Patience is a virtue so shut up and color!

Iv really become disenchanted with the mainstream automobile magazines. I can’t even remember the last time I bought one. It seems every time I read an article about some European automobile or motorcycle that’s not being sold in the U.S. it makes me sick. Not because they aren’t brought over to the U.S. That’s not a problem for me. It’s because those whinny editors are better at selling the vehicles that grace the pages of those auto-porn rags than they are at realizing the manufacturers marketing risks.

The Smart car is just one example. It finally hit the shores of the U.S. and has been refined for a highly competitive market. A few years back when it was being put through the ringer here in Europe it would have fallen flat in the U.S. Consumers in the U.S. are a sophisticated lot. The lack of horsepower, burnt out engines, handling quirks and of course the pre-three dollar a gallon gas prices would have laid waste to the Smart cars arrival on U.S. shores. Time was needed to address these issues.

Of course the Smart is a Daimler product with the money to make changes on the fly and work those kinks out. Some of the things they were up against were the small 600cc engine being wrung to death on the Autobahns and Stradas of the EU. A Diesel then a larger gasoline model was eventually produced to take the thrashing. Handling quirks due to the short wheelbase and high centerline were tamed with electronic braking and speed controls (Electronic Stability Program, ESP). Then of course the outrageous gasoline prices that have always been felt in Europe through extreme taxation, hit the U.S.

The New For Two.

Getting into a new U.S. spec Smart wasn’t a problem and I took it. I just had to see what was headed west. Well, as it turns out there were only a few surprises. The Smart that has evolved in the EU, is exactly what’s hitting the U.S. market. They are a more “well rounded” useable product now. The U.S. market will be getting what Smart considers its best-ever product. If you’re looking for a little runabout that gets decent gas mileage, can be parked anywhere “these things can be driven into a narrow slot lengthwise” hold its own on the highway, and carry two passengers comfortably then the Smart be what you want.

Built like a turtle.

When you look at a Smart car you may think, awe isn’t it so cute, I bet it doesn’t weigh a hundred pounds. You’ll be surprised to find that the Smart has a little heft to it. At 1800 pounds the Smart “for its size” is actually a bit on the heavy side. A lot of that weight is in the steel wrap around space frame that’s built more like a roll cage. The entire structure encompasses the outer perimeter of the vehicle giving the car a distinctive two-tone design. Smart calls this the Tridon safety cell. The main reason for this of course is crash protection. In a car this small, you need all you can get.

The weight is a big contrast to what your initial impression of the car is. The body panels of the Smart are made of plastic. The hood, doors, trunk lid etc.. The plastic panels are hyped as being recycled and recyclable, light weight, and allow you to change the color and style of the car as you wish. Actually I don’t know anyone that has changed the car on a whim. Yes we have had to change panels at the shop. The number one reason? Parking nose in between parallel parked cars. Unfortunately parallel parking in the urban jungle means getting your bumper rode up on. If it happens to be your door and not the bumper, well let’s just say we’ve replaced a lot of door panels.

The engine is actually just under and behind the seats between this cage structure. The arrangement pushes the driver into a higher position within the vehicle. When you get in and start to drive its more like being in a chopped nose pickup. You sit up with legs dropping down to the pedals. The immediate view to the ground in front of you throws off the pickup truck illusion as does turning to look back and finding the pickup bed not there. Maybe a better way to describe it is like sitting in an amusement park ride. The good visibility all around adds to that effect.

Déjà Vu

My past experience with the Smart cars was mainly low speed city driving. For this application they were ideal. They rode just fine with some front to back teetering and a bit of bounciness over rough surfaces. It’s what you might expect from a car of this dimension. On suburban or rural roads where the speed is a little higher and the road rougher, it could jar you around a bit. On smooth highways it rides nice but you’re always afraid of a sudden stop for fear that it will tumble end to end like a cartoon car. You also have to stay connected to what you’re doing while driving at higher speeds. Thinking ahead for hills and planning your passes accordingly is necessary to keep the cars momentum and motion working for you.

