this has to be one of if not THE most informative maintenance related Smart Fortwo videos out there. very well done! I am going to be looking at a low mile used 2014 base model real soon as a in town runabout. Yet safer than riding a scooter. Maybe lol. Now I know exactly what to look for and HOW to check the fluids so I dont look like an uninformed doofus when I get to the stealership. LOL
Thanks. I'm buying a 2008 Fortwo Passion for 2k from a family member. All the important bits seem to work on it but Nothing would change my mind about buying this car. I'm a tiny man who loves tiny cars. I made the serious mistake of selling my Suzuki Samurai for scrap when it blew a rod and wish I could have it back to drop in a rebuilt motor. I'm not making that mistake a again. I'll keep the Fortwo for the rest of my life.
Thank you so much! I do appreciate this video. I'm buying a 2013 ForTwo Pure this coming week from CarMax. Needlessly to day, I'm nervous, haven't driven a car in years. Everything in this video has been very useful. Can't wait to take tiny Smart Car for a spin 👍
I have the 2013 fortwo. Keep in mind that the transmission is a 5 speed automated manual transmission. Not that that should discourage you. Some people complain about the transmission jerkiness. For a smoother ride, take your foot off the gas when it’s trying to shift to allow it to clutch in, shift and clutch out.
Very good video! Nice coverage of parts and potential problems. I realize this is an older video, but lets compare mine. I own and race a 2009 Brabus Cabriolet SmartCar here in Hawaii. 78,000 miles. No major failures, but front belly dust pan is missing! It is 2021 and I have owned it for about 2 years. Here is a COMPLETE rundown about my car so far. There is a ton of support and parts from different groups on the Internet for these cars. They were made for over 20 years. NOTE: This car is SHORT but it is NOT small. It is as tall as any Honda Fit, it is as wide as any of the FIATS (now there is a piece of crap) or other small cars. It is only shorter, but front facing is the same size as 80% of the cars on the market and it has a HUGE front window to see out of, and big doors. Very easy to get in and out of. Try getting into a Lotus Elite..... Horsepower - 105 bhp. Tubocharged. You do have to use hi-test gas. Mercedes did not supply their own engines for the car for a short time, and mine has the factory Mitsubishi engine. It think it is a better engine than the Mercedes. Same size and specs. The tank holds nearly 8 gallons, I get 40+ miles to the gallon even with the leadfoot I have. I had to fill it up last year, and might have to fill it again this year. Depending on how I drive (hah). 900 cc, three cylinder engine, is peppy and fast. Insurance rates are the same for any other car. It is speed limited to 85 mph, but with that bypassed it will hit 105 miles an hour easily. I pass cars and trucks on the freeways here easily, have never had an issue. It handles fine at any speed even in crosswinds. McPherson struts, electric assisted steering. Mine has 17" wheels front and back. It does not fall into small potholes! It corners like it is on rails. Seriously. I have raced sports cars for over 40 years, including Spitfires, MGA 1600's, Karmann Ghia's (well, with some mods), Bug Eye sprites, the incredible Saab Sonnets and more. I know a little about sports cars. The SmartCar can handle just like any other sports car in it's class. It weighs 1,800 lbs, and has a built in roll bar as part of the excellent frame that runs throughout the car. It has giant doors to get in and out, I would say the car is actually bigger on the inside than on the outside! ** Excellent brakes. Plenty of acceleration to get going on an on-ramp, just stick your foot in it to get the turbo spun up (4,000 rpm) and drop your foot off the brake. Price of parts and Maintenance. There is always some whiner that lets a dealership nail them to the mast, then complain about it. Honestly this is one of the easiest cars I can think of to maintain. My 13 year old neighbor girl changed the oil on mine the other day, so she could learn how. It costs no more than any other car for maintenance, or for parts. I have replaced several parts on mine with newer lighter versions (running boards, front and rear air dams) The running boards were $100 each. I bought replacement headlight nacelles for $150 for a brand new set, including the bulbs. * there are plenty of parts available, especially through E-bay. Nice thing is that like the Saturn Cars, the body panels are plastic on the outside. They are easy to fix or replace and there are no gigantic quarter panel parts to worry about. ** I had to put a new Air conditioning fan in it. Under the dashboard. The fan was $60 (2021 price) and it took 15 minutes to pull the old fan and motor out and snap in the new one. ...This car was made by engineers for the common shade tree mechanic. The engine itself is set into rails, that can be detached at mid car, and the entire rear end, engine, trans and all will roll out like a wheel barrow. This is an amazingly practical design, and beats the hell out of pulling an engine out of my Subaru WRX. There is an AMAZING amount of room in the back, over the engine. If you lay the passenger seat down, I put 6 foot long FENCE posts in there from the hardware store and drove them home. .....note it does NOT have an automatic transmission. It is a manual transmission, BUT, it has dual clutches and is shifted just like an automatic. 99% of the people cannot tell the difference. A manual trans is much easier to maintain. The dual clutch is just like the ones on racing motorcycles. It comes with a stick AND it comes with paddle shifters on the steering wheel, and you can switch back and forth while driving between manual shift mode and automatic. The manual shift is sneaky, if you rev it to 6 grand in first gear it will shift itself into second gear anyway! Even in manual mode when you come to a stoplight, it shifts itself into 1st gear, but still in manual mode.
What turbo kit are you running? They never sold a factory turbocharged 451 in the US. Also the 451s don’t have dual clutches like the 453s, or like many newer small cars. It’s just got one big single dry disk just like any traditional manual, but electrically operated clutch slave cylinder and electrically operated shift selector. It does have a sequential gearbox like a motorcycle.
Hello from the UK. I am looking at purchasing one of these cars because petrol is very expensive here. Thank you for this very comprehensive video... Regards.
Thanks for watching glad it was helpful, luckily you shouldn’t have to deal with the kind of rust we deal with here in Canada from all the road salt in winter.
@@PBGarage I’ve wanted a Smart Fortwo for years but I’ve just never had the money to sink into one nice to know what to look for to maybe get a better deal
@@SuperPokefan15 yeah and like just keep an eye out for the expensive fixes like a bad clutch actuator, bad SAI pump, blown muffler (unless you can weld it up yourself), that way you'd don't get into your new car and up having to shell out hundreds of dollars on it right away.
