More second car musings. Depending on where I get posted next I'm thinking I might need something a little more comfortable/well equipped to have as a runaround.

Keeping in mind that I would probably only spend around £2000 on an early LHD car.

So does anyone have a Smart? Whats been your experience of the car?

(Before anyone starts, please don't turn this into a "Smarts look stupid/look gay/hairdressers.." ect ect ect.. I'm not interested in your lack of security over your sexuality. )

 

imo they arnt that comfortable...

1 extreme to the other eh!?

 

Well I mean it in the sense that the total running costs of the car have to be lower than if I ran my Impreza in the absolutely worse case of 500 miles per week.

And keeping in mind that its currently in a shortlist of such Motoring legends as the Suzuki Wagon R and Daihatsu Move!! Plus the addition of A/C is the worth the sacrifice of quite a lot!

 

think the man you need is salsa king ??

Do a search on here, pretty certain he had one, put some neons on it etc. Now has a smart roadster I think ??

Sure someone will correct / confirm.

 

why would you wan't a smart car Smarts look stupid/look gay/hairdressers.. ect ect ect.. etc etc etc get a mx5, equally gay/hairdresser, but with very good tuning potential. (i like my sexuality, and would drive an MX5 and not worry about the funny looks and stuff)

 

My German colleague swears by his.

Think the road tax is only £40/year.

 

considered an aygo? (sp?)

 

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt - just in case your struggling with this concept.

Why, WHY, would I want to buy an MX-5 with "tuning potential" - I have the impreza to drive like an idiot in. I don't want a car to tune, or tinker, or otherwise make into an insurance nightmare. I want something thats going to cost me less to tax , insure and drive around than the Impreza will cost in petrol used in dull commuting and resultant constant servicing.

Why would I look at a Smart? Group 1 - 2 insurance, £35pa road tax, over 50mpg. Speaks for itself you'd think.

At least someones on the same page They're still a bit expensive, as usual in these things my willing budget has increased but I don't really want to consider more than around £2300 or so - cheapest Aygo I've seen on a quick search is £4900.

 

could you re-explain it to me, as i really am struggling with the concept

 

My mate had a water leak from the soft-top and it damaged the ECU twice, I think he had 1 or 2 other little niggles but not sure what. but he loves it @ 6 foot+, but she hates it, she can't see over the bonnet

 

Can I just clarify that I'm talking about the Smart Fourtwo.

With the bonnet comment I guess your talking about the Roadster Mike - but general reliability is always good to know.

 

We've had a four-two for 3.5 years - it goes next week to be replaced by a new Mini Cooper. Ours is the 697cc, passion, it's now done 30,000 miles, no real problems other than the A/C gets rid of its gas every year.

As an ownership proposition I'd say yes, providing that you do most of your driving in town. On the motorway they are compromised, expecially in cross winds. A Ka/Yaris/Saxo would be better.

On the positive side it's done 50mpg most of the time, it costs £35 a year to tax and it's fun to drive. It's not slow and you'll always find a parking space.

On the other hand it's got an appauling ride, a comedy gearbox, it's noisy and servicing can be tricky. Best to find a specialist.

The best spec would have the 697cc engine, flappy paddles, a/c and power steering, but that will cost more than £2k. They seem to hold their value quite well. We dropped £3k in 3 years

Have a look on here for more

http://www.thesmartclub.com/board/index.php

 

Cheers Nigel, thats a great help.

I would actually be doing a lot of miles in it, but anything I'm looking at is going to be less than ideal on motorways - and its a compromise I'm willing to make really.

My last car was a Saxo VTR, and the reason I didn't keep that as a runaround is because it just isn't cheap enough to make it worth my while - and I've driven a 1.1 Saxo.. not an experience I'd like to repeat!

 

Already mentioned but why not the KA? Much better on the motorway, still cheap to run / insure etc

 

Prasius,

If I were you, I wouldn't - that's too many miles a week for a Smart IMHO. They're a town car, really. I'd be looking at Kas. You can get a new one for £5k, so it should be possible to get a used for £2k

 

I know it ticks all the boxes and would be cheap to buy, and I have no rational reason why it wouldn't be perfect. I guess its just not quirky enough for me!

Oh - I'd would also be disowned by my brother if I ever owned anything with a blue oval on it - and I don't think some shoddy runaround is worth risking family happiness..

 

Prasius,

I understand. That's partly why we (I!) bought one, I was intrigued by the packaging / technology. After 3 years of ownership I still feel the car is different to drive and it always feels good to get in it. But then I only drive it for short trips at the weekend.

Upon reflection though, they are expensive to buy when compared to the competition, however I was pleased with trade in when we chopped it so overall the cost isn't that great.

Another word of warning. Servicing is tricky and expensive as a result of the packaging. Min of £200 p.a. and sometime £300. DIY isn't straightforward due to the specalist tools needed to change oil and plugs. I ended up driving 40 miles to a specialist I felt happy with, after bad local experiences.

 

The point about servicing is a bit of a put off, but I would need to do the sums to see if that would make it too expensive to make it worth my while.

I've never actually considered the servicing being a pain in the backside, but I guess with an engine/layout like that it should have been a no-brainer.

 

Hello

I have previously owned a Smart Roadster, and my mum still has her Passion Pink 4-2 Cab.




They are like nothing else to own - completely unique and oddly have quite the feel good factor. The engine is fantastic too, sounds a little like and air cooler boxer engine. The gearbox's are a wishy washy but you develop a technique and it is easy enough to live with. There are literally no complaints with the 4-2, and not that many with the roadster. But as has been mentioned the servicing can be an issue. Dealers are pricey and some specialists are certainly not good enough to do the job.

I would have a look on the specialist forums and make a judgement - although like anywhere you only hear people moan!

My roadster was sold with 15k on the clock and had no real issues and the 4-2 has 21k on the clock and as yet no issues......

 

I used this lot for servicing last time, and for once I felt I'd found somebody who understood the car.

Have a look at the service costs

Smartarse Design

Smarts are quite tunable as well, so quite a lot of people go for maps, filters, exhausts. You can get quite a lot of power quite cheaply

Oh and another thing....the 84mph limiter on the motorway can be a real pain

 

As was the 115mph one on my roadster

 

Do yourself a favour and get over the Ford aversion. I understand what you mean but the Ka really does sound like the car you need.
I've never been keen on Fords but was bowled over by the Ka when we got one as a second car to my first Impreza (back in '98 I think). They are surpisingly roomy inside and handle better than any front wheel drive car I've driven. Only downside is the tiny boot. The in-laws were still running that car until last year with no problems.