...Well, placed an order for... A Smart car! My daily driver has been giving me problems (failed emissions test, clutch started to go, many other little problems), so after nine years of reliable service it's time for something new. I test-drove the car back in Spring, when the autoshow was on. They set-up a demonstration drive through an obstacle course in the parking lot, to show people the handling capabilities of the car and I left knowing it would be the car to get. And now I am! Its the perfect car for my needs (going back-and-forth to work) It will arrive in January and I'm looking forward to it. Sorry for the non-Ferrari content. Actually there is Ferrari content. I drove to the dealer today in my GT4 to place the order. I had told the saleswoman that I owned a Ferrari and she wanted to see it. She was quite impressed with it.
Peter, no need to apologize for the non-Ferrari content. The Smart is a real attention grabber these days, as well as a wise choice when considering fuel consumption. It's particularly popular in Quebec. My wife and I are deciding between a Smart, or the new B-Class by Benz. Enjoy!
My mom and dad are looking into getting a smart, but maybe a jetta deisel or somthing. I like the smart car, it think it looks pretty good.
Cool little cars, have fun with it. Keep it away from larger vehicles though, I'd hate to see one tangle with an SUV....Although, this would also apply to any number of low slung Ferraris/sports cars.
Congrats! what colour, which model (I think there's 2?), when does it get here? a great book-end to the GT4, what a hoot. Does that mean the Elise is pushed back a few more years? yeah - stay away from those semi's on the #1...
Congradulations! Smart Produces 5 different vehicles from what i know, Smart For-two, For-Two cabrio, For-Four, Four-four cabio, and Roadster. And i beleive only the For-Two and For-Two Cabrio are sold here in Canada. Great little cars. Out of curiousitly, whats MSRP here for one?
I work at a Mercedes dealership here in Calgary, we sell Smarts as well. Every technician absolutley hates them, because of their problems. The engine is in such a hard to reach place, and everything is so tight. We have had owners with problem after problem with these cars. One onwer's clutch went at 5000Kms, another person's coolant started leaking 1 week after he got it, and so on. All covered under warranty, but a pain in the ass. If I were in the market for a small car that was economical, i'd get a Mini Cooper. Much bigger inside and much fewer problems. Just my 0.02.
We just got them in about 2 weeks ago, and i've put about 50Kms on one just driving it around and doing shuttle. The B200 Turbo is a suprisingly quick car. It doesn't look it, but it is. Tire spin off the line happens. You can hear the turbo spooling up and the blow-off valve. It looks like you sit high, but not at all. 5 Passengers, plus a small trunk. The sunroof is awesome too. Super big and folds back realy neatly. No NAV/SAT/TEL option, but the standard radio and cd work well. The exterior is a bit weird where the windshield meets the hood on the corners, looks like they screwed up on the design kind of...Otherwise, it's a great car.
good for u! these cars are nice for the environment. and i guess the City is giving some parking discounts at their Easy Park lots? honestly i thought those demo tracks were to impress potential buyers. however, the Smart demo left us unimpressed with it. it really highlights the poor qualities of the smart. there had been numerous test drives set up this way by various manufacturers. i think MINI really makes most people impress with the cars on their course. while we are at it, MB has their RMB test drive this week.
"Pulse" model, coupe w. the sunroof, White body panels/Black tridion safety cell, Blue-Grey interior. Pretty much, unless I win the $20+ million prize for this upcoming 6/49 Then that, plus many other "wish-list" cars too (its quite a long list).
Good fo you Peter. The Smart is a great car. If you think you get attention in the Ferrari wait until the Smart. My friend is just inundated with questions every time he drives it. It is almost as though people think you are much more approachable driving a Smart than driving a Ferrari. Back in 1999 I rented one in Italy and drove it for 4 days. The highlight was driving it around the old banking at Monza. Here is a pic (I could not go any higher up the banking or it would have tipped over): Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
You know, it's true. So far, people who I've mentioned to that I'm getting a Smart, have all had positive comments. I've also noticed their different reactions when I tell them I own a Ferrari. It's not a big difference, but there is a very slight change from a bright, cheerful reaction to the mention of Smart car, to a "wow, you OWN a Ferrari?" impressed/you-got-$$$ reaction How did you manage to get access to that section of track???
looking at the car , I think he carried it over the embankment and threw it onto the track .... was it a one man or two man job ? heha.
I had a Smart Pulse Cabrio as my daily driver between 2002 and 2004. I can't agree with the MB salesman. I have not had any problems for 40k miles! I gave the car to my mother in 2004. She has 60k miles on it now and except for a light switch and a rattle in the trunk (which was fixed at the dealer without paying for it) it had no problems. After 5k miles I got a new ecu, brabus shocks with springs and a brabus exhaust installed, the car is doing 103 mph (!) and makes 75hp. Fuel consumption didn't went up with the new ecu. The shocks and springs are worth every cent and very recommendable!
...that the "SMART" division of MB lost almost 1/2 Billion Euro last year? I guess their introduction of this car in Canada is an attempt to get back in the black. My sister in Switzerland sold hers after her kids started driving....for "safety reasons" she told me... I also wonder how this car adapts to Quebec roads....with potholes, more undisciplined drivers than almost anywhere else in the world etc... I agree that it is a great little car but I'm not so sure that it is the right vehicle for here... BTW this is my first post on "FerrariChat" (couldn't resist to contribute my proverbial 2c's worth), so please don't lynch me if I said anything wrong or hurt anybody's feelings..
Just noticed that the happy new Owner lives in BC. Knowing that both roads and driving habits out west beat our eastern conditions by a landslide (and if you don't have kids learning how to drive), the SMART might actually be a very "smart" decision....
Walter, First of all, welcome to FerrariChat! By no means will anybody here lynch you for speaking your opinion. We all have them and we're all entitled to them. I agree somewhat with what you've said about the Smart car not being the right car for this market. I like the Smart car - it's a really neat design, small packaging and apparently a very safe vehicle. I would have it as an in-city runabout, not as a cross-country driver. With the increase in SUV popularity (well, at least before the gas prices soaring), I wouldn't want to be driving a Smart when I was hit by a giant Excursion. Cheers, Andrew edit - Nice Mondial!!!!!!!