I drive a 2009 Four Two. 53 years old, ex military, and nightclub security. Best car I've ever had. Once you lose your ego, it's like being freed from your chains.
Sorry I know this comment was 10 months ago, but I fully agree with the notion that a lot of people would enjoy themselves more if they just stopped caring what people think. I don’t even think there’s anything wrong with these cars
@@DanCycles Yeah that’s understandable. I’m 24 and a small, petite girl and even I have received shit for having a smart car 🤣🤣 Let alone blokes who are 6’3. I just think, good on them for not giving a shit what anyone thinks. If it’s what you want and it gets you from A to B, who cares
@@Pinky1babe I don’t even drive that much, in 2 years I drove about 3k miles 🤣 I think I will get one and if the engine fails, I will modify it 😁… but I def need to work on my ego 😂
Having owned a mk1, two mk2’s and the mk3 Fortwo they are definitely different to drive and quirky to own but they were all fault free and reliable. Whether you like them or not I think it’s great that such a car exists as there is a sea of dull as dishwater cars out there. I really appreciate the unbiased nature of your reviews Adam, you’re clearly comfortable with who you are and don’t need to compensate. A lot of “car guys” get all bent out of shape and seem to be dealing with other issues when reviewing cars like the Smart, Fiat 500, MX5 or MINI…….news flash…..all cars I have owned and enjoyed.
It's not unsafe at all. Don't let them tell you white lies. I hit a deer with mine a month ago, going 60 with no breaking I'm still here. I have pics to prove it if no one believes me. They are very safe. THE END.
The guys at Top Gear smashed one into a concrete wall at over 100kph and the crash test dummy barely had a mark on it. They're actually safe as fuck...
At my old apartment, there was only street parking, I need a car quick, had the choice between a 2015 Accord for 9000$ or a 2010 smart fourtwo for 800$, got the smart and the fuel it saved me, time I saved looking for parking paid for itself 10x over. I love this fucking thing.
Most people don’t know how much opposite lock you need to have in small car, whenever any sort of wind appears. It’s like drifting but in a straight line 😂
@@MrStoyan5 I see them often on the Autobahn in Germany, no way i would drive that on a freeway without speedlimits... imagine a SUV passing you with 220km/h...
You haven't lived until you've driven a Reliant Robin or an Invacar (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invacar) with a Semi Trailer is bearing down on you. I've experienced it in both and shat my pants.
My son is 6’4” and loves his smart car. Single guy. Cheap to run and never gets asked to be designated driver as it only takes one passenger. Girls give him their numbers as they want to go for a drive in his car… who’s laughing now??
Im 6'2" and 120kgs. Amazing how spacious they are. Ive owned everything from landcruisers to transit vans and hot hatches. Ive owned 2 smart cars 10 years apart and still the car that I think ive enjoyed the most. I had older autos and was like being a kid in a go kart. Freeways you need to avoid, but around town made me smile every time I drove it.
The wife and I have a Smart Car and as we are only two, with no children, we love our Smart, we bought it back in May, with 93000 miles on the clock. had a few prob;ems with the clutch actuator but watching on You Tube about how to sort this out, we are happy to say, that everything is now ok, the car tends to bounce a little in first and reverse, but once it is moving everything runs smooth, ours has an 84 bhp engine that runs extremely well. We live in England, in the South West and a couple of months ago took the car 218 miles to my sister, we cruised up the motorway most of the way at around 65 miles per hour, and coming back some 5 days later the same. We love our Smart, it does what it says on the box and we are more than happy to carry on with it. Mike Palmer
Currently a Smart Fortwo 2013 owner! And I must say it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! I must say that in order to have a great car you must follow some rules as well (I would say this should apply to every single car out there), by being very careful with all of its check ups and taking care of it you can have a very reliable and loyal car. Also, now you can find cool things so you can upgrade the interior and make it look way cooler 😎 I just love my baby car and I hope I can keep on driving it for many more years. Also, it is very important to mention that the newest versions (2013 and above) also come with a rain sensor and some editions even have their own touch screen, which have many different features like navigation maps, bluetooth, iPod, movies and many more just like mine does, and my car has seat heater just in case you’re somewhere really cold and feel the need to use the heating option, if not, you can keep them as normal, so 100 points for me! 🤯
The smart car is actually a well made car 🚗. It is after all a Mercedes product. The naysayers always underestimate the car. 1) there is plenty of room inside. Very comfortable seating. Not so much room for stuff. In other words, you’re not picking up a pallet of cinderblocks from Home Depot. 2) it’s a 1000cc 3 cylinder engine. It’s built for city and economy. You’re not breaking lane speed records with it 😂. 3) people sometimes tell me I’m going die in that thing. On the contrary, there is a thick hunk of steel that surrounds it as the roll cage. I found that out when I was looking For something solid to lift the car. 4) transmission is a 5 speed automated manual. In other words, it’s a manual transmission but the car does all the shifting and clutching. My wife complained about the “jerkyness “. I showed her how to come off accelerator to allow the car to shift. Way smoother ride. 5) the fuel mileage and parking is amazing! The car gets up to 50mpg. Parking is virgin tight by the train station so I look purposely for the ass that tried to take two spots and squeeze right in! 😂😂 then leave a note “didn’t expect me to have a smart car did you?” 😂😂. Well worth it.
People are always surprised when I pass them in my little yellow Smart Car at 100+ MPH. These things are quicker than you think, and I drive mine everywhere and anytime (Canadian Winters even, though deep snow can defeat me! LOL) I love mine, and though I have a Toyota Camry for the family and road trips, I love driving my Smart! :)
It shocked me too, as I was dreading driving home 80 miles on the motorway when I bought it but I was whizzing past a lot of cars and saw the surprised look on their faces and effortly cruised at motorway speeds ++
@@marcushull12I've driven Louisiana to OBX NC then Maine all the way on a two week trip Louisiana to Ohio twice and Louisiana to south Padre island..delivered DD for 3 years too these are great cars
I've been driving Smarts over here in the US since they first started importing them; my current is a 453 3rd generation cabriolet. I absolutely love it!
I have driven my 2015 Smart fortwo electric for 7 years and love it. Most reliable and dependable car, plus low cost, $18/ year plates or $33/5 years. No gas, $54 month full coverage insurance. And paid in full. It has grown to a crazy dual engine AWD million views on tiktok
Saw these in Paris when they came out. There were popular because it's one of the few cars you can park in the city back to curb. If anyone seen Parisian parking tolerances will know that's a huge feature. Slap in a Huyabusa motor and gearbox and its insanity.
Love my fortwo turbo 2013. I don’t know why people complain about automated manual, the car still make 0-60 almost 10 secs, actually has more sense make change gears than a CVT fake gears. No other car I drove make you smile than this smart.
Years ago a friend lived in a complex with only one parking spot per lot... one of the neighbours had a Smart Fortwo parked sideways & another small car parked normally in the space leftover. They could probably fit at least 3 in the one parking space :)
I bought a 2009 Brabus convertible 5 years ago and still love the hell out of it. Most fun car I've ever had. I don't get nervous much either because it's so small it's nowhere near anything else. Got an autoflash and a GoPedal to smooth out the shifting (somewhat) and it's really kind of a joy to drive.
I have a 450 0,8 cdi from 2000 and to date its driven 275000km. Now living in Denmark there is a big bridge(storbæltbroen) which I have to travel over twice a week (280km each way). As this is a toll brigde in my smart car I pay the same price as a motorbike, and on average I save 65% compaired to our other car on travel costs . So its a win win even if it is a big pram....