I remember the first Smart car I saw back in the late 1990’s. I was on the Autobahn heading into France. Actually it was only a few miles from the Smart car plant in Hambach. The plant itself was designed to be an environmentally conscientious facility from its inception. Anyway I was driving at about 75 MPH when I was overtaken by a Smart. I kept speeding up to try and get a better look at it, but like that beep beep song about the little Nash, I was getting the feeling that this car might just be in second gear and playing with me. Not long afterward it seemed like the Smart cars were everywhere. Pizza shops, ad cars, rental runabouts, you name it.

Am I drunk or are we riding on two wheels?

The Smart car went through some growing pains in the handling department. Like other high center of gravity short wheel base vehicles, the Smart had to build something that was stable and safe to operate. The solution of course came electronically through the ESP. They integrated steering, power distribution and braking all into the vehicles control module. Should you decide to do something that is awkward for the Smart the computer will take over and apply brake force on the wheel or wheels that need it, cut power or reduce power. It’s very seamless and makes the Smart feel safe with no abrupt breakaway traction or top flop.

Do these new quarter panels make my bumper look fat?

Getting into the new Smart For Two I was astounded. The interior has gone through a few changes since original EU model came out. The first thing I noticed was that the dash panel has been toned down. It now has a blocky Japanese look to it. The whole layout is more in line with standard fare automotive products and dull by the original Smart standard. The crazy contoured seats and multi graphic panels and interior layout is gone. The motif is closer to a cheapened Mercedes A class and nothing like the old Swatch concept. The speedometer still rises up in its own pod but doesn’t have that commanding center stage in the cockpit look to it. The dash is just an abbreviation between the cabin and road now. The interior eye candy is gone.

My first thought before heading out on the road was “has this car grown?” it seemed longer and wider. Porked out! At least for a Smart. Later I pulled out a tape measure and went over it for a comparison with an older Smart we have in the shop now. I’ll be dog goned! The U.S. spec. Smart is about eight inches longer, two to three inches wider and the most accurate measurement I got was the wheel base. Two inches longer from center hub to center hub. That really confirms that the Smart has grown. I don’t know why they increased the dimensions. The new engine has more than enough room. The only thing I can think is that the DOT has more stringent safety requirements and they had to grow the car to pass the crash tests.

I’m six feet tall and getting in and out of the Smart is not a problem. My co passenger is six foot three and he also has no problem getting in or out of the car. Once in and belted we found the car to be adequate for the two of us. There is a slight front to rear offset of the seating that allows us to not interfere with each other which is nice. It’s not much, only a few inches, which is enough so that I kept hearing “drive on Jeeves” in my right ear at every stop. Don’t take annoying people with you when you drive this car.

Rocking horses and Bouncy castles.

Much of the cars buckboard ride has been tamed in the new model. The most noticeable and welcome change with the U.S. model is a new semi automatic five-speed transmission. Although far from perfect it is a vast improvement over the old six-speed “shift-wait-and wheelie” transmission that the car had. The additional wheelbase may also have something to do with taming this effect. In any case I didn’t feel like I was riding an old Allis Chalmers torque shift tractor. You still feel the rear end squat as you take off but it’s not nearly as upsetting as the older EU models.

The steering is also much more precise in the U.S. model. The older car sometimes left you feeling like you were turning just to see what would happen. (Turn, well, that didn’t do anything, maybe I should buckle up now. No, there we go, WOW, we went around a corner.) That’s all gone now. Your inputs through the power assist rack and pinion box are now met with an immediate change in direction. You also have much better feedback from the road thorough the steering wheel. Of course the electronic brain (ESP) is backing you up, so if you get a bit too aggressive there is a safety net to keep you on course. Smart also has the full compliment of front and side airbags so if you do fudge up and have an impact, there is an added measure of safety.

There is still a learning curve with the Smart. It does tend to lean over more than what you might be accustomed to. Don’t be afraid though. You can do a U-turn in the middle of the road and hammer onto the accelerator. The ESP will catch and adjust power or braking as needed to keep you from flipping over.

