i did my homework before i bought one. It had a five star rating with Geico, You are surrounded by airbags, and you are surrounded by a steel roll cage like a racing car! I was broadsided by a car going 55-60 MPH, and lived to tell this story! I bought another one! Very safe! Imagine this.... if you got hit in the drivers door going 55-60mph would YOU survive? A german engineered car, made by Mercedes!!! Awesome car!
I always like the "What if you get hit by a semi on the highway?" argument against safety in these cars as if you would survive getting by a semi at highway speed in any car.
Lots of variables. The safety cage structure of this car is essentially a roll cage like those used in NASCAR race vehicles (or the European equivalent). With zero speed limit on some parts of the Autobahn in Deutschland (Germany), German vehicles are often made to go at speeds considered insane here in the USA, and protect the occupants in the event of a collision. These Smart® cars are designed and built by Daimler Benz (Mercedes Benz). Originally these cars were supposed to be a partnership between the Swatch® watch company and Daimler Benz, but IIRC, Swatch pulled out at the last minute. I've actually crashed head-first into a 10-wheel dump truck doing about 40 - 50 mph (approx 70 Km/h) in a 1983 VW Rabbit (Golf Mk1). Blind curve on a 2-lane dirt road. VW bounced off the front of the truck. The front of the VW was slightly askew and obviously the front bumper, grille, radiator, and headlights were no more. Nothing behind the radiator was damaged. The owner of the dump truck claimed the radiator and steering box were damaged. Back in my teenage years. At least a decade later, an 18-wheeler changed lanes into the lane I was driving in. Freeway in downtown Dallas. Vehicles in front and behind and an elevated concrete curb/ridge/flange with a drop-off to dirt to the left. 1995 VW Golf III vs. 18-wheeler. Blowing the horn was futile. I slowed down as much as I could without risking getting rear-ended. Entire right/passenger side of my car got wrinkled by the 18-wheeler. Passenger side mirror and front passenger window were obliterated. Truck never stopped and my wife and I were too shaken up to get the livery/name or license plate of the truck. Certainly not a head-on nor a t-bone by any means, but it was still a 3,000 Lb (1,360 Kg) car vs. a potentially 80,000 Lb (36,000 Kg) truck/lorry. A fender and door from a junkyard and my car kept on going for several more years, albeit with a paint scheme reminiscent of the Harlequin Edition VW Golf. The primary design objective of the Smart ForTwo is to squeeze two of them into a single standard-sized parking spot in dense cities. Alleviate congestion. But, they're capable of 80+ Mph (130+ Km/h) speeds and still have to meet EU, US, Canadian, UK, and Australian crash safety regulations. And, they're built by Mercedes Benz - who are known for making very safe automobiles. If you were sandwiched between a semi/18-wheeler and something else (say, a concrete wall), you wouldn't stand much of a chance of surviving in almost any "passenger" vehicle (from an F-350 down to a Smart ForTwo). However, in a wide open area, depending on the speed, angle, and a long list of other variables, getting hit by an tractor-trailer rig could be VERY survivable, even in a Smart ForTwo. I do NOT recommend deliberately testing this theory. YMMV. I used round numbers instead of exact figures (typing this far too late at night for even the OCD nerd in me to be bothered).
I had a Chevy Equinox hit both my semi and the semi behind me head on, and the 2 teenagers who were in it were unscathed (they were on drugs though). If that's not an advertisement for the safety on that car I don't know what is.
While a Smart may have the best safety cage in the world, as someone already asked, what about crumple-zones? Or are airbags the only major energy-absorbing feature in these cars?
@@velocityraptor9270 I still believe that certain laws of physics tell me I would almost certainly be better off in something substantially larger than a Smart.
@@velocityraptor9270 I never said it was unsafe. I just prefer a much larger crumple zone. The official crash tests are performed using a fixed barrier. Head-on between a small and large vehicle, the large nearly always wins. And I drove a '67 Sunbeam Alpine roadster for many years. Not what most people today would consider a 'safe' car. But way safer than a motorcycle!
Wizard, I drive an ‘06 four two for 5+ years. I’m a big man and it was the most comfortable car I’ve ever driven but the short wheelbase made for a bouncy ride on potholed streets. As for safety, my car was killed when I was hit head on when a person turned into me while I was driving 60km/h. The triton roll cage which surrounds the passenger compartment did its job. None of the glass broke, both doors still opened and my only injury was bruises from the lap belt. I miss that car and would own one again in a heartbeat.
That was part fo the reason the cars were a failure. In order to make such a small car safe they had to add a lot of heavy bracing in the car. The result was a much heavier car than you would imagine. Over time they reached a weight of more than a ton. Which when pushed around with the small engine didn't give great gas mileage. If memory serves me it was a couple of years after they first came out that the new Honda Civic managed to beat them on gas mileage, were also cheaper and had room for twice as many people. That was really what killed them. The overly expensive and heavy safety frame led to a car that was simply not smart if gas mileage or price was your main concern.
We have one here in the UK and there are loads of them here. It’s tiny by the gas guzzling American cars that’s for sure. It’s definitely not the best gearbox in the world but they are fun to drive and nippy on British roads. I once owned a Toyota IQ3 with a multidrive and that was a better car than the Smart.
I've got a little blue Smatcar, just like this one. It's peppy up hills, is easy to park, is cheap on petrol and has tons of legroom and head height inside. It's bumpy over bumps, but it's a great little car. I love it.
I've been driving this same model car for around 4 years now .. In my time having the car it's mostly been really great, it doesn't actually feel small when you're inside. I had two major problems with it though - both surrounding the gearbox actuator. To increase the car's longevity you should turn off 'eco-mode' before you drive, this stops the engine from turning off and on every time your foot's on the break. To the 'problem' raised about using this car on the highway - it's fine!!! The smart car is in fact one of the safest small cars on the road, I've been driving back and forth on the highway with it for years, even pushing it to go 148kmph at times. Look up its safety ratings if you're worried. Overall, a really fun car to drive.
Although I'm aware of it, the smart 451 sold here in the USA did not have this option (I forget what it's called) that shuts the engine off at stops. It seemed to me from what little I know of it, that it would severely shorten the life of the starter motor, especially in city driving.
@@abbysapples1225 The obvious implication is that the smart is slow. But, at 92 MPH (148 kph) it'll do the highest speed limit in the country all day long without complaining. Although, its driver might grumble when slow pokes hold him/her back on the entry ramps.
I was laughing at this guy when he ALMOST damaged the front hood by opening it the wrong way !! He will not be be MY mechanic !!! READ UP on a car before you touch it, buddy !!! hahahahahaha !!!
Had one of these for close to five years. Wonderful city car. Mitsubishi motorcycle engine, easy to work on in your own garage. Worst part of the car was the transmission until they fixed it with a true manual. Great visibility when driving as its like being in a bubble. Low insurance payments and plastic replaceable body panels made scratches and dings not a big deal. Its a lot of fun to drive and was super reliable and great on gas.
Yep thats correct,@@OffGridInvestor the 1.0L Petrol was a 3b20 from 2006-2014 and the 3b20t both were Mitsubishi motorbike engines. Which were the 999cc motors. The 599cc engine you speak of was the first gen sadly not available in the states which was the M160 and OM660 *diesel. Then in 2014-2019 they offered a M281 898cc and turbo made by joint operation of Ford and Mercedes and now as of 2019ish currently offering the vehicle as an electric only car.
"As for safety, the ForTwo did well enough in crash tests by the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to earn the group’s highest rating-five stars-thanks to the car’s steel race-car style frame and liberal use of high-tech front and side airbags." Just don't hit a squirrel!!
It is very safe but the heavier vehicle will always win, provided it has structural rigidity. But around the city unless you are T-boned by a truck this thing as safe as any other modern car
Frames are made by Magna they are bullet proof. you do not need much steel to make a safe frame it how you engineer it. door handles window regulators fall off
@@samuelbaird4983 In a SMART car, YOU are the crumple zone. The Smart marketing people said the SMART car activates the crumple zones of the OTHER car... but what if the other car is another SMART car? Doesn't sound SMART to me.
I had a smart car and I loved it. My daughter wanted it. I gave it to her. It’s a fun car and it’s a lot of fun to drive. There are tons of them at the mercedes Benz of Catonsville , Maryland. I’m looking to get another one. I love small cars. My othe small car was a Minni Cooper, and a VW Bug. All these are fun cars to drive. The big cars are fun and safe . But life is about having fun and living. America has forgotten about having fun. I used to just drive my little cars and people and kids were amazed by it and it made me feel good that it made so many peoples day. And it was a good conversation piece. Great channel. I was amazed that you new so much about the car since most small towns mechanics are not so knowledge.
I’m about 6’2” and I sat in a Fiat 500 with a similar size to the Smart car. I fit perfectly in it, was comfortable too. I fit better in it than my wagon actually
The tiny car with the huge smile. Believe it or not, these are very safe cars. These are engineered by Mercedes. They're pretty tough little cars. You might get dinged up quite a bit in a car accident but you will probably be OK. Regarding the three lug wheels, the BMW Isetta from the 1960s also had three lug wheels and also had a three cylinder engine. What's even more remarkable is that a few of these Smart cars have been LS (LS4 from the front wheel drive Pontiac GXP, Chevy Monte Carlo SS and Impala SS, and the Buick Park Avenue Ultra) V8 swapped. A LOT of reengineering and a lot of welding but it has been done.
Do they have oil drain plugs in the US? Early models in the UK had no oil plugs for a spill & fill. You had to vacuum the oil out via the dipstick tube which took 45 minutes cos it was so damn thin! 🤪
Nope. 2019 was the last year it was sold in Canada. If you still have a dealer in your city, they are selling used ones or NOS 2019s, which is doubtful since it's 2021 in a few weeks.
I have had two of these cars, (Im in the UK) they are great. They are actually very safe cars.. the triton cell (the silver part) acts like the shell fo a nut and protects the occupant.
