I saw a Smart Car!

[burn_your_money]

I drove a friends smart car a few months ago. He had modified it a bit (K&N and remap) It was good and at no time did I feel unsafe in it. I only took it up to about 70 kmph as we were in town. The sequential shifter is pretty cool but in auto mode there is a huge delay between shifts. He recommends leasing it and then dumping it because only MB can work on them which is some big $$$. I've heard that he doesn't do all the maintenance that he should though so that should be taken into consideration

[RoyMacDonald]

I drove a friends smart car a few months ago. He had modified it a bit (K&N and remap) It was good and at no time did I feel unsafe in it. I only took it up to about 70 kmph as we were in town. The sequential shifter is pretty cool but in auto mode there is a huge delay between shifts. He recommends leasing it and then dumping it because only MB can work on them which is some big $$$. I've heard that he doesn't do all the maintenance that he should though so that should be taken into consideration

In the UK because Mercedes Benz were so tardy in selling them in the UK lots of non franchised sprang up selling importing new and second hand ones and there were loads on the road before MB took action and started official imports. So there is a big choice here of none franchised specialist Smart garages to go to.

There's no reason why any competant garage can't work on them that I can see. Yes they have computer controlled systems but what modern car dosn't these days? The fact that there seem to be a lot of modded cars around must say something about the ease of working on them I would have thought.

[arrowsmithdiesel]

I attended an accident where a smart took out a Ford F250 at 70km's.  T-bonned and bent the pickup so that when you looked down the truck from the front you could not see the Smart car indented in the passenger side.  When the Fire department extricated the the driver of the smart car (Not a smart driver...drunk at the wheel) he was totally fine.  The driver and passenger of the truck were both airlifted to the Truama Center seriously messed up.  I was impressed but still dont think I would drive one.

The frame of the car was seemingly intact, and I have to say the FD had a tough time cutting the cage to get the guy out.

[bigblockchev]

I believe that you can get a chip for the smart to boost it up from 40 ish HP to around 70. Should be really peppy then. Cheers Dan

[burn_your_money]

I believe that you can get a chip for the smart to boost it up from 40 ish HP to around 70. Should be really peppy then. Cheers Dan

You are correct. The car I drove was chipped

[arrowsmithdiesel]

Yes you can chip them.

Its the Diesel Power North America Digi CR the same box can be used on all the new Merc motors and the Dodge Sprinter, and all the Jeep CRDs.

They actually save even more fuel and make more power.

Also MBRP makes an exhaust kit for the SMART.  Awsome..lol

[Zulfiqar]

I owned a diesel smart till about 5 months ago, then I had to sell it, Its keyless entry security system seems to engineered by complete whackos, park it next to a benz or other keyless entry car for a month and you are screwed, new everything between keys fobs, communicators etc. $$$xyournextborn

IMO the economy isnt all that, sure you get lots of attention, still its not built like proper german metal, you cant beat the timeless MK2 shape, sturdiness and specially the MPG of the VW "umwelt"

[mattbondy]

This would give the smart car a run for its money:

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/gw/vw1litre.htm