Notice the Smart does not have rotatable tires. The front and rear sets are completely different sizes. The fronts are narrow 155/60 R15’s and the rears are hot rod looking wide 175/55R15’s. The difference is needed because the engine, passengers and cargo are all rearward biased. Putting wide front tires on the Smart would have it bouncing around and tobogganing around corners. The narrow tires are needed to maintain traction while the wide rears are needed to carry the weight.

Brawn without brain, a bad combo.

The engine has grown to a full litre displacement. The original engine was a 600cc model that was ideal for around town and short jaunts on the highway. Europeans have a hard time driving on highways without the right foot mashed to the carpet. This created some problems for Smart. The original engines were becoming overtaxed in too many of the cars. Under warranty they would get replaced. Out of warranty, they would get maligned. It’s amazing what word of mouth can do. The fix: more displacement! This for the most part solved the problem encountered by lead footers and created a more capable U.S. market vehicle.

Smart in an effort to curb the high labor and tax costs of its EU product made arrangements with Mitsubishi for the new engine. I don’t think this is a long reach since the Daimler/Chrysler arrangement was still in effect when all this occurred. I guess its no secret about Chrysler’s major share holding of Mitsubishi. In any case I wouldn’t fear the Mitsu motor. They’ve been building engines long enough to know how its done.

In town the new 70 HP 1000cc motor Doesn’t have much more performance than the 600 did. It is smoother accelerating than the old model but not what Id call seamless. I wonder why Smart didn’t go with a CVT transmission instead of this semi-auto manual? In any case I was thinking about why the added 400cc down below didn’t give significantly better acceleration, then realized that along with the added wheel base and overall dimensions came nearly three hundred pounds of added weight.

On the highway the engine seems less taxed at speed than the older 600. It will pull along at a constant rate on the flat. Passing and hills are planned events though. I found out that it is governed at about 92 MPH. At that speed you can sense the fuel injectors cutting fuel to keep the speed down. Unfair I say! What’s really unfair is the fuel mileage. You’d think that the Smart would be capable of delivering over 70 MPG. OH WAIT, The Diesel version sold everywhere else in the entire world does! But the gasoline version carrying this 1800 pound steel cage only pulled off 35 MPG. Huh? My 30 year old Citroen 2cv will get 50 MPG all the time and with room for five!

The real slap in the face comes when you go to fill up. You tally up the mileage, go to insert the fuel nozzle and realize that it requires premium grade fuel. Ouch! Not only do you feel betrayed by the lower than expected fuel mileage, but then you get salt rubbed in the would with the high fill up cost. Now I know how Paul McCartney must feel.

While I’m on the topic of engines, as I just mentioned above, the original 600cc motors were getting maligned for early deaths. Kids here in the EU were getting ahold of some of these cars and dropping modified superbike motors into the burnt out cars. Take one crashed 150 HP motorbike put the engine in one 50 HP Smart and voila’. One hyper quick street mini! The acceleration of these things is just plain scary and as unsafe as you can imagine. But the fun factor…

Ladies and Metrosexuals “whatever the heck they are” Introducing!

There are three versions of the For Two being sold in the U.S. One is a basic steel rimmed model called the Pure. The equivalent versions of these in the EU are very popular with businesses that operate in the city. With the Diesel available here, they make great vehicles for pizza delivery, meter readers, city inspectors etc..
The next in line is the Passion. It comes with a transparent top, alloy rims, air conditioning and better accessories. This will probably be the most popular model and is the one I was driving. The last up and most expensive is the convertible top model called Cabriolet “they put some thought into that name”. If you can count the short opening between the A and B pillars as convertible. I guess technically it is, but it aint like that 68’ Camaro drop top I remember so well.

