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Well boys and girls, I defied the odds and took delivery of a 2008 Smart fortwo Passion Coupe. My first brand new car in 24 years!
And let me tell you, it is a blast to drive! Now I know what the folks who had original Minis were thinking when they took delivery all those years ago!
They are not for everyone for sure, but the daily commute just go a whole lot better! As time goes by and I do things like stop for gas (haven't had to yet) I will let you know how she runs.
Congrats!
I was riding my mountain bike yesterday and I saw a Smart in the parking lot, so I rode over to take a closer look. The Smart was only about two feet longer than my bike!
It looks like a lot of fun.
Let us know how it does.
Congrats!
Isn't the MPG not that great for a car that size? I heard it was lower than say a Toyota Yairs 2 door.
But it is cooler than a Yaris 2 door.
Have fun!
congrats the ladyfriend and I love ours. Only words of caution are good luck on finfing mobil1 0w40 that the car requires. Every auto parts store I've tried doesn't carry it. Also, check out doug thorley's exhaust for it evryone that has done it is reporting more mpgs and a noticeable improvement in the low range.
I think I 've seen M1 0W40 at Wally World. At least around here. I have a Doug Thorley header on my RN Truck.
CivicSiRacer wrote: Congrats!Isn't the MPG not that great for a car that size? I heard it was lower than say a Toyota Yairs 2 door.
its not really designed to be a highway high mpg car. iirc, it does get better city mileage than the yaris
I'd really like to know what the mileage is before I start printing my "If I was 'smart' enough to figure out my own gas mileage, I'd realize I just got berkeleyed!" bumper stickers. No offense and all. Something about seeing those cars on the highway just makes me want to punch someone.
Dr. Hess wrote: I think I 've seen M1 0W40 at Wally World. At least around here. I have a Doug Thorley header on my RN Truck.
0W40 M1 is available at Wally World, NAPA, and most Chrysler dealers. I ordered 0W40 in at my NAPA store as the customers needed it.
poopshovel wrote: Something about seeing those cars on the highway just makes me want to punch someone.
"Say What?!"
Why would you want to punch someone because you saw me (or anyone) driving by??
I think the whole idea with the smart was to get good results in urban, rather than highway driving. I talked to a fellow here in Pittsburgh who is getting 39.6 in the city and about 44 on the highway - that is at 75 mph, by the way. Nothing to sneeze at!
I think they are way more fun than the Yaris and the standard features are more extensive than what you would get in a Fit. Since I am the only one in the car going to work I really only need this much car - I would consider a Yaris if I had the odd couple of passengers to carry but I still have a 94 Celica and 03 Forester in the stable.
The car is a hoot to drive though! It is like owning an original Mini back in the '60's...using the paddle shifter is just fun, plus it really smooths out the shifting which is kind of clunky unti the tranny hits it's stride at the 2K mark.
So far the gas gauge is reading above 1/4 tank (8.7 gal) and I have gone about 204 miles since I took delivery. I may get gas today so I can update that.
Maybe it's the southpark "smug emissions" thing that gets me feeling violent, or maybe it's just because I'm an as*hole. With "mixed" but conservative driving, I get 33-36 in the $1500 Civic, A/C blasting. It only weighs in about 200lbs more than smart car, but can carry a 4 X 12" guitar cabinet, and I'm pretty sure can get to 60 in less than 14.4 seconds. Perhaps folks are really getting 50 mpg out of these, but C & D didn't (do you really have to run premium?:)
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/micro_machines/2008_sma...
I'm guessing the folks who are saying "MY car got 50MPG!" are the same folks who, if they were car enthusiasts would tell you "Yeah, I put a 'cold-air-intake' and 'headerS' on my civic. Should be crankin' out around 400HP at the wheels."
Anyway, I'm obviously not trying to get all "My car is better than yours" or anything. I was pretty juiced about the smart car at first, but now that I see Little Suzy Democrat and her friends tooling around in them, they just kind of piss me off.
I agree that it's sad that yesterday's technology gets better mileage, but you have to remember that in today's "our govt. needs to protect us" times, the idea of a car that doesn't have a dozen airbags, traction control and a steel safety cage is tantamount to suicide!
poopshovel wrote: ......was pretty juiced about the smart car at first, but now that I see Little Suzy Democrat and her friends tooling around in them, they just kind of piss me off.
I think that's great. Get them out of those damn SUV's where they feel invincible and make them learn they have to pay attention!! (Although I'm sure that won't last long....)
-Rob
Well, thanks for stereotyping me and feeling like because I am smiling from the pleasure of driving a car I enjoy, you are going to pull up and try to beat me up or something.
That's pretty cool of you, actually, poopshovel. I mean, I really miss my Fiesta that used to get 38 mpg back in the day on the highway but I really couldn't find one that wasn't rusted out.
Good thing that everyone here likes cars and thinks that owning them and driving them to enjoy them rather than viewing them as appliances engenders such warm feelings.
Sorry to all that this became at all personal, but it is not every day that I get called an a-hole simply because of the kind of car I drive or it is presumed that I feel smug or have a "Southpark smug expression." Usually I would have to have my ex waddle by to get such a cheery reception.