I owned a 2013 passion and I’m a handyman and hauled tools to get the job done and I’m in NC and drive it all over on the highway with no problems, it’s what you make it to be, I love it
i just drove mine back to Manhattan from Los Angeles. Spent about $275 in gas, did about 730 miles a day. In Manhattan this thing is the best, find parking easily. super reliable. i just put higher profile tires on it, made a huge difference. mins is the same color as the one in the video.
I am driving a 2001 smart cabrio for over 4 years now, just love it. Also drive on the highway. Seats are big. Yes steering is different from a big car, but you get used to it. Very economical. So far no major repairs. Just regular service. Intend to drive it as long as I can. Over 200.000 km mileage now.
Mine's been utterly reliable up to around 100K miles so far. Noisy at "highway speed" but does 85 mph just fine. It's not made for long trips, but I've done plenty of 100 mile highway drives in it. Ridiculously easy to maneuver, very practical. Easy DIY maintenance (like replacing lamps).
I have driven mine for 11 years. Love it. As with any car, anything can break, so it is not fair to say that what you listed will go wrong with it. My only major repair was a fuel pump. With every vehicle out there, it is important to do all the vehicle maintenance that the owners manual reccomends. It will help your vehicle last longer. The only downer with this car is it is not a winter car and does not do well in the snow. But, I still love it.
I hit a four2 in my 06 rodeo back in 2019 ( driver reversed out of his driveway into main road traffic) I commented that it held together extremely well considering I hit it at 70kph
Working in car rental we had a smart roadster (1st model) for a few days to evaluate. We thought it looked sporty and thought we would give it a go. I'm glad you mentioned the transmission, it is an absolute shocker in a supposed sport vehicle. Give it some revs, change gears and your face would hit the windscreen as it decelerated during the sloooowwww shift. It was absolutely hilarious for about 5 min.
The best review of the Smart ! I own a corvette grand sport C6, a porsche 911 C4 and a smart brabus edition. Love my smart and drive it more than the others.
Had the 4four in Germany has a hire car. Chirps wheels at every traffic light and with 4 adults it ..... still pull ..... 160Km/h on the road out of Bremerhaven! God it was fun!!!
I`ve just bought one , the same as the one in the video , I've gone from 4.0 LWB XJ. my friend has named it Daphne , as it`s daffodil yellow lol.. mine was £2,300 with 50k miles on it , FSH, new brakes( stops on a sixpence) , new clutch, actuator, tires and full MOT . It`s about as opposite to the smoothness of the Jag you can get but as I do less than 500 miles a year I just wanted something cheap to run (insurance and road tax) but I must admit it is better than I thought they would be (I`m 60 male so I dont give a sod what anyone thinks lol)
I drive a Smart Fortwo. I'm not sure I agree with the enthusiasm. With that said, it gets super annoying trying to pass people on the highway. They will speed up because they are about to be passed by a Smart Car. This is something you have to deal with.
Nah the brakes in my ‘08 pure are some of the best I’ve felt. They engage ABS almost instantly with no problems and there is minimal petal travel. This is probably because the fluid has been replaced regularly over the years from the previous owner and I want to replace it again to maintain these great brakes.
i bought the mk from 2006. BEst car i have a driven for the city. And yes, i also drove the amg gts. Sometimes its not about the power, but the fun in the city and always having a place to park.
had 4 of them chipped diesel model with bigger turbo with folks in smart car club tuned them up to over 100 hp mine had 115 hp my gas model had 5,1 sound and tv screen was the sound pure edition ,took highway to work everyday cruised at 120km safe and no worries
That is one of the safest car, I have seen a pillar from the inside, it’s not just a pillar but with a steel bar running through, MDH there is a belt which you have to check and make sure it’s ok, never had any big issues, I own my 3 rd smart, there are a lot of upgrades for them especially the 10 turbo, not MHD MHD is a slower car, but 10 turbo is the best you can get.
I actually find this car pretty good on the freeway. its only revving at around 2k rpm when doing 110km/h and quite steady when going straight on really smooth roads. anything other than smooth and straight and we have a very skitsih car that feels like it would spin at any moment. trucks, utes and SUV that over takes me also scares the living hell out of me as i can feel the car swerving at times, but other than that, great car on the freeway. i'd give it a 4/10 as a freeway car.
I've owned a Brabus Smart 451 now for a couple of years and it's an amazing car. It's quick, light, cheap to run and the Brabus sounds awesome 😁 Perfect for a small distance car
US driver, had mine for five years. People,bought them to toe behind RV and sold them with low miles or didn’t like them. Used the Smart to replace taking my motorcycle to the store for quick trips. Mine had low miles so I had to go to Mercedes for oil changes, and it was $300. Out of Warranty Grease Monkey did a fine job. You have to use the slap shifter in town or going up hills (manually shifting) and works great. Used now have way too many miles for the asking price given it is a 1.0 liter 3 cylinder and the oil dip stick is in the rear and you have to remove a panel to check it,so it is doubtful oil is checked as often as it should be. It fits like a dream in a 3 car garage with a golf cart opening and my lawn mower & motorcycle fit perfectly in front of it in the garage. If you can’t pick one up for a steal used, I would buy a fiat or mini since you will have an easier time to sell it. Xtra keys are around $300 each to buy and program. If you are in a wreck consider it totaled by the insurance so don’t spend a lot putting in upgrades. They are expensive and Mercedes charges a fortune to put in OEM parts. I upgraded to a smart NAV radio and with ordering all brackets, face plates and install it was almost $1,000, so buy the car with the options you want already on the car since the original owner picked what options they wanted when they ordered it. If anything mechanical was wrong when you buy the car it will cost a fortune for Mercedes to work on it since most mechanics don’t want to fool with them.
Proud owner of a F2 CDI MK1, apart from the electrical problems (they are prone to get water leaks sometimes and affect the ECU, with all kind of funny stuff happening), they're reliable as rocks. Most strange thing that happened to me was a weird electrical issue, some car sensor had an electrical gremlin and it just shut down the car after a stop, leaving a queue of cars honking behind you and not starting unless the short disappeared by itself as randomly as it came :D As said, they're in their element running inside the city, and you need to have nerves of steel to hit roads or motorway especially when you get cross wind and you try to overtake a truck (with time you learn to expect the wind thrust once you pass it), but let me tell you: Even when the high body roll, these things are a blast to drive in bendy roads. They're also surprisingly comfy for long travels, just stick the foot there and don't be affected by whoever is around, let'em honk if they think you're slow, and storage capacity is surprisingly big as you can stash them up to the roof. I even loaded a road bike inside by pulling the co-pilot seat down. Also, had several "accidents" requiring body panel substitution, mainly involving other over-confident cars when you're parked. Tow balls tend to crack your panels in half, but otherwise you can laugh at the careless door openers (just some paint transfer, no dents, paint cracked on their side :D). I even had incidents like accidentally forgetting I had reverse while parked and hitting a VW caravelle with no consequences for the F2 or the VW, panel just bends and absorbs the hit. I never tried a Smart roadster, but if the F2 was an absolute pleasure for me all these years, I want a roadster in my future garage for sure!
egos are such a dangerous thing. i downsized from a lifted jeep, to then a smaller 90s stepside chevy shortbed truck, to now a civic. i LOVE downsizing. it's so economical and fun. smart is even smaller than my civic! and i already love how small my civic is. just zip around and stuff. it's fun!
I have a 2013 EV version, and it's actually a snappy little car even on the freeway. It doesn't have a lot of range but more than enough for how I use it! The only thing it needed in the six years I've had it so far is two tires, a couple of tail light bulbs and a 12 volt battery! The thing I like most is it's roomy, even for a larger car and it's so easy to drive and park!
I love my 2010 fortwo night orange edition! 9:54 Customised it, added a cupholder, merc door lights, cushions, new carpets, aluminum orange air caps etc It's really fun to drive!