Valid hints for visual inspection (I know from my own experience).. Although there are some more technical things important to potentially evaluate (actuator, leaking rear window, A/C, if MHD: belt upgrade done / undone, leakage at the belt tensioner…) 👍🏼
Good points! We never got the mhd in North America so no mhd woes for us luckily. But the serp belt tensioner are still an issue. I just assume none of them have working AC anymore lol
As a former Smart owner I can testify that the issues with the suspension springs are correct. They are prone to failure ( despite careful driving ). This happened on my MK1 Smart. The headlight disclocating and losing alignment is common. Again careful driving ( speed bumps will cause them to loose alignment ). The door handles are prone to failure. The electronics in the semi auto box can cause big problems ( mine failed as it was going down through the gears, resulting in zero engine breaking ). They are a fun and enjoyable car when they work. Great for parking. Good handling and they have character. But potential owners do need to be aware they have issues. This is based on experience of MK1 ownership
@@robsmall6466 as a user, anything special other then suspension , lights, coolant liquid in front, exhaust flexible, to look for before buying . thanks
@@francoisgs1 The two main issues for me were the front suspension springs ( be very careful with speed bumps and potholes. Have a good look at them when you purchase the car. First thing a Ford dealer did when I part exchanged it is head straight to the front suspension. So it's well known ). The other as I mentioned above is the electronics in the semi auto gearbox. With mine one of the things it did was engage 1st but wouldn't go anywhere. Revs would rise then you would learch forward. Rest of the gears would be fine. Luckily it only happened once. Some mechanics don't like working on the cars because they are a tight package to work on. This is a MK1 mind. Later gen cars might have less problems
..center engine mount (both 450 and 451) - easy to check, just try to wiggle the engine by hand - if there is play you will notice it; it's nice to listen to the clutch actuatior with the ignition on, it should not make too many noises - should just tick every gear change; take a ~30min test drive, the gearbox is very lazy, but if it "hesitates" before rolling - then it has not seen a StarDiagnose scanner for a long time and the clutch bitepoint was not adjusted....
Valid. Indeed, this hints are missing. But the engine mount is definitely not easy to check for a housewife at a dealership as you‘d have to be under the car to verify that. Actuator, hard to transmit a problem to a dealer without any smart tech knowledge then. Also it oftenly just needs to be re-greased.
Great video! 2011 Passion here, just passed 100,000 Miles, so far non of the listed problems. Paid $2,000 with 60,000 miles so at 40+ MPG figure it's paid for itself :) Does anyone else have paint issues???? the clear coat is peeling everywhere. Love the car.
I have a yellow 2008 SmartForTwo Passion. Now has 140,000 miles. Clear coat started peeling within 3 years. No help from the Mercedes dealer where I originally bought the car. I hid the car in my back driveway and just drove it around town due to the ugly appearance from clear coat issue. . Recently researched painting costs. Got quotes ranging from $500 to $10,000. Ended up going to MAACO. They did an excellent job for $1100 with a 3 year warranty.
If the car is parked outside (not garage kept), you have to keep up with washing and waxing. ALL KINDS of chemicals and solvents are on the roads that get splashed up on to the car by the ass in front of you. If the car is waxed well, it will protect the paint. The sun doesn’t help much either. First the clear coat burns off, then the paint starts chipping. A good coat of wax helps to prevent that. I have friends that live in Hawaii. They tell me the sun is so strong there, cars have to be waxed a minimum of once a month to protect the paint. Darker colors will absorb the sun more than lighter colors.
Good and useful information, thank you much. Maybe checking the cold start and see if it blows a little water steam, small head gasket leaks, seems to get usually bigger fast on the smart car and replacing the head gasket by a service station cost a lot, speak pulling the entire drive sub frame.
Thank you for all the tips ! I test drove a 2011 cabriolet today and all the warning lights went out, but there was a really weird looking black shape to the left of the readings in the yellow screen that was flashing for awhile and then went out. Also I had to shift it using the (paddle?) shifters in Drive. Is that normal? The thing that has most of my attention is it appears to be in great shape only has 23K Mi. on it, and Dlr. is only asking $6K. There is no manual and the salesman was not with me so I am clueless. Also it does not have the tach. /clock option yours does so how to know when to shift, I can hardly hear the engine after it warms up. I may go back there tomorrow. Thanks in advance for any help.
Hey. The flashing black symbol is likely the service reminder. If it looks like a wrench or pair of wrenches. It will flash the number of days or number of miles overdue for service. When it is in D, it should shift automatically. The base model smarts usually don’t have the tach/clock. They can be added after the fact.
Make sure the shifter is is in the “D” position and not pushed to the left. Pushing the shifter to the left initiates manual mode where you can use the shifter + or - to upshift/downshift or the paddles on the steering wheel. For fully automatic, just pull the shifter from front to back like a regular automatic transmission R-N-D. Once it’s in “D” , leave it. Don’t move it to the left.
The gas tank indicator on my 2013 Smart points to the drivers side, when the filler is on the passenger side. I bought mine because it has hand crank windows and also because I have a wicked hahhd Boston Accent. So, when I say it, it's a Smahht Cahh. Fun to say.
Your 2013 has hand crank windows? No way. Hand crank side mirrors maybe, but they all had power windows as far as I know. Smahhhht cahhhhh. I like it. Are you in/around Boston? I feel like I’ve never driven anywhere with shorter highway merge lanes than Massachusetts lol
I just picked up an older 2009 smart fortwo passion cabriolet, 80k miles cranks but no start. I’m pretty mechanically inclined but I don’t know anything about these little cars. What steps should I take to diagnose?
Same as any other motor, you need spark, fuel, compression. I would start with a bit of ether directly into the intake and see if it fires up for a second that way you know if it’s a fuel issue. If you don’t get anything, plus’s spark plugs and check to see if you’re getting spark. Look for evidence of coolant on the spark plugs while you’re there or if you get coolant out the spark plug holes when you crank it over.
I haven’t made one for a 453 yet but I do own a manual 453. Great car, cheap-ish materials. Be careful for broken springs in the front, seized front strut bearings, and rotten muffler.
@joevarga5982 I’ve tried polishing it and it didn’t really make much difference, but I didn’t get as aggressive as sanding it. And I have seen a few people online that have wet sanded it down and then clear coated it and it seems to turn out pretty good.
