Since the late 90’s, hundreds of thousands of smart cars found homes in European towns, villages and apartments. I first encountered the smart fortwo at my tribe’s annual Testfest. Canada’s finest motoring hacks caned the diminutive machine on highways, byways, roads and racetrack, where one burly journalist declared the smart as much fun as a fart in a wetsuit. And now the butt of a thousand headline puns is headed your way America, thanks to the otherwise sane metal movers at The United Auto Group.
Admittedly, my automotive tastes run towards aggressive-looking beasts with luxurious curves that bring shivers to places best not mentioned here. By that standard, the smart fortwo could easily be the named “the vehicle least likely to raise wood.” I just can’t get my head around the fact that the fourtwo is a car, and not a four-wheeled projectile fired out of battleship’s main guns. (Up close, it looks like a baby’s pram crossed with a Pokemon.) While I could fully deconstruct the utter strangeness of the fourtwo’s design, this paragraph is already longer than the car itself. Suffice it to say, the fourtwo is a four-wheeled two-by-four.
Of course, it would be easy to just let rip and have a good ole slagfest at the smart's expense. Sure, the cargo capacity sucks; there’s hardly enough extra space to pack a couple of Slim Jims. Yes, from a safety point-of-view, it’s SUV toe jam. And sure, the Canada-spec diesel engine only puts out 40hp, making the fourtwo only marginally faster than walking. [NB: a British lunatic dropped a Hayabusa bike engine, beefed up the suspension and created a 180hp track monster known as the "smartuki."] Well, guess what? It cain't tow nothin’ neither.
On the positive side, the fourtwo is an environmentalist’s wet dream. You can drive the snot out of it all day for under $13 in diesel, stick it in parking spots meant for two-wheelers, leave the atmosphere almost completely chemically unmolested and receive two thumbs up from academics and hairy socialist types who assume you give a shit about the environment. That’s not exactly my thing, but it’s still a refreshing change from the middle digit communication afforded the Hummer H3. Anyway, the fortwo is a very clever piece of engineering.
Forone thing, it’s amazing how much room there is inside the motorized fishbowl. The sloped windshield is panoramic, the side windows are bigger than my widescreen TV and there's plenty of head and legroom for life-sized human beings. The initial impression– that there’s nothing between you and oncoming traffic– is eventually dispelled by the enormous expanse of foam-padded dash twixt wheel and glass. While I've seen tougher-looking accessories on a Tonka toy, the fortwo’s instrumentation is hilarious; think iMac meets the Jetsons. The clock and tachometer are housed in globes atop swiveling stalks.
Despite the Mercedes Benz connection, the fourtwo’s switchgear errs on the side of cheap and cheerful, operating with all the precision and tactility of a cereal box top. By the same token, the optional clutch-free semi-manual transmission is entirely without grace. Generally I try these tip shift gizmos out once, just to say I did, and then ignore them. However, the fourtwo’s slapstick is infinitely preferable to the lag and lurch of automatic mode – which causes the back of your head to repeatedly meet the headrest, and not in that muscle car kinda way.
The smart fourtwo’s handling is the fourth Ace in the deck (after fuel economy, size and planet hugging street cred). It feels as if the smart has been bolted to a go-kart frame. Stiff and square, with a wheel at each corner, there's almost zero body roll and lots of road feel beneath your butt. Although it requires more forward planning than a Middle Eastern invasion, blowing by startled Mustangs and Hondas like a giant mutant high-top on steroids is a priceless experience. However, due to the fourtwo’s height and slab-sided-ness, understeer is out there… somewhere… and strong winds at highway speed require both hands on the wheel. In fact, the ride’s so squirrelly, it might as well have a farking sail.
Once I got over my initial reluctance to be seen in the fourtwo, I got a perverse pleasure from driving the wee beastie everywhere. It was hugely satisfying bringing it to car meets, provoking extended bouts of contemptous sniggering from stalwart hairy-chested muscle car guys. Almost without exception, the car’s sardonic detractors were eventually won over by the fourtwo’s practicality and spacious interior– even if they only admitted their enchantment begrudgingly. It’s true. Whether a grassroots grease monkey or an over-moneyed connoisseur of silken engineering, any true car nut is sure to find the smart Fortwo a compelling automobile-– even if they would never, ever own one.
78 Comments on “smart fortwo revisited...”
Back to TopLeave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You can also login using Facebook Connect.
I consider myself a “pistonhead” but I like the little bastard!
