And she'll hit you again if she sees this! 

shhhhhh!

[Pete Kildow]

COME on Guys not again..... 80 MPH in a smart. Man and my wife calls me Dumb. OOOhh wait that was for not being smart.

Thanks guys and all great info. Going to check into this one more this weekend. It looks clean, doors were locked. But looks like leather seats?

Body is in great shape, new tires. And may be my run around car. At home also, love the 1989 Ford Bronco. But fighting the AC in it. So if I don't get that sorted out. Will just save it for the other 1.5 months I don't need the AC.

But will depend on how much of an issue getting in and out of it. My back does not like low to the ground seats.

[chief916]

21 hours ago, Big5er said:

Chief, my tires have always worn evenly. Maybe I weigh more than you?

😂😂

[HERO Maker]

4 hours ago, Pete Kildow said:

But will depend on how much of an issue getting in and out of it. My back does not like low to the ground seats.

Pete, getting in and out was the main reason I looked at these smart cars yeas ago.  It does not sit low at all!  Most sportier cars out there have real low seats in them, and that wasn't going to be for me.  The smart works just fine and I'm 6'2" tall.

[Pete Kildow]

On 7/10/2019 at 11:54 AM, Big5er said:

Chief, my tires have always worn evenly. Maybe I weigh more than you?

If that's the case, If I buy one. Tires should not have that issue for sure. But then again I'm a small guy. 240 lbs 6'1" so may wear.

[Pete Kildow]

Just now, HERO Maker said:

Pete, getting in and out was the main reason I looked at these smart cars yeas ago.  It does not sit low at all!  Most sportier cars out there have real low seats in them, and that wasn't going to be for me.  The smart works just fine and I'm 6'2" tall.

Thanks that's good to know. I wanted a new sports car. Until I tried to get out of one. That was the end of that. Sold one in 2003, only had 30K in 4 years. And hated it when it was time to get in or out.

[adept99]

You folks are looking at this getting out thing the wrong way.  Just open the door, one leg out, roll out of the car on to the ground, then crawl away in the most dignified way you can manage. Only really bad when sleeting...

[Nuke-E]

On 7/15/2019 at 4:54 PM, adept99 said:

You folks are looking at this getting out thing the wrong way.  Just open the door, one leg out, roll out of the car on to the ground, then crawl away in the most dignified way you can manage. Only really bad when sleeting...

Just remember that strategy hurts a little more than ego if you try it getting out of the truck.