Too bad i found this AFTER i made my purchase. Hey tho, its common to NOT know this stuff. Lol. The smart is DIFFERENT for sure! I went in with basic knowledge, and yeah, there is certainly a learning curve. I was looking for a motorcycle of a car, so hopefully it fills that void. Its ALOT like working on our 300cc dune buggy really, even the oil filter and CV shafts appear to be the same lol. Makes me enjoy it more. I would also say the car is far mor "smart" than we anticipated. I mean, jeeze, the OEM battery sitting in a bay of acid REALLY seemed to cause ALOT of electrical issues, that didnt REALLY exist on the car. Hopefully its worth the risk, bc someone definitely did care for ours some degree, but definitely trusted the Mercedes stealership a tad too much IMO...... Thanks for all the wonderful info, still just as valuable and relevant 2yrs later lol! -SMART❤- Ps-WOW your on point. Watched a 2nd time, and found small details later! Darn 3rd brake screw was silly! Ill be gosh diggled! Lol impressed.
Hey glad to hear the feedback! They’re a lot of fun and as someone who gave up street riding to only ride on the track, I can say that for really filled the gap as a sort of motorcycle car hybrid.
Would you happen to know what would cause driver side turn signal bulb(Top Orange) and little light on driver side( next to door) to not stay on when I turn headlights on. They blink but won’t stay on, but both lights on passenger side turn signals stay on but won’t blink. This issue is driving me nuts. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. 🙏
I’m not certain but I think the turn signal relay may be a part of the hazard light switch assembly, could try swapping that out. I’d check wiring for obvious faults first and fuses. Then swap the hazard switch for a junkyard one. Last thing could be a fault in the SAM but that would be a pain to fix.
@@PBGarage So apparently the turn signal lights should not stay on at all times and the side that turns off is the side that the turn signal works. So I think it may be a relay issue and the passenger side is stuck in the "ON" position. At least I hope so. Thanks for your help, you are appreciated!
Depends where you are. The 453s seem a bit more reliable but they’re newer (2016-up). In North America the 451 (2008-2015) or 450 (2005-2006) seem fairly even, both have their common problems. If you can find a low mileage 451 that’s probably the best bang for your buck right now. If you’re in Europe the only ones I would stay away from are the petrol 450s, and the MHD 451s. They seem to have more issues just based on what I’ve seen online.
@@PBGarage The problem with the 451 MHD can be the belt from the alternator/starter. If that breaks, you lose your water pump, and with a front-mounted radiator, that can be fatal. I can imagine people ignoring the warning when that happens, and as they don't have a temperature gauge, and you're in big trouble. One big problem I had with my 451 was it wouldn't go into reverse. That cost me a new actuator and clutch. The newer 453s are in a different league, especially the dual-clutch gearbox. I've owned them all.
Hello I have a 2008 smart we changed the battery and the alternator, but the alternator is still not charging, pulled it off and they said it was good. Any ideas what it could be? Thank you
If you’re only getting 12V or less while running even with the new alternator, you can check fuses, check wiring to the plug on the alternator. Check continuity between the (+) post on the alternator and the battery. Check ground straps on the motor. Check the serpentine belt tensioner and the routing of your serp belt that you have proper tension.
Try checking for parasitic losses too. In my case the radio was working fine but for whatever reason was killing the battery when the car was off. I chased all kinds of things but one day I walked by at night after the car had been locked up for a long time and I could see the power button on the radio still lit up. Replaced the radio and no issues since.
I am looking at buying possibly a smart for two 2005 , is there anything else or special to look for? thanks for the instructive video and look forward to hear from you thanks again
Hello! The 2005 is a different model so there are a few different things to look for but most of the car is similar. If it’s a diesel, look for the check engine light and scan if possible to look for issues with the EGR or stuck wastegate actuator (over boost code). Check the muffler as they like to rust out along the bottom edge and are expensive to replace. Front spring breakage is common, and clutch actuator issues. Otherwise similar to the 451. Have fun!
@@PBGarage thank you very much , it is a petrol car , not diesel. I read somewhere there was some chain in motor which could be costly to change if I was correct thanks
If the manufacturer went back to a chain, that’s actually a good thing. The chain could last the life of the engine as long as you don’t beat on it. Not sure about Mercedes, but a lot of car makers were using timing belts (rubber) for a while (obviously for the cheaper cost). However, when (not if) the belt breaks, it’s usually fatal for the engine (bent valve stems among other things) so it’s not just the belt that would have to be replaced, which in itself is costly because the whole front of the engine has to come off.
Quick question I have a smart fortwo passion cdi from 2009 and it was this piece attached with a little phone thing that was bluetooth and show up on the phone as brunswick carkit does anyone know how it work I bought the car with it already there..
I would check the glove box and see if there’s a Bluetooth receiver connected to the AUX port in there. In which case you’d just pair your phone, then switch the stereo input to AUX, and enjoy.
Really depends on condition. If it's similar condition to the one in this video then I would say probably not a great deal. If it's mint then that's a smokin deal.
The facelift ones 2011-2015 are a little bit nicer looking but mechanically all the same. I’d highly recommend getting a Passion model so you get the better stereo, and the nicer steering wheel, plus the clear roof.
Some people try to sand and polish them with varying amounts of success. The only way to really deal with it is to replace the panel. Personally it doesn’t bother me much so beyond hitting it with a quick plastic polish every now and then I just leave them.
found a 2011 smart, rebuilt, with 100k+on the odometer selling for $2800..i had to pass on the purchase. you think i missed out on an opportunity or was it a sound choice?
That’s half the life of the car. You can probably find something better. One thing I have learned all these years is that if you look hard enough, you’ll find what you’re looking for. Patience is a virtue 😃😃😃
Believe me, the fuel mileage is obscene! When my wife first bought the car; the fuel gauge (dotted line on the dashboard) never moved for weeks! I figured the fuel gauge might be defective and was ready to go back to the dealer for warranty work. Just to be sure, I inserted a stick into the fuel tank and low and behold, it was still full and she was driving the car every day! So you’re looking at 50mpg on a well tuned engine! Only the hybrids come close to that but you’re paying three times the price for a hybrid
Hi baddy, I'm based in UK and I'm thinking to buy a smart car 2014 with 58,000km for £2000 do you think is a good deal and I'm going to use the car daily, do you think is good for delivery? Thank you in advance Pal.
Seems like a decent deal to me if everything is in order and it's got a good MOT. I'm not as familiar with prices in your area though. It should be a good car for delivery.