If they make it legal to drive ‘em on the sidewalk, I’ll take one!
The guys a the UK show Top Gear crash tested one into a concrete barrier. Click here for the video. Pretty amazing.
…receive two thumbs up from academics and hairy socialist types who assume you give a shit about the environment.
LOL, that was great.
I could like the Smart for certain cities, but not where I live. Too many teenagers inheriting their parent’s old SUVs these days.
I saw tons of them in Rome (Italy) a few years ago. I was fascinated by it’s ability to park nose first into a parking space meant for (maybe) two scooters. It makes sense in cities like Rome ’cause parking is chaotic to say the least.
It’s really ugly, but, I think that’s why I like it. Not sure if I’d ever buyone though (being a hairy chested muscle car guy :).
I would love to buy one of these, except I am sure I would wind up a smear on the bumper of some 90-pound, cell phone yakkin’, soccer mommy’s Yukon.
It is crazy that people who live and drive mostly within the bounds of a major city drive anything other than cars like this.
This is the best laugh (inspried by a car write-up) I’ve had in months. How can you not be fascinated by a vehicle named Fortwo?
Ohhhh, I get it now, “For-Two,” not “Fort Wo.”
picture this, it’s 2010 and the only thing they will let ordinary people into the tunnels leading to NYC are things like the smart car. Then Frisco, LA, and other cities restrict full sized cars in the city
This car makes sense for a large city environment.
Better copy of that Top Gear video (with sound) here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s
# radimus:
August 17th, 2006 at 3:44 pm
The guys a the UK show Top Gear crash tested one into a concrete barrier. Click here for the video. Pretty amazing.
That is Fifth Gear not Top Gear
We got one in BC and it’s a blast to drive! You absolutely do not feel it’s that small while driving (it’s about the same eye-level with mini trucks) – especially with the glass roof. In fact, the first thing that goes through your mind when you exit after an extended drive is: “What happened to the rest of my car?” You also have to deal with people smiling at you a lot…
The engine is a tiny jewel: fan-cooled intercooler in front of the turbo and all – viewable when you pop off the floor of the lugage area behind the comfy seats. Lots of odd wasted space under the car’s thick floor, though – it makes me wonder if this wasn’t intended to be an electric hybrid at one point in it’s design life. There sure would be a lot of room for batteries.
The big goof on MB’s part, though is content and accessories “positioning”. The base car has an exceptionally crummy non DIN radio / CD player that can’t play MP3s with and no glovebox, tach or clock. If you want to “upgrade” your sound, the CD changer and some slightly better speakers – it’s almost $750 (CA). Add an (admittedly cute) pod shaped clock and tach and you are over $1K easy. (Oh, and floor mats and seat covers must be custom made… because they don’t sell them.)
I understand MB makes a lot of money on their options ($1,500 for an integrated “last gen” cell phone?) on their luxury line, but that’s rediculous! Our Scion XB was $4k cheaper and has a great sounding MP3 CD on it. Their target market is younger buyers who expect decent sound and base level equipment without paying through the nose. The Smart is fitted and options priced like old-line Euro MBs (where you can get a “strippo” 300 with hand-crank windows and plaid seats…) and may explain why the youth appeal and overall sales have been limited.
How much do they sell for though?
Is it going to be competitive?
Or is it going to be a “that’s nice, but for [whatever the amount is] I can get a ‘real’ car that seat four and does not take 20 seconds to hit 45 MPH” kind of car.
A “farking sail”?
What’s next, pictures of well endowed rodents and mashups of the HaHa guy?
Techbob, puts it on par with Porsche eh? A $16,000 (canadian) base price isn’t quite so sweet if you have to spend another $4,000 to get one you can live with.
The Fortwo Passion tested stickered at over $20,000 Canadian.
These cars don’t fit in the “rolling living room” category that we’re used to: they’re a means of getting about and expending as little fuel as possible. Creature comforts are sparse, although the tester did come with heated seats, air and ESP traction control (surprisingly – they handle very well in the snow).
Since low price and MPG are (presumably) the key selling points, shouldn’t they have made an appearance in this article? Telling me it will run all day on $13 worth of diesel is nice but it doesn’t tell me how many miles/KM that is nor does it tell me how much diesel in gallons/liters are being used.
The smart Fortwo is based on a great idea.
Unfortunately, Mercedes failed to execute it well.
The proposition was:
1) A minimal car.