Personally, I’d feel safer in a Lexus barge than this lol. They’re safe until an article lorry comes from behind; just need to search Smart car and artic lorry to see the impact and then you’ll never buy one again. If you literally just do city meals it might be a good buy; I’d still prefer a Toyota Yaris or a CT200h
@@Tunguska_Gamer1908 litterally everything would get crushed by a lorry, ok maybe not military tanks. you just doesnt like small cars and that is okey. but don't use that black hole down there in your bottom to talk with..
I have one of these and though it is true that it is an automatic manual, you can turn it in to a manual by pushing the shifter to the left. It really has great storage in that trunk too. I have placed 16 packages of adult diapers in one layer or 16 bags and 4 24 packs of pop back there with no problem.
@@CarlsGarage1 It may be possible to import those as "grey market" vehicles, and get them legally titled, but from what I read a while back it can be a real headache.
I’ve owned two Smart ForTwos, and had no major problems with either. Perfect for driving in U.K., with lots of narrow roads, congestion and difficult parking - but I had no problems on motorways.
I have owned one of these and they are a hoot, the 3 cylinder has a nice sound (mini Nissan GTR thrum) and it is actually a safe car, it has an iridium steel safety cell as its chassis. The passenger seat folds flat so you will be surprised what you can transport in it and once you get used to the awful auto trans it ain't that bad. Only issue is that it is a cheap car with Merc servicing costs = thousands.
I think the engine compartment acts as a crumple zone. The engine is so low it wouldn't be pushed into you and I think the front suspension is designed as part of a crumple zone mechanism as well.
I remember when they were brand new I work for Penske automotive. It was the sole USA distribution for them. I was pleasantly surprised by these vehicles. For a commuter car they actually had lots of room and seem reliable. I’m surprised to see them still on the road!
Pre-PENSKE, I worked on the Marketing plans for the SMART with Daimler. Too bad Penske got the rights. Once again an American dealer got an import they didn't know how to market. PENSKE doesn't have all the answers.
In a country that has such stylish vehicles I cannot and will not understand why these would be a top seller. These things look like they belong in Korea.
@@DarkFilmDirector simply because we have literally no parking spots available since our cities where built when cars didn’t exist, and therefore a smart here will be parked anywhere possible ( sidewalk, crosswalk, on a tree stump) ahaha anywhere it fits
i highly doubt that. a passat 2014 cost about 11k while one of these from the same year cost about 10k and whe i had my passat i uded to get over 30 mpg which is pretty close to this.
Yea im a bean counter too, but used prices are still way to high for used bmw reliability and fuel economy isnt that great, you can pick other cars with comparable fuel economy with 4 seats. You are buying it for the looks and attention...which is okay i guess..
@@robertdlew it’s a Mercedes with a Mitsubishi based engine, no bmw components. There are no major issues with reliability. Conversely every Vw I ever had (2 rabbits, a mk5 gti and a scirocco) have all had major issues.
Darren Griffith VW US is a total mess because of the lack of quality control. In Europe they are A)Affordable thanks to their Skoda sub brand and B)Are known to be reliable and the parts are cheap. Smart is realiable, the only real issues are motor mounts which can get loose and a leaking aircon but these are minor things. Other Mercedes products are hit and miss. Burn Money W is just not a reliable car.
My Wife had one of these over here in Germany as a little town Car. We loved it! It is very Safe, the Doors are bigger than on my E-Class and i hab no Problem driving It, and i am 6,5 😉 You will always find a parkingspace in a big busy City.
@@oliverdelgado6952 it was torture you can't sleep cause the seats don't recline and the passenger actually has less leg room than the driver. Both my passenger and I are 5'6".
Or just buy it online? A stupid sensor like that if you have the partnumber shipped from Germany is still cheap! At this size of a car other micro cars burn you pocket much harder. Smart a though and cheap I am a A/B class driver owner still as the interior is much nicer
I’ve had a cabriolet for the last 7 years, not my daily it’s only for summer on nice days, never seen rain or snow. The front hood has little latches in the grill that allow for the entire hood to come off. Interior is as large as a regular sized car believe it or not. I’ve had a 400# guy sitting in mine a few times with no problems.
Unpopular fun fact there are Brabus Versions in Europe for the Fortwo :D But in the end it's a Mercedes product so they are suuuuper exensive for what they are..
Good job Mr. Wizard! I think you'll be surprised if a bad sensor is your only problem with your Smart Car. These actuators are notoriously not maintained properly during their 10,000 mile scheduled servcice
Never watched that channel, but a quick search shows it has triple the subs this channel has....they got beef?.....I love this channel btw just never heard of the other one so I was just curious.
No, but Hoovie's Garage has been around longer. The Wizard is Hoovie's main mechanic. Sometimes he goes to The Ninja. The Wizard is featured in a lot of Hoovie's videos. Usually telling Hoovie how much it will cost to fix his cars.
We have three of those in my driveway and a one ton Dodge Diesel. I drive from Calgary to Banff at 130km no problem. Good winter tires and these cars will take you anywhere if you can drive that is! Lots of fun! Good little cars. You just new to be mechanically inclined!
Ours is a yellow 2008 Passion with approx 45k miles. Have owned it for 12 years, Its the fastest thing around. It has a NTSB safety rating of 5 stars on front collisions and a 4 star rating for side collisions. 5 star is the best possible rating, even better than the 4 star rating for front of a Toyota Pruis. It actually feels much bigger when sitting in it. California is the only state that doesn't allow it to park perpendicular to the curb in a parallel parking space. I should add, after driving it for 12 years, the wind doesn't bother me any more and it will cruise at 80 mph all day with lots of pedal left. Back when there were dealerships, the service manager told me to drive it like a hot rod which I've done for over 10 years and it isn't broken yet.
My dad owes his life to his car, he had a sudden rim failure while going down the highway, spun out and stopped sideways on the little bit of tarmac next to the center devider/crash barrier, he was missed narrowly by 3 trucks who could not evade in time as they where right behind him if it wasnt for the short lengh of the car, he would have taken a side impact from a truck at highway speed and i would not want to imagine how that would have looked These cars are incredibly safe in many ways, i will never make fun of one
@@somersetlax The keyword is "if" along with how. You're more likely to be in a car accident in the first place the larger the vehicle you drive is. He would have been toast in this situation if it was a full size sedan. I wouldn't drive one down the interstate but bigger doesn't mean safer because of something called accident avoidance. Easier to avoid an accident or at least be in a less severe accident in a smaller car while it is harder for another car to hit a smaller car.
I had one of these as a cabrio back when i didn’t really need a car. It’s a fun little car, cheap to run and very secure. The cabrio feeling in this is one of the spaciest i ever had.
@@rickj1983 You might check the NHTSA crash ratings on thi9s before you make a silly comment. They were built like a vault; the safety cell suffered almost zero deformation in almost any accident. Stability control was better than most conventional cars. You might have a good argument that a smaller lighter car of barely over 2000 lb probably gets bounced around more so its occupants may have more injuries from getting bounced around, but the vehicle was very strong in a crash.
I have a 2009. It's been very reliable and fun around town. The transmission is jerky but if you drive it faster it helps. You get tons of looks for sure with the top down. 😉
The front bonnet / Hood has the catches inside the front grill on each side, you have to click them out and then slide them inward. then lift the panel.
@@thereissomecoolstuff I have had a Smart since they came out in the UK.. At the moment I own a Smart electric Drive and a Smart Brabus Roadster. I also have a Volvo V70 and an Alpine A610, but the Smarts are my favourite cars. Drove the roadster all over France.. Very safe cars.. the safety Tridion roll cage, I believe, is based upon the shape of an Egg! just try and break an egg from the pointy ends...
They get scary quick at motorway speeds, the auto box gets confused and doesn't know how to shift at times, but damn. Just pulling a u-turn on a single lane road is awesome. As a city car, they are perfect. Reasonably quick and nimble, you can get your shopping for two or even three into one of these easily, and as a 6'1 person I have more than enough leg and headroom, which with other microcars or subcompacts is not always the case.
Wizard the car not starting when you put your foot on the brake may be an underlying issue of some sort? I have two 2013's and both will start with my foot on the brake. Not sure if you're going to see this, but the car should also move or as mercedes call it creep when you take your foot off the brake, just like an automatic transmission car
As most folks react as Mr Wizzard does , it’s not unusual to hear about the Smart being unsafe and not worthy . Having 2 451’s and one 453 in our garage , I can tell you that quarks aside it’s a solid car and quite reliable . Attaining parts is not difficult although support here in the USA is basically non existent,. Sad situation on a well built car forgotten by the mothership Daimler .
i have two 451s in the Bahamas. as remote as i am, i have never had trouble finding parts in the USA. a few MB dealerships still stock parts. also Rock Auto, Smart Madness, Amazon, Ebay have made it easy to find parts.
The Smart Car is a Disposable Garbage Car, which only makes sense in a city if you legally park sideways. Since only San Fransico allows that as sideways parking has resulted in many accidents in Europe, the main feature is not something you can use...
@@davidhollenshead4892 exactly why would you get this car there's plenty of fantastic small cars out there like Micras Clio's ford focus Honda civic ect so many I can't think of them all
This car was really meant as an urban vehicle, I had one and live in the country. While I didn’t drive it in the winter, I put 55K on it over a few years. Never had a problem getting parts, at all. They didn’t come in a manual but instead a ‘manu-matic’ which literally is a servo activated clutch arm and shifter. The key with these cars was not to use the ‘auto’ feature but to use the paddle shifters. There is a whole market out there dedicated to modding these cars. You can spend little money on things like a ‘Go-Pedal’ up to a $10K plus Hayabusa install. $2-5K for turbo kits. Fun to drive like a go cart, but stable on the highway I would regularly hit 85mph now and then. My car was modified with upgraded wheels/suspension etc but still pretty simple.
I own two Smart cars. I cringed when you tried to open the front hood without first unlatching it. In an accident the car is designed to bounce off other vehicles and will not absorb the impact with another vehicle. The passengers are situated in a protective cage surrounded by air bags. That is your protection. The problem with dealers abandoning the Smart car in the US is because they stopped making gasoline cars and have gone all electric. I'm lucky here in Florida because the Mercedes dealer that had a Smart dealership attached to it has agreed to continue servicing Smart cars and parts are stocked at the dealership. They are great cars for driving around town in. I have a 2008 that I bought new and still drives like a new car and a 2013 that I bought used. The engines are great for a small car, but they do require high octane gas. The more you drive it the more you'll like it.