Delivery of what? If it's you, on your own, you can lower the passenger seat to make more room. Or food and Pizza deliveries, you could push the seat back, for more space on the floor, with plenty of support for bottles, cups, etc.
Same here. Names just 3-4 criteria’s of relevant 200 asking for purchasing advice.. 😂 Perhaps you would rather consult your local fortune teller with this question.
Real nice video. I was hoping to see comment about random failing to reverse issue like what I have in 2008 passion with 20k miles. I've never seen a consistent clue of why this problem exists in the early models (2008, 2009). I was wondering if you had any experience with the problem.
I haven’t come across that issue specifically. Plenty of issues with clutch actuator. There was a transmission software update at one point but as far as I know none of my 451s have had it done. You could try leaving the battery unhooked overnight, then hook it back up and put the key in the “on” position without starting the car. It should go through the gears and re-learn gear positions. Might help?
It has to be something electrical because the only mechanical device in the shifter is park. Reverse, neutral, drive, manual is all done through sensors and the computer. So I would start with the sensor on the shifter itself and work from there. That would be my first suspect. If there is no check engine light and no other symptoms, I would have to say the computer itself is fine. If the actuator on the transmission (the part that actually engages the reverse gear) is malfunctioning, it would send a trouble code.
I had a 2009 smart car Passion model for 5 1/2 years with not one problem. Just oil change with new oil filter. Tires needed changing by then but not one problem. When a tire specialist tells you that nitrogen in tires are stupid since nitrogen is already in the air...no dummy it worked for me for 5 1/2 years w/out having to add air all the times & paying for it...the tireman is stupid (most likely because it takes business away from him on the long run) LOL North Carolina, USA
Nice! Glad you had such a good experience with yours. I think 95% or the issues with this one were just because of the salt and crap roads in Montreal where I bought the car.
@@monicadiette1909 they definitely have some common issues that are easily addressed. With proper maintenance they can give you hundreds of thousands of problem free miles.
Those are so boring though. I find most parts about equal or cheaper if you find it from reputable suppliers. The labour of you take it to Mercedes is expensive for sure.
They’re not for everyone but I’ve been driving smarts for like 15 years now and still reach for those keys first over my other rides. Saves me 7-8k$ a year on fuel which more than pays for itself and covers the extra registrations and insurance on my other “toy” cars.
Авто/Мото
this has to be one of if not THE most informative maintenance related Smart Fortwo videos out there. very well done! I am going to be looking at a low mile used 2014 base model real soon as a in town runabout. Yet safer than riding a scooter. Maybe lol. Now I know exactly what to look for and HOW to check the fluids so I dont look like an uninformed doofus when I get to the stealership. LOL
Thanks! I’ve got a few more videos about the 450 and 453 in the pipe hopefully they turn out too!
This is an excellent video. I learned a lot before looking at a potential vehicle today.
More Smart videos, they are needed sir, excellent as always, thank you.
The condition of this smart is scary. Purchasing one in a few days, this has been incredibly helpful, thank you!
how did it go????
Don’t see anything equalling „scary condition“.. 🤷🏼♂️
Us too😊
Did you buy one? How's it doing?
Excellent video. I own a 2015 Smart Fortwo Pure and I learned a lot from viewing this video.
Perfect video for future Smart 451 owners. Thank you so much and take care yourself buddy.
Thanks, you too!
Amazing video. Very helpful to watch before the actual purchase. Thanks a lot.
You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this video. Very helpful
Watched whole video brilliant info thank you
Glad it was helpful and thanks for watching!!
Very good and useful video. Thanks!
Thanks. I'm buying a 2008 Fortwo Passion for 2k from a family member. All the important bits seem to work on it but Nothing would change my mind about buying this car. I'm a tiny man who loves tiny cars. I made the serious mistake of selling my Suzuki Samurai for scrap when it blew a rod and wish I could have it back to drop in a rebuilt motor. I'm not making that mistake a again. I'll keep the Fortwo for the rest of my life.
Glad to hear it! They are fun cars if you stay on top of maintenance!
thanks for the in depth guide! help me a lot :)
Glad I could help!
Fantastic, thorough overview, thank you!!
No prob thanks for watching!
Incredibly helpful, thank you!
You’re welcome!
Extremely helpful video. Thank you!
Glad to hear it was helpful!
Very detailed walkthrough. Thanks 🙏🏿
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the video. I learned a lot.
Glad it was useful!
Thanks for your video!
Looking into buying one myself, thank you for the advice!
Great video.Thank you!
Thank you too!
Good job my brother thank you for all the information that you gave me ❤️🙏🏻
Thanks! Glad to help!
Excellent thorough video!
Thanks!
Thank you so much! I do appreciate this video. I'm buying a 2013 ForTwo Pure this coming week from CarMax. Needlessly to day, I'm nervous, haven't driven a car in years. Everything in this video has been very useful. Can't wait to take tiny Smart Car for a spin 👍
Glad it was helpful!
Hi, question, hows the car ? Im thinking of buying the same model and year as yours
I have the 2013 fortwo. Keep in mind that the transmission is a 5 speed automated manual transmission. Not that that should discourage you. Some people complain about the transmission jerkiness. For a smoother ride, take your foot off the gas when it’s trying to shift to allow it to clutch in, shift and clutch out.
Very well presented video, thanks buddy
Thanks! Appreciate the feedback!
Great video. Very helpful as I am looking into purchasing a smart car
Thanks for watching and thanks for the feedback!
Very good video! Nice coverage of parts and potential problems. I realize this is an older video, but lets compare mine. I own and race a 2009 Brabus Cabriolet SmartCar here in Hawaii. 78,000 miles. No major failures, but front belly dust pan is missing! It is 2021 and I have owned it for about 2 years. Here is a COMPLETE rundown about my car so far.
There is a ton of support and parts from different groups on the Internet for these cars.
They were made for over 20 years.
NOTE: This car is SHORT but it is NOT small. It is as tall as any Honda Fit, it is as wide as any of the FIATS (now there is a piece of crap) or other small cars. It is only shorter, but front facing is the same size as 80% of the cars on the market and it has a HUGE front window to see out of, and big doors. Very easy to get in and out of. Try getting into a Lotus Elite.....
Horsepower - 105 bhp. Tubocharged. You do have to use hi-test gas.
Mercedes did not supply their own engines for the car for a short time, and mine has the factory Mitsubishi engine. It think it is a better engine than the Mercedes. Same size and specs.