There are plenty of situations where you only need to haul yourself and a backpack around the city. With these requirements, it was an opportunity to build the perfect economical citycar.
The downfall: For the same price,you can get a “real” compact car from plenty of european manufacturers. Nuff said.
2) A cool small car.
A perfect market niche: People buy small cars because they are cheap to buy and run. When the Smart was designed, there was no such thing as a premium small car.
The downfall: An engine and transmission that are just no fun. Plus, the Smart is probably too weird-looking to ever be mainstream.
BMW perfectly filled the second niche with their Mini, the first one is still up for grabs (though Renault are making a decent effort with their Dacia Logan, a no-frills compact sedan that was designed for emerging markets and sells for about 8000 bucks)
By the way, I’ve seen either this vehicle, or something like it, around here (Colorado). Don’t know who is selling them, though.
If they could legally park on the sidewalk, they’d be big sellers, I think. the under-50cc scooters are big sellers for just this reason: No license, no plate, and can park at a bike rack for $0.00.
P.S: I love the idea of putting a mean motorcycle engine in the Smart car – that’s exactly what Mercedes should have done!
I don’t know about Porches (not a fan for some reason), but it does handle nicely most of the time. Decreasing radius corners make it feel a little top heavy (and tippy) if you go a little too fast. Ours wound up around $21K – but it’s still under-equiped for that price range – especially with no back seat. An Echo/Yaro is more practical, but it doesn’t look like a shuttle craft!
I did one calculation (too 20 minute to convert form litres/km, or whatever to mpg – I’m not metric…) that returned 72 mpg on an engine with less than 1,000 km on it! It’s fun to watch the fuel guage count down how many litres left when it gets below 1/4 full.
$20K Canadian works out to something like $15k US, right? As TMS points out, you can buy a real car for that kind of money. The only application I could see is maybe as a 2nd car so you don’t waste money driving your gas guzzler, but that $15k could buy a lot of gas for your Yukon or Expedition, even at $5/gallon.
Also, I think I’d feel safer on my motorcycle.
I’m 6-4, would I fit in this tuna can?
I see a lot of these in Ottawa (Canada).
This is a car for someone who already has a larger car and needs a little runabout for errands or commuting around the city. As a primary car, its too expensive and too compromised.
For those of you wondering about how it stacks up in terms of price,
here are some German prices for the most basic models:
(given in Euros, multiply with 1.3 for US dollars):
Smart Fortwo: 9,500 EUR
Toyota Aygo: 8,900 EUR
Peugeot 107: 9,100 EUR
Renault Clio: 8,950 EUR
Ford Ka: 8,000 EUR
All the other cars are cars with 4 seats and 60-70 hp.
You really need to *want* one to get one – the price is at the upper end of the price range for a Fit or Yaris and partway through the price range of the evergreen, everpresent civics and corollas. – and those seat 4 (5 in a pinch), have a trunk, and normal power delivery…
I’m 6′3 and took a day trip with another tall friend and we fit great (with luggage). The CA $ is almost on par with the US, so I wouldn’t expect much difference these days. Gas in Canada is up there, though – equivalent to $5/gal, I think.
It’s a great 2nd car – but it would be nice if it had a back seat. The new Japan only Mitsubishi micro (the next gen Smart is getting it’s engine from) would be a nice compromise.
Still wish they had been able to give it a more interesting drive train. All the “tall” newer Mercedes have suspiciously thick floors (“A”, “B”, “Smart”, and “R-Class”) – I wonder if MB’s hybrid/diesel program got left on the cost-cutting room floor somewhere back in the ’90s?
(music over: “Who’s sorry now … ?”)
I live in TechBob’s neck of the woods, and I still double-take when I see a Smart. They are still a head-turner.
As has been mentioned, though, you can get a well equipped Mazda 3 sedan, or a base Mazda 3 hatch for similar money once you add a couple options to the Smart. No, the mileage isn’t as good, but there is a lot more utility.
That said, I bet a fortwo can get you laid in some places.
No drain plug! Oil change at dealership: C$175.
Dean,
Yeah, in Munchkinland.
I hear there is an electric version. It takes 2 D batteries.
TechBob, the Mercedes B has a "sandwich" floor, the engine is
designed to slide under it in a front on collision instead of in your
lap.
(the Porsche reference was to the effect that adding options has
on the final price).
