Discussion
Right, im looking at getting a smart car as a second car to share between me and my dad as we both drive big, thirsty 4x4s and this price hike in fuel is really starting to pinch. We would be using it for short journeys, then in six months it would most likely be passed onto my little brother as his first car.
So a few questions, what are they like reliabilty wise? Any common faults i should be aware of? Are the newer ones much better than the new ones? What is the insurance like for a young driver?
And lastly, any other cars i should be considering?
So a few questions, what are they like reliabilty wise? Any common faults i should be aware of? Are the newer ones much better than the new ones? What is the insurance like for a young driver?
And lastly, any other cars i should be considering?
I've had two Smart cars, the first was the early RH drive model and the handling had quite a bit of understeer and the gear box change was very slow but it was great fun. I have now got an 08 Smart and it's way better than the first model, especially the gear changing, everything is better apart from the fuel economy it's slightly worse the the early model but it is faster. My first Smart had a 700 turbo engine and the second is a 1ltr normally aspirated engine, the latter is the best.
Nothing has gone wrong with either car to talk about. I've just had an interim service and MOT done at the Merc garage and it was £83, tax is £30 a year.
Nothing has gone wrong with either car to talk about. I've just had an interim service and MOT done at the Merc garage and it was £83, tax is £30 a year.
I owned a Smart for five years. It was a 2004 car with a 698cc turbo producing 61bhp.
It never missed a beat in the five years I had it apart from a broken front spring. I had the servicing carried out at a good Smart specialist.
As a city car it was just about perfect. So long as you accept them for what they are they`re great. The gearbox isn`t perfect but once you`ve driven them for a while you`ll learn how to make the best of it. Running costs were minimal.
Mine was the `Passion` (yes I know, sickening) trim with the glass roof panel, although it made the car nice and light inside, in the summer it was very hot and the air-conditioning was feeble to say the least.
I`d have another if my circumstances changed.
It never missed a beat in the five years I had it apart from a broken front spring. I had the servicing carried out at a good Smart specialist.
As a city car it was just about perfect. So long as you accept them for what they are they`re great. The gearbox isn`t perfect but once you`ve driven them for a while you`ll learn how to make the best of it. Running costs were minimal.
Mine was the `Passion` (yes I know, sickening) trim with the glass roof panel, although it made the car nice and light inside, in the summer it was very hot and the air-conditioning was feeble to say the least.
I`d have another if my circumstances changed.
where is he ???
I bought a very early one (1998) and drove to to the South of France. Unfortunately it didn't quite make it as it dropped a valve, somwhere near Antibes .. I managed to Limp it to Nice, where as far as I know it still is .. or whats left of it.
After I broke it, I did a lot of looking at problems. So the valve problem is quite common, along with cracked exhaust manifolds on earlier cars. The basic problem being cracked manilfold, leading to incorrect Lambda readings .. resulting in incorrect mixture .. all ending in tears.
There are a lot of cars advertised with new engines, these are the ones to go for. Engines seem to be changed at 60 to 70k. I think a lot of these problems were solved as the cars got newer .. so if you have enough wedge for a newer one, no problems.
I had no issue over driving it a long distance, and my everyday car is an XJ8. We hired on in Spain a few months ago, and drove from Malaga to Madrid. Quite comfortable to drive or be a passenger in. Never been in a diesel one ... apparently, 90 MPG & free road tax !
Also I wouldn't be worried if it was RHD or LHD.
After I broke it, I did a lot of looking at problems. So the valve problem is quite common, along with cracked exhaust manifolds on earlier cars. The basic problem being cracked manilfold, leading to incorrect Lambda readings .. resulting in incorrect mixture .. all ending in tears.
There are a lot of cars advertised with new engines, these are the ones to go for. Engines seem to be changed at 60 to 70k. I think a lot of these problems were solved as the cars got newer .. so if you have enough wedge for a newer one, no problems.
I had no issue over driving it a long distance, and my everyday car is an XJ8. We hired on in Spain a few months ago, and drove from Malaga to Madrid. Quite comfortable to drive or be a passenger in. Never been in a diesel one ... apparently, 90 MPG & free road tax !
Also I wouldn't be worried if it was RHD or LHD.
mat13 said:
Right, im looking at getting a smart car as a second car to share between me and my dad as we both drive big, thirsty 4x4s and this price hike in fuel is really starting to pinch. We would be using it for short journeys, then in six months it would most likely be passed onto my little brother as his first car.
So a few questions, what are they like reliabilty wise? Any common faults i should be aware of? Are the newer ones much better than the new ones? What is the insurance like for a young driver?
And lastly, any other cars i should be considering?
You musn't like your little brother! So a few questions, what are they like reliabilty wise? Any common faults i should be aware of? Are the newer ones much better than the new ones? What is the insurance like for a young driver?
And lastly, any other cars i should be considering?
I'd recommend any other small car over one of these anytime! 2nd hand Panda, Yaris, Clio, C1 etc. Cheaper to buy, more practical and it won't do your brother any harm to drive with a conventional gearbox.
mat13 said:
Thanks for the advice so far, all seems quite positive.
It wont be my only car, i have a couple of 4x4s that i use most of the time, just after something ultra economical to use for general day to day running about.
I beleive these are all autos, no clutch pedal. So not ideal as a first car for someone. That said I am far more fond of them since owing a smart Roadster. I would say though the Roadster is a shockingly poor city car, don't know how the citycoupe and ForTwo compare though.It wont be my only car, i have a couple of 4x4s that i use most of the time, just after something ultra economical to use for general day to day running about.
300bhp/ton said:
I beleive these are all autos, no clutch pedal. So not ideal as a first car for someone. That said I am far more fond of them since owing a smart Roadster. I would say though the Roadster is a shockingly poor city car, don't know how the citycoupe and ForTwo compare though.
I've driven both, the roadster is a bit of a leftfield choice and comparable I guess to some of the old 'Kei' class Jap roadsters, Daihatsu Copen, Honda Beat etc. The ForTwo is only useful for towing behind motorhomes and inner city driving.My friend had a couple of Smarts, loved them and saved a bundle in fuel.
He even had a pretty hideous prang in one where a Volvo took him out on a big motorway roundabout. It rolled over and ended up back on it's wheels.
He and his wife got out without a scratch, and I saw the pics of the aftermath - the Smart was scuffed but still completely in one piece. I was pretty impressed - I would have bet on it folding up like a plastic egg box, but it seemed to shake it off very well.
He even had a pretty hideous prang in one where a Volvo took him out on a big motorway roundabout. It rolled over and ended up back on it's wheels.
He and his wife got out without a scratch, and I saw the pics of the aftermath - the Smart was scuffed but still completely in one piece. I was pretty impressed - I would have bet on it folding up like a plastic egg box, but it seemed to shake it off very well.
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