On my fourth Smart. So much fun. I am 6”3” and love how easy it is to get in and out of - ten times easier than my Jaguar XJ6. Had a squeezy Daihatsu Charade before it. Re slow shifting, it’s in the technique - when changing up, keep your foot on the accelerator while changing. When stick shifting in other cars, it is normal to lift your foot momentarily during the gear change otherwise it will over rev when you disengage the clutch. The SMART’s clutch and throttle are electronically controlled and lifting your foot during the change just confuses the computer.
Im considering a 2010 Passion w 74000 miles in Massachusetts ..Im 6'4 so Im glad you fit that is 1 of my concerns lol..But the car being so short and how people drive up your ass I think I would be annoyed and nervous ..I just hate people driving so close ...
@@BaldadonisMike2021 I guess you could get annoyed by tailgaters, but they are the drivers who wish they had a Smart!!!! You are protected by an excellent ‘safety cell” and carbon fibre seats designed to keep you safe.
Last year I got a used electric Smart Fortwo with 39K km on the odometer, and now I've added 3K extra. I love it. The best city car for daily rides of an egoist for distances shorter than 100 km a day.
love my 05 turbo diesel smart wouldnt trade it for the world. if you change the suspension with brabus shocks and lowering coils the highway is a breeze no more body sway.
Mid pandemic, wife and I drove around the bay area one day picking up food and delivering to family. Most of the time at 95mph (152kph) San Jose to San Francisco and back and then San Jose to Oakland and back, and around 20 stops. 2015 Brabus, the road bumps are tough.
I would have the roadster for fun, but heard the auto boxes are troublesome. They are cheap here in the UK second hand, but a really cheap one usually has the issue described.
If you think the car is shifting slower with age, lubricate the clutch actuator and replace the transmission oil with either Royal Purple or Amsoil gear lubee.
there was a guy in a black jeep that passed me as i was driving out of a parking lot... he yelled 'get a REAL car' as he drove by. now, you could say he clearly has a lack of testosterone to feel the need to shout it out of a MOVING vehicle. but i live in a very rural area, we get loads of snow in winter, and lots of people live outside town on gravel roads etc. so many people have the ford f150's and bigger... so the irony of him saying 'get a real car' when he was driving what would only be described as Lesbian Barbie's Dream Jeep, was amazing. i love my smart. it's easy to work on, cheap to drive, is fast enough, comfortable enough and fits more than enough stuff for a trip to Costco. besides, a jeep is rated 3 out of 5 stars on the crash test, a smart is rated 4...
Purchased my Smart in 2008 when they first arrived in the USA. To get it I had to order online and take delivery from the closest dealer - about 50 miles away. Today, June 6, 2023, I have about 90,000 miles on my Smart and have driven on many trips of over 1,000 miles with my wife, 3 suitcases, and hanging clothes laid flat on the suitcases. Yes, I would sell it, IF and only if the price offered was fairly HIGH. After all, I would have to get 2, not one Skateboards and protective gear.
We bought one in 2008 and it's still in the family, if you just drive around with perhaps a partner why drag two more seats with you. The safety cage was based on racing cars of the time, also the seats were the most comfortable we have had... although a town car we were going to the south of France when the air traffic control went on strike...that was it... we got our money back- booked a channel crossing ( Reduced price for a smartie.) and off we went, we went through the Mont Blanc Tunnel, down 42 hair-pin bends and ejected ourselves onto the coast. All that way from Essex and not an ache anywhere! Plus my wife could only take wheels case. chuckle. perfect.
Got one 2008 451.. nice car / parking everywhere / light sensor / airco / rain sensor / automatic / terrific brakes / wider tyres 195 in the rear and 175 front. Bought it in Januari and had some issues. Exhaust replaced, it fell half off (rust) / fuelpump replaced, it just locked up after a stop to help during an accident. But it's the second car... specially for my little Dachshund. 😂
I have a Smart Cat ForTwo. I love how good is on gas, and you can find parts no problem. I'm a single guy and needed something to take me from point A to point B. Is not for everyone, and certain repairs, such as replacing the cooling fan can be pricey. I'm only drive four times a week. I get lots of compliments and some not so nice comments as well!
They're great, and actually there's no problem on the Motorway. Do check the Alternator belt though, because lots of these ended up with them fraying and braking, causing the water pump to stop and resulting in blowing the head gasket. The alignment of the pulleys was wrong on those cars, and mine was miles out, which is why I managed to buy it with a dead engine for repair. I had to machine the crankshaft pulley and make new alternator spacers to correct the alignment issue.
I have a 2005 fortwo convertible, it is simply the best car I have ever owned. I will never sell it, and will spend money on it until there are no more parts in the market to be found.
I daily drive a 2009 Smart Fortwo here in America. My convertible top has started coming unglued from its frame. But that's the worst issue I've had. Service is an issue since Mercedes Benz stopped servicing them here in America at the beginning of 2023. You have to find places willing to work on them. Otherwise a fun to drive commuter car that's easy to park anywhere.
I go on joy rides with my friends in my Smart Fortwo 453, on Canadian highways all the time, winter too, storms too. It's a blast, the driver matters more in my opinion. My friends have been telling me that they are often scared while riding with other people, in sedans & suvs, maybe the drivers don't know their limits, idk. I just had very positive experiences with my 453 with a bit under 50'000 km on it. Maybe it was just well maintained, it's also another model of the Fortwo, so that could help with some of the issues like the breaks, the transmission was also changed on the 453 for a 6 speed twinmatic automatic, which could help.
the more i matured, the more i understand how actually good this car is, it's the most ideal and sensible car to have and probably the most car you'll ever need in your life. also, it's not actually that small, the boot is more than enough to fit everything you normally fit in a boot.
lol what... I'm looking at these with a few years between. I fucking love the look of them! Only reason I haven't bought one, is because I have a German Shepherd, which probably wouldn't fit. Haven't had the chance to test it out though.
I had one for several years, nice car no real problems. Easy to keep up with traffic. Took up Pikes Peak with no problem in fact Jeep in front was in my ay could have easily gone faster.
Have owned mine for 13 years. It's great fun to drive because it's always flat out, you can't drive a Porsche flat out, you'd be arrested. Every entry and exit ramp is an experience, every street has parking space, any bump is a mountain and you are never asked to drive the team home. With a little wiggling you can put an adult bike in it (take off a wheel) and it's a great shopping cart. It's almost big enough for my 9 year old grandson to reach the pedals and my wife just loves it (it's officially her car). It's also impossible to hold a conversation at highway speeds. So less stress. The electric version is faster, I should have bought one. ps It's basically a curling stone (in Canada) in the snow.
I've owned my Smart diesel since September 2011, I bought it at 5 months old, it was an ex demonstration vehicle from the local Mercedes dealership, it's now just shy of 150,000 miles, I replaced the front brakes at 120, 000 miles, just after that it required a DPF, it's basic, nothing goes wrong, it's cheap to run, I agree the brakes are an acquired taste, it's not going to break any speed records, the gear changes are smooth when accelerating smoothly, Mercedes UK have a brilliant service plan, it doesn't require road tax, it's comfortable, I drive 60+ miles daily getting to and from work, once a week I do a 120 mile commute, smooth driving, I can achieve up to 90 miles per gallon, I wouldn't change mine, it's been reliable, deceptively spacious and contrary to popular belief, you can use it on a motorway, I do, every time I go to work, there's very little to go wrong as it's very basic.