The tank holds nearly 8 gallons, I get 40+ miles to the gallon even with the leadfoot I have. I had to fill it up last year, and might have to fill it again this year. Depending on how I drive (hah).
900 cc, three cylinder engine, is peppy and fast.
Insurance rates are the same for any other car.
It is speed limited to 85 mph, but with that bypassed it will hit 105 miles an hour easily.
I pass cars and trucks on the freeways here easily, have never had an issue.
It handles fine at any speed even in crosswinds. McPherson struts, electric assisted steering.
Mine has 17" wheels front and back. It does not fall into small potholes! It corners like it is on rails. Seriously.
I have raced sports cars for over 40 years, including Spitfires, MGA 1600's, Karmann Ghia's (well, with some mods), Bug Eye sprites, the incredible Saab Sonnets and more. I know a little about sports cars.
The SmartCar can handle just like any other sports car in it's class.
It weighs 1,800 lbs, and has a built in roll bar as part of the excellent frame that runs throughout the car.
It has giant doors to get in and out, I would say the car is actually bigger on the inside than on the outside!
** Excellent brakes. Plenty of acceleration to get going on an on-ramp, just stick your foot in it to get the turbo spun up (4,000 rpm) and drop your foot off the brake.
Price of parts and Maintenance.
There is always some whiner that lets a dealership nail them to the mast, then complain about it. Honestly this is one of the easiest cars I can think of to maintain. My 13 year old neighbor girl changed the oil on mine the other day, so she could learn how. It costs no more than any other car for maintenance, or for parts. I have replaced several parts on mine with newer lighter versions (running boards, front and rear air dams) The running boards were $100 each. I bought replacement headlight nacelles for $150 for a brand new set, including the bulbs.
* there are plenty of parts available, especially through E-bay. Nice thing is that like the Saturn Cars, the body panels are plastic on the outside. They are easy to fix or replace and there are no gigantic quarter panel parts to worry about. ** I had to put a new Air conditioning fan in it. Under the dashboard. The fan was $60 (2021 price) and it took 15 minutes to pull the old fan and motor out and snap in the new one.
...This car was made by engineers for the common shade tree mechanic.
The engine itself is set into rails, that can be detached at mid car, and the entire rear end, engine, trans and all will roll out like a wheel barrow. This is an amazingly practical design, and beats the hell out of pulling an engine out of my Subaru WRX.
There is an AMAZING amount of room in the back, over the engine. If you lay the passenger seat down, I put 6 foot long FENCE posts in there from the hardware store and drove them home.
.....note it does NOT have an automatic transmission. It is a manual transmission, BUT, it has dual clutches and is shifted just like an automatic. 99% of the people cannot tell the difference. A manual trans is much easier to maintain. The dual clutch is just like the ones on racing motorcycles. It comes with a stick AND it comes with paddle shifters on the steering wheel, and you can switch back and forth while driving between manual shift mode and automatic. The manual shift is sneaky, if you rev it to 6 grand in first gear it will shift itself into second gear anyway! Even in manual mode when you come to a stoplight, it shifts itself into 1st gear, but still in manual mode.
What turbo kit are you running? They never sold a factory turbocharged 451 in the US. Also the 451s don’t have dual clutches like the 453s, or like many newer small cars. It’s just got one big single dry disk just like any traditional manual, but electrically operated clutch slave cylinder and electrically operated shift selector. It does have a sequential gearbox like a motorcycle.
Thx but you‘d may consider what a comment section is intended for.. [ This is not the editorial office of your book publisher] 😂
Hello from the UK. I am looking at purchasing one of these cars because petrol is very expensive here. Thank you for this very comprehensive video... Regards.
Thanks for watching glad it was helpful, luckily you shouldn’t have to deal with the kind of rust we deal with here in Canada from all the road salt in winter.
God bless you. You have saved my skeen!
Glad it was helpful!
Good points, I much better prepared to make a good decision on buying a Smart car. Thanks
Right on! Thanks for watching!
thanks for the video dude
You're welcome!
Thank you really informative nice to know
Glad it was helpful!
@@PBGarage I’ve wanted a Smart Fortwo for years but I’ve just never had the money to sink into one nice to know what to look for to maybe get a better deal
@@SuperPokefan15 yeah and like just keep an eye out for the expensive fixes like a bad clutch actuator, bad SAI pump, blown muffler (unless you can weld it up yourself), that way you'd don't get into your new car and up having to shell out hundreds of dollars on it right away.
@@PBGarage thank ypu so much I will be sure to us this information your video will honestly be a life saver!!❤❤❤
Valid hints for visual inspection (I know from my own experience).. Although there are some more technical things important to potentially evaluate (actuator, leaking rear window, A/C, if MHD: belt upgrade done / undone, leakage at the belt tensioner…) 👍🏼
Good points! We never got the mhd in North America so no mhd woes for us luckily. But the serp belt tensioner are still an issue. I just assume none of them have working AC anymore lol
As a former Smart owner I can testify that the issues with the suspension springs are correct. They are prone to failure ( despite careful driving ). This happened on my MK1 Smart. The headlight disclocating and losing alignment is common. Again careful driving ( speed bumps will cause them to loose alignment ). The door handles are prone to failure. The electronics in the semi auto box can cause big problems ( mine failed as it was going down through the gears, resulting in zero engine breaking ). They are a fun and enjoyable car when they work. Great for parking. Good handling and they have character. But potential owners do need to be aware they have issues. This is based on experience of MK1 ownership
L
@@debrareichard9317 😅🤡
@@robsmall6466 as a user, anything special other then suspension , lights, coolant liquid in front, exhaust flexible, to look for before buying . thanks
@@francoisgs1 The two main issues for me were the front suspension springs ( be very careful with speed bumps and potholes. Have a good look at them when you purchase the car. First thing a Ford dealer did when I part exchanged it is head straight to the front suspension. So it's well known ). The other as I mentioned above is the electronics in the semi auto gearbox. With mine one of the things it did was engage 1st but wouldn't go anywhere. Revs would rise then you would learch forward. Rest of the gears would be fine. Luckily it only happened once. Some mechanics don't like working on the cars because they are a tight package to work on. This is a MK1 mind. Later gen cars might have less problems
Well done sir.
Thanks!
