Smart Car

[Deleted User]

Much as I would like to rely on public transport to get to work, after 4 months of bike and train and the occasional bus I have come to the conclusion that it's PANTS. I'm now seriously considering getting a Smart Car ...

Anyone got any experience of these?

[Deleted User]

Seem like not a lot of car for the money. Why not consider a Nissan Figaro? I have no experience of those either but they look better than the Smart.


Sorry, I'm no help really.

[Deleted User]

Not sure I could fit in one

cougie

Review from Top Gear site. Brrrrm Brrrrmmm

[Deleted User]

Went on a test drive in a smart but felt a bit claustrophobic in it and didn't feel particularly safe. Got a mini instead which is quite nifty particularly as I do a lot of driving in the centre of London.

AndrewSmith

whats so smart about them?
expensive, not enough room in them, left hand drive and sooooo ugly. of course there is the kudos of the merc badge but that of course is only for shallow people not forumites.
maybe some of those people over on tri talk might own one

cougie

Oooh - I have driven the Mini and I do like that. That's what I'd get.

[Deleted User]

Hmm, can't afford a mini, but would really like one. The appeal of Smart is their size, they're cheap(ish) to run, and it's the only car I could ever fit in my garage.

[Deleted User]

My neighbours have one and love it for use around London. Not much fun on the motorway though.

[Deleted User]

I've been the proud owner of a Smart and I don't think you can beat them for driving round town. Very cheap to run - £180 comprehensive insurance for the year, £70 tax for the year and can do 400 miles on £25 of petrol. I use it on motorways quite a lot and don't have any problems apart from in high winds but then I do tend to do 80+ mph! Space not a problem if there's one of you and they have been right hand drive for almost 3 years now.

Norma email me if there's more you'd like to know.

[Deleted User]

did anyone see them on fifth gear last night where they drove them at high speed into a concrete block, I was impressed at what it would take. The rigid safety shell took a hell of a battering but remained intact.

Probably an ideal town car, cheap to run and easy to park.

Still wouldnt buy one as I dont like the shape

Dave The Iron Ex- Spartan

Think I've got a "gadget" on my Swiss Army Knife for digging Smart cars out of the front grille of my Audi !

AndrewSmith

i thought smart cars were swiss army knife gadgets that had escaped

[Deleted User]

Dave....just gotta say i roared at your post lol

the missus loves em though!!!

Dave The Iron Ex- Spartan

I do admit that the concept of something small and easy to park around town is good.... Just couldn't drive one myself !

[Deleted User]

I quite like the smart roadsters though... they almost look like a car! http://www.surreysmartcentre.co.uk/main

[Deleted User]

Unless you're only going to use it to nip into town or round the shops for a pint of milk I'd say they're pretty useless. Can you imagine coming out of tescos and trying to squeeze the weekly shopping in? Never gonna happen! Get a real car and park it in the road if you're garage is too small.


They all float down here! Mwah ha ha ha hah!

[Deleted User]

I disagree. My neighbour is a masseur (the respectable kind). He gets a folded massage table behind the seats and all his kit in the passenger seat.

2 people and the weekly shop might be too much but shop on your own and your ok. And what's wrong with Ocado, anyway?

[Deleted User]

Do you really need a car? Have you considered a moped?

The smart car is a fashion statement, none more so than the raodster which targets the pink pound.

If you really want a small car which is cheap to run and has the benefit of cornering like a rollerskate and is a hoot to drive get yourself a Ka, preferably the SportKa

Dave The Iron Ex- Spartan

My daughter has a KA, and it's a great drive. and for a penniless student it's cheap enough for her to afford to run (So long as Daddy pays the tax & insurance !)

[Deleted User]

I've had a Smart for the past two years and it's been an excellent car. There is plenty of room in them, I'm 6'1 and can't reach the pedals if I push the chair right back. There's a fair size 'boot', big enough to take all my tri kit, clothes for a week away, duvet, pillows etc (with the bike on the bike rack).

Mine is the Smart Passion so it has air-con, CD player, traction control, anti locking brakes, electic windows etc. In 30000 miles of driving the only problem I've had is a brake light bulb, there's been absolutely nothing else happen with it. It's fine on the motorway but, as said, doesn't like strong head winds.

Smart garages are usually very keen to give a test drive as they drive like a much bigger car. So head down to one and get a drive.

[Deleted User]

I want one too! I had a test drive a few months back and was really surprised! They feel spacious and 'high up' and the field of view that gave me was enormous!! I also like the fact that you can park them front bumper to the curb, and still not stick out any further into the road than a normal car's width!!! And how else can you get a Daimler car with a Merc engine for less than £8000!!

Nicko. Hdau

21st century BUBBLE car

TL 1000 is what you want........Loads of grunt and park it mostly anywhere...And no Congestion charge, £60 a year to tax Bruuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Deleted User]

Thanks for all your comments. Looks like I'll be getting a second hand one at some point before Christmas. It's mainly for going to work (40 miles each way, so not good on a scooter), and getting to races. My partner has a bigger car which we use for shopping, camping etc, so size of Smart not an issue.

[Deleted User]

I have to agree with Nicko, they are a bit embarrasing - the car equivalent of going around wearing pink leg warmers.

and there so small you might as well buy a Motorcycle. Especially if your reasons are Eco based.

If you go with the TL 1000 as suggested earlier you can also amuse yourself with monster wheelies.

Nicko. Hdau

Yup Jason good fun )

Specially with someone on the back

The Road Runner

TL 1000 = girl's bike


:-P

[Deleted User]

"TL 1000 = girl's bike"

ideal for Norma to commute on then.


let me guess you ride the hairdressers favourite...an R1 ;-)

[Deleted User]

I thought the TL1000 was a death trap which is why Suzuki stopped making them? Dunno why you'd want a TL1000 and not a Ducati.

Nicko. Hdau

A vastly underated machine is the TL, which is why Honda copied them with the VTR.....Would love a Ducati but when you can find me one that doesnt have bad electrics...And they still do !!!!!As the AA man that sold me my subcription can vouch for cos he was replacing the original solenoid on his 999 with a replacement that didnt cut out cos of its design fault in the rain .......

The Road Runner

actually TL1000 is quite a nice bike, was just slagging.

I ride a 2002 Zuki B6S, my first bike, but can't wait to upgrade when I get the cash and the NCB up! Probably want to go for either a VFR800 (I do a lot of long distance stuff), or if I had to go for an all-out sports bike, would probably want to go for a V-twin like the Duke, but more reliable, just cause V-twins sound niiiiiiiiiiicccccccceeeeee!