I have had six… from 2004 to 2009. I’ve had petrol and diesel… all very reliable and why I started my RUclips channel to help people nurture them… 2m views can’t be wrong?.. The lack of sump plug is only a thing here in the UK… except the for the diesel model . You can buy an aftermarket sump with drain plug addition I’d recommend this as using the oil suction tools never get all the black stuff out… The engines I’ve had have all been trouble free… maintain them with an oil change once a year minimum (I always do twice a year) a simple enough job on this smart 451 model… The gearbox.. yes.. it’s slow to move through the gears.. but then again … it’s not trying to be a Ferrari killer… live with what it’s for… but… the actuators are a problem if not cared for… ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS test drive a car from cold.. make sure you run it for a good 15 minutes… then…. Turn the car off… wait a minute then work it through forward AND reverse gears… I had one with a reversing problem needed a replacement actuator… I love love love the engine note and they are very flexible.. the passenger seat fold forward and flat and you can sleep in them and carry a mountain bike with the front wheel detached. One thing not mentioned to lookout for are snapped front suspension springs.. they are a pain to replace… seek out a SMART competent mechanic as a lot of uk mechanics HATE working on them and don’t have a clue what they are doing… so if you find someone … look after them.. Overall these cars are fun, efficient, safe and reliable… the ideal combination for me would be a diesel convertible … Any questions hit me up on my channel or social media pages!
I loved my last Australian delivered MHD and I had the two main smart problem. The ac fan died which requires you taking off the front off the car. The second is the alternator as it had stop start they wear out faster cost $800 and $3k to install. There are no experts in Australia for these cars so anytime you have a problem it will cost you big cash.
In Oregon, USA. with the left side steering. Got a 2013 ForTwo basic model. Pure... Mercedes engine and Lamborghini transmission. For what it is and for what I expected, I really like it. It had 49000 or so miles when i got it 4 years ago. Has a 100,000 mile or 5 year warranty. Have never paid for any small repairs. It has 87,000 miles on it now and the usual wear and tear. I've driven this car up and down the coast of CA, OR and WA, as well as long freeway trips to and from the Redwoods, . We've ad it doing 80 mph up and down hills and not even realize it. It flies. I could get double what I paid for it now if i wanted to sell t or trade it in. What I don't like about it? The Aux and Flash Drive/Media outlets are in the glove compartment. WTF!!! Trying to change music by feel, is really not safe or smart. The rear view mirror is directly in the way of your vision when you are trying to take a right, especially on a hill. You have to stoop forward to see around it. I HATE it. Believe it or not, for a car that small to have blind spots, ... it is surprising. The passenger seat is set back further than the drivers seat. With a passenger, you can't see through them. Backing out from between two other cars can be tricky. The headrests are so big, they take up 2/3 of the rear view mirrors view. To try to turn to look out the rear window, when backing up, you can't really see without craning your neck because the headrests should be either narrower or adjustable. Aside from that, I do really like the car. I'm 66 and live in a city. Quite possibly the last car I'll own. (With my hahhd Boston accent, we call it a Smahht Cahh. Wicked Smahht.) Oh yeah, the Gas/petrol location icon on the speedometer area says the fuel goes in the left, when the gas cap is on the right. Not that that's anything, but a quirky thing... Nothing that would ruin your day. LOL Have a great day!
Drove a Gen1 for work and man we beat on that thing like you wouldn't believe. You really have to drive around the tiptronic gearbox but it's pretty fun and adds to the challenge.
Im looking at a fortwo; currently coming from big vehicules, (dodge grand caravan, a Dually pickup and a box truck) and considering the smart for smaller trips. My motorcycle has worse fuel mileage than this (at around 6L/100km) plus, the smart definitely protects more than a bike! I have to say they are small compared to other Americans and Canadian trucks…
I’ve been thinking of grabbing one as my first car. I’m 26 and have been lucky to not need one, but I’m now hitting a stage where it is genuinely becoming a hinderance to not have a car. I don’t need anything more than this.
Have to admit this review was quite illuminating regarding the Fortwo and while it looks like a fairly decent car I honestly can't see myself buying one just for the fact of it wouldn't be practical for me to own at all. Have to admit that I was surprised to see that Mitsubishi makes the petrol motors for them as I would've thought the petrols would've been Mercedes ones or sourced from Fiat. The biggest thing that seems too be the biggest hiccup for the fortwo is it's transmission. If that's the case is it worse than even a Craptiva's transmission Adam? Good work guys another brilliant review and a real eye opener to be perfectly honest. Have a good weekend and look forward to next week's batch of videos as always 👍
They likely didn't have anything as small in their catalogue, vs Mitsubishi (and other Japanese manufacturers) having plenty around for their local kei cars Edit: looks like they did have Merc engines in the first gen, but they didn't seem very advanced. Maybe they just figured it wasn't worth the effort to upgrade them for the second gen?
Once again, a typically good re-driven review. So good, in fact, that I'm determined to seek psychiatric help for the confidence and security issues that, until this presentation, I never realised I had. Perhaps I'll end up in an asylum with a nice garden and a supply of mind altering substances designed to quench the negative thoughts that I possess about this vehicle. Then again, maybe the trained physicians charged with my care will realise that my not having confidence and security in a vehicle designed by Mercedes Benz and manufactured in China is indeed the measure of a perfectly reasonable mind. I can only guess as to their deductions. Either way, a Smart Car or a straight jacket is not high on the agenda for things that I want to be seen in, soon.
I thought about getting one for my job. I'm a restaurant delivery driver and want a car just for that, one that's small and easy to drive and good on gas.
It has a speed governor by default but you don't want to go much faster than this anyway because it is not very pleasant with all the head wind and noise.
I don’t understand the fuss about the gearbox being slow. Leave it in auto mode, lift the throttle slightly at the right RPM, and it shifts quickly enough that the nose doesn’t drop during the shift. It feels perfectly intuitive to me.
I drive a 2009 Four Two.
53 years old, ex military, and nightclub security.
Best car I've ever had.
Once you lose your ego, it's like being freed from your chains.
Sorry I know this comment was 10 months ago, but I fully agree with the notion that a lot of people would enjoy themselves more if they just stopped caring what people think. I don’t even think there’s anything wrong with these cars
I must say, the only thing that is keeping me from getting one is my ego…
@@DanCycles Yeah that’s understandable. I’m 24 and a small, petite girl and even I have received shit for having a smart car 🤣🤣 Let alone blokes who are 6’3. I just think, good on them for not giving a shit what anyone thinks. If it’s what you want and it gets you from A to B, who cares
@@Pinky1babe I don’t even drive that much, in 2 years I drove about 3k miles 🤣 I think I will get one and if the engine fails, I will modify it 😁… but I def need to work on my ego 😂
Got it 👌
Having owned a mk1, two mk2’s and the mk3 Fortwo they are definitely different to drive and quirky to own but they were all fault free and reliable. Whether you like them or not I think it’s great that such a car exists as there is a sea of dull as dishwater cars out there.
I really appreciate the unbiased nature of your reviews Adam, you’re clearly comfortable with who you are and don’t need to compensate. A lot of “car guys” get all bent out of shape and seem to be dealing with other issues when reviewing cars like the Smart, Fiat 500, MX5 or MINI…….news flash…..all cars I have owned and enjoyed.
Thanks so much mate! - AK
Love mine. People keep telling me how unsafe it is, I tell them not to worry, I only drive it when the weather's too shitty for motorcycling.
It's not unsafe at all. Don't let them tell you white lies. I hit a deer with mine a month ago, going 60 with no breaking I'm still here. I have pics to prove it if no one believes me. They are very safe. THE END.
The guys at Top Gear smashed one into a concrete wall at over 100kph and the crash test dummy barely had a mark on it. They're actually safe as fuck...