Martin- there are umpteen million reviews filled with stats on the
smart. This one leans more towards humourous driving impression… but
here you go:
Fuel consumption: City: 4.6 L/100 km (61 mpg Imperial) Hwy: 3.8 L/100
km (74 mpg Imperial)
Diesel
chanman – I agree – there are those who are really going to want this
quirky little roller skate – either because it makes a green statement,
or because it's cute and different. Me… I'd rather a Yaris or Mazda3.
There were plans to bring the four-seater to N. America, but they were
nixed. A roadster version somewhat resembling a Fiat Spyder was
available for a short run, now canned as well. Environment Canada has
one – it was on display at Mosport during the 2004 ALMS. Cuuute.
Dean – I'm sure you're right – great if you don't mind hair and Birkenstocks.
They’re different, and the people who are into them are strange. I lived in Europe when they came out and knew the oddball owners. Also the motors are piles of crap, not smooth, gutless, and Smart as a company is a huge financial loser.
You’re best off finding a real company to tie your automotive investment and relationship to. Daimler wants to dump its investment in this dog, but if you really have an Unterschiedlichkeitskomplex to fill, then this is your vehicle.
Smart Fortwo: 9,500 EUR – This is pretty much the on the road price in France and includes tax and delivery.
That equals 12,181.60 USD at today’s rate.
$20k Canadian is 17,784.78 USD.
The first wave sold in Canada went mostly to companies looking to attract attention by stickering them up.
They play up the Mercedes connection but the cars are built near Strasbourg in Hambach with rumours flying recently that DC was trying to ship the production elsewhere.
If they really brought in the numbers they needed to North America and lowered the price instead of selling them as niche cars they might have a long-term chance. Without that they are SOL and will remain so until they join the likes of MG.
I know nothing of the United Auto Group. Can we assume that they are in no way affiliated with DCX?
Bottom line on the Smart car is that it always makes you smile when you drive it. Despite it’s shortcomings, it’s a really pleasant car all around and really does draw an appreciative audiance (OK, some with Birkenstocks and lots of macrame…). It’s a shame it coudln’t enough marketing traction to get the 4door and roadster to a broader market.
I think I remember reading about MB prototypes running around with Diesel/Elec hybrid’s in the ’90s. The Sandwich floor does provide a place for the A/B/Smart to route collision energy, but there are still huge voids under the smart (large enough for an auxilliary radiator and a couple of fans under the driver’s side) that seem under utilized.
My theory is that engineers and product planners had efficient drivetrains in mind (I heard rumours of sealed high-temp super efficient ceramic diesel engines …) when chasis was laid out. I’ve watched bean counters and “focus-group-centric” Product Managers kill potentially disruptive innovation in practically every industry because they couldn’t show ROI within current customer base.
This is what gives us half-baked model launches (Fiero with a 4 spd, Ford 500 with no engine, etc.) that die before they’re really “complete”. Differentiation drives competitive positioning – but it seems to be a risk few leaders are actually willing to take. We can always dream …
You heard it right here first folks, this thing ain’t going to fly in America. It might have a small urban niche among the kind of people who buy organic tofu at Whole Foods and rent space in an art studio. Say, 20k units a year, tops.
I’ve seen quite a few message board pundits raving about this thing, and I don’t believe a one of them would lay down actual money for it.
Wait a minute… Is this the 1950’s VW Beetle for 2006? The “People’s Car” with modern safety?
@Techbob
You are correct about the initial idea for a hybrid “swatchmobile” powertrain. It never worked out so a rather conventional engine was used.
What I couldn’t stand about my test drive was the constant gear shifting. It is supposed to be a city car…
Kurt – I think you’d have to get the “auto” stick version (with or without extra cost paddles) or the car would be pretty undriveable. In “auto” mode the 6 spd manual is pretty transparent – even downshifting for curves when you expect it. Launching the car takes a little getting used to – I almost rolled backwards into a couple of high-dollar MBz when I picked it up because I didn’t understand the sequence for “hill starts”. (Brake holds for a few seconds, then stomp the accellerator before it lets go…!)
I rode in one of these once, and it’s just a little strange. To begin with, it’s a little noisy, since the engine is both a diesel, and about a foot from your posterior. Then, at a stoplight, an F-150 pulled up behind us. I was driving a fairly large car at the time, so it felt like the truck was in the backseat (I know, the smart doesn’t have one).