@@Gandalf721 - that's a bit harsh. So you don't like the way it looks. OK- your opinion. It's not meant to haul things. It's perfectly fine for what it is suited to do. It holds plenty when I go to the store. I have a 13 year old Smart and an 8 year old Smart that my wife drives. I also have a 13 year old Ford Escape that is a terrific vehicle. I wish Ford still made their 2nd Generation Escape with the 3.0 V6. Since 2013 the Escape is not worth having. My two Smart cars have never given me any problems. I've regularly maintained them and they have both been great. They zip around my town easily, are fun to drive and are really good on gas. I've had both on numerous long trips up and down the east coast. Are they as comfortable as my Escape? No they're not, but they're great at what they do and that is to get you from point to point easily and inexpensively.
Actually the flimsiness of the outer panels is due to them being quick change, the first version, I had a -99, you could do a drive "thru" color change for a couple hundred dollars, choose between used or new panels, the silver parts function as a roll cage, and it's fairly solid, mine was fully equipped with a leather interior, climate control, glass roof, cd-changer and that sequential gearbox.. What I loved the most was that you could park at 90 degrees, and do with a 7' pocket...
When I worked at Walmart tire and lube one these showed up for an oil change. Fun thing was we had the filter. The problem came about the oil weight and capacity. Someone ended up calling a Mercedes dealership in another state to find out. It was a fun experience.
Changed the oil filter on a 2013 Smart Fortwo 1.0l the same day as we did a 03Toyota tacoma 2.7l. Oil filters got mixed up as we soon realized they were interchangeable between the two. I figured it was a smart move on Mercedes not to make their parts that difficult to inventory, just use what else works that's already in use.
I live on the other side of the world and have worked on these; they really are junk. They have a habit of burning exhaust valves. The good thing is it takes less than hour to change the engine. The turbos don't last either. Another major fault is: the ECU for the trans is attached to the side of the battery box right in the heat of the engine compartment, so we've had to replace those. Sometimes they won't shift into gear; the gear lever sensors are optical interrupters and dust and debris like bits of tissue fall into the centre box and obstruct these, or they just build up with dirt if you live in dusty environments. Also the relays for the trans sits underneath the passenger's seat (the driver's seat in USA) so if you spill soft drink or coffee on the floor they may not shift. Also because the ignition switch faces upwards, debris and dust falls into it and is pushed further in by the insertion of the key. Needless to say the ignition switches give a lot of problems. Fortunately my country has very high UV sunlight so the plastic panels would craze or crack causing the cars to fail the annual safety inspection, so there were a lot of them at the auto wreckers for parts. They are know for parking accidents: they don't take off like normal automatics or CVTs; the actuator engages the clutch, from rest, with a fair bit of hysteresis. So at a certain engine speed the clutch engages and doesn't disengage until the engine (which is now being driven by the momentum of the car) slows below a certain speed so it keeps driving until you've hit the car in front. The only way to creep forward is with one foot on the brake and the other foot (judiciously) on the throttle. In short these are ill-conceived, badly made, badly designed pieces of shite made by a company that should have stuck to making watches and fashion accessories.
Smart: Swatch/Mercedes/Art. Back in the day, it was designed by the watch company. Tridion cell (that c shaped side that starts on the A pillar and ends at the door) is what makes them super safe to drive. Fifth gear crushed one against a concrete barrier at high speed; couldn't deform passengers space.
Yes: They are safe against stationary objects like concrete barriers (their own mass). They fail miserably against higher mass vehicles in collisions (especially head-on).
It's not all about deformation, but how violent the deceleration is. You might not be crushed to death, but you ain't gonna survive the high forces either. That's the most dangerous with all small cars, the lack of crumple zones..
@@gabon4000 Yes, but the main target for this car was city where you barely touch highway. It was designed for european city centers, not to crush against a F 650
@@AlessandroGenTLe You have to get some time to learn, how it works in manual mode. In auto mode it is hopeless when cold, but warmed up it works ok. In manual mode there is still some auto functions, as when stopping, it will go in 1st gear, and if over revving, it gears up. Using manual ( gearstick/flappypads), not the doubleclutch fast, but fast enuff.
David said "In America we are not used to turning back and see the back window". Actually not true, that's the case for any work pickup truck with no back seats.
@@CRAPO2011 Why make it open like a normal hood when simply unclipping it (by using the extremely simple 2 catch release levers that Wizard was clueless about) removes it completely out of the way in seconds.
I've just got one of these a couple of days ago...a CDI. Got it for work...delivering 100+ newspapers every morning. Test drove it in North London, seemed fine, bad traffic most of the way home, then got on the M25 and it wouldn't go above 68mph no matter how hard I pushed on the accelerator pedal. It was also louder than a tractor when I got home. God knows what on earth I've bought!
I have that same car - except its 2011 - its 'loaded' - heated leather seats and all the goodies. 115K miles - I love driving it; I live in a little town and drive 35 miles one way to work by myself - its a great commuter car (not just for cities) and I love not spending $$ on the gas and my detail guy just charges me $30 (mine still looks almost new inside ). I was sad to learn about getting parts for this as I tend to keep cars forever - my other vehicle is a '95 F150 - it too runs great!
a guy i used to work with delivered pizza in one of these except it was straight piped and tuned and the dude was basically only ever filling up the tank like once a month maybe
I have one and they are decently made cars. The main issue is the clutch in the electrical gear box wich is damn hard to change and the flex pipe of the exhaust due to it being all cramped up in the back. The engine is solid, no issues with rust and very resistent to vandalism and old people driving due to (on my white one at least) unpainted plastic for most of the exterior. Very bad off-road though :)
I've driven a lot in Germany-And it's awesome to see these on the Autobahn. Far right lane of course. They were sponsored by the SWATCH WATCH company- as the name implies. They were displayed in a multi-storied glass showroom. Much like CARVANA does here(Tampa). They are very structurally sound. Essentially you are riding in a roll cage. They are what they are what they are- nothing less and nothing more. Too bad they only run on 93 octane gas.
Keep an eye on the serpentine belt tensioner. Mine seized shortly after having the alternator replaced. It broke the belt, tripped the alternator light but there is no temp gauge so I didn’t make the connection that the belt had failed and blew the head gasket just as I got it home. That repair requires dropping the engine and subframe. Luckily I didn’t warp the head.
@@zeusapollo8688 That's pretty wild.. I saw one with a Harley Davidson motor in it and that thing really moved lol. Some guy did that same thing with a Prius too. There's a video of it here on TH-cam if you're interested in checking it out.
The passenger area is extremely safe in a inpact, a thousand times safer then you imagine a small would be, just watch a few crash tests on yt, its beyond belief what they can take
The law of physics are hard to get around. Plus the composite materials allow the doors to open freely, even in impacts at 90 mph, but in wrecks there is no give like metal crumple zones, so there is no absorbtion in the car, which makes higher speed collisions far more dangerous with occupants taking the full force of the collision.
@@qbraun9241 i do agree but i would imagine a majority of them (excluding fp's kater tot) tend to be driven under 50 mph, But compaired to a vehicles of simular size when it was launched it made the other cars look like death traps over here in the uk, At 90 mph dont matter what your in some serious g force is tearing thru your body on collision esp in a near instantaneous stop crash, causing any number of unseen internal injurys mainly internal bleeding from everything inside your body getting thrown and squeezed by g force till summit pops or tears, if the passenger cell cant stay intact the speed is irrelevant because they will be dead anyway
@@upsidedown4155 the 90 mph impact thing is more shocking to know the doors will still freely open and close like the did when it left the factory. Most other cars would be needing the jaws of life to break that door open. That's the amazing part. What I was getting at is that at any speed, even under 50, you're feeling 100% of that impact. They were learning that with composite small airplanes, and why less people survive those in crash landings than before. Same as Smart Cars, there is no absorbtion of that energy during the impact.
No, the passenger area is robust, that doesn't mean it's safe. There are no crumple zones, so deceleration is instantaneous, and due to the cars small size and light weight, acceleration in the opposite direction in a collision is all but guaranteed in a collision with another vehicle.
Mrs. Wizard had a good question, the CVT transmission doesn't waste that much power. They're used in mopeds for example. I remember as a kid there was a '77 Honda Accord with CVT my mother had, it had about 70hp in it. It would be a better match for the engine.
I never drove one, but I did sit in one of those at a car show; it actually seemed reasonably comfortable at least for short trips. I was surprised at how expensive they were (similar to a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic with options) and how poor the fuel economy was. Other subcompacts that had 4 doors and a back seat did better, plus as I recall the Smart Car required premium fuel so your costs would be higher. Surprising it failed in the US with all that going for it 😁
Watching you go in the front hood makes me glad I've never had to bring my cars into that garage. It took me several seconds to look up how to open that compartment. The latches are in the grill area. Jesus man, my boss saw me just pulling panel prices off like that with the "how do i open this" garbage I'd be sacked. If you dont know what your doing find out before you lay your hands on the consumers property.
For it's size it's very safe, and the "tridion cell" stays in one piece no matter what, but the deformation zones are very small. Also in offset crash tests vs. larger cars it spins like a top.
I was rear-ended in mine by an SUV and smooshed into the car in front of me. Some of the plastic bodywork came off, the headlights popped out (very disconcerting), and there was quite a bit of damage in the back, but me ant the other occupant were fine and metal protective "cell" held up fine.
We must be looking at different videos. It may seem safe because the passenger compartment is intact, but there's no crush zone to absorb the energy. The occupants are injured when the body stops that fast.