Hahahaha... Soo true... ❤
Lol I'm thinking about one just for that reason 😂
Smart For Two has 4 of 5 stars from the NCAP test, thats a pretty good value for such a small car and not "Unsafe"
At my old apartment, there was only street parking, I need a car quick, had the choice between a 2015 Accord for 9000$ or a 2010 smart fourtwo for 800$, got the smart and the fuel it saved me, time I saved looking for parking paid for itself 10x over. I love this fucking thing.
Yes this is the definitive man’s man’s car. You’d have to have balls of steel to drive it on the freeway.
Most people don’t know how much opposite lock you need to have in small car, whenever any sort of wind appears. It’s like drifting but in a straight line 😂
@@MrStoyan5 I see them often on the Autobahn in Germany, no way i would drive that on a freeway without speedlimits... imagine a SUV passing you with 220km/h...
😂😂😂
You haven't lived until you've driven a Reliant Robin or an Invacar (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invacar) with a Semi Trailer is bearing down on you. I've experienced it in both and shat my pants.
I have a turbo model here in Australia, no problems at all at 110km/h on the freeway.
My son is 6’4” and loves his smart car. Single guy. Cheap to run and never gets asked to be designated driver as it only takes one passenger. Girls give him their numbers as they want to go for a drive in his car… who’s laughing now??
Im 6'2" and 120kgs. Amazing how spacious they are. Ive owned everything from landcruisers to transit vans and hot hatches. Ive owned 2 smart cars 10 years apart and still the car that I think ive enjoyed the most. I had older autos and was like being a kid in a go kart. Freeways you need to avoid, but around town made me smile every time I drove it.
The wife and I have a Smart Car and as we are only two, with no children, we love our Smart, we bought it back in May, with 93000 miles on the clock.
had a few prob;ems with the clutch actuator but watching on You Tube about how to sort this out, we are happy to say, that everything is now ok, the car tends to bounce a little in first and reverse, but once it is moving everything runs smooth, ours has an 84 bhp engine that runs extremely well. We live in England, in the South West and a couple of months ago took the car 218 miles to my sister, we cruised up the motorway most of the way at around 65 miles per hour, and coming back some 5 days later the same.
We love our Smart, it does what it says on the box and we are more than happy to carry on with it. Mike Palmer
Currently a Smart Fortwo 2013 owner! And I must say it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! I must say that in order to have a great car you must follow some rules as well (I would say this should apply to every single car out there), by being very careful with all of its check ups and taking care of it you can have a very reliable and loyal car. Also, now you can find cool things so you can upgrade the interior and make it look way cooler 😎 I just love my baby car and I hope I can keep on driving it for many more years.
Also, it is very important to mention that the newest versions (2013 and above) also come with a rain sensor and some editions even have their own touch screen, which have many different features like navigation maps, bluetooth, iPod, movies and many more just like mine does, and my car has seat heater just in case you’re somewhere really cold and feel the need to use the heating option, if not, you can keep them as normal, so 100 points for me! 🤯
The smart car is actually a well made car 🚗. It is after all a Mercedes product. The naysayers always underestimate the car. 1) there is plenty of room inside. Very comfortable seating. Not so much room for stuff. In other words, you’re not picking up a pallet of cinderblocks from Home Depot. 2) it’s a 1000cc 3 cylinder engine. It’s built for city and economy. You’re not breaking lane speed records with it 😂. 3) people sometimes tell me I’m going die in that thing. On the contrary, there is a thick hunk of steel that surrounds it as the roll cage. I found that out when I was looking
For something solid to lift the car. 4) transmission is a 5 speed automated manual. In other words, it’s a manual transmission but the car does all the shifting and clutching. My wife complained about the “jerkyness “. I showed her how to come off accelerator to allow the car to shift. Way smoother ride. 5) the fuel mileage and parking is amazing! The car gets up to 50mpg. Parking is virgin tight by the train station so I look purposely for the ass that tried to take two spots and squeeze right in! 😂😂 then leave a note “didn’t expect me to have a smart car did you?” 😂😂. Well worth it.
People are always surprised when I pass them in my little yellow Smart Car at 100+ MPH. These things are quicker than you think, and I drive mine everywhere and anytime (Canadian Winters even, though deep snow can defeat me! LOL) I love mine, and though I have a Toyota Camry for the family and road trips, I love driving my Smart! :)
It shocked me too, as I was dreading driving home 80 miles on the motorway when I bought it but I was whizzing past a lot of cars and saw the surprised look on their faces and effortly cruised at motorway speeds ++
@@marcushull12I've driven Louisiana to OBX NC then Maine all the way on a two week trip Louisiana to Ohio twice and Louisiana to south Padre island..delivered DD for 3 years too these are great cars
How about maintaining this car in canada? Expensive?
100 isn't quick when Charges can cap over 200...
I've been driving Smarts over here in the US since they first started importing them; my current is a 453 3rd generation cabriolet. I absolutely love it!
I have driven my 2015 Smart fortwo electric for 7 years and love it. Most reliable and dependable car, plus low cost, $18/ year plates or $33/5 years. No gas, $54 month full coverage insurance. And paid in full.
It has grown to a crazy dual engine AWD million views on tiktok
Saw these in Paris when they came out. There were popular because it's one of the few cars you can park in the city back to curb. If anyone seen Parisian parking tolerances will know that's a huge feature.
Slap in a Huyabusa motor and gearbox and its insanity.
Love my fortwo turbo 2013. I don’t know why people complain about automated manual, the car still make 0-60 almost 10 secs, actually has more sense make change gears than a CVT fake gears. No other car I drove make you smile than this smart.
Mines 2012 turbo, super duper. Gear change is good don’t no why all these other drivers keep moaning about this.
Years ago a friend lived in a complex with only one parking spot per lot... one of the neighbours had a Smart Fortwo parked sideways & another small car parked normally in the space leftover.
They could probably fit at least 3 in the one parking space :)
Clever
I bought a 2009 Brabus convertible 5 years ago and still love the hell out of it. Most fun car I've ever had. I don't get nervous much either because it's so small it's nowhere near anything else. Got an autoflash and a GoPedal to smooth out the shifting (somewhat) and it's really kind of a joy to drive.
I have a 450 0,8 cdi from 2000 and to date its driven 275000km. Now living in Denmark there is a big bridge(storbæltbroen) which I have to travel over twice a week (280km each way). As this is a toll brigde in my smart car I pay the same price as a motorbike, and on average I save 65% compaired to our other car on travel costs . So its a win win even if it is a big pram....
I owned a 2013 passion and I’m a handyman and hauled tools to get the job done and I’m in NC and drive it all over on the highway with no problems, it’s what you make it to be, I love it
i just drove mine back to Manhattan from Los Angeles. Spent about $275 in gas, did about 730 miles a day. In Manhattan this thing is the best, find parking easily. super reliable. i just put higher profile tires on it, made a huge difference. mins is the same color as the one in the video.
I am driving a 2001 smart cabrio for over 4 years now, just love it. Also drive on the highway. Seats are big. Yes steering is different from a big car, but you get used to it. Very economical. So far no major repairs. Just regular service. Intend to drive it as long as I can. Over 200.000 km mileage now.
Mine's been utterly reliable up to around 100K miles so far. Noisy at "highway speed" but does 85 mph just fine. It's not made for long trips, but I've done plenty of 100 mile highway drives in it. Ridiculously easy to maneuver, very practical. Easy DIY maintenance (like replacing lamps).
I regret selling my 2013 Smart Brabus. A great little car and a blast to drive.
I have driven mine for 11 years. Love it. As with any car, anything can break, so it is not fair to say that what you listed will go wrong with it. My only major repair was a fuel pump.
With every vehicle out there, it is important to do all the vehicle maintenance that the owners manual reccomends. It will help your vehicle last longer.
