Author Topic: CD Article: 2009 Brabus smart fortwo cabriolet (Read 1630 times)

Autos_Editor · « **on:** September 29, 2009, 05:22:51 am »

Test Drive:

The Brabus package adds an extra hit of style, greatly improved handling and $3,650 to the bottom line of the Smart Fortwo, reports contributor Peter Bleakney. "The Brabus Fortwo is actually fun to toss into the corners," he says.
More: View the photos | All the Test Drives

toolatecrew · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2009, 08:02:30 am »

Ok so now the Smart 4 2 is no longer the dumbest car idea out there. Bravo.

Shnak · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2009, 08:15:14 am »

How is the Fortwo a dumb car idea? It may not be ideal for the Canadian market (although in places like Montreal, I'm sure it's great to have such a small car!), but how is it any dumber than the Mini, just to give an example?

toolatecrew · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2009, 11:37:04 am »

Quote from: Shnak on September 29, 2009, 08:15:14 am

How is the Fortwo a dumb car idea? It may not be ideal for the Canadian market (although in places like Montreal, I'm sure it's great to have such a small car!), but how is it any dumber than the Mini, just to give an example?

How is it dumb? Let me count the ways.

1. The Mini (or any other comperable econo car) has a BACK SEAT. Regardless of how small it might be you can still carry 4 people . Example SMart uses 2L of gas to go from home to office. and back Civic uses 2.5 L. But if you have 3 people that need to go the smart needs 2 trips to move those 3 people. That's 4 L of fuel burned. Not to metnion it takes PREMUIM fuel. How dumb is that in a 70 hp econo car.
2. No room for groceries. More trips need to the store.
3.No car pooling.
4. Poor ride but crap handeling (not safer becuase avoiding accidents is better than being in them)
5. Poor acceleration creates trafics slowdowns.
6. Poor highway crosswind handling (more likley to cross center line and get into serious crash)

The Mini is supposed to be a premium sub compact. Its a sporty ride its kind of sill to compare them but if you must its still a lot more practicle probaly doesn't cost any more to operate (fewer trips needed). Its much safer and definitley more fun. Most aany subcompact is cheaper to operate (service parts etc). just try getting into an accident with a Smart and see what it costs to get it fixed.

It has no purpose in NA. Tell me how its not a dumb idea. What advanatges does it give you in North America?

Shnak · « **Reply #4 on:** September 29, 2009, 11:48:11 am »

All of those points only prove that the Smart is not a car for you...

But what if you lived in a city like Montreal where parking is tight? A Smart makes sense there, I think.

If you need to carry more than 2 people, of course the Smart isn't good for that. Also, the engine requiring premium doesn't make this car a dumb idea, it might make it a poor execution though.

But as I've said, the Smart might be a dumb idea for most cities in Canada, but for many european markets, the Smart is a good idea.

Saying the Smart is generally a dumb car idea is like someone who lives in a city with small streets saying the F150 is a dumb car idea... it might be a dumb idea for one person, but a great one for another.

I just don't see the point in dismissing a car entirely just because it doesn't fit your needs...

PJungnitsch · « **Reply #5 on:** September 29, 2009, 12:49:36 pm »

1. The Mini (or any other comperable econo car) has a BACK SEAT. Regardless of how small it might be you can still carry 4 people . Example SMart uses 2L of gas to go from home to office. and back Civic uses 2.5 L. But if you have 3 people that need to go the smart needs 2 trips to move those 3 people. That's 4 L of fuel burned.

Which proves exactly nothing. If you have 7 people who need to go then a Civic is a dumb purchase compared to Dodge Caravan.

2. No room for groceries. More trips need to the store.

Lots of room for groceries. About the same as a small extended cab pickup, which has done me fine for twenty years.

3.No car pooling.

Can't use for a school bus either, or a dump truck.

4. Poor ride but crap handeling (not safer becuase avoiding accidents is better than being in them)

In everyday driving they are very agile, with their incredibly small turning circle and small size.

5. Poor acceleration creates trafics slowdowns.

I'm faster than most traffic with my ancient pickup. A smart is much faster than me.

6. Poor highway crosswind handling (more likley to cross center line and get into serious crash)

No worse than an Echo or some vans, (only so much you can do with a tall shape). Much better than a motorcycle. Routinely used by many people, including one in my office, for long distance commuting.

Rupert · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2009, 04:25:12 pm »

No one seems to include the Accent in with the Yaris. If considering the extra capacity and 'smarts' of a Civic I can understand the ommision.
Anyway, I thought that the Smart was great when it first came out and with the availability of a small easy to store little trailer might be a gem for local commuting... shopping. In between the first and second version, advances have been made in fuel ecconomy by other marks and now as already noted the Smart seems much less desirable on this front than say a Prius or such and the other cars mentioned do offer more utility and seats although at higher gas consumption. However much less cost...for the basic three door Accent anyway and highway crosswinds are not an issue at all in the Accent. I do not know why.
I like the Smart though but would probably not opt for the Higher level here. Tricky to choose.

Honda Owner · « **Reply #7 on:** September 29, 2009, 06:03:22 pm »

$27k for this? It isn't even particularly economical. I doubt many will be sold but there will always be someone who has to have it "because it is soooo cute!"

initial_D · « **Reply #8 on:** September 29, 2009, 06:23:02 pm »

It is not in sold $$/lb ...