Exactly the car my wife owned, same trim level only different colour :) I loved this car, was so cheap to own, so fun to drive! Fuel economy wasn't the best, 7l/100km is nothing to write home about. Too bad my wife thought it would be too uncomfortable for her, so after 3,5 years we got rid of it. Only lost 400€s depreciation (bought for 5000€), had to do one service, bought all seasons (I hate changing summer/winter tires) and had to fix the aircon (around 500€). The radiator sits really low and up front and will be damaged by stones and becomes untight. I would've never sold this cute little bugger :)
I collect cars and I have owned 4 Smart 451's, currently have a Brabus gas and an Electric Drive. They are the most awesome vehicles. My Brabus will run into it's engine governor at 85mph easily and the electric is like a baby tesla on pulloff. Everybody seems to think that they are more dangerous because of their size. The analogy I always give is that if you were an ant, would you prefer to be inside a walnut or a soda can when something heavy lands on you. If you want numbers, take a look at the NTSB deaths per 100k vehicles sold vs other vehicles of the same year. It may shock you. There are 2 kinds of people when it comes to Smart cars, non-owners and people who love them.
I owned a previous diesel model. It was a great little car as long as one didn't take it to a Merc. Dealer for service. MY mechanic tapped the oil pan so oil changes were cheap after that. He serviced the car and bought brake parts, etc. through various parts sources. Eventually he purchased my car for his wife. He now has another diesel model for his daughter. By going on the internet and finding a Smart Car Group we found all sorts of things to do to the car that kept it going much better and much cheaper than Mercedes suggested. Loved the car but now that they are gas powered there is little advantage to owing one. Take care
I bought one to save KMs on my truck. Getting parts is easy, super easy to maintain and I live in Alberta Canada where snow and ice in winter are bad. With winter tires it is awesome and almost better than my 4x4 truck as it is super predictable. I have replaced the exhaust and air intake and have no issues on our major freeway. Those two upgrades made a major difference at higher speeds.
I bought an used 2008 passion, I replaced the muffler on it recently, you mentioned it is hard to get parts , but I ordering the muffler (original) on line $ 304 .00 . In fact most parts are available on line. It is a great car, I do most of my round around with it
Hiya, Ive owned 2 Smart Fourtwo cars and I LOVE them. They are very easy to drive. Great for two people or, in my case, me driving with my little dog in her own 'car dog seat' in the passenger seat. Usually drives average 60 miles to the gallon. So easy to park with a great turning circle. One small moan.. I had to sell my last one as the 'under the dashboard' computer board stopped recognising the electronic key. Each time the car stopped and engine was turned off...the electronic key had to be reconfigured. Would always buy a Smart car though. GREAT for little runabout local driving. I often see lots of other Smart Fourtwo cars around England. Safe and happy journeys everyone xx
Right!? I love the channel but I hate when people talk bs about what they clearly don't know. This car was the safest when it was released, maybe losing only to Renault. Plus the wizard didn't even took 5 seconds to Google how to pop the hood, the way he did could've broken it.
@@whatsreallygoingon253 We have big trucks in Europe but they don’t twist in the middle like US Semi tractors. A Smart would bounce off anything of any size. The steel frame is VERY strong.
@@Dave5843-d9m im reffering to pickup trucks that are lifted to just the perfect height where the bumper would smash through the window into your face if hit at the right angle or a 34 inch swamper mud tire in your lap not fun id bet
I had a red one that I brought up to a good running standard and installed a performance exhaust on it. Did a bunch of new parts and new catalytic converter O2 sensors and a head gasket because it had a warped cylinder head. When I was all done I had everything sorted and it ran fantastic and then I sold it like a moron.
The Crazy little car that passed the Euro NCAP safety test will a full 5 🌟 Stars. 70 Mph into a Concrete block 😳 at all angles with no injuries to the occupants. Amazing 👏 they also make a Smart for 4.
i did my homework before i bought one. It had a five star rating with Geico, You are surrounded by airbags, and you are surrounded by a steel roll cage like a racing car! I was broadsided by a car going 55-60 MPH, and lived to tell this story! I bought another one! Very safe! Imagine this.... if you got hit in the drivers door going 55-60mph would YOU survive? A german engineered car, made by Mercedes!!! Awesome car!
I always like the "What if you get hit by a semi on the highway?" argument against safety in these cars as if you would survive getting by a semi at highway speed in any car.
Lots of variables. The safety cage structure of this car is essentially a roll cage like those used in NASCAR race vehicles (or the European equivalent). With zero speed limit on some parts of the Autobahn in Deutschland (Germany), German vehicles are often made to go at speeds considered insane here in the USA, and protect the occupants in the event of a collision. These Smart® cars are designed and built by Daimler Benz (Mercedes Benz). Originally these cars were supposed to be a partnership between the Swatch® watch company and Daimler Benz, but IIRC, Swatch pulled out at the last minute.
I've actually crashed head-first into a 10-wheel dump truck doing about 40 - 50 mph (approx 70 Km/h) in a 1983 VW Rabbit (Golf Mk1). Blind curve on a 2-lane dirt road. VW bounced off the front of the truck. The front of the VW was slightly askew and obviously the front bumper, grille, radiator, and headlights were no more. Nothing behind the radiator was damaged. The owner of the dump truck claimed the radiator and steering box were damaged. Back in my teenage years.
At least a decade later, an 18-wheeler changed lanes into the lane I was driving in. Freeway in downtown Dallas. Vehicles in front and behind and an elevated concrete curb/ridge/flange with a drop-off to dirt to the left. 1995 VW Golf III vs. 18-wheeler. Blowing the horn was futile. I slowed down as much as I could without risking getting rear-ended. Entire right/passenger side of my car got wrinkled by the 18-wheeler. Passenger side mirror and front passenger window were obliterated. Truck never stopped and my wife and I were too shaken up to get the livery/name or license plate of the truck. Certainly not a head-on nor a t-bone by any means, but it was still a 3,000 Lb (1,360 Kg) car vs. a potentially 80,000 Lb (36,000 Kg) truck/lorry. A fender and door from a junkyard and my car kept on going for several more years, albeit with a paint scheme reminiscent of the Harlequin Edition VW Golf.
The primary design objective of the Smart ForTwo is to squeeze two of them into a single standard-sized parking spot in dense cities. Alleviate congestion. But, they're capable of 80+ Mph (130+ Km/h) speeds and still have to meet EU, US, Canadian, UK, and Australian crash safety regulations. And, they're built by Mercedes Benz - who are known for making very safe automobiles.
If you were sandwiched between a semi/18-wheeler and something else (say, a concrete wall), you wouldn't stand much of a chance of surviving in almost any "passenger" vehicle (from an F-350 down to a Smart ForTwo). However, in a wide open area, depending on the speed, angle, and a long list of other variables, getting hit by an tractor-trailer rig could be VERY survivable, even in a Smart ForTwo. I do NOT recommend deliberately testing this theory. YMMV.
I used round numbers instead of exact figures (typing this far too late at night for even the OCD nerd in me to be bothered).
I had a Chevy Equinox hit both my semi and the semi behind me head on, and the 2 teenagers who were in it were unscathed (they were on drugs though). If that's not an advertisement for the safety on that car I don't know what is.
While a Smart may have the best safety cage in the world, as someone already asked, what about crumple-zones?
Or are airbags the only major energy-absorbing feature in these cars?
@@velocityraptor9270 I still believe that certain laws of physics tell me I would almost certainly be better off in something substantially larger than a Smart.
@@velocityraptor9270 I never said it was unsafe. I just prefer a much larger crumple zone. The official crash tests are performed using a fixed barrier. Head-on between a small and large vehicle, the large nearly always wins.
And I drove a '67 Sunbeam Alpine roadster for many years. Not what most people today would consider a 'safe' car. But way safer than a motorcycle!
Wizard, I drive an ‘06 four two for 5+ years. I’m a big man and it was the most comfortable car I’ve ever driven but the short wheelbase made for a bouncy ride on potholed streets. As for safety, my car was killed when I was hit head on when a person turned into me while I was driving 60km/h. The triton roll cage which surrounds the passenger compartment did its job. None of the glass broke, both doors still opened and my only injury was bruises from the lap belt. I miss that car and would own one again in a heartbeat.
That was part fo the reason the cars were a failure. In order to make such a small car safe they had to add a lot of heavy bracing in the car. The result was a much heavier car than you would imagine. Over time they reached a weight of more than a ton. Which when pushed around with the small engine didn't give great gas mileage. If memory serves me it was a couple of years after they first came out that the new Honda Civic managed to beat them on gas mileage, were also cheaper and had room for twice as many people. That was really what killed them. The overly expensive and heavy safety frame led to a car that was simply not smart if gas mileage or price was your main concern.
Good for you. Thanks for sticking up for the smart car
Man if you think that's comfortable just wait until you discover leg room
they also have 7 airbags in addition to the cage. I have the EV version. I want to get a gas model too but I can't find one!
We have one here in the UK and there are loads of them here. It’s tiny by the gas guzzling American cars that’s for sure. It’s definitely not the best gearbox in the world but they are fun to drive and nippy on British roads.
I once owned a Toyota IQ3 with a multidrive and that was a better car than the Smart.
I've got a little blue Smatcar, just like this one. It's peppy up hills, is easy to park, is cheap on petrol and has tons of legroom and head height inside. It's bumpy over bumps, but it's a great little car. I love it.
The car is actually very safe, I hit a deer many years ago in mine. Car was repaired and I still have it.
You still have the deer or the car?
@@mrpcb2566 still have the car, no idea where the deer went.
If you blinded it is it a noeyedeer?
@@pbysome and if he paralysed it, it's still noeyedeer.
I've been driving this same model car for around 4 years now
..
In my time having the car it's mostly been really great, it doesn't actually feel small when you're inside. I had two major problems with it though - both surrounding the gearbox actuator. To increase the car's longevity you should turn off 'eco-mode' before you drive, this stops the engine from turning off and on every time your foot's on the break.
To the 'problem' raised about using this car on the highway - it's fine!!! The smart car is in fact one of the safest small cars on the road, I've been driving back and forth on the highway with it for years, even pushing it to go 148kmph at times. Look up its safety ratings if you're worried.
Overall, a really fun car to drive.
So is it more like a motorcycle transmission? Which would make sense. Nice simple setup to make computer controled
Although I'm aware of it, the smart 451 sold here in the USA did not have this option (I forget what it's called) that shuts the engine off at stops. It seemed to me from what little I know of it, that it would severely shorten the life of the starter motor, especially in city driving.
