CD Article: 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Cabriolet

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


Though economical, the $21,250 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet is more of a lifestyle vehicle than an economy car, says Editor-in-chief, Greg Wilson.  Its power, retractable fabric top offers a "breezy, wind-in-the-hair-experience" but its automated manual transmission "hesitates" between shifts.

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Read the article | View the photos | All The Test Drives

[Schmengie]

 The Smart Fortwo's  pretty common on the roads here even though the nearest dealer's in Kelowna, and the Cabriolet seems to be the most popular. If I was single or needed a second car for commuting and running errands, this would be my choice hands-down, although I don't think I'd necessarily choose the Cabriolet myself. I hope the other manufacturers are getting the message that Canadians want more cars like this.

I'd love to see a 4-seater version of the Smart. It would need a bit more power from that little 3-cylinder but would still be amazingly economical to run. Just a thought. 

[PJungnitsch]

I hope the other manufacturers are getting the message that Canadians want more cars like this.

Toyota has developed the iQ at a tremendous pace, from show car to production in around a year. Already listed on their European site for sale in the fall. No doubt they are looking closely at smart's success to see if they will bring it here.



http://www.toyota-europe.com/cars/new_cars/iq/index.aspx

I'd love to see a 4-seater version of the Smart. It would need a bit more power from that little 3-cylinder but would still be amazingly economical to run. Just a thought. 

That would be the Mitsubishi i, which also (I believe) is being studied for importation. Wing had one to test a few months ago.

[Schmengie]

Interesting stuff. That little Mitsu looks very cool, kind of like a transportation pod from a '60's sci-fi flick. If that back seat's actually usable by normal-sized Homo Sapiens, Mitsubishi will sell boatloads of these. If the boats come here, that is..

The iQ is awkward looking compared to the Smart IMO, especially from the side. Still, if Toyota brought them here at a reasonable price-point I think they'd be the most popular car on the lot.

[Mitlov]

And don't forget the 2011-ish Volkswagen Lupo, with a rear-mounted three-cylinder powering the rear wheels.  Rumor is, the next Beetle will be built off of the same RR platform.

[jimmyjas]

The trick when changing gears in manual mode in the Smart is to keep your foot on the accelerator peddle.  When you do that the shift is smooth with no lurching of the vehicle. As for automatic mode, I don't use it - no fun.

[Wolfe]

I'd love to see a 4-seater version of the Smart. It would need a bit more power from that little 3-cylinder but would still be amazingly economical to run. Just a thought. 

That would be the Mitsubishi i, which also (I believe) is being studied for importation. Wing had one to test a few months ago.

Smart used to sell the Forfour which was related to the Mitsubishi Colt and built at a Mitsubishi factory in the Netherlands.

It seems that Mitsubishi didn't give up on the idea.




The Smart I'd love to have is the Roadster, the Brabus V6 version of course (with a proper manual transmission.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-umQ7wARzE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFoKQAQZTLQ

The regular Smart Roadster weighs about 1750lbs. That's almost 600lbs less than my Miata which is a great to drive in no small part due to its light weight.

[Schmengie]

I was thinking more along the lines of a 4-seater based on the Smart ForTwo's architecture. That ForFour in the picture looks pretty cool, but it's obviously a conventional front-drive car.

 I don't know anything about it, but the Mitsubishi i looks like it has the same rear-engine, rear-drive layout as the Smart. If it has enough power and room to carry four actual people, it should be a hit if Mitsubishi ever decides to sell it here. It's definitely an interesting-looking little car. Maybe I'll Google it and try to find out a little more.

[johngenx]

Ten or so years ago when the Smart hit Europe, the whole idea was "the new Mini."  Cheap to buy, cheap to operate, 2x the parking, etc.

Today in Canada, the Smart is bought primarily as an image car.  The price, to me, is WAY too high.  I love the concept and the execution ain't bad, but the price difference between the Smart and cars like the Yaris/etc. is much too large to justify the very small fuel economy advantage.  A Yaris HB can carry more people, more stuff, gets almost as good fuel economy, and does not come with the baggage of a terrible reliability record.

The Toyota iQ?  Now we're talkin'.  Make the thing $12,995 ready to drive off, and wow, what a Smart car killer.  Heck, price it way too high, say the same as the Smart, and I bet it would still outsell the Smart thanks to the Toyota v Mercedes/Smart build comparision...

[mmret]

That iQ will sell like hotcakes up here. They have to price it under the Yaris, which means bye-bye overpriced Smart car.

I think a lot of people have thought about a Smart and then looked at the price and balked. Also, the iQ looks like an actual car, at least to me (a short Yaris), while the Smart is more of a glorified riding lawnmower.

[PJungnitsch]

Today in Canada, the Smart is bought primarily as an image car.

A few buy it for that, but most because it is different and fun. Piloting something that small through traffic is a hoot. As a motorcyclist, I recognize some of the same reasons I drive a bike, it makes an everyday chore something special.

Interestingly CR, of all people, is starting to get why people buy these things:

To my way of thinking, the Smart’s fun doesn’t come from doing the normal things that make other cars fun—like super handling or acceleration—but rather that it does normal car stuff at all. Compared to every other car in this market, it seems so wonderfully improbable that this tiny car can haul two people and their luggage while keeping up (and sometimes passing) highway traffic. Plus, just as driving a big SUV can inspire some evil thoughts (Can I clear that curb in the mall parking lot?), the Smart almost begs you to find tiny parking spots or squeeze into little holes in traffic.

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/

So then of course, MB can charge something extra and get away with it. They are not competing with Aveo's and Yari, they are not joining that competition to build the cheapest/highest value toaster for the price. Smarts are a right brain purchase (driving fun) vs a left brain purchase (luggage space for the dollar, amt of people for the dollar, etc).

There is gold in that concept, and motorcycle manufacturers have been mining it for years. From what I understand Toyota recognizes this, and is not going to bargain price the iQ.

[G35X]

Mitsu i was being developed as the four-seat successor to the Smart Four-Two when MB pulled out of the joint venture with Mitsu in Novemebr, 2005.  If the current Smart is the proof that NA car buyers are ready to drive that kind of micro automobiles, then you will see all kinds of “kei” cars from Japan.  There are sedans, coupes, convertibles, vans and trucks.  They are much smoother and quieter than Smart.  They will have to be modified to LHD and to meet NA crash test, though.  Some of them squeeze out as much as 64HP from 660cc engine.

[Schmengie]

Toyota had better price the iQ well under the Smart. Given one or the other at more or less equal prices, I think most people would go for the Smart's European appeal. Either way I think the iQ will take a bite out of Yaris sales.

[tpl]

Schmengie. Toyota could of course bring the Aygo badged as a Citroen c1.  get the Toyota thing and the european thing

[articsteve]

Toyota had better price the iQ well under the Smart

Base stripper model will be $9995. providing CDN holds.  Something tolerable to drive will be probably low 12s.