Although Smart likes to brag that there is room in the back for grocery bags or luggage, its best to go see for your self on this. Yes, there is some space back there, but not a lot. A few grocery bags, OK. A small suitcase and some duffels, no problem. This car is really a commuter car not a grocery getter. It’s the king of all mini commuters for sure, but it’s not a compact or even a subcompact. It’s more like a side-by-side motorbike. The actual storage space is 7.8 cubic feet and I was surprised to find that this is more than a new Mini.

Tear down the wall.

Rating the Smart For Two brings up a lot of questions about what camp you’re sitting in.
For one, the U.S. market got short changed by Smart. When conserving natural resources should be of primary concern, Smart failed to offer the Diesel version. The EU Diesel is extremely clean, much more economical to run, burns less fuel, and can burn bio-diesel right from the factory. Iv always liked the Diesel version of this car better and still do.

So who’s to blame for this? The EPA for not having the sense enough to realize that a highly efficient vehicle that is close to their standards is better than one that’s a little cleaner but burns twice as much fuel? Or is it Daimlers fault for not making that extra effort to meet the overzealous EPA regulation? I guess the Kyoto boys just weren’t good enough for the ol USA! Or maybe it was Roger Penske’s fault? He’s the importer. Maybe he should have insisted on a Diesel version, even if it meant buying engines from *PSA.

Second, the Smart is way over priced. Granted it’s a Daimler product, it is still not a lot of car for the money. There are similar cars displacement and economy wise that are cheaper and better urban road warriors. The Geo Metro, Ford Ka, Citroen C-1 are just a few that spring to mind right away. All these cars can carry more people & luggage, handle better, are less complicated and have equal or better reliability and are cheaper to boot.

With a cheaper Mitsubishi engine and the insurance industry ready to hit this car with a “dangerous vehicle” premium. Daimler should have aimed at getting at least the base model under the $10k mark. With the new Tata Nano “although not available in the U.S.” priced at only $2500, lower cost for a smaller car should have been the objective. Of course paying EU workers who pay EU taxes on 35 hour workweeks makes this a stretch.

I’ll take two to go thank you no!

Recommending this car is a bit of stretch. If I could recommend it based on design alone Id give it a huge thumbs up. If it was being brought in with the fuel sipping, penny pincher diesel, Id give it a double thumbs up. The improvements made to the car by Daimler make this one of the best Smart’s ever, but it’s still coming up short. The reality of the situation prevails, and the reality is that the Smart was on the verge of getting the axe in the EU due to poor sales. The world is not made up of overpaid, inner city, metrosexuals. Even if it were, these folks are more apt to drive a Lexus or take a cab. So regretfully I cannot recommend the Smart. At least not for now.

On the flip side. Yes, Smart was at the point of becoming a footnote in automotive history. This last ditch effort to get it sold in other countries, especially the U.S. is what’s keeping it alive now. Roger Penske has a reputation of turning companies that are losing bad, into profitable enterprises, and then dumping them onto foreign investors. Id like to think he could do the same with Smart, but this one may just turn out to be his archiles heel. Without the Diesel, I’m afraid the general public is just going to see the Smart as not the brightest choice.

If enough people would walk into Smart dealers and demand nothing less than the Diesel version, in time the Smart may be able to turn itself around. For now though, the best bet may be to buy a couple of these, crate them up and store them in the back of a garage for twenty years. Eventually they may be a better collector’s car than road car.

*PSA; The French industrial conglomerate and corporate enterprise that builds Peugeot and Citroen automobiles. Renowned for durable, miserly and well built diesel engines. Smart originally propositioned PSA in the mid 1990’s with a contract to provide diesel engines for the Smart but the deal unfortunately never evolved.


For an alternative small car try.
http://www1.epinions.com/content_413899329156 Volvo C 30
http://www1.epinions.com/content_417058557572 Autobianchi A112


Alternative methods of city travel.
http://www1.epinions.com/content_414986178180 Harley Dyna Glide
http://www1.epinions.com/content_384118787716 Honda VFR750F



Amount Paid (US$): 15,400
Condition: New
Model Year: 2008
Model and Options: Smart For Two Passion