Yeah ok, A 148 mph. Right 👍
@@abbysapples1225 The obvious implication is that the smart is slow. But, at 92 MPH (148 kph) it'll do the highest speed limit in the country all day long without complaining. Although, its driver might grumble when slow pokes hold him/her back on the entry ramps.
@@Vector_Ze dang that sounds fun! I was looking into buying a used one.
These micro cars are supposed to be really safe because of the steel cage around the frame of the car
Exactly, funny how it´s safer than most old SUVs.
I don't care what the data or crash data says, I'd choose my fuel hog F250 over this in a motor vehicle accident.
Trucks are so damn easy to flip, are you sure?
Oh sure, the steel cage will successfully contain the liquified remains of its occupants, but crumple zones are cool too.
Fifth Gear tested one at 70mph into a Concrete block!
I'll let you make your mind up whether it is considered as "safe"!!!!
There’s a lever on each side of the grille that releases the hood.
Yes, thank you. What the heck was all that yanking for - google it or read the manual.
Yeah, it took me a while to work that out on our smart!
I was laughing at this guy when he ALMOST damaged the front hood by opening it the wrong way !! He will not be be MY mechanic !!! READ UP on a car before you touch it, buddy !!! hahahahahaha !!!
@@haukepowers8491 you a 🤡
@@haukepowers8491 no problem you can glue it back, it that would be an upgrade
Had one of these for close to five years. Wonderful city car. Mitsubishi motorcycle engine, easy to work on in your own garage. Worst part of the car was the transmission until they fixed it with a true manual. Great visibility when driving as its like being in a bubble. Low insurance payments and plastic replaceable body panels made scratches and dings not a big deal. Its a lot of fun to drive and was super reliable and great on gas.
In Australia they're 600CC and its a Mercedes BADGED engine. Might be the same engine, could be different
Yep thats correct,@@OffGridInvestor the 1.0L Petrol was a 3b20 from 2006-2014 and the 3b20t both were Mitsubishi motorbike engines. Which were the 999cc motors. The 599cc engine you speak of was the first gen sadly not available in the states which was the M160 and OM660 *diesel. Then in 2014-2019 they offered a M281 898cc and turbo made by joint operation of Ford and Mercedes and now as of 2019ish currently offering the vehicle as an electric only car.
"As for safety, the ForTwo did well enough in crash tests by the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to earn the group’s highest rating-five stars-thanks to the car’s steel race-car style frame and liberal use of high-tech front and side airbags." Just don't hit a squirrel!!
It is very safe but the heavier vehicle will always win, provided it has structural rigidity. But around the city unless you are T-boned by a truck this thing as safe as any other modern car
Frames are made by Magna they are bullet proof. you do not need much steel to make a safe frame it how you engineer it. door handles window regulators fall off
Absolutely! I did my homework before buying one! This car saved my life after being broad sided by a car going 55-60 in my driver door!
They also tend to skid easily and roll over.
@@Commentator541 No actually it isn’t and proves how clueless you are. Shorter the wheel base the easier it will skid and lose control.
The Smart has an incredibly strong safety cell. I watched a video where one was driven into concrete blocks at 70mph and the doors could still open.
But what about crumple zones?
Was on fifth gear uk tv show
Have you seen the video of Shaq O'Niel driving a new Smart car?
@@samuelbaird4983 In a SMART car, YOU are the crumple zone. The Smart marketing people said the SMART car activates the crumple zones of the OTHER car... but what if the other car is another SMART car? Doesn't sound SMART to me.
@@CareyHolzman that would be a problem.
I saw a smart car crash a VW Golf and there was a hole where the left foot of the driver would be.
I had a smart car and I loved it. My daughter wanted it. I gave it to her. It’s a fun car and it’s a lot of fun to drive. There are tons of them at the mercedes Benz of Catonsville , Maryland. I’m looking to get another one. I love small cars. My othe small car was a Minni Cooper, and a VW Bug. All these are fun cars to drive. The big cars are fun and safe . But life is about having fun and living. America has forgotten about having fun. I used to just drive my little cars and people and kids were amazed by it and it made me feel good that it made so many peoples day. And it was a good conversation piece. Great channel. I was amazed that you new so much about the car since most small towns mechanics are not so knowledge.
Older French cars had 3 lug wheels in many cases. 2CV's, Renaults, etc.
Almost all Citroens prior to the BX had only 3 wheel studs
Yes, the Renault LeCar used only 3 lug nuts.
Even peugeot
Citroën
@@cambridgemart2075 The early low power versions of the Saxo had three.
fun fact.. Smart actually stands for Swatch Mercedes Art Car
since this car is made as a collaboration by both companies.
But Swatch was smart & bailed out of the project...
Next up: a car made by Adidas and MaltOMeal...
My neighbor has one of these, loves it! It is sufficiently fast enough being so light and the interior room is much better than you would think.
I’m about 6’2” and I sat in a Fiat 500 with a similar size to the Smart car. I fit perfectly in it, was comfortable too. I fit better in it than my wagon actually
"In America, we're not used to turn around and see the back window right there in your face"... unless you drive a pickup truck!...
I miss the days of the standard cab truck.
Boom
I was just about to write the exact same comment.
and the Corvette C5 coupe
My first thought, then remembered I have a mega cab.
Never had that transmission issue. But as a Smart owner (9years, same gen) it is a blast to drive.
False
@@alexanderdrago7166 ?
@@alexanderdrago7166 Stupid.
I agree! Love mine 🚙💨
@@alexanderdrago7166 he likes driving it. Got a problem with that? Jerk!
Literally did this fix myself about a year ago. Ordered the part on amazon... 👀 Had the part 24 hours after ordering.
Are they reliable
The tiny car with the huge smile. Believe it or not, these are very safe cars. These are engineered by Mercedes. They're pretty tough little cars. You might get dinged up quite a bit in a car accident but you will probably be OK.
Regarding the three lug wheels, the BMW Isetta from the 1960s also had three lug wheels and also had a three cylinder engine.
What's even more remarkable is that a few of these Smart cars have been LS (LS4 from the front wheel drive Pontiac GXP, Chevy Monte Carlo SS and Impala SS, and the Buick Park Avenue Ultra) V8 swapped. A LOT of reengineering and a lot of welding but it has been done.
The Citröen 2CV and AX and the Renault 4L also have 3 lug wheels.
I service these at work occasionally and I always appreciate the irony that we stock the same 0w-40 Mobil for smart cars as SRT-8 Hemi V8s
The tiny engine is under the same load ;-) compared by size so
Do they have oil drain plugs in the US? Early models in the UK had no oil plugs for a spill & fill. You had to vacuum the oil out via the dipstick tube which took 45 minutes cos it was so damn thin! 🤪
Yep 3.5 qts
Yes drain plugs.
got a srt8 and thinking of getting these as a daily 😌
I had a Smart FourTwo Cabrio. Loved it. Took a couple of trips on the US Interstates. No problems.
They still sell Smart Cars in Canada, it would probably be easy to get parts shipped down from there rather than from Europe.
Nope. 2019 was the last year it was sold in Canada. If you still have a dealer in your city, they are selling used ones or NOS 2019s, which is doubtful since it's 2021 in a few weeks.
@@OMGWTFLOLSMH Your right the last ones were sold this year BUT parts and service are still available
is it so difficult to order parts directly from europe?
@@mmkuyt With covid, shipping costs have really ballooned.
If you're in Vancouver, BC all the Mercedes Benz dealership's here sell Smart parts.
I have had two of these cars, (Im in the UK) they are great. They are actually very safe cars.. the triton cell (the silver part) acts like the shell fo a nut and protects the occupant.
Personally, I’d feel safer in a Lexus barge than this lol. They’re safe until an article lorry comes from behind; just need to search Smart car and artic lorry to see the impact and then you’ll never buy one again. If you literally just do city meals it might be a good buy; I’d still prefer a Toyota Yaris or a CT200h
@@Tunguska_Gamer1908 litterally everything would get crushed by a lorry, ok maybe not military tanks. you just doesnt like small cars and that is okey. but don't use that black hole down there in your bottom to talk with..
Can it float 👩🎓in water?
They protect the passengers body's for autopsy. There's no ability to absorb crash forces, very little crush zones.
@@matthewking5612 It has a 4 star NCAP rating
I have one of these and though it is true that it is an automatic manual, you can turn it in to a manual by pushing the shifter to the left. It really has great storage in that trunk too. I have placed 16 packages of adult diapers in one layer or 16 bags and 4 24 packs of pop back there with no problem.
That's a lot of diapers 😳
Sounds like a good time LOL
Have the same year Smart, just over 50k miles on it currently. We use it for everything, great buy for us when we got it.
What kinda MPG do you get?
How much is insurance?
@@matt23727 between 35 and 50, depends on how and where I drive. Insurance is about the same as a subcompact car. Love it
remember you are driving a rear engine, single clutch Auto-Manual transmission! It is just like a supercar
There are actually smart sports cars based on this flat form :)
"It's just like a supercar, other than the looks and performance." :)
@@markh.6687 I really like the smart roadster...I only saw one in the US, someone imported it but I don't think it is road legal
@@CarlsGarage1 It may be possible to import those as "grey market" vehicles, and get them legally titled, but from what I read a while back it can be a real headache.
The wizard completely fills up that car when driving it to the lift, hilarious.
I’ve owned two Smart ForTwos, and had no major problems with either. Perfect for driving in U.K., with lots of narrow roads, congestion and difficult parking - but I had no problems on motorways.
No Problems on motorways except getting overtaken by cyclists
@@des1458 If only cyclists were allowed on motorways that rather weak attempt at humour might have worked . . .
I can hit 90 in no time at all and can hold my own on the interstate with my little smart car. Absolutely love it!
They're great, until the engine wears out before 50,000 miles, rendering the car poor value for money.
@@matthewking5612 I've got 110,000 miles on mine right now and only changed the oil. This is a very reliable car, and fun to drive.
Doug: the smart car has 4 cup holders.