I like this
..center engine mount (both 450 and 451) - easy to check, just try to wiggle the engine by hand - if there is play you will notice it;
it's nice to listen to the clutch actuatior with the ignition on, it should not make too many noises - should just tick every gear change;
take a ~30min test drive, the gearbox is very lazy, but if it "hesitates" before rolling - then it has not seen a StarDiagnose scanner for a long time and the clutch bitepoint was not adjusted....
Valid. Indeed, this hints are missing. But the engine mount is definitely not easy to check for a housewife at a dealership as you‘d have to be under the car to verify that. Actuator, hard to transmit a problem to a dealer without any smart tech knowledge then. Also it oftenly just needs to be re-greased.
PERFECT EXPLANATION
PERFECTLY PERFECT TEACHING ❤❤❤❤❤
GREETINGS FROM MAASTRICHT THE NEDERLANDS
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!
Poly V belt can snap too, not fun! Door hinge springs break, not fun!
But changing front springs ain't bad for a competent DIY.
Great video! 2011 Passion here, just passed 100,000 Miles, so far non of the listed problems. Paid $2,000 with 60,000 miles so at 40+ MPG figure it's paid for itself :) Does anyone else have paint issues???? the clear coat is peeling everywhere. Love the car.
That’s awesome glad you’re having good luck with it. No issues with paint here but I’ve heard of clear oats coming off in southern states.
I have a yellow 2008 SmartForTwo Passion. Now has 140,000 miles. Clear coat started peeling within 3 years. No help from the Mercedes dealer where I originally bought the car. I hid the car in my back driveway and just drove it around town due to the ugly appearance from clear coat issue. . Recently researched painting costs. Got quotes ranging from $500 to $10,000. Ended up going to MAACO. They did an excellent job for $1100 with a 3 year warranty.
RED ONES ARE PRONE TO PEELING .
If the car is parked outside (not garage kept), you have to keep up with washing and waxing. ALL KINDS of chemicals and solvents are on the roads that get splashed up on to the car by the ass in front of you. If the car is waxed well, it will protect the paint. The sun doesn’t help much either. First the clear coat burns off, then the paint starts chipping. A good coat of wax helps to prevent that. I have friends that live in Hawaii. They tell me the sun is so strong there, cars have to be waxed a minimum of once a month to protect the paint. Darker colors will absorb the sun more than lighter colors.
No such paint issues on my units. Only a bit of flash rust on the painting at some minor spots.
my flexpipe went out also, had a new flexpipe welded on at a small shop 120 dollars very quiet now...
I've done the same, there's a video about it I made around here somewhere lol
Good and useful information, thank you much. Maybe checking the cold start and see if it blows a little water steam, small head gasket leaks, seems to get usually bigger fast on the smart car and replacing the head gasket by a service station cost a lot, speak pulling the entire drive sub frame.
Yeah good info for sure!
Motor mounts are an issue and as the motor moves around, the exhaust suffers as well as the main battery harness.
Yeah they're a pain.
Thanks 🇬🇧❤️
You’re welcome!
Brilliant thx
Glad it helps!
Thank you for all the tips ! I test drove a 2011 cabriolet today and all the warning lights went out, but there was a really weird looking black shape to the left of the readings in the yellow screen that was flashing for awhile and then went out. Also I had to shift it using the (paddle?) shifters in Drive. Is that normal? The thing that has most of my attention is it appears to be in great shape only has 23K Mi. on it, and Dlr. is only asking $6K. There is no manual and the salesman was not with me so I am clueless. Also it does not have the tach. /clock option yours does so how to know when to shift, I can hardly hear the engine after it warms up. I may go back there tomorrow. Thanks in advance for any help.
Hey. The flashing black symbol is likely the service reminder. If it looks like a wrench or pair of wrenches. It will flash the number of days or number of miles overdue for service.
When it is in D, it should shift automatically.
The base model smarts usually don’t have the tach/clock. They can be added after the fact.
@@PBGarage thanks for the help !! I need to investigate the Drive question. When in Drive first gear is displayed.
Make sure the shifter is is in the “D” position and not pushed to the left. Pushing the shifter to the left initiates manual mode where you can use the shifter + or - to upshift/downshift or the paddles on the steering wheel. For fully automatic, just pull the shifter from front to back like a regular automatic transmission R-N-D. Once it’s in “D” , leave it. Don’t move it to the left.
The gas tank indicator on my 2013 Smart points to the drivers side, when the filler is on the passenger side.
I bought mine because it has hand crank windows and also because I have a wicked hahhd Boston Accent. So, when I say it, it's a Smahht Cahh. Fun to say.
Your 2013 has hand crank windows? No way. Hand crank side mirrors maybe, but they all had power windows as far as I know. Smahhhht cahhhhh. I like it. Are you in/around Boston? I feel like I’ve never driven anywhere with shorter highway merge lanes than Massachusetts lol
I just picked up an older 2009 smart fortwo passion cabriolet, 80k miles cranks but no start. I’m pretty mechanically inclined but I don’t know anything about these little cars. What steps should I take to diagnose?
Same as any other motor, you need spark, fuel, compression. I would start with a bit of ether directly into the intake and see if it fires up for a second that way you know if it’s a fuel issue. If you don’t get anything, plus’s spark plugs and check to see if you’re getting spark. Look for evidence of coolant on the spark plugs while you’re there or if you get coolant out the spark plug holes when you crank it over.
Very helpful video. I'm in the market for a 453. Do you happen to have done a similar one for the 453 models?
I haven’t made one for a 453 yet but I do own a manual 453. Great car, cheap-ish materials. Be careful for broken springs in the front, seized front strut bearings, and rotten muffler.
If the roof has crazing, you can apply a carbon-fiber wrap, or similar.
Yes definitely but then you lose out on the light coming into the cabin.
@@PBGarage True. Maybe you can sand and polish it like they do with headlamps.
@joevarga5982 I’ve tried polishing it and it didn’t really make much difference, but I didn’t get as aggressive as sanding it. And I have seen a few people online that have wet sanded it down and then clear coated it and it seems to turn out pretty good.