Still, cool little things, and I admire it, even if just as a counterpoint to the Escalade and H2
There is no reason, absolutely none, that this car couldn’t become THE city car in America. You can’t go much faster than about 50 mph on most freeways at rush hour anyway – they’re so clogged – and on the surface streets, this rig will get ‘er done.
Gas needs to get to $4.50 a gallon and it will happen – this car and that price.
I’m also glad to read that petrol savings won’t have to come with a hairshirt.
Honest and for true, the Smart holds its own on the highway, thank you very much. I would agree, some crosswinds can be unnerving, but no worse than any one of a dozen vans I’ve driven.
The last few times I have been on hwy 80, I have had Canadian tagged Fortwos running 80 MPH with the rest of traffic. (I may have been going a bit faster, but that part is hazy…)
I personally have only driven a gas model, and if I still lived in SFO, I’d park the Porsche unless I was leaving the city. The looks are (obviously) love it or hate it. But, I would have no fear at all driving one in any city with no fear whatsoever of the head-in-the-glovebox SUV drivers.
Sadly, with the exchange rate being what it is, the Smart has a lot of competition. I would hesitate to prognosticate it’ll do 50K units a year. But one can dream…
Too bad they can’t make them in the US and sell them for $10K. Of course, I wish they weren’t killing the roadster before it even gets here too.
Yup, I had no problem on the highway with it, it will go 140 kms. I never felt unsafe – although it was a bit unnerving to be tailgated. Since it has no rear end whatsoever, if someone’s riding your tail, they’re right there.
Despite its flaws, I still think it’s fantastic – I love seeing car makers come up with something innovative. It’s kind of… a personal transportation unit.
Maybe some people are asking the wrong questions here. This smart thing is not your NY to California car. It is not your take the family camping car. It may not even be a shopping car. It is to take one or two people on a commute to a crowded urban area where streets and parking are limited.It would be assumed that most family people would have another larger something or other in their driveway to do the schlepping. Now you have to rate this thing on it’s intended mission not can it replace your F150, minivan, and Suv.
Batteries not included
Some assembly required
Ages 8 and up
Small parts- choking hazard
Buy one get a SUV free
Hmmm..well, except for the possible advantage of being able to drive in poor weather (although I don’t know how comfortable I’d feel doing that) I can’t think of a good reason to get one of these over a small motorcycle or scooter. And most scooters have a trunk of some kind. A sub-50cc scooter can be had in most places for under $1500, and they usually get slightly better MPG than this car.
I think it could be popular in the US, but one of two things has to happen: Either the price has to come down significantly (I’d say down to the $6k range) or they have to be able to offer something unique, maybe PHEV capability or something.
Lesley writes, re Dean’s comment about how a smart might get you laid in some places (but not inside!!!)
Dean – I’m sure you’re right – great if you don’t mind hair and Birkenstocks.
Lesley,
Ariel Sharon wore Birkenstocks.
Also, this article was my best laugh of the week so far. Thanks!
If it were less expensive, I’d buy one. I live fairly close to where I work. At least half of my trips are 1) just me, 2) under 5 miles and 3) top out at 45mph or less. As a second car… or third… or fourth (we have four – the curse of living in the suburbs with teens), something like this makes perfect sense. On any day when the four drivers are simultaneously in motion, at least three will be on trips that are well-matched to the Smart’s capabilities.
Using it for short trips makes complaints about the crappy radio and other ergonomic issues pointless. Typically, a suburban driver will be in it for 10 minutes. Who cares if it’s not a premium radio?
And anybody who’s driven a Ford Aspire on the freeways certainly won’t feel any less safe switching to a Smart.
Hmmm… I could get four of these in my two-car garage… I’d never scrape a windshield again.
>>Wait a minute… Is this the 1950’s VW Beetle for 2006? The “People’s Car†with modern safety?
Not unless they drastically reduce the price. Then, maybe.
GBH: Honest and for true, the Smart holds its own on the highway, thank you very much. I would agree, some crosswinds can be unnerving, but no worse than any one of a dozen vans I’ve driven.
My first car, a ‘62 Ford Falcon, which I acquired in 1970, was buffetted by every truck that past me betw Boston and SF (I didn’t drive the thing over 50, because of its age, and my desire to make it last). And when I got to the Bay Bridge, I had to give the steering wheel a quarter turn to keep the car going straight. I bet the Smart is distinctly more stable than the Falcon was.
I have seen one several times in Lincoln MA (a Boston suburb adjacent to my own).
There is a Citroen that gets around 80mpg with a standard ICE.
a petrol engine