Car wizard: let's race around the car lol
Doug is a joke where Car Wizard is the real deal.
I have owned one of these and they are a hoot, the 3 cylinder has a nice sound (mini Nissan GTR thrum) and it is actually a safe car, it has an iridium steel safety cell as its chassis. The passenger seat folds flat so you will be surprised what you can transport in it and once you get used to the awful auto trans it ain't that bad. Only issue is that it is a cheap car with Merc servicing costs = thousands.
I think the engine compartment acts as a crumple zone. The engine is so low it wouldn't be pushed into you and I think the front suspension is designed as part of a crumple zone mechanism as well.
I remember when they were brand new I work for Penske automotive. It was the sole USA distribution for them. I was pleasantly surprised by these vehicles. For a commuter car they actually had lots of room and seem reliable. I’m surprised to see them still on the road!
Pre-PENSKE, I worked on the Marketing plans for the SMART with Daimler. Too bad Penske got the rights. Once again an American dealer got an import they didn't know how to market. PENSKE doesn't have all the answers.
I live in ROme italy, and these are the best selling car. they are eery where and prices for a 2008 model start at 3000 euros
Italy has some of the smallest and coolest cars I’ve ever seen. I’m from Canada a small car here is massive there
In a country that has such stylish vehicles I cannot and will not understand why these would be a top seller. These things look like they belong in Korea.
@@DarkFilmDirector simply because we have literally no parking spots available since our cities where built when cars didn’t exist, and therefore a smart here will be parked anywhere possible ( sidewalk, crosswalk, on a tree stump) ahaha anywhere it fits
As an American visiting Rome, I will never forget all the tiny cars that just back up into spaces on the street, instead of parallel parking!
@@bandguy360 Paris can be the same
Often asked, “Hey, where’s the other half of your car?” I reply, “it’s in my bank account.”
i highly doubt that. a passat 2014 cost about 11k while one of these from the same year cost about 10k and whe i had my passat i uded to get over 30 mpg which is pretty close to this.
Yea im a bean counter too, but used prices are still way to high for used bmw reliability and fuel economy isnt that great, you can pick other cars with comparable fuel economy with 4 seats. You are buying it for the looks and attention...which is okay i guess..
@@robertdlew it’s a Mercedes with a Mitsubishi based engine, no bmw components. There are no major issues with reliability. Conversely every Vw I ever had (2 rabbits, a mk5 gti and a scirocco) have all had major issues.
Darren Griffith VW US is a total mess because of the lack of quality control. In Europe they are A)Affordable thanks to their Skoda sub brand and B)Are known to be reliable and the parts are cheap. Smart is realiable, the only real issues are motor mounts which can get loose and a leaking aircon but these are minor things. Other Mercedes products are hit and miss. Burn Money W is just not a reliable car.
Ohhh snappp
My Wife had one of these over here in Germany as a little town Car. We loved it! It is very Safe, the Doors are bigger than on my E-Class and i hab no Problem driving It, and i am 6,5 😉 You will always find a parkingspace in a big busy City.
I bought a diesel version from Canada. I love it. 50-70 mpg. Drove it from Vancouver to Houston.
Wow that's sounds like a long drive lol
Never understood why they felt the need to do an "economy" engine version of something that already returns 60mpg.
@@andrewlaw Like so many things...because they CAN. :)
@@oliverdelgado6952 it was torture you can't sleep cause the seats don't recline and the passenger actually has less leg room than the driver. Both my passenger and I are 5'6".
Just call smart dealer in Canada to get the parts and get them to ship it to you not hard we still seel them here.
Or just buy it online? A stupid sensor like that if you have the partnumber shipped from Germany is still cheap! At this size of a car other micro cars burn you pocket much harder. Smart a though and cheap
I am a A/B class driver owner still as the interior is much nicer
Rock auto seems to have that sensor
@@mrpepper45 yes, they do, I just checked it, it costs $18.78 ... plus tax and shipping, of course.
I’ve had a cabriolet for the last 7 years, not my daily it’s only for summer on nice days, never seen rain or snow. The front hood has little latches in the grill that allow for the entire hood to come off. Interior is as large as a regular sized car believe it or not. I’ve had a 400# guy sitting in mine a few times with no problems.
Wow, you invented a whole new type of car racing. Running in circles around the car...😂😅🤣
I laughed at the hesitation in Mrs Wizards voice when he suggested it.
Unpopular fun fact there are Brabus Versions in Europe for the Fortwo :D
But in the end it's a Mercedes product so they are suuuuper exensive for what they are..
Usain bolt would have covered nearly 50 meters in that time!
"And he's coming out....of the fourth turn!"
Good job Mr. Wizard! I think you'll be surprised if a bad sensor is your only problem with your Smart Car. These actuators are notoriously not maintained properly during their 10,000 mile scheduled servcice
Hoovy: " Welcome to Hoovies garage the dumbest automotive channel on TH-cam! This is a 2013 Smart car..."
Wizard: "OH FFS!"
Oh yeah. Absolutely
Never watched that channel, but a quick search shows it has triple the subs this channel has....they got beef?.....I love this channel btw just never heard of the other one so I was just curious.
No, but Hoovie's Garage has been around longer. The Wizard is Hoovie's main mechanic. Sometimes he goes to The Ninja. The Wizard is featured in a lot of Hoovie's videos. Usually telling Hoovie how much it will cost to fix his cars.
@@danhall6791 hoovie literally brought the wiz to us.
@@colliemayfill4234 and for that, we are eternally grateful.
We have three of those in my driveway and a one ton Dodge Diesel. I drive from Calgary to Banff at 130km no problem. Good winter tires and these cars will take you anywhere if you can drive that is!
Lots of fun! Good little cars. You just new to be mechanically inclined!
Ours is a yellow 2008 Passion with approx 45k miles. Have owned it for 12 years, Its the fastest thing around. It has a NTSB safety rating of 5 stars on front collisions and a 4 star rating for side collisions. 5 star is the best possible rating, even better than the 4 star rating for front of a Toyota Pruis. It actually feels much bigger when sitting in it. California is the only state that doesn't allow it to park perpendicular to the curb in a parallel parking space. I should add, after driving it for 12 years, the wind doesn't bother me any more and it will cruise at 80 mph all day with lots of pedal left. Back when there were dealerships, the service manager told me to drive it like a hot rod which I've done for over 10 years and it isn't broken yet.
“It’s the fastest thing around”. 🤣😂🤣
@@vincedibona4687 hey don’t laugh.
@@ogonbio8145 *ROFLMFFAO*
@@vincedibona4687 noooo
@@ogonbio8145 yesss
My dad owes his life to his car, he had a sudden rim failure while going down the highway, spun out and stopped sideways on the little bit of tarmac next to the center devider/crash barrier, he was missed narrowly by 3 trucks who could not evade in time as they where right behind him
if it wasnt for the short lengh of the car, he would have taken a side impact from a truck at highway speed and i would not want to imagine how that would have looked
These cars are incredibly safe in many ways, i will never make fun of one
And if ur dad got into any wreck he would be dead in one of these vs a full sized car
@@somersetlax nope, it gets top marks in regular crash tests
@@somersetlax clearly you don’t do your research.
@@Ty-vq1jy clearly you’ve never seen a smart car in a wreck. Please educate yourself before making stupid comments
@@somersetlax The keyword is "if" along with how. You're more likely to be in a car accident in the first place the larger the vehicle you drive is. He would have been toast in this situation if it was a full size sedan. I wouldn't drive one down the interstate but bigger doesn't mean safer because of something called accident avoidance. Easier to avoid an accident or at least be in a less severe accident in a smaller car while it is harder for another car to hit a smaller car.
In Canada Mercedes still supports Smarts and can get parts, provide service etc from any dealership.
I had one of these as a cabrio back when i didn’t really need a car. It’s a fun little car, cheap to run and very secure. The cabrio feeling in this is one of the spaciest i ever had.
Enjoy mine every day for the past 9 years LOVE IT
Same here, I have an 08
Does it not bother you in the least when you drive around much larger vehicles in that you literally have zero crash protection?
We have a 2013 that has worked flawlessly for 52k miles. Just maintenance done on it so far.
You are single?? Do you have kids??? Where do you put groceries. E.t.c..does it snow where you live.? How does it handle in rain or snow???
@@rickj1983 You might check the NHTSA crash ratings on thi9s before you make a silly comment. They were built like a vault; the safety cell suffered almost zero deformation in almost any accident. Stability control was better than most conventional cars. You might have a good argument that a smaller lighter car of barely over 2000 lb probably gets bounced around more so its occupants may have more injuries from getting bounced around, but the vehicle was very strong in a crash.
I have a 2009. It's been very reliable and fun around town. The transmission is jerky but if you drive it faster it helps. You get tons of looks for sure with the top down. 😉
The front bonnet / Hood has the catches inside the front grill on each side, you have to click them out and then slide them inward. then lift the panel.
I know right?
@@thereissomecoolstuff I have had a Smart since they came out in the UK.. At the moment I own a Smart electric Drive and a Smart Brabus Roadster. I also have a Volvo V70 and an Alpine A610, but the Smarts are my favourite cars. Drove the roadster all over France.. Very safe cars.. the safety Tridion roll cage, I believe, is based upon the shape of an Egg! just try and break an egg from the pointy ends...
They get scary quick at motorway speeds, the auto box gets confused and doesn't know how to shift at times, but damn. Just pulling a u-turn on a single lane road is awesome. As a city car, they are perfect. Reasonably quick and nimble, you can get your shopping for two or even three into one of these easily, and as a 6'1 person I have more than enough leg and headroom, which with other microcars or subcompacts is not always the case.
Yes I thought he was going to break the bonnet off!
Wizard the car not starting when you put your foot on the brake may be an underlying issue of some sort? I have two 2013's and both will start with my foot on the brake. Not sure if you're going to see this, but the car should also move or as mercedes call it creep when you take your foot off the brake, just like an automatic transmission car
As most folks react as Mr Wizzard does , it’s not unusual to hear about the Smart being unsafe and not worthy . Having 2 451’s and one 453 in our garage , I can tell you that quarks aside it’s a solid car and quite reliable . Attaining parts is not difficult although support here in the USA is basically non existent,. Sad situation on a well built car forgotten by the mothership Daimler .
i have two 451s in the Bahamas. as remote as i am, i have never had trouble finding parts in the USA. a few MB dealerships still stock parts. also Rock Auto, Smart Madness, Amazon, Ebay have made it easy to find parts.