@@PBGarage 👍
Too bad i found this AFTER i made my purchase. Hey tho, its common to NOT know this stuff. Lol. The smart is DIFFERENT for sure! I went in with basic knowledge, and yeah, there is certainly a learning curve. I was looking for a motorcycle of a car, so hopefully it fills that void. Its ALOT like working on our 300cc dune buggy really, even the oil filter and CV shafts appear to be the same lol. Makes me enjoy it more. I would also say the car is far mor "smart" than we anticipated. I mean, jeeze, the OEM battery sitting in a bay of acid REALLY seemed to cause ALOT of electrical issues, that didnt REALLY exist on the car. Hopefully its worth the risk, bc someone definitely did care for ours some degree, but definitely trusted the Mercedes stealership a tad too much IMO...... Thanks for all the wonderful info, still just as valuable and relevant 2yrs later lol! -SMART❤-
Ps-WOW your on point. Watched a 2nd time, and found small details later! Darn 3rd brake screw was silly! Ill be gosh diggled! Lol impressed.
Hey glad to hear the feedback! They’re a lot of fun and as someone who gave up street riding to only ride on the track, I can say that for really filled the gap as a sort of motorcycle car hybrid.
Would you happen to know what would cause driver side turn signal bulb(Top Orange) and little light on driver side( next to door) to not stay on when I turn headlights on. They blink but won’t stay on, but both lights on passenger side turn signals stay on but won’t blink. This issue is driving me nuts. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. 🙏
I’m not certain but I think the turn signal relay may be a part of the hazard light switch assembly, could try swapping that out. I’d check wiring for obvious faults first and fuses. Then swap the hazard switch for a junkyard one. Last thing could be a fault in the SAM but that would be a pain to fix.
@@PBGarage So apparently the turn signal lights should not stay on at all times and the side that turns off is the side that the turn signal works. So I think it may be a relay issue and the passenger side is stuck in the "ON" position. At least I hope so. Thanks for your help, you are appreciated!
What are the best years (less problems) for the smarts?
Depends where you are. The 453s seem a bit more reliable but they’re newer (2016-up). In North America the 451 (2008-2015) or 450 (2005-2006) seem fairly even, both have their common problems. If you can find a low mileage 451 that’s probably the best bang for your buck right now. If you’re in Europe the only ones I would stay away from are the petrol 450s, and the MHD 451s. They seem to have more issues just based on what I’ve seen online.
@@PBGarage The problem with the 451 MHD can be the belt from the alternator/starter. If that breaks, you lose your water pump, and with a front-mounted radiator, that can be fatal. I can imagine people ignoring the warning when that happens, and as they don't have a temperature gauge, and you're in big trouble.
One big problem I had with my 451 was it wouldn't go into reverse. That cost me a new actuator and clutch.
The newer 453s are in a different league, especially the dual-clutch gearbox.
I've owned them all.
Hello I have a 2008 smart we changed the battery and the alternator, but the alternator is still not charging, pulled it off and they said it was good. Any ideas what it could be? Thank you
If you’re only getting 12V or less while running even with the new alternator, you can check fuses, check wiring to the plug on the alternator. Check continuity between the (+) post on the alternator and the battery. Check ground straps on the motor. Check the serpentine belt tensioner and the routing of your serp belt that you have proper tension.
oh ok I was wondering,my Smart needs a boost if it sits more than a couple days,so the alternator is fine (for now),but the battery is hooped.
Try checking for parasitic losses too. In my case the radio was working fine but for whatever reason was killing the battery when the car was off. I chased all kinds of things but one day I walked by at night after the car had been locked up for a long time and I could see the power button on the radio still lit up. Replaced the radio and no issues since.
If the battery is over 5 years old, might be time to replace.
I am looking at buying possibly a smart for two 2005 , is there anything else or special to look for? thanks for the instructive video and look forward to hear from you thanks again
Hello! The 2005 is a different model so there are a few different things to look for but most of the car is similar.
If it’s a diesel, look for the check engine light and scan if possible to look for issues with the EGR or stuck wastegate actuator (over boost code). Check the muffler as they like to rust out along the bottom edge and are expensive to replace. Front spring breakage is common, and clutch actuator issues. Otherwise similar to the 451. Have fun!
@@PBGarage thank you very much , it is a petrol car , not diesel. I read somewhere there was some chain in motor which could be costly to change if I was correct thanks
If the manufacturer went back to a chain, that’s actually a good thing. The chain could last the life of the engine as long as you don’t beat on it. Not sure about Mercedes, but a lot of car makers were using timing belts (rubber) for a while (obviously for the cheaper cost). However, when (not if) the belt breaks, it’s usually fatal for the engine (bent valve stems among other things) so it’s not just the belt that would have to be replaced, which in itself is costly because the whole front of the engine has to come off.
well done
Thanks!
Quick question I have a smart fortwo passion cdi from 2009 and it was this piece attached with a little phone thing that was bluetooth and show up on the phone as brunswick carkit does anyone know how it work I bought the car with it already there..
No idea. Sorry I’m not of any help. As far as I know North American smarts never came with anything like that.
I would check the glove box and see if there’s a Bluetooth receiver connected to the AUX port in there. In which case you’d just pair your phone, then switch the stereo input to AUX, and enjoy.
Looking at a 2008, has 85000 miles. Selling for $1500. 1 owner. Good deal?
Really depends on condition. If it's similar condition to the one in this video then I would say probably not a great deal. If it's mint then that's a smokin deal.
Witch model out of them years do u think would be best to buy I’m looking at a 2013 and 2015 right now?
The facelift ones 2011-2015 are a little bit nicer looking but mechanically all the same. I’d highly recommend getting a Passion model so you get the better stereo, and the nicer steering wheel, plus the clear roof.
@@PBGarage Awsome they both are at only 30k miles but I’ll still check for everything in your vid much appreciate the input
No mhd, less problems.
The plastic roof was really a surprise! Is there a way to recondition them?
Some people try to sand and polish them with varying amounts of success. The only way to really deal with it is to replace the panel. Personally it doesn’t bother me much so beyond hitting it with a quick plastic polish every now and then I just leave them.
@@PBGarage Thanks for the info..I just saw you responded today.
Rotary polisher, some polishing compound, and get to work.
When I wax the car, I include the plastic roof. Seems to help road grime slide right off. Wife and I usually keep the curtain closed anyway.
I replaced my muffler myself, bought original muffler with its washer for $350.
That’s cheap for an OEM muffler!
You’re a better than I am😂😂😂. Exhaust work is too much cutting and welding for me 😂😂😂😂
Cheap? Well… 140 euros here around. If only the flex tube was broken, such is available for about 20 bugs retail -just a little welding work then..
I want to see you replace that alternator
ruclips.net/video/ocvqNg0jQpY/видео.html here you go!
found a 2011 smart, rebuilt, with 100k+on the odometer selling for $2800..i had to pass on the purchase. you think i missed out on an opportunity or was it a sound choice?