The Smart should be an EV.

toolatecrew · « **Reply #9 on:** September 29, 2009, 08:26:01 pm »

I said the Smart was a dumb idea for North America. I don't live in Europe and neither do 99% of people on this board. If I said "bringing a right hand drive car to canada is a dumb idea" would you wounter with "well its a good idea in england"? Its not just my needs that it doesn't fit. Based on what you list as its positives the ONLY need it fits is if you happen to have a lot of short parking spaces on the street where it will fit. Most parking is not like that (length limited).

The idea of a 27 K smart (you could buy TWO Axstra XEs for that on the current clearout) is frankly absurd.

I think its a dumb idea for North America.

PJungnitsch · « **Reply #10 on:** September 29, 2009, 09:10:15 pm »

What about $35,000 Harleys or Goldwings?

Piloting a tiny car around makes city driving fun for a lot of people. Smart drivers generally love their cars because of this, the negatives generally come from the Mercedes part of the experience, ie servicing, reliability, lack of dealers.

I think of them as an extremely safe and practical motorcycle. The test drive was one big grin.

rrocket · « **Reply #11 on:** September 29, 2009, 09:12:49 pm »

Quote from: PJungnitsch on September 29, 2009, 09:10:15 pm

I think of them as an extremely safe and practical motorcycle. The test drive was one big grin.

Sigh...I must agree. I always hear people saying how "dangerous" a small car must be. A zillion times safer than a bike, actually. So yea...for what it is, they're pretty neat. Pricey for this version, but neat. I drove the older diesel one with a convertible. I can see the appeal of this little car.

G0dspd · « **Reply #12 on:** September 30, 2009, 02:00:19 am »

The words Brabus and Smart in a car name may sound a little overkill but they're not the only ones who are building high end minis. They're primarily marketed as "toys" for wealthy brand lovers.

Aston Martin Cygnet (Toyota IQ)

Fiat 695 Tributo (Ferrari/Fiat 500)

Honda Owner · « **Reply #13 on:** September 30, 2009, 02:11:25 pm »

Quote

Piloting a tiny car around makes city driving fun for a lot of people

But I do it in a $15,000 Fit with a back seat, a large cargo area, 30% more power and practically the same fuel economy. Around here people call them the "dumb" car. Grey haired old ladies seem to like them, though.

PJungnitsch · « **Reply #14 on:** September 30, 2009, 02:30:13 pm »

Worldwide the Fit is indeed a safe and practical choice, good value for the money, run forever, etc.

The Jazz has undoubtedly been a sales success for Honda here in Australia. It is a competent, practical car for the young female market as well as pensioners with active grandchildren.

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/news-and-reviews/car-reviews-road-tests/honda_jazz_vti_vti_s_in_the_garage

Honda Owner · « **Reply #15 on:** September 30, 2009, 02:35:03 pm »

The base powertrain on the Australian Fit is not the same as the ones sold here.

toolatecrew · « **Reply #16 on:** September 30, 2009, 04:16:26 pm »

Quote from: G0dspd on September 30, 2009, 02:00:19 am

The words Brabus and Smart in a car name may sound a little overkill but they're not the only ones who are building high end minis. They're primarily marketed as "toys" for wealthy brand lovers.

Aston Martin Cygnet (Toyota IQ)

Fiat 695 Tributo (Ferrari/Fiat 500)

Quote

Performance will be boosted by means of a 1.4 liter turbocharged petrol/gasoline engine. The boosted 4 cylinder puts out 180 horsepower and is mated to a Ferrari F1 style paddle-shifting 6 speed gearbox. Suspension tuning will compliment the increase in power and a set of red Brembo brakes will sit behind the 17-inch alloy wheels made special for the occasion, referencing classic Ferrari design.

I think the Fiat sounds rather fun. 180 HP in that little car? Lowered suspension, brmbo brakes. I bet it would be a terror on tight streets. Pricy and Impractical? Sure. But it would be hella FUN. A lot more fun than a 70 hp clunky Smart that's for sure.

tpl · « **Reply #17 on:** September 30, 2009, 04:28:38 pm »

A 180 bhp Fiat 500 would be fun. The euros do love their small overpowered cars. 300bhp Ford Focus for instance. Nearly 200 bhp in a Renault Clio and so on.

tpl · « **Reply #18 on:** September 30, 2009, 04:32:10 pm »

Quote from: Honda Owner on September 30, 2009, 02:35:03 pm

The base powertrain on the Australian Fit is not the same as the ones sold here.

but 88kw is 118 bhp, 145 Nm to 108 lb/ft

so it is close. Maybe the Aussie one is tuned to run on premium and or a less restrictive catalytic converter

sparky · « **Reply #19 on:** September 30, 2009, 05:01:10 pm »

The best urban car I ever had was an SUV.
The 1.6-litre, 5-speed Suzuki Sidekick was narrow and agile enough to squirt through the traffic, tall enough to spot the openings, and able to leap tall curbs at a single bound. It laughed at snow and ice, carried four people in comfort and five in a pinch, yet fit in tiny parking spaces. It could haul a heap of stuff, up to and including a full-sized 30-inch appliance with the hatch closed. It also got way more than 30 miles to the gallon and never, ever broke down. Outside the city, it was even good for a bit of mild off-roading.
If a Smart is smart, that Sidekick was a freakin' genius.