The only downer with this car is it is not a winter car and does not do well in the snow. But, I still love it.
I hit a four2 in my 06 rodeo back in 2019 ( driver reversed out of his driveway into main road traffic) I commented that it held together extremely well considering I hit it at 70kph
the chassis is some super high strength tridium. It's a small car but not cheap!
Working in car rental we had a smart roadster (1st model) for a few days to evaluate. We thought it looked sporty and thought we would give it a go. I'm glad you mentioned the transmission, it is an absolute shocker in a supposed sport vehicle. Give it some revs, change gears and your face would hit the windscreen as it decelerated during the sloooowwww shift. It was absolutely hilarious for about 5 min.
I wish they followed through and released the 2L V6 twin turbo version
You'd need to reset the gearbox computer, or get it re-mapped, at a cost!
The best review of the Smart ! I own a corvette grand sport C6, a porsche 911 C4 and a smart brabus edition. Love my smart and drive it more than the others.
Thanks!
Had the 4four in Germany has a hire car.
Chirps wheels at every traffic light and with 4 adults it
.....
still pull
.....
160Km/h on the road out of Bremerhaven!
God it was fun!!!
I`ve just bought one , the same as the one in the video , I've gone from 4.0 LWB XJ. my friend has named it Daphne , as it`s daffodil yellow lol.. mine was £2,300 with 50k miles on it , FSH, new brakes( stops on a sixpence) , new clutch, actuator, tires and full MOT . It`s about as opposite to the smoothness of the Jag you can get but as I do less than 500 miles a year I just wanted something cheap to run (insurance and road tax) but I must admit it is better than I thought they would be (I`m 60 male so I dont give a sod what anyone thinks lol)
I drive a Smart Fortwo. I'm not sure I agree with the enthusiasm. With that said, it gets super annoying trying to pass people on the highway. They will speed up because they are about to be passed by a Smart Car. This is something you have to deal with.
Absolutely….have both a ‘09 Passion & ‘15 ED! GREAT CARS!
Nah the brakes in my ‘08 pure are some of the best I’ve felt. They engage ABS almost instantly with no problems and there is minimal petal travel. This is probably because the fluid has been replaced regularly over the years from the previous owner and I want to replace it again to maintain these great brakes.
Been driving one in and around Melbourne for 15 years. Absolutely love it, never had a problem on the freeway.
i bought the mk from 2006. BEst car i have a driven for the city. And yes, i also drove the amg gts. Sometimes its not about the power, but the fun in the city and always having a place to park.
We have 2 of them , one Eletric from 2019 and a good old one from 2004 ❤️Love them !
had 4 of them chipped diesel model with bigger turbo with folks in smart car club tuned them up to over 100 hp mine had 115 hp my gas model had 5,1 sound and tv screen was the sound pure edition ,took highway to work everyday cruised at 120km safe and no worries
That is one of the safest car, I have seen a pillar from the inside, it’s not just a pillar but with a steel bar running through, MDH there is a belt which you have to check and make sure it’s ok, never had any big issues, I own my 3 rd smart, there are a lot of upgrades for them especially the 10 turbo, not MHD
MHD is a slower car, but 10 turbo is the best you can get.
I always wanted one of these but it wasn't sold from where I live. Perfect in the city and good enough for long distance driving.
My wife just got one, and I had so much driving it. It's surprisingly roomy inside. A nice simple little car.
I actually find this car pretty good on the freeway. its only revving at around 2k rpm when doing 110km/h and quite steady when going straight on really smooth roads. anything other than smooth and straight and we have a very skitsih car that feels like it would spin at any moment. trucks, utes and SUV that over takes me also scares the living hell out of me as i can feel the car swerving at times, but other than that, great car on the freeway. i'd give it a 4/10 as a freeway car.
I've always like this ever since it was first released.
I have a smart453 for a year the guys at work made fun of me but I said I'm confident in my manhood.
I've owned a Brabus Smart 451 now for a couple of years and it's an amazing car. It's quick, light, cheap to run and the Brabus sounds awesome 😁 Perfect for a small distance car
US driver, had mine for five years. People,bought them to toe behind RV and sold them with low miles or didn’t like them. Used the Smart to replace taking my motorcycle to the store for quick trips. Mine had low miles so I had to go to Mercedes for oil changes, and it was $300. Out of Warranty Grease Monkey did a fine job. You have to use the slap shifter in town or going up hills (manually shifting) and works great. Used now have way too many miles for the asking price given it is a 1.0 liter 3 cylinder and the oil dip stick is in the rear and you have to remove a panel to check it,so it is doubtful oil is checked as often as it should be. It fits like a dream in a 3 car garage with a golf cart opening and my lawn mower & motorcycle fit perfectly in front of it in the garage. If you can’t pick one up for a steal used, I would buy a fiat or mini since you will have an easier time to sell it. Xtra keys are around $300 each to buy and program. If you are in a wreck consider it totaled by the insurance so don’t spend a lot putting in upgrades. They are expensive and Mercedes charges a fortune to put in OEM parts. I upgraded to a smart NAV radio and with ordering all brackets, face plates and install it was almost $1,000, so buy the car with the options you want already on the car since the original owner picked what options they wanted when they ordered it. If anything mechanical was wrong when you buy the car it will cost a fortune for Mercedes to work on it since most mechanics don’t want to fool with them.
Proud owner of a F2 CDI MK1, apart from the electrical problems (they are prone to get water leaks sometimes and affect the ECU, with all kind of funny stuff happening), they're reliable as rocks. Most strange thing that happened to me was a weird electrical issue, some car sensor had an electrical gremlin and it just shut down the car after a stop, leaving a queue of cars honking behind you and not starting unless the short disappeared by itself as randomly as it came :D
As said, they're in their element running inside the city, and you need to have nerves of steel to hit roads or motorway especially when you get cross wind and you try to overtake a truck (with time you learn to expect the wind thrust once you pass it), but let me tell you: Even when the high body roll, these things are a blast to drive in bendy roads.
They're also surprisingly comfy for long travels, just stick the foot there and don't be affected by whoever is around, let'em honk if they think you're slow, and storage capacity is surprisingly big as you can stash them up to the roof. I even loaded a road bike inside by pulling the co-pilot seat down.
Also, had several "accidents" requiring body panel substitution, mainly involving other over-confident cars when you're parked. Tow balls tend to crack your panels in half, but otherwise you can laugh at the careless door openers (just some paint transfer, no dents, paint cracked on their side :D). I even had incidents like accidentally forgetting I had reverse while parked and hitting a VW caravelle with no consequences for the F2 or the VW, panel just bends and absorbs the hit.
I never tried a Smart roadster, but if the F2 was an absolute pleasure for me all these years, I want a roadster in my future garage for sure!
Before watching the video ima comment 100% yes you should. Especially if it’s a BRABUS Smart 😎
egos are such a dangerous thing. i downsized from a lifted jeep, to then a smaller 90s stepside chevy shortbed truck, to now a civic. i LOVE downsizing. it's so economical and fun. smart is even smaller than my civic! and i already love how small my civic is. just zip around and stuff. it's fun!
Designed to replace the body panels, in Europe they used to be everywhere drove one in Greece and it was so much fun 😊
they are all in rome now
I have a 2013 EV version, and it's actually a snappy little car even on the freeway. It doesn't have a lot of range but more than enough for how I use it! The only thing it needed in the six years I've had it so far is two tires, a couple of tail light bulbs and a 12 volt battery! The thing I like most is it's roomy, even for a larger car and it's so easy to drive and park!
I love my 2010 fortwo night orange edition! 9:54
Customised it, added a cupholder, merc door lights, cushions, new carpets, aluminum orange air caps etc
It's really fun to drive!
