Should I buy a Smart Car?
Discussion
Riley Blue said:
Get yourself a Renault 4. The one I hired in Portugal years ago was superbly suited to the local roads and was an absolute hoot to drive.
Just having a look but the Portuguese Autotrader (http://www.olx.pt) is near impossible to search for a model that is just a single number. I can see this old one http://baltar-porto.olx.pt/renault-4-gtl-1989-iid-... but I'm assuming you mean a modern one?bozzy101 said:
....just gonna leave this here.
I owned a Smart ForTwo for 5 years whilst I lived in a city.
It was perfect for the commute I used it for. They're nippy enough for city work, obviously they're easy to park, cost peanuts to run and have plenty of character.
I had the paddle shift on the steering wheel so never drove it in automatic mode. The gearbox isn't great but it's not as bad as most people will have you believe, there's a strange satisfaction to be had from making smooth progress in a Smart but it can be done.
Handling is laughable, understeer is ever present.
In the 5 years and 20,000 miles I kept mine for the only problems I suffered were a broken front spring and a corroded air conditioning pipe. I had mine serviced by a Smart specialist so costs were reasonable.
I was genuinely sorry to see mine go but children and the fact we moved away from the city made it impractical for us to keep it.
They're not everybody's cup of earl grey but I loved ours.
It was perfect for the commute I used it for. They're nippy enough for city work, obviously they're easy to park, cost peanuts to run and have plenty of character.
I had the paddle shift on the steering wheel so never drove it in automatic mode. The gearbox isn't great but it's not as bad as most people will have you believe, there's a strange satisfaction to be had from making smooth progress in a Smart but it can be done.
Handling is laughable, understeer is ever present.
In the 5 years and 20,000 miles I kept mine for the only problems I suffered were a broken front spring and a corroded air conditioning pipe. I had mine serviced by a Smart specialist so costs were reasonable.
I was genuinely sorry to see mine go but children and the fact we moved away from the city made it impractical for us to keep it.
They're not everybody's cup of earl grey but I loved ours.
Thanks for that Deerfoot - its great to hear some feedback from a long term owner.
I just had an idea to buy a motorbike instead but I phoned my mum and I'm not allowed. Well I'm allowed as I'm 32 and don't need permission, but I'm not allowed to put my brother on the back which would mean it won't work for 7 people traveling in the Cayenne & something else
I just had an idea to buy a motorbike instead but I phoned my mum and I'm not allowed. Well I'm allowed as I'm 32 and don't need permission, but I'm not allowed to put my brother on the back which would mean it won't work for 7 people traveling in the Cayenne & something else
How about this?
http://albufeira.olx.pt/audi-tt-1-8-turbo-180-cv-i...
Reasonably small, reasonably cheap, with the extra passenger seats if I occasionally need them.
Or is an ancient Audi with 190,000 km on the clock just asking for trouble?
http://albufeira.olx.pt/audi-tt-1-8-turbo-180-cv-i...
Reasonably small, reasonably cheap, with the extra passenger seats if I occasionally need them.
Or is an ancient Audi with 190,000 km on the clock just asking for trouble?
Company I worked for had one as a pool car for calls in and around London. I quite liked it, perfect for city work and if you made an effort (getting the revs right and using the godawful auto as a semiautomatic) the terrible gearbox can be worked around.. Unimpressive on the open road though with one of my biggest car related frights was getting caught by a sudden unexpected gust of sidewind whilst trotting along at 85mph on the M4 near Reading.
As a horse for a course I'd say go for it. That said I'd have a look at an original Austin or Rover Mini first, something like Renault 4 or 2CV or something really left-field like a super cool rear engined FIAT 850 (not cheap mind you). On the subject of FIATs how about an original boxy Panda or a MKII 100hp or 4x4, tiny cool and quite useful.
As a horse for a course I'd say go for it. That said I'd have a look at an original Austin or Rover Mini first, something like Renault 4 or 2CV or something really left-field like a super cool rear engined FIAT 850 (not cheap mind you). On the subject of FIATs how about an original boxy Panda or a MKII 100hp or 4x4, tiny cool and quite useful.
Tannedbaldhead said:
Company I worked for had one as a pool car for calls in and around London. I quite liked it, perfect for city work and if you made an effort (getting the revs right and using the godawful auto as a semiautomatic) the terrible gearbox can be worked around.. Unimpressive on the open road though with one of my biggest car related frights was getting caught by a sudden unexpected gust of sidewind whilst trotting along at 85mph on the M4 near Reading.
Not good that the auto mode is bad - I'd much prefer to use that. I never ever manually select gears in the Cayenne and only do it in the Gallardo for tunnels. Full auto is much preferred...Yadizzle1 said:
Smart Roadster?
Like a smart car but better looking and convertible too
They're double the price of the regular Smart Cars though Like a smart car but better looking and convertible too
http://guimaraes-braga.olx.pt/smart-roadster-101cv... I don't see me going anywhere that takes longer than 5 minutes to get there so I don't really think I could justify paying twice the price to have the roof off. I do like them better than the regular ones though...Lewtyper said:
Most blatant "look at me thread" I've read in a long time.
Sorry your expensive cars are too loud, must be terrible for you.
I think the OP has some loud vehicles and he needs something for when he doesn't want loud. That's the great thing about the internet. Every question is equally stupid but who cares. Sorry your expensive cars are too loud, must be terrible for you.
Imagine turning up looking at a 6k Smart in your Lamb and then saying, I don't want to stretch to 6, will you take 5 bro.