Doesn’t sound like a smokin deal but really depends on the options/condition.
That’s half the life of the car. You can probably find something better. One thing I have learned all these years is that if you look hard enough, you’ll find what you’re looking for. Patience is a virtue 😃😃😃
Perhaps you would rather consult your local fortune teller with this question.
How exactly do you save money on fuel when you have to fill up with expensive premium gas to get decent mileage ?
You go further on your tank when you use premium, so you fill up less often, which costs less money.
@@PBGarage but when you fill up you have to pay much more so again where is the savings ?
Believe me, the fuel mileage is obscene! When my wife first bought the car; the fuel gauge (dotted line on the dashboard) never moved for weeks! I figured the fuel gauge might be defective and was ready to go back to the dealer for warranty work. Just to be sure, I inserted a stick into the fuel tank and low and behold, it was still full and she was driving the car every day! So you’re looking at 50mpg on a well tuned engine! Only the hybrids come close to that but you’re paying three times the price for a hybrid
A question for you: Would 55378008 be an “absurd” reading for the service interval? Asking for a friend…
That would be pretty impressive!
Hi baddy, I'm based in UK and I'm thinking to buy a smart car 2014 with 58,000km for £2000 do you think is a good deal and I'm going to use the car daily, do you think is good for delivery?
Thank you in advance Pal.
Seems like a decent deal to me if everything is in order and it's got a good MOT. I'm not as familiar with prices in your area though. It should be a good car for delivery.
@@PBGarage yea it's has everything in order I checked the MOT and everything is good and thanks for your reply baddy 👌
Delivery of what?
If it's you, on your own, you can lower the passenger seat to make more room.
Or food and Pizza deliveries, you could push the seat back, for more space on the floor,
with plenty of support for bottles, cups, etc.
@@stpfs9281 good question. You’re not delivering a pallet of bricks 🧱 with it. 😂😂😂
Same here. Names just 3-4 criteria’s of relevant 200 asking for purchasing advice.. 😂
Perhaps you would rather consult your local fortune teller with this question.
What designates the #'s 453, 40xxx?
It’s Mercedes nomenclature for the different chassis types. So the 450 is 1998-2006, 451 is 2007-2015, 453 is 2016-up, etc
@@PBGarage thanks!
When you covered the engine you didn’t show nothing but the top cover you should do a redo on the motor
If you check the channel we’ve got a bunch more vids on that car including several engine related videos.
Complete and helpful video, but that BLOODY MUSIC !
Very limited options when we made that video unfortunately.
That air freshener though.
Right?
What is judging when pulling away please
Like if it’s not smooth, shudders or “judders”. Excessive vibration or a feeling of the clutch engaging and disengaging quickly.
Real nice video. I was hoping to see comment about random failing to reverse issue like what I have in 2008 passion with 20k miles. I've never seen a consistent clue of why this problem exists in the early models (2008, 2009). I was wondering if you had any experience with the problem.
I haven’t come across that issue specifically. Plenty of issues with clutch actuator. There was a transmission software update at one point but as far as I know none of my 451s have had it done. You could try leaving the battery unhooked overnight, then hook it back up and put the key in the “on” position without starting the car. It should go through the gears and re-learn gear positions. Might help?
It has to be something electrical because the only mechanical device in the shifter is park. Reverse, neutral, drive, manual is all done through sensors and the computer. So I would start with the sensor on the shifter itself and work from there. That would be my first suspect. If there is no check engine light and no other symptoms, I would have to say the computer itself is fine. If the actuator on the transmission (the part that actually engages the reverse gear) is malfunctioning, it would send a trouble code.
Sticking clutch splines. Seen several
I had a 2009 smart car Passion model for 5 1/2 years with not one problem. Just oil change with new oil filter. Tires needed changing by then but not one problem. When a tire specialist tells you that nitrogen in tires are stupid since nitrogen is already in the air...no dummy it worked for me for 5 1/2 years w/out having to add air all the times & paying for it...the tireman is stupid (most likely because it takes business away from him on the long run) LOL North Carolina, USA
Nice! Glad you had such a good experience with yours. I think 95% or the issues with this one were just because of the salt and crap roads in Montreal where I bought the car.
The tires are so small, I use by bicycle pump to put air when needed 😂😂😂😂😂
Would u buy one?
Yeah I love them.
WOW Green coolant??? Smart cars should use G05 antifreeze and it is yellow.
The factory coolant is dark green almost blue.
@@PBGarage "green almost blue" Funny. European factory cars do NOT use green coolant.
Where did you find this example?
What a wreck...🤔
I bought it privately off Facebook marketplace or Kijiji (Canada’s version of Craigslist).
Can you buy an arm rest and show us how to put it on without drilling. I want an easy to install armrest. From woman driver 😉
One of my cars has one, I’ll see if it’s drilled in or not!
after watching this, I will go for a Toyota IQ instead.
I’ve never had one, I’m sure they have plenty of issues of their own, they’re getting on in age too! Cheers!
Well the bad thing for smart is when you crash you may die or be alive its 50-50
Just like any other car.
@@PBGarage Yeah
Not many cars have a built-in roll cage.
Wow I think I’ll just avoid buying this car used as it seems weak and problem prone?
Most of them aren’t nearly as bad as this one.
I own one of these piece of shit cars ! Do not buy ! Money pit .. worthless . Total problems from jump. Do not buy .
@@monicadiette1909 they definitely have some common issues that are easily addressed. With proper maintenance they can give you hundreds of thousands of problem free miles.
got dizzy watching this
Old school cameras weren't what they are now.
buy a Toyota Rav4 instead-and better on the open road.
Or get a boat, much better in deep water.
Every thing is expensive on em buy a Toyota or Kia I would never buy another smart
Those are so boring though. I find most parts about equal or cheaper if you find it from reputable suppliers. The labour of you take it to Mercedes is expensive for sure.
DON'T!! buy the next version(453) 2016 on
I have all 3, and they each have their niche.
You have camera issues...
The audio got messed up in this one yes.
Well: noisy, horrible ride, little room, extremely expensive repairs and maintenance. Buying a Smart... isn't.
They’re not for everyone but I’ve been driving smarts for like 15 years now and still reach for those keys first over my other rides. Saves me 7-8k$ a year on fuel which more than pays for itself and covers the extra registrations and insurance on my other “toy” cars.