Car wizard looks like a bear getting out of the circus car LOL
🤣
The look on his face was priceless.
The Smart Car is a Disposable Garbage Car, which only makes sense in a city if you legally park sideways. Since only San Fransico allows that as sideways parking has resulted in many accidents in Europe, the main feature is not something you can use...
@@davidhollenshead4892 Yeah, it's also way too expensive for what it is.
@@davidhollenshead4892 exactly why would you get this car there's plenty of fantastic small cars out there like Micras Clio's ford focus Honda civic ect so many I can't think of them all
Love my smart. Had it for 3 years and no problems. A cheap fun car to drive.
Love mine
Just bought mine today! So excited
I heard the gas mileage isn't that much greater than a civic
@@inspectorfunk It's not. But that's not why you drive a smart.
@@andyman58 I feel you , why do you drive it?
My wife loved her Smart - it’s amazing what you can get in the boot, excellent car - better than the newer versions
Please, please start running around every vehicle and timing it.
How else are we going to know how big the car is!
Pretty soon, he'll look like Hoovie, with a beard.
😂😂😂
@@qx4n9e1xp ....and talent.
next car: 1959 Imperial, wizard collapses.
OMG I totally cracked up when Mrs Wizard said: I've seen semis hit them and they've gone flying like little hockey pucks!
They're actually much stronger than they look. But, of course, you would still come of worse if hitting a truck.
This car was really meant as an urban vehicle, I had one and live in the country. While I didn’t drive it in the winter, I put 55K on it over a few years. Never had a problem getting parts, at all. They didn’t come in a manual but instead a ‘manu-matic’ which literally is a servo activated clutch arm and shifter. The key with these cars was not to use the ‘auto’ feature but to use the paddle shifters. There is a whole market out there dedicated to modding these cars. You can spend little money on things like a ‘Go-Pedal’ up to a $10K plus Hayabusa install. $2-5K for turbo kits. Fun to drive like a go cart, but stable on the highway I would regularly hit 85mph now and then. My car was modified with upgraded wheels/suspension etc but still pretty simple.
I own two Smart cars. I cringed when you tried to open the front hood without first unlatching it. In an accident the car is designed to bounce off other vehicles and will not absorb the impact with another vehicle. The passengers are situated in a protective cage surrounded by air bags. That is your protection. The problem with dealers abandoning the Smart car in the US is because they stopped making gasoline cars and have gone all electric. I'm lucky here in Florida because the Mercedes dealer that had a Smart dealership attached to it has agreed to continue servicing Smart cars and parts are stocked at the dealership. They are great cars for driving around town in. I have a 2008 that I bought new and still drives like a new car and a 2013 that I bought used. The engines are great for a small car, but they do require high octane gas. The more you drive it the more you'll like it.
That's not how physics works.
@@Gandalf721 - that's a bit harsh. So you don't like the way it looks. OK- your opinion. It's not meant to haul things. It's perfectly fine for what it is suited to do. It holds plenty when I go to the store. I have a 13 year old Smart and an 8 year old Smart that my wife drives. I also have a 13 year old Ford Escape that is a terrific vehicle. I wish Ford still made their 2nd Generation Escape with the 3.0 V6. Since 2013 the Escape is not worth having. My two Smart cars have never given me any problems. I've regularly maintained them and they have both been great. They zip around my town easily, are fun to drive and are really good on gas. I've had both on numerous long trips up and down the east coast. Are they as comfortable as my Escape? No they're not, but they're great at what they do and that is to get you from point to point easily and inexpensively.
Actually the flimsiness of the outer panels is due to them being quick change, the first version, I had a -99, you could do a drive "thru" color change for a couple hundred dollars, choose between used or new panels, the silver parts function as a roll cage, and it's fairly solid, mine was fully equipped with a leather interior, climate control, glass roof, cd-changer and that sequential gearbox.. What I loved the most was that you could park at 90 degrees, and do with a 7' pocket...
Exactly, I have two sets. summer blue and winter red
Yes. I remember this now you mentioned it
Had a 51 ford just like that woodie in the background. Owned it for 39 years.
When I worked at Walmart tire and lube one these showed up for an oil change. Fun thing was we had the filter. The problem came about the oil weight and capacity. Someone ended up calling a Mercedes dealership in another state to find out. It was a fun experience.
walmart service for cars sucks ass
Changed the oil filter on a 2013 Smart Fortwo 1.0l the same day as we did a 03Toyota tacoma 2.7l. Oil filters got mixed up as we soon realized they were interchangeable between the two. I figured it was a smart move on Mercedes not to make their parts that difficult to inventory, just use what else works that's already in use.
CW: "Now let's look underneath. Instead of the lift, Mrs Wizard is going to bench press the car while I talk about it."
Good one..lol
Pretty sure I could get the car all the way in the air with just my floor jack.
@@1337penguinman They aren't quite as light as they might look due to the thick steel in the "tridion" safety shell.
@@ferrumignis two flips and you can play 'Spin the SmartCar'
He would..hahahahahahaha !!!
I live on the other side of the world and have worked on these; they really are junk. They have a habit of burning exhaust valves. The good thing is it takes less than hour to change the engine. The turbos don't last either. Another major fault is: the ECU for the trans is attached to the side of the battery box right in the heat of the engine compartment, so we've had to replace those. Sometimes they won't shift into gear; the gear lever sensors are optical interrupters and dust and debris like bits of tissue fall into the centre box and obstruct these, or they just build up with dirt if you live in dusty environments. Also the relays for the trans sits underneath the passenger's seat (the driver's seat in USA) so if you spill soft drink or coffee on the floor they may not shift. Also because the ignition switch faces upwards, debris and dust falls into it and is pushed further in by the insertion of the key. Needless to say the ignition switches give a lot of problems. Fortunately my country has very high UV sunlight so the plastic panels would craze or crack causing the cars to fail the annual safety inspection, so there were a lot of them at the auto wreckers for parts.
They are know for parking accidents: they don't take off like normal automatics or CVTs; the actuator engages the clutch, from rest, with a fair bit of hysteresis. So at a certain engine speed the clutch engages and doesn't disengage until the engine (which is now being driven by the momentum of the car) slows below a certain speed so it keeps driving until you've hit the car in front. The only way to creep forward is with one foot on the brake and the other foot (judiciously) on the throttle.
In short these are ill-conceived, badly made, badly designed pieces of shite made by a company that should have stuck to making watches and fashion accessories.
I love my Smart car! Thanks for making Smart car content!
All I can hear is Arnold saying “it’s like driving a shoe!” 🤣
I have a 2013 brabus. Very good on gas! I avoid driving freeway on windy days.
Smart: Swatch/Mercedes/Art. Back in the day, it was designed by the watch company.
Tridion cell (that c shaped side that starts on the A pillar and ends at the door) is what makes them super safe to drive. Fifth gear crushed one against a concrete barrier at high speed; couldn't deform passengers space.
Yes: They are safe against stationary objects like concrete barriers (their own mass). They fail miserably against higher mass vehicles in collisions (especially head-on).
It's not all about deformation, but how violent the deceleration is. You might not be crushed to death, but you ain't gonna survive the high forces either. That's the most dangerous with all small cars, the lack of crumple zones..
@@MrCarGuy In that scenario, you'll end up spinning around a bit.
@@gabon4000 Yes, but the main target for this car was city where you barely touch highway. It was designed for european city centers, not to crush against a F 650
I'd worry more about side impacts.
I'd love a Smart Roadster Coupe, amazing handling. As for 3 bolt hubs my Citroen GSA and many old Renaults had them.
Yes, but manual. My friend had one (and before he had the fortwo like this in the video). The transmission was damn slow as in the fortwo :(
@@AlessandroGenTLe You have to get some time to learn, how it works in manual mode.
In auto mode it is hopeless when cold, but warmed up it works ok.
In manual mode there is still some auto functions, as when stopping, it will go in 1st gear, and if over revving, it gears up. Using manual ( gearstick/flappypads), not the doubleclutch fast, but fast enuff.
David said "In America we are not used to turning back and see the back window". Actually not true, that's the case for any work pickup truck with no back seats.
That "hood" is what Smart calls a "Service Flap"
They couldnt make it open like a normal hood these things werent cheap when new
@@CRAPO2011 Why make it open like a normal hood when simply unclipping it (by using the extremely simple 2 catch release levers that Wizard was clueless about) removes it completely out of the way in seconds.
@@DiscoFang in the freezing cold i rather pull a prop rod than thave to carefully remove the hood
@@CRAPO2011 bc youre used to use a rod
For parts, you have ordered them from Canada. We even have the second generation of the Smart.
Believe it or not, we have 3 generations of smart car in Canada, my parking garage has the first and second, and the new one too
They are no longer sold in Canada as of the 2020 model year.
My condolences that they still sell the piece of crap for two in Cabada...
I've just got one of these a couple of days ago...a CDI. Got it for work...delivering 100+ newspapers every morning. Test drove it in North London, seemed fine, bad traffic most of the way home, then got on the M25 and it wouldn't go above 68mph no matter how hard I pushed on the accelerator pedal. It was also louder than a tractor when I got home. God knows what on earth I've bought!
My old Triumph Tr7 had the window right behind you. Loved that cheap, poorly built old car.
My Dad had a Tr7. Didn't have a rear window though, it fell out.
my 1969 Corvette did also. I had a TR7 but it was a Convertible. Had the GM 3.8L and 4 speed 700R4 auto in it. ( from a Buick I think )
@Anthony Stafford What about the TR8?
my 1st car was a 64 Triumph Herald. 1.2L,39hp,70mph max. it was memorable.
