Smart Car

CantGetNoSleep

I'm thinking of buying a second hand smart car (699 cc).

Just wondering if anyone has used one and what they are like for reliability/fuel etc?

I will be using it for runs to the shops/short commutes with very little motor way driving (maybe 200km return trip once a month max)

I would normally never consider a car like this but I'm 25 and living in France so I am having trouble transferring my no claims bonus to make a nicer car affordable. I have found a good deal on a Smart but otherwise I would get a 1l Polo, Renault Clio or similar

visual

from what I have seen overpriced, far better off with a newer WV or Opel or similar

Owen

Overpriced here, but the OP's in France where they're abundant.

I just finished up ownership of a 699cc Brabus after about 14 months with it. Cracking little motor, and great fun, especially as it's RWD! Couple of things to check over when getting one :

Make sure both headlights are working, and if someone fobs you off that it's a bulb, check if it is a bulb. The SAM module controls both lights independently, and crappy soldering inside the module causes things like single headlights to stop working.

Ask the owner has it ever locked up in gear, some do, and flash all sorts of warnings on the dash. Usually, it's back to the SAM module for this again, either loose connections, or joints on the board needing resoldering.

Make sure if you do buy it to have both the clutch and gear actuators regreased, and if whoever's doing it has proper diagnostics, a reteach of both is a good idea. Get the gearbox oil changed (There's only 1.4 litres in there, so it's cheap), and do an oil change. Regular oil changes will keep the little stressed 699 healthy.

And enjoy it, they're virtually depreciation proof if you buy them right.

visual

also sell WV Opel and Renault in France too, but I suspect OP will want a one thats RHD (to drive on left of the road).
Either way still overprice and a wiser buy would be a small regular car with regular repair bills and regular relibility... bottom line is that while being a sexy little car especially the sports coupe they are more of a novelty than a practical car. But then each to their own and if its fits your image and desires why not.

Owen

Where are you making the assumption that the OP wants a RHD car? He makes no mention of anything of the sort

As regards practicality, you can get a hell of a lot into a Smart, especially with the passenger seat folded flat. They're like a Tardis redone ... maybe a ReTardis

CantGetNoSleep

Thanks for the replies guys, doesn't fit my image at all, just something that I have been offered at a good price, so thinking of getting it for a year or so just to build up some experience - have 7 years no claims but that seems to mean nothing here.

Will be getting a LHD if I get it - I walk to work so it is basically just something to have for rainy days / don't feel like getting a bus somewhere. I know it is more practical to have back seats, but I will rarely use them

Nissan doctor

The semi auto gearbox on them is the slowest most infuriating thing I have ever used in a car.

The 699cc engine was also almost assured of valve issues as the mileage rises needing a strip down to repair.

I had one for a week on hols once and found it extremely spacious for the occupants although, obviously, you have little or no cargo space. It was fun generally, but that gearbox ruins it IMO.

Owen

A remap sorts out a lot of the gearbox issues, tbh once I'd mine mapped, I found it no slower than putting in the clutch, changing gear, and releasing the clutch on a manual. Becuase there's a switch for gears there people think it should be instant. It's much better than the Alfa Selespeed I drove years ago, more like a Seleslow! :pac:

CantGetNoSleep

Gearbox sounds a bit off putting, I've driven a Fiat 500 and it was great for city driving so don't want the Smart to be a let down, I will try to borrow one for a few days before trying.

What is it like for longer drives (a hundred or two hundred km on motorway), once a month or less?

Also is there no boot whatsoever? Sometimes have a laptop and some documents on the way home from work, wouldn't like to leave them lying on the seat if I stop somewhere for an hour or two on the way home

Owen

There's a small boot, there's also space behind each seat, and a lockable safe under the drivers seat. Don't let the gearbox put you off, it's not nearly as bas as it's made out to be above.

Long drives are fine. I drove mine all the way home from London, and regularly went to Dublin from Cork in it.

Nissan doctor

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

Gearbox sounds a bit off putting, I've driven a Fiat 500 and it was great for city driving so don't want the Smart to be a let down, I will try to borrow one for a few days before trying.

What is it like for longer drives (a hundred or two hundred km on motorway), once a month or less?

Also is there no boot whatsoever? Sometimes have a laptop and some documents on the way home from work, wouldn't like to leave them lying on the seat if I stop somewhere for an hour or two on the way home

I drove one for 4 hours each way on a motorway and while it was stable enough, you had to countersteer everytime you passed the front of a truck and at 120kp/h the gearbox kept changing up and down between the top two gears. I had to keep putting it in manual mode so it would stay in top gear.