I upgraded the stereo system. They had to take the front dash completely off to put a subwoofer in. I also added running lights. They are great cars.
SMART FORTWO JUST THE BEST CAR IN THE CITY 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
On my fourth Smart. So much fun. I am 6”3” and love how easy it is to get in and out of - ten times easier than my Jaguar XJ6. Had a squeezy Daihatsu Charade before it.
Re slow shifting, it’s in the technique - when changing up, keep your foot on the accelerator while changing. When stick shifting in other cars, it is normal to lift your foot momentarily during the gear change otherwise it will over rev when you disengage the clutch.
The SMART’s clutch and throttle are electronically controlled and lifting your foot during the change just confuses the computer.
Im considering a 2010 Passion w 74000 miles in Massachusetts ..Im 6'4 so Im glad you fit that is 1 of my concerns lol..But the car being so short and how people drive up your ass I think I would be annoyed and nervous ..I just hate people driving so close ...
@@BaldadonisMike2021 I guess you could get annoyed by tailgaters, but they are the drivers who wish they had a Smart!!!! You are protected by an excellent ‘safety cell” and carbon fibre seats designed to keep you safe.
I've had one for a couple of years now. Forget the automatic transmission and drive it like a standard. One of the most fun vehicles I've ever owned.
Last year I got a used electric Smart Fortwo with 39K km on the odometer, and now I've added 3K extra. I love it. The best city car for daily rides of an egoist for distances shorter than 100 km a day.
Real man’s car. Impossible to be insecure AND drive one 😂 Looking pretty cool now with age too.
I’ve been looking at a new mid sized suv and your videos are helping me avoid making some mistakes
love my 05 turbo diesel smart wouldnt trade it for the world. if you change the suspension with brabus shocks and lowering coils the highway is a breeze no more body sway.
I wish I could get a turbo diesel in the US
Mid pandemic, wife and I drove around the bay area one day picking up food and delivering to family. Most of the time at 95mph (152kph) San Jose to San Francisco and back and then San Jose to Oakland and back, and around 20 stops. 2015 Brabus, the road bumps are tough.
I would have the roadster for fun, but heard the auto boxes are troublesome. They are cheap here in the UK second hand, but a really cheap one usually has the issue described.
I got one 2009 Fortwo at 51K km last week - it is fantastic!
If you think the car is shifting slower with age, lubricate the clutch actuator and replace the transmission oil with either Royal Purple or Amsoil gear lubee.
there was a guy in a black jeep that passed me as i was driving out of a parking lot... he yelled 'get a REAL car' as he drove by. now, you could say he clearly has a lack of testosterone to feel the need to shout it out of a MOVING vehicle. but i live in a very rural area, we get loads of snow in winter, and lots of people live outside town on gravel roads etc. so many people have the ford f150's and bigger... so the irony of him saying 'get a real car' when he was driving what would only be described as Lesbian Barbie's Dream Jeep, was amazing. i love my smart. it's easy to work on, cheap to drive, is fast enough, comfortable enough and fits more than enough stuff for a trip to Costco. besides, a jeep is rated 3 out of 5 stars on the crash test, a smart is rated 4...
These are so cool I am 6'3" and fit in them. Unfortunately when I have the opportunity to by one I stuck to something more familiar. An fg xr6 falcon.
Purchased my Smart in 2008 when they first arrived in the USA. To get it I had to order online and take delivery from the closest dealer - about 50 miles away. Today, June 6, 2023, I have about 90,000 miles on my Smart and have driven on many trips of over 1,000 miles with my wife, 3 suitcases, and hanging clothes laid flat on the suitcases. Yes, I would sell it, IF and only if the price offered was fairly HIGH. After all, I would have to get 2, not one Skateboards and protective gear.
We bought one in 2008 and it's still in the family, if you just drive around with perhaps a partner why drag two more seats with you. The safety cage was based on racing cars of the time, also the seats were the most comfortable we have had... although a town car we were going to the south of France when the air traffic control went on strike...that was it... we got our money back- booked a channel crossing ( Reduced price for a smartie.) and off we went, we went through the Mont Blanc Tunnel, down 42 hair-pin bends and ejected ourselves onto the coast. All that way from Essex and not an ache anywhere! Plus my wife could only take wheels case. chuckle. perfect.
Got one 2008 451.. nice car / parking everywhere / light sensor / airco / rain sensor / automatic / terrific brakes / wider tyres 195 in the rear and 175 front. Bought it in Januari and had some issues. Exhaust replaced, it fell half off (rust) / fuelpump replaced, it just locked up after a stop to help during an accident.
But it's the second car... specially for my little Dachshund. 😂
I have a Smart Cat ForTwo. I love how good is on gas, and you can find parts no problem. I'm a single guy and needed something to take me from point A to point B. Is not for everyone, and certain repairs, such as replacing the cooling fan can be pricey. I'm only drive four times a week. I get lots of compliments and some not so nice comments as well!
I rented one when it was introduced. Loved it. Didn't make sense to buy one however with a family. Now looking for a good Roadster.
They're great, and actually there's no problem on the Motorway. Do check the Alternator belt though, because lots of these ended up with them fraying and braking, causing the water pump to stop and resulting in blowing the head gasket. The alignment of the pulleys was wrong on those cars, and mine was miles out, which is why I managed to buy it with a dead engine for repair. I had to machine the crankshaft pulley and make new alternator spacers to correct the alignment issue.
Absolutely love my smart car!!!
I have a 2005 fortwo convertible, it is simply the best car I have ever owned. I will never sell it, and will spend money on it until there are no more parts in the market to be found.
I daily drive a 2009 Smart Fortwo here in America. My convertible top has started coming unglued from its frame. But that's the worst issue I've had. Service is an issue since Mercedes Benz stopped servicing them here in America at the beginning of 2023. You have to find places willing to work on them. Otherwise a fun to drive commuter car that's easy to park anywhere.
i would like to see mighty car mods do something with one of these
Just purchased a 2011 fourtwo black cabriolet I've never had one but can't wait 😂
I go on joy rides with my friends in my Smart Fortwo 453, on Canadian highways all the time, winter too, storms too. It's a blast, the driver matters more in my opinion. My friends have been telling me that they are often scared while riding with other people, in sedans & suvs, maybe the drivers don't know their limits, idk. I just had very positive experiences with my 453 with a bit under 50'000 km on it. Maybe it was just well maintained, it's also another model of the Fortwo, so that could help with some of the issues like the breaks, the transmission was also changed on the 453 for a 6 speed twinmatic automatic, which could help.
the more i matured, the more i understand how actually good this car is, it's the most ideal and sensible car to have and probably the most car you'll ever need in your life.
also, it's not actually that small, the boot is more than enough to fit everything you normally fit in a boot.
lol what...
I'm looking at these with a few years between. I fucking love the look of them!
Only reason I haven't bought one, is because I have a German Shepherd, which probably wouldn't fit. Haven't had the chance to test it out though.
Try the dog in the back area; mine LOVES it!
I had one for several years, nice car no real problems. Easy to keep up with traffic. Took up Pikes Peak with no problem in fact Jeep in front was in my ay could have easily gone faster.
Have owned mine for 13 years. It's great fun to drive because it's always flat out, you can't drive a Porsche flat out, you'd be arrested. Every entry and exit ramp is an experience, every street has parking space, any bump is a mountain and you are never asked to drive the team home. With a little wiggling you can put an adult bike in it (take off a wheel) and it's a great shopping cart. It's almost big enough for my 9 year old grandson to reach the pedals and my wife just loves it (it's officially her car). It's also impossible to hold a conversation at highway speeds. So less stress. The electric version is faster, I should have bought one. ps It's basically a curling stone (in Canada) in the snow.