I have that same car - except its 2011 - its 'loaded' - heated leather seats and all the goodies. 115K miles - I love driving it; I live in a little town and drive 35 miles one way to work by myself - its a great commuter car (not just for cities) and I love not spending $$ on the gas and my detail guy just charges me $30 (mine still looks almost new inside ). I was sad to learn about getting parts for this as I tend to keep cars forever - my other vehicle is a '95 F150 - it too runs great!
I ❤️ my Smartie! I drive him everywhere and even the highway! Zips through the mountains like a dream and gas saver is a plus!!
a guy i used to work with delivered pizza in one of these except it was straight piped and tuned and the dude was basically only ever filling up the tank like once a month maybe
They actually don't get very good mpgs.A Prius gets better. I'll have to double check but it was only like 35mpgs
Everything looks dry underneath. You've got to give a thumbs-up for that.
I was thinking the same thing!
I have one and they are decently made cars. The main issue is the clutch in the electrical gear box wich is damn hard to change and the flex pipe of the exhaust due to it being all cramped up in the back.
The engine is solid, no issues with rust and very resistent to vandalism and old people driving due to (on my white one at least) unpainted plastic for most of the exterior.
Very bad off-road though :)
I've driven a lot in Germany-And it's awesome to see these on the Autobahn. Far right lane of course. They were sponsored by the SWATCH WATCH company- as the name implies. They were displayed in a multi-storied glass showroom. Much like CARVANA does here(Tampa). They are very structurally sound. Essentially you are riding in a roll cage. They are what they are what they are- nothing less and nothing more. Too bad they only run on 93 octane gas.
For the first few seconds I though I had opened aging wheels video. When will you collab?
smart cars have a very good safety record and crash rating...
Keep an eye on the serpentine belt tensioner. Mine seized shortly after having the alternator replaced. It broke the belt, tripped the alternator light but there is no temp gauge so I didn’t make the connection that the belt had failed and blew the head gasket just as I got it home. That repair requires dropping the engine and subframe. Luckily I didn’t warp the head.
I love these cars when they have the Hayabusa swap done lol.
Yeap i saw one with a Honda v tech turbo on it it was a rocket
Some guys outside chicago building race tuned engines for them
@@zeusapollo8688 That's pretty wild.. I saw one with a Harley Davidson motor in it and that thing really moved lol. Some guy did that same thing with a Prius too. There's a video of it here on TH-cam if you're interested in checking it out.
The best is the go-kart powered by a smart car drive train...
*Fasterproms has entered the chat*
The passenger area is extremely safe in a inpact, a thousand times safer then you imagine a small would be, just watch a few crash tests on yt, its beyond belief what they can take
The law of physics are hard to get around. Plus the composite materials allow the doors to open freely, even in impacts at 90 mph, but in wrecks there is no give like metal crumple zones, so there is no absorbtion in the car, which makes higher speed collisions far more dangerous with occupants taking the full force of the collision.
@@qbraun9241 i do agree but i would imagine a majority of them (excluding fp's kater tot) tend to be driven under 50 mph,
But compaired to a vehicles of simular size when it was launched it made the other cars look like death traps over here in the uk,
At 90 mph dont matter what your in some serious g force is tearing thru your body on collision esp in a near instantaneous stop crash, causing any number of unseen internal injurys mainly internal bleeding from everything inside your body getting thrown and squeezed by g force till summit pops or tears, if the passenger cell cant stay intact the speed is irrelevant because they will be dead anyway
@@upsidedown4155 the 90 mph impact thing is more shocking to know the doors will still freely open and close like the did when it left the factory. Most other cars would be needing the jaws of life to break that door open. That's the amazing part.
What I was getting at is that at any speed, even under 50, you're feeling 100% of that impact. They were learning that with composite small airplanes, and why less people survive those in crash landings than before. Same as Smart Cars, there is no absorbtion of that energy during the impact.
No, the passenger area is robust, that doesn't mean it's safe. There are no crumple zones, so deceleration is instantaneous, and due to the cars small size and light weight, acceleration in the opposite direction in a collision is all but guaranteed in a collision with another vehicle.
Mrs. Wizard had a good question, the CVT transmission doesn't waste that much power. They're used in mopeds for example. I remember as a kid there was a '77 Honda Accord with CVT my mother had, it had about 70hp in it. It would be a better match for the engine.
I never drove one, but I did sit in one of those at a car show; it actually seemed reasonably comfortable at least for short trips. I was surprised at how expensive they were (similar to a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic with options) and how poor the fuel economy was. Other subcompacts that had 4 doors and a back seat did better, plus as I recall the Smart Car required premium fuel so your costs would be higher. Surprising it failed in the US with all that going for it 😁
Many old Renaults back in the day had three Lugnuts per wheel
Yes a few old french vehicles, even of surprising size!
Watching you go in the front hood makes me glad I've never had to bring my cars into that garage. It took me several seconds to look up how to open that compartment. The latches are in the grill area. Jesus man, my boss saw me just pulling panel prices off like that with the "how do i open this" garbage I'd be sacked. If you dont know what your doing find out before you lay your hands on the consumers property.
One of the safest car in the world, many crash videos on TH-cam.
For it's size it's very safe, and the "tridion cell" stays in one piece no matter what, but the deformation zones are very small. Also in offset crash tests vs. larger cars it spins like a top.
I was rear-ended in mine by an SUV and smooshed into the car in front of me. Some of the plastic bodywork came off, the headlights popped out (very disconcerting), and there was quite a bit of damage in the back, but me ant the other occupant were fine and metal protective "cell" held up fine.
It is very safe. But the occupants will be like marbles in a blender.
We must be looking at different videos. It may seem safe because the passenger compartment is intact, but there's no crush zone to absorb the energy. The occupants are injured when the body stops that fast.
@@gerardbragg7552 Seat belts?
They are actually very safe considering how small they are.
Exactly the car my wife owned, same trim level only different colour :) I loved this car, was so cheap to own, so fun to drive! Fuel economy wasn't the best, 7l/100km is nothing to write home about. Too bad my wife thought it would be too uncomfortable for her, so after 3,5 years we got rid of it. Only lost 400€s depreciation (bought for 5000€), had to do one service, bought all seasons (I hate changing summer/winter tires) and had to fix the aircon (around 500€). The radiator sits really low and up front and will be damaged by stones and becomes untight. I would've never sold this cute little bugger :)
I collect cars and I have owned 4 Smart 451's, currently have a Brabus gas and an Electric Drive. They are the most awesome vehicles. My Brabus will run into it's engine governor at 85mph easily and the electric is like a baby tesla on pulloff. Everybody seems to think that they are more dangerous because of their size. The analogy I always give is that if you were an ant, would you prefer to be inside a walnut or a soda can when something heavy lands on you. If you want numbers, take a look at the NTSB deaths per 100k vehicles sold vs other vehicles of the same year. It may shock you. There are 2 kinds of people when it comes to Smart cars, non-owners and people who love them.
I had 1... They are a LOT of FUN!!!
I owned a previous diesel model. It was a great little car as long as one didn't take it to a Merc. Dealer for service. MY mechanic tapped the oil pan so oil changes were cheap after that. He serviced the car and bought brake parts, etc. through various parts sources. Eventually he purchased my car for his wife. He now has another diesel model for his daughter. By going on the internet and finding a Smart Car Group we found all sorts of things to do to the car that kept it going much better and much cheaper than Mercedes suggested. Loved the car but now that they are gas powered there is little advantage to owing one. Take care
I bought one to save KMs on my truck. Getting parts is easy, super easy to maintain and I live in Alberta Canada where snow and ice in winter are bad. With winter tires it is awesome and almost better than my 4x4 truck as it is super predictable.
I have replaced the exhaust and air intake and have no issues on our major freeway. Those two upgrades made a major difference at higher speeds.
Actually safer than most cars surprisingly, they have a safety cell
You'd think he would have checked the crash ratings for the car before doing a TH-cam video, wouldn't you?
I bought an used 2008 passion, I replaced the muffler on it recently, you mentioned it is hard to get parts , but I ordering the muffler (original) on line $ 304 .00 . In fact most parts are available on line. It is a great car, I do most of my round around with it
I would love to see the Wizard do an inspection on a BMW i3 now.
He hates BMWs but has a huge flag on the wall. 😂
It’s fun to see all of Hoovies cars in the background
Hiya, Ive owned 2 Smart Fourtwo cars and I LOVE them. They are very easy to drive. Great for two people or, in my case, me driving with my little dog in her own 'car dog seat' in the passenger seat. Usually drives average 60 miles to the gallon. So easy to park with a great turning circle. One small moan.. I had to sell my last one as the 'under the dashboard' computer board stopped recognising the electronic key. Each time the car stopped and engine was turned off...the electronic key had to be reconfigured. Would always buy a Smart car though. GREAT for little runabout local driving. I often see lots of other Smart Fourtwo cars around England. Safe and happy journeys everyone xx
Smart Car Tridion Shell, safest car in its class Mr Wizzard🤣🤣
Right!? I love the channel but I hate when people talk bs about what they clearly don't know. This car was the safest when it was released, maybe losing only to Renault. Plus the wizard didn't even took 5 seconds to Google how to pop the hood, the way he did could've broken it.
How many cars are in the same class?
You guys must be from Europe or somthing there are a million huge trucks that will sqash this thinh like ant in America
@@whatsreallygoingon253
We have big trucks in Europe but they don’t twist in the middle like US Semi tractors. A Smart would bounce off anything of any size. The steel frame is VERY strong.
@@Dave5843-d9m im reffering to pickup trucks that are lifted to just the perfect height where the bumper would smash through the window into your face if hit at the right angle or a 34 inch swamper mud tire in your lap not fun id bet
where I live they use smart cars as police cars. the Dept has about 6 of them now
I had a red one that I brought up to a good running standard and installed a performance exhaust on it. Did a bunch of new parts and new catalytic converter O2 sensors and a head gasket because it had a warped cylinder head. When I was all done I had everything sorted and it ran fantastic and then I sold it like a moron.
The Crazy little car that passed the Euro NCAP safety test will a full 5 🌟 Stars. 70 Mph into a Concrete block 😳 at all angles with no injuries to the occupants.
Amazing 👏 they also make a Smart for 4.