Author Topic: Not a 113 - Smart 4 Two (Read 11065 times)

hauser · « **on:** December 08, 2007, 12:53:26 »

I thought I'ld ask the group since we're just a bunch of car nuts anyway.

Is anyone here besides myself considering the purchase of the upcomming 2008 Smart For Two? I went to the road show in Jacksonville a few months ago and was hooked. My friend should have his by January and mine will most likely be mid year. I just joined the Smart forums but not much action going on there. Once these cars reach their new owners I'm sure there will be alot to talk about.

If you have had any personal experience or you have reserved your car let me know. I ordered the Passion coupe black/silver.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

enochbell · « **Reply #1 on:** December 08, 2007, 13:53:26 »

Don't know if it safe to admit this to the group, but yes, I preordered one back in July. Don't really expect to see it until late 2008 as there are plenty of orders in front of me. I ordered the cabriolet.

I fell for the car when my wife and I were in Rome last year. They are fairly common over there, and they are not as impractical as they look. I keep telling myself.

Best,
g

'64 230sl, fully sorted out...ooops, spoke too soon

DB280 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2007, 03:22:10 »

I looked at the smart car recently and was very impressed until I noticed the price.A RHD car with some nice options is the best part of $20,000 at current exchange rates.In the UK this would almost purchase a new Mini Cooper or quite a nice w107.I'll take the 107 every time.......

JamesL · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2007, 07:40:54 »

I have the Mk 6 (old model) Fortwo

I love it. Just sat on the highway in it at 80mph quite happily. Perfect little car

Paddy_Crow · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2007, 09:14:40 »

I went another route. I still have my regular car for winter and long distance, but I bought a little 50cc moped for summer commuting. The darn thing gets over 100 MPG.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

JamesL · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2007, 10:28:37 »

Got a 200cc vespa as well. Wife just got a 125!

Plus the C280 (W202), W113 and 2 moulton bikes. Not normally lost for ways to get from A to B!

hauser · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2007, 10:33:29 »

I also have a Yamaha Zuma 50cc. It's a blast around town! As far a longer distances I find myself either driving solo or have one of my kids with me in my ML. I've been paying more attention to how many other drivers are also the only occupants in their cars and trucks getting not so good gas milage. When I read up and researched the Smart it was only logical to get one. It also looks like people are cashing in on their Smart car purchases by pre selling their reservations on ebay. On average they are getting over $5K over invoice.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

hauser · « **Reply #7 on:** December 09, 2007, 10:34:32 »

Here's their website. www.smartusa.com for the forums with plenty of pics www.smartcarofamerica.com

enochbell · « **Reply #8 on:** December 09, 2007, 10:59:51 »

We don't do much with an eye toward "practicality" (who could argue on any such grounds for owning a W113?) but the Smart will actually be one of the few things we do that may just fit the bill. We maintain two residences and our place in Florida is only 4 miles from my office. Two-wheeled transport down there is simply not safe: drivers completely ignore anything without two headlights, so moped/cycle is out. But a little two seat convertible that can park head-in at the beach? Kevin C, eat your heart out, and I hope you are not too cold up in MA (he used to be my neighbor down in FL). Eureka.

g

'64 230sl, fully sorted out...ooops, spoke too soon

hauser · « **Reply #9 on:** December 09, 2007, 12:01:32 »

I have talked to Ray Hays a few times about doing a Pagoda get together in Florida. Perhaps we (Florida members) can combine our efforts and find a central locale to meet and discuss our cars. Hopefully 2008 will be the year of our first annual Florida event.

We should try to avoid the love bug season along with the rain.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

al_lieffring · « **Reply #10 on:** December 09, 2007, 12:07:18 »

quote:
Originally posted by hauser

I have talked to Ray Hays a few times about doing a Pagoda get together in Florida. Perhaps we (Florida members) can combine our efforts and find a central locale to meet and discuss our cars. Hopefully 2008 will be the year of our first annual Florida event.

We should try to avoid the love bug season along with the rain.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

Athens to Gainesville would be a short hop for me and my 230sl, maybee by next summer, it will be in condition to make the trip, it still may not look like much though.

Al Lieffring
66 230SL

Paddy_Crow · « **Reply #11 on:** December 09, 2007, 12:20:42 »

Mine is a Honda Metropolitan. Bought it used with six miles on it (that's right, the odometer was at 0006!) for $1200. I put 1500 miles on it this summer.

A lot of people have reservations about the safety of two wheelers, and for good reason. But I think if you drive defensively, you can be safe. The main thing is to watch for people crossing your path in front of you (the overwhelming majority of two vehicle motorcycle accidents are the result of a car failing to yield the right of way).

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

hauser · « **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2007, 21:44:33 »

That would be great to include our neighbors to the north! I hope Ray Hays will have his car sorted out with his new Olson springs he won at the Blacklick event this past summer.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

waqas · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2007, 22:31:21 »

Don't know about the ForTwo, but I rented a ForFour last year in Italy for two weeks, and it was absolutely pathetic; poor handling and a finicky transmission made for an exchange mid-trip. Unfortunately, the rental company only had Smart cars, so we ended up with another ForFour. Its no wonder that the ForFour has now been discontinued...