Tannedbaldhead said:
Could something like that realistically be used daily without having things go wrong with it constantly? It certainly looks different but I'd be a little wary when the same amount of money gets me something 20 years newer
Lewtyper said:
Most blatant "look at me thread" I've read in a long time.
Sorry your expensive cars are too loud, must be terrible for you.
Lol, did you get out of the wrong side of the bed today?Sorry your expensive cars are too loud, must be terrible for you.
The other cars I have are relevant to what I'm asking - it makes it absolutely clear that there is no point in suggesting things that are have decent performance or can carry a lot of luggage passengers, as I have that already.
If you don't like the thread, feel free to not read it or post in it
KFC said:
Tannedbaldhead said:
Could something like that realistically be used daily without having things go wrong with it constantly? It certainly looks different but I'd be a little wary when the same amount of money gets me something 20 years newer
If modern is what you after I'd say Panda 100hp. So fun your next thread could well be "what's the point of owning a Lambo when I never use it
I'd perhaps consider the 1.1 Panda http://portocity.olx.pt/fiat-panda-1-1-economico-2...
There is absolutely no interest whatsoever in the 100bhp version though
There is absolutely no interest whatsoever in the 100bhp version though
I had one for 5 years and 50000 miles. Was great fun except on windy motorways. With winter tyres it went places that some SUVs wouldn't. Never found a place it couldn't be parked, and it was surprisingly fast in gear. Eg first goes up to 35mph and it does it quick enough to leave a lot of people behind. Obviously they get past once in the higher gears but if you are doing the traffic light gp it hooks up and goes. Handling was safe, the electronics are very cautious, sometimes overly so. Ride comfort is not good, especially on speed bumps. Reliability very good. Economy was always 46mpg, couldn't complain though. I enjoyed it but won't buy another one for quite a while!
I'm guessing most of the ego or I'd personally like driven responses on this thread have posters that have never had to visit let alone live in a small village wth tiny streets. I've been in this position. Cheap, small and don't give a crap about it are top of the list here.
The OP needs a tiny car to fit into tiny spaces and navigate tiny streets so I'm grinning at responses of sports cars and family hatchbacks.
OP I see these cars all the time, in large cities but with almost no parking. What parking there is, has huge costs associated with it usually. I can't speak for reliability here but I'd suggest sticking to your original thoughts, tiny car, tiny cost. Whether that's the smart or something else you can pick up locally.
The OP needs a tiny car to fit into tiny spaces and navigate tiny streets so I'm grinning at responses of sports cars and family hatchbacks.
OP I see these cars all the time, in large cities but with almost no parking. What parking there is, has huge costs associated with it usually. I can't speak for reliability here but I'd suggest sticking to your original thoughts, tiny car, tiny cost. Whether that's the smart or something else you can pick up locally.
KFC said:
Riley Blue said:
Get yourself a Renault 4. The one I hired in Portugal years ago was superbly suited to the local roads and was an absolute hoot to drive.
Just having a look but the Portuguese Autotrader (http://www.olx.pt) is near impossible to search for a model that is just a single number. I can see this old one http://baltar-porto.olx.pt/renault-4-gtl-1989-iid-... but I'm assuming you mean a modern one?GaryThomlinson said:
I'm guessing most of the ego or I'd personally like driven responses on this thread have posters that have never had to visit let alone live in a small village wth tiny streets. I've been in this position. Cheap, small and don't give a crap about it are top of the list here.
The OP needs a tiny car to fit into tiny spaces and navigate tiny streets so I'm grinning at responses of sports cars and family hatchbacks.
OP I see these cars all the time, in large cities but with almost no parking. What parking there is, has huge costs associated with it usually. I can't speak for reliability here but I'd suggest sticking to your original thoughts, tiny car, tiny cost. Whether that's the smart or something else you can pick up locally.
My Dad's Italian and I've spent a lot of time over there. I know just how narrow the streets can be and how difficult it is finding a parking space, Sirmione and Voterra spring to mind. As a result these places are awash with Smarts and also a lot of older superminis and city cars such as MK1 Pandas, Original FIAT 500s, 126s. Unos, the 1990s Cinquicento and Seicento, Innocenti Minis, The more modern Detomaso Innocentis. The OP needs a tiny car to fit into tiny spaces and navigate tiny streets so I'm grinning at responses of sports cars and family hatchbacks.
OP I see these cars all the time, in large cities but with almost no parking. What parking there is, has huge costs associated with it usually. I can't speak for reliability here but I'd suggest sticking to your original thoughts, tiny car, tiny cost. Whether that's the smart or something else you can pick up locally.
Smart fits the bill perfectly but is a bit Marmitey for some. Personally, I loved having the use of one when I worked in London. The older stuff I mentioned isn't that much bigger than a Smart but all are getting pretty long in the tooth. Gary sounds critical of forum members suggesting family cars. The biggest I saw was a 1.2 Clio and Toyota IQ and to be fare those suggesting these cars might not get just how tight space can be in Continental mountain villages. The Toyota IQ is short but too wide and modern superminis like the Grand Punto and previous Clio are just way too big. Leaves us with the previous model Panda, little Japanese city cars like Altos and Daihatsu Charades, both with nice, old fashion, smooth, reliable torque convertor gear boxes (problem there is you can pick up 55/56 platers here that old dears have pottered about in and ran up about 20k miles in all the time they've had them for less than £2k. On the continent they're like hen's teeth and are a lot more expensive to pick up).
MX5s? pfffffft. Roads are so narrow OP might as well drive a Gallardo. The only cheap sporty alternative is a Copen but then a Sportscar isn't what the OP's after.
Edited by Tannedbaldhead on Sunday 4th May 12:11
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