Heavymetal Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim & Wilma Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdickinson Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 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 More sharing options...
Heavymetal Posted January 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavymetal Posted January 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Reading the specs on the gen1 vs gen 2 is that the 2 is 106" long! Is this correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavymetal Posted January 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 Shhh... If that were true, we would be over width hauling them. I am sure I miss read that! Maybe I'll get some glasses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom& Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 Gen 1, 98.4 in. Gen 2, 106.1 in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdickinson Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 Those measurements don't include pull bar or hitch. My 2017 looks ok. Juggled things around a bit on the deck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavymetal Posted January 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERO Maker Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 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. Not sure that was width rickeieio. I believe it was length. Pretty sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis M Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavymetal Posted January 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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