Waqas in Austin, Texas

hauser · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2007, 22:50:46 »

The US version has a larger engine but no Brabus edition for us. The Brabus has a turbo charged engine upgraded interior, aero addons and a sport tuned exhaust. I was surprised how zippy it was in the city. The paddle shifters take a little getting used to. In all I went for three test drives and the last one I had the rep drive it and asked him to show me what it can do. He was very much in tune with the car and worked the shifters to the max. I was impressed how well it behaved in the hands of an experienced Smart driver.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #15 on:** December 10, 2007, 17:08:22 »

quote:
Originally posted by enochbell

... our place in Florida ... Two-wheeled transport down there is simply not safe: drivers completely ignore anything without two headlights, so moped/cycle is out.

When I moved to Florida in '82 as your Average Foreign Student I had no money for a car (although everyone else seemed to!), so I opted for a used Ross Professional 10-speed. The bicycle store owner gave me some good advice: "when the old people driving around here are faced with the choice of slamming into you on your bicycle, or into another car, they will usually pick you - less dangerous to them!"

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

hauser · « **Reply #16 on:** December 10, 2007, 17:56:42 »

With Gainesville being a college town (UF Tim Tebo Go Gators!! etc..) they are very in tune to the needs of cyclists. They have their own lane along side car lanes and the rules are very stringent for motorists. Bassically the two wheelers have the right of way. This doesn't mean that there aren't any incidences but they are not as frequent. There are also bike clubs that travel to surrounding towns and descend upon them with 1000+ members to educate the community about bicycle safety.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

tuultyme · « **Reply #17 on:** December 10, 2007, 21:01:36 »

This past July I saw six Smart cars on top of Mount Evans in Colorado. Four coupes; 2 convertibles; all different colors. They had been shipped to Ca and where being driven cross country. A very interesting sight.

Bruce; 268Blaugrun(green) 1970 280SL; IL

DavidBrough · « **Reply #18 on:** December 12, 2007, 11:00:31 »

I’ve had a Smart Four Two for some time now, got my current one in March 06 and I just love it. Whilst I do think they’re brilliant they do have the worst gearbox in the world until you get used to it and I do know some that simply couldn’t. Yes, it is that bad.

I have now ordered one of the new ones after a test drive as it is many times better most importantly in the gearbox department. I was worried that they may have ruined it by making it bigger but they have just got away with it. My message to Smart though is do not make it any bigger or it defeats the object.

I remain amazed at how big some modern cars have become, quite why all new models have to be larger than the out going ones never ceases to amaze me. Probably not such a problem in the States but over hear, even everyday cars are now bigger than a lot of parking spaces and the new R class gives a bus a run for its money it is vast, time to build more smaller cars.

David Brough 1969 280SL Auto with A/C

JamesL · « **Reply #19 on:** December 12, 2007, 14:20:15 »

You're right about the 'box, I rarely leave mine in auto - it runs better with revs but it shifts somewhat jerkily either way.

Still a hoot to drive, even better to drive a toddler around in (I call ours "the pram")as all the schoolrunmums in their Chelsea Tractors give me all sorts of funny looks as I zip past them. You're right about car sizes though. The volvo XC and the Audi (size of)Q8 are gargantuan

I won't change mine though - I run it on LPG so avoid Congestion Charge and I regularly park it sideways (it's shorter than the aforementioned are wide) which just makes me smile.

hauser · « **Reply #20 on:** December 12, 2007, 23:09:01 »

For your enjoyment.

A modified Smart. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oPQIizRp9ck

Safety test. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s&feature=related

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

JamesL · « **Reply #21 on:** December 13, 2007, 01:43:49 »

If you really want to know all there is to know...

http://smartmaniacs.co.uk/site/

69280sl · « **Reply #22 on:** December 13, 2007, 17:15:38 »

A couple of years ago I rode in quite a few Smart taxis in Rome. Was particularly impressed with the space for 3 across seating in the back. What was of special interest was that some enterprising drivers trying to get into a very confined parking space, would go in perpendicular to the street. By running in until the wheels hit the curb, there was a small overhang at the street side. This didn't seem to bother anyone, tho I think it would be frowned on in the US.

Gus
68 280sl

JamesL · « **Reply #23 on:** December 14, 2007, 01:31:34 »

Gus,

You mean one of these...

or one of these..?

The former is the Smart (room) Fortwo - in this case excatly the same as mine..., the latter a Fiat Multipla. An ugly car in Fiat's pantheon of really quite ugly cars!

hauser · « **Reply #24 on:** December 14, 2007, 01:35:22 »

The new 2008 model will be a little longer and wider with a larger displacement. No diesel or Brabus for the US. :evil:

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

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Author Topic: Not a 113 - Smart 4 Two (Read 11065 times)

hauser

enochbell

DB280

Paddy_Crow

hauser

hauser

enochbell

hauser

al_lieffring

Paddy_Crow

hauser

hauser

hauser

tuultyme

DavidBrough

hauser

hauser