Right now I feel sad that there is that little that is positive in some folks' lives that they think that to make themselves feel better they just need to go out and open a can of whup-ass on somebody because of the car they drive.
Good luck to you, poopshovel. I hope that the next person you accost in person doesn't tear your arm off and stuff it up one of your apparently clogged orifices.
Of course, that would require doing/saying something in person instead of bravely sallying forth on an internet forum to say what you would never say face-to-face.
You know, I have met some really great people here. In one ridiculous post all the good will that I have found here is going right out the etherized window.
Thank you though, to those of you who seemed genuinely curious ablout the car!
Surprisingly enough, I'm just as much of a dick in real life. 
Wasn't trying to stereotype you or say I'm going to go on a smart car owner killing spree or anything, and I'm sincerely sorry if it came across that way. Glad you dig the car!
I think the Smart is a cool car. No, it will not save the world. Yes, there are older cars that got better MPG. It's the coolest new car that costs under $15k.
The Smart car has a nifty factor that those cars didn't. It's also a better match for congested European city driving than American cruise-the-highway driving.
I think it's great that there is a shift in car marketing towards vehicles that are smaller and aimed at the real needs and desires of drivers.
I think hybrid owners are a bit silly. They spend more money on initial purchase price and on toxic batteries than they will ever save on gas. I could buy a Focus and have a PZEV vehicle. I may roll my eyes, but I think it's good of them to make a stupid financial move so that, down the line, I can be driving a car with an alternative energy source, because they took the hit while the technology wasn't there yet.
The cars that make me feel violent are gratuitous asSUV's and raised penis-replacements. But I feel totally justified in that since their vehicle is wasting my natural resources, polluting my air, and make the roads I drive on less safe.
The Smart manages to be a cool and nifty car that is not absurd, wasteful, or counterproductive. It's not perfect. BFD. It's still the coolest new car under $15k.
I think the Smart car is cool. I am also really digging the upcoming Nissan Cube which I think will be competitively priced and get comparable gas mileage. After so many years of the land barges we are finally getting some choices.
I'm holding out for a Toyota IQ myself, as soon as they announce availability here in the US I'll have one on order.
my friend actually has a cool yaris. and cayman s too. but i dig the yaris.
that actuallly looks like a cool yaris, are those 16's? it also looks lowered?
First fill up yesterday. Took 6.3 gallons. Now, it was delivered with a full tank and 18 miles on the trip and the regular odometer. So when I stopped I deducted 18 miles from the 221 showing on the odometer. That gave me 32.2.
This week should give a better baseline as there will be more "normal" driving rather than short hops around the block.
For sure you have to be open to random people who (literally) will drive up to you in a parking lot, jump out of their car and start asking questions! Yesterday's winner was the guy in a really nice 5 Series Bimmer - the BMW folks seem to be the most "car-oriented" drivers out there based on the reactions I get. Genuinely interested in the car and cars in general. Breaks the stereotype of folks who buy the car just because it is the car to have.
And that is a cool-looking Yaris. I think the styling on them is way better than the Fit or the Versa. If I could not have gotten a Smart, I think I would have gone with a Yaris, although convincing my Sweetie that I "need" to replace the shocks and such on a brand new car may have been a challenge...
"That gave me 32.2".............. That's only 10 mpg less than my Civic VX.
poopshovel wrote: Maybe it's the southpark "smug emissions" thing that gets me feeling violent, or maybe it's just because I'm an as*hole. With "mixed" but conservative driving, I get 33-36 in the $1500 Civic, A/C blasting.
I'm getting more vibes of smugness from those who drive twenty-year-old econoboxes than smart car owners. I'm very impressed with how much less you paid for a twenty-year-old car than one that's brand new. Really, I am.
Hey John, sorry I haven't been around to post. Glad you are enjoying the car and let the haters hate.
The yaris doesnt get better rated milage. But the yaris is a fine car as well.
The smart is not just about milage but some people dont get that. I still get 45mpg in it and dont feel like Im driving around in an econobox rattletrap. My primary factor when shopping was to find the car that got the highest rated milage and wasnt a hybrid. Until someone brings something else to the states the Smart is it.
Its fun.
I find it interesting that it got two of us long term used car buyers to go new (this is my first new in 15 years)
As to some other comments Im pretty sure I could get a 4'x12" cabinet in my smart without trying too hard as well. I brought home a 37 inch LCD tv tonite no problem.
As for the 0-60 in 14 whatever seconds Im certian I could beat that. Probably one of the biggest issues with the tests is the cars are new, these cars do get quicker (mostly in the shifting) as they break in. Im at 10,000 miles now and she is plenty quick and still loads of fun.
My driving is primarily highway, 140 miles a day and Im averaging 45mpg with a lowest ever of 42mpg so you wont hear me complaining about the milage.
As for other comments about the joys of your $1500 Civic I'd be happy to draw the other comparisons of where the civic falls short but really you don't care about it and I don't feel the need to defend the car. It is what it is and its one of the best and most fun cars Ive personally owned (and I've owned ALOT of cars)
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