I've owned my Smart diesel since September 2011, I bought it at 5 months old, it was an ex demonstration vehicle from the local Mercedes dealership, it's now just shy of 150,000 miles, I replaced the front brakes at 120, 000 miles, just after that it required a DPF, it's basic, nothing goes wrong, it's cheap to run, I agree the brakes are an acquired taste, it's not going to break any speed records, the gear changes are smooth when accelerating smoothly, Mercedes UK have a brilliant service plan, it doesn't require road tax, it's comfortable, I drive 60+ miles daily getting to and from work, once a week I do a 120 mile commute, smooth driving, I can achieve up to 90 miles per gallon, I wouldn't change mine, it's been reliable, deceptively spacious and contrary to popular belief, you can use it on a motorway, I do, every time I go to work, there's very little to go wrong as it's very basic.
I have had six… from 2004 to 2009. I’ve had petrol and diesel… all very reliable and why I started my RUclips channel to help people nurture them… 2m views can’t be wrong?..
The lack of sump plug is only a thing here in the UK… except the for the diesel model . You can buy an aftermarket sump with drain plug addition I’d recommend this as using the oil suction tools never get all the black stuff out…
The engines I’ve had have all been trouble free… maintain them with an oil change once a year minimum (I always do twice a year) a simple enough job on this smart 451 model…
The gearbox.. yes.. it’s slow to move through the gears.. but then again … it’s not trying to be a Ferrari killer… live with what it’s for… but… the actuators are a problem if not cared for… ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS test drive a car from cold.. make sure you run it for a good 15 minutes… then…. Turn the car off… wait a minute then work it through forward AND reverse gears… I had one with a reversing problem needed a replacement actuator…
I love love love the engine note and they are very flexible.. the passenger seat fold forward and flat and you can sleep in them and carry a mountain bike with the front wheel detached.
One thing not mentioned to lookout for are snapped front suspension springs.. they are a pain to replace… seek out a SMART competent mechanic as a lot of uk mechanics HATE working on them and don’t have a clue what they are doing… so if you find someone … look after them..
Overall these cars are fun, efficient, safe and reliable… the ideal combination for me would be a diesel convertible …
Any questions hit me up on my channel or social media pages!
I loved my last Australian delivered MHD and I had the two main smart problem. The ac fan died which requires you taking off the front off the car. The second is the alternator as it had stop start they wear out faster cost $800 and $3k to install. There are no experts in Australia for these cars so anytime you have a problem it will cost you big cash.
You should try a smart 453 they have a dual clutch transmission and turbocharged it's a much better car and it's sharper turning radius
I have a 451 & It's turbocharged. Engine is much more open to modification than the 453.
In Oregon, USA. with the left side steering.
Got a 2013 ForTwo basic model. Pure...
Mercedes engine and Lamborghini transmission.
For what it is and for what I expected, I really like it.
It had 49000 or so miles when i got it 4 years ago.
Has a 100,000 mile or 5 year warranty. Have never paid for any small repairs.
It has 87,000 miles on it now and the usual wear and tear.
I've driven this car up and down the coast of CA, OR and WA, as well as long freeway trips to and from the Redwoods, .
We've ad it doing 80 mph up and down hills and not even realize it.
It flies.
I could get double what I paid for it now if i wanted to sell t or trade it in.
What I don't like about it?
The Aux and Flash Drive/Media outlets are in the glove compartment. WTF!!!
Trying to change music by feel, is really not safe or smart.
The rear view mirror is directly in the way of your vision when you are trying to take a right, especially on a hill.
You have to stoop forward to see around it. I HATE it.
Believe it or not, for a car that small to have blind spots, ... it is surprising.
The passenger seat is set back further than the drivers seat. With a passenger, you can't see through them.
Backing out from between two other cars can be tricky.
The headrests are so big, they take up 2/3 of the rear view mirrors view.
To try to turn to look out the rear window, when backing up, you can't really see without craning your neck because the headrests should be either narrower or adjustable.
Aside from that, I do really like the car.
I'm 66 and live in a city.
Quite possibly the last car I'll own.
(With my hahhd Boston accent, we call it a Smahht Cahh.
Wicked Smahht.)
Oh yeah, the Gas/petrol location icon on the speedometer area says the fuel goes in the left, when the gas cap is on the right.
Not that that's anything, but a quirky thing... Nothing that would ruin your day. LOL
Have a great day!
Drove a Gen1 for work and man we beat on that thing like you wouldn't believe. You really have to drive around the tiptronic gearbox but it's pretty fun and adds to the challenge.
Im looking at a fortwo; currently coming from big vehicules, (dodge grand caravan, a Dually pickup and a box truck) and considering the smart for smaller trips. My motorcycle has worse fuel mileage than this (at around 6L/100km) plus, the smart definitely protects more than a bike! I have to say they are small compared to other Americans and Canadian trucks…
I like it because it's a rear engine rear wheel drive, small car 🤔🤔
I’ve been thinking of grabbing one as my first car. I’m 26 and have been lucky to not need one, but I’m now hitting a stage where it is genuinely becoming a hinderance to not have a car. I don’t need anything more than this.
Have to admit this review was quite illuminating regarding the Fortwo and while it looks like a fairly decent car I honestly can't see myself buying one just for the fact of it wouldn't be practical for me to own at all.
Have to admit that I was surprised to see that Mitsubishi makes the petrol motors for them as I would've thought the petrols would've been Mercedes ones or sourced from Fiat.
The biggest thing that seems too be the biggest hiccup for the fortwo is it's transmission. If that's the case is it worse than even a Craptiva's transmission Adam?
Good work guys another brilliant review and a real eye opener to be perfectly honest. Have a good weekend and look forward to next week's batch of videos as always 👍
They likely didn't have anything as small in their catalogue, vs Mitsubishi (and other Japanese manufacturers) having plenty around for their local kei cars
Edit: looks like they did have Merc engines in the first gen, but they didn't seem very advanced. Maybe they just figured it wasn't worth the effort to upgrade them for the second gen?
Transmission isn’t that bad once you get used to it jus slow but for small trips doesn’t interfere too much
3:12 After accelerating: "It feels... quick and exciting, until you look down and you go oh, I'm still under the speed limit.."
HAHAHAHAH
Unique and fun for inner city chores 🎉
Excellent review mate!
We bought the Suzuki Alto it’s an amazing town car.
How does this compare to slightly larger 4 door small cars like the kia picanto or suzuki ignis?
Once again, a typically good re-driven review. So good, in fact, that I'm determined to seek psychiatric help for the confidence and security issues that, until this presentation, I never realised I had. Perhaps I'll end up in an asylum with a nice garden
and a supply of mind altering substances designed to quench the negative thoughts that I possess about this vehicle.
Then again, maybe the trained physicians charged with my care will realise that my not having confidence and security in a vehicle designed by Mercedes Benz and manufactured in China is indeed the measure of a perfectly reasonable mind.
I can only guess as to their deductions. Either way, a Smart Car or a straight jacket is not high on the agenda for things that I want to be seen in, soon.
Love these and even more so the smart roadster .. such a pity they didn't come with a Manual and that we never got any of the EVs
I did get one fun and easy to drive and alot of people coming and ask about it im driving in all season allso in winter on snow
I thought about getting one for my job. I'm a restaurant delivery driver and want a car just for that, one that's small and easy to drive and good on gas.
It has a speed governor by default but you don't want to go much faster than this anyway because it is not very pleasant with all the head wind and noise.
I don’t understand the fuss about the gearbox being slow. Leave it in auto mode, lift the throttle slightly at the right RPM, and it shifts quickly enough that the nose doesn’t drop during the shift. It feels perfectly intuitive to me.