Remaps etc may improve the gears but firstly, that's not something that most buyers would be doing and second, an improvement over dire doesn't mean it still won't be bad. Its still one of the worst semi auto boxes you can buy.

Its a niche car though, and really something you only buy if you think they are cool or really want one, they are not a logical choice if you just want a small, practical, reliable runaround.

smart1962

Hi the smart is no different to any other car..if it has been maintained correctly it is perfect.unforunatly many owner do not look after them very much and thrash the engines.
the 698 is more realiable than the 599cc unless looked after.I have one myself..the Brabus version...mind you with out excellent roads is rubbish it suffers as it has tighter lower suspension riding on low profile tyre and some what softer alloys..pot hole and speed ramp if not driven around will make your journey not the most happiest of trips.
other than that they are a fun car to drive and you save on fuel depending how you drive it..tax too..service cost can be high as the pre 2007 models you have to take the complete front or rear off to get at things..the second generation 2007 to2011 and third getting to service items more sociable...give me a shout if you would like to know more.do not listen to the rubbish talker who call them crap and ****e and all that drive one and find out the fun they give you...regards Vanishingpoint smart.:)

smart1962

Hi have you ever ridden a motor bike..drive it like a four wheel motor bike.yes it is subject to buffering on open roads any car is to a point.considering it weighs 1050kg give or take what do you expect.it was designed for town city driving....driving on a motorway can get hairy at time but you don't put yourself into a situation like that unless you can get yourself out of it. you learn how to drive a car don't let it drive you !! did you drive the fully automatic version or one with the paddle shifters or did you try driving it in manual/auto mode you will find it wont keep changing gear on you..the esp which control the speed like on any car will change up and down depending on the rpm on a smart the gear box was designed for town driving..an automatic gear box is design to give smooth driving a low medium and high rpm..the smart tends to changed gears up or down in 4th 5th or 6th gear depending on the rpm of the engine..unless it has been re chipped you can drive a smart at top speed 95 to 99 mph depending on models..look at your rev counter it sits at 4 to 4.5 thousand rmp you can blow it up.....it is the sped limiter which is stopping you..remember some high end mercedes and porshe cars have limiters too though they are set at 155mph....the gear box is lazy or can scare the crap out of you until you learn how to use it..i have had some white knuckle times when i first drove mine and it is one of the better high end ones...find one with the paddle shifters and drive it in manual/auto mode you will notice the difference right away...

smart1962

very reliable..i have got max of 95 miles to five litres and worst case 45 miles to same..driving a brabus version..fill it one every seven weeks..use it 4-5 days a week up and down the m50 round trip of 26miles joy oh joy

smart1962

yes new they are over priced especially here in ireland..find a good second hand one which has been looked after and you have a dream and a laugh...buy one for what you want it for not for what you hope you want it for..size limitation sure fun factor is very high...92 to 95 miles per hour may not sound much..but it is like driving a go car small low to ground things happen fast in a smart that you can only get to in another car at 120mph..the smart i have is in mph not kph so all my post are in mph..i have a dual speedo of course but main display mph..you can do the maths to convert..:)

smart1962

hi what you say is very true..come to dublin i will take you for a spin in mine and convert your mind..mind you it will have to wait until spring as i have mine put away for winter..it is a toy now and a expensive toy at that depending how you look at it..:)

smart1962

Hi do what you have to do i can write all day long writing reams and reams on the smart i have one and i love it...some days i will be on four hours some 5 mins..do what you have to do

smart1962

hi don't weaken to what you don't want..buying lhd is not friendly here with insurance companies..the reason you look for a lhd is france...lhd drive....rhd is no different ..seven year no claim bonus will give you an excellent quote..did i read your 25yrs old.that is a factor against you..the age not the 7 year ncb and lhd...take away the factors which do not favour you here and get what you want to get...i know owen from cork not in person he be a good idea what to look for..like he says and i as we both have,well he sold his a brabus..totally different to the normal smart..yes there a niche market...it is what you want to use it for...:)

smart1962

there is a boot and a cover..you have under the seats..the smart was a town car..it is not high security ...then again no car is..if some one wants to get into your car a smart or a bentley they will get in...plenty of room inside for a lap top..have you seen some of the high end gear amps speakers people have put into a smart..oh plenty of room..

kupus

OK I guess you like smart

Mint Sauce

kupus wrote: »

OK I guess you like smart

Or he works for them....

smart1962

Lads I do not work for smart and I like my smart as opposed to liking smart as in car.hope that clears it up:)