Had one of the last of this particular style and you know what... might just be the most fun car I've ever owned. No, I'm serious! More space up front than most superminis, ridiculously practical for its size (two people, luggage for a week and xmas presents was no problem) and surprisingly rapid up to around 40mph. Takes a while to get up to motorway speeds but, honestly, still better than most entry level superminis will do. Quite happily did 250 mile journeys home and got out the other end feeling no worse than any other car. That said if you DO buy one two things to watch out for. 1) The gearbox does have a mild identity crisis every time it has to swap a cog. It'll take it a few seconds to remember it's a gearbox and not a North African swallow so plan ahead. 2) High winds are not your friend. That one I discovered when going over the Severn Bridge and if you've ever seen the Top Gear episode where Jeremy built a 3 floor camper van on a Citroen you've got a pretty good idea of the driving experience.
There's a video on YT of Shaq getting in and driving a Smart in New York. Yes, Shaq the basketballer, all 7'1" and 325lb/147kg of him. These are larger inside than most small cars.
I've been driving smarts for 19 years. They do take some getting used to initially, but they are the perfect city car for one or two people, plus a small amount of luggage. I regularly drive on motorways in the UK and many European countries and it's no problem. Economical, very easy to park, quirky and reliable if maintained properly.
@@brandencoburn757 No more than any other petrol powered vehicle with a small turbocharged engine. It's basally the same, just smaller and packaged differently.
Do they feel solid above 60 mph still? I find it a very interesting car but the prospect of highway driving in one of these doesn't seem very appealing
@@laiks5485 Yes, absolutely fine at motorway speeds. Strong crosswinds can sometimes be an issue, however that can affect any vehicle, especially those with less than ideal aerodynamics.
I did really want an Electric FourTwo, but they're £24,000 and only have a range of 60 miles on a single charge, so I ended up buying a Renault Twizy instead.
My wife ran a Smart ForFour for six years and 45k - never needed anything other than a couple of tyres and annual service. The engine was a Mitsubishi 1.5 and was a great little unit. Congrats on the 100k subs. 👍
My wife had a ForFour, as well, the 1.1 pulse for around 6 years - great fun to drive, cheap to run, completely reliable, tardis like qualities, and a decent build quality, too. She had a second mid life crisis, and so decided she'd like a Mini Convertible.
Good choice! I currently have a Forfour 1.5 Cdi as my daily commute,, owned it 13 years this year. She's now hit 200k miles and still pulls like a train.
I own one if these. Fantastic car for zipping around congested cities and parking is never an issue. It's a pretty stiff ride and positively terrifying at highway speeds on a windy day, but overall the benefits outweigh the downsides. Extremely cheap to run and very reliable. Also, I'm 6'2 and I fit just fine, although an adjustable steering column would have been nice.
I got to use these quite often in Canada through car2go, until car2go exited north america. I loved everything about it as a city car, and never felt the need for more. These are more comfortable and somehow more roomy than a lot of compact and subcompact sedans and hatchbacks.
@@sabalasi788 I don't get much snow where I am, but I'm sure they do terribly in the snow because they are so light, have low ground clearance, and have small tires.
I’ve had 3 smarts as my side car for the last 4 years now (2 mk2’s and 1 mk3) and I absolutely love them, super reliable and fun to drive. Will always have a smart in my life as my little city cruiser, and my Mercedes as my motorway mile muncher. Perfect combination
I had one of those as “Lone car” from getting my Merc dealership whilst my E class was being serviced, I am 6ft 3 and proportionately built and I only said yes to it as the Smart sales girl was a stunner with red high heel shoes!The car was a hoot and I could drive it easily.
Had two of these for 13yrs in total. Tyres brakes a/c fan and an exhaust bracket. 90,000 miles so far. I have four other cars but will always keep one of these.
Hey Matt. I’ve had two smart passion. They are fun cars. Not good for American freeways but wonderful around town as you say. I would be happy to have another
I managed to lap a roundabout sideways in the rain in a Rascal. Trouble was, it was a works van and the roundabout was on site at British Steel in Sheffield. They made me walk everywhere after that.
Many years ago I was a glazier and for some reason the boss got a toy rascal van, we didn't get along at all and before he got a roof rack on, he wanted the lads to put ladders inside the van, yep you guessed it, I put the ladders through the front window, when I told him, he just said ah well accidents happen. I couldn't believe he was so nice about this, because he wasn't the best of chaps. The van was fun but it wasn't fit for the purpose the firm needed it to be.
Fantastic car. Its worth having. I drove a 450 from Austria to Portugal all by myself and I loved the journey. So if someone tells you its not a car for motorways, its bollocks. Its a car for all roads. I use to hate these cars but today I love them
How long did it take from Austria to Portugal? I have been freaking out because I am going to get one from London to Northern Ireland tomorrow...Reason why I am here to watch a video about it 😅
Totally agree, I like this reviewer but he's complaining about 4 hours on a motorway. I drove a 2002 cabrio one in winter to visit my family there, I live in Portsmouth. This drive was only a couple of years ago, and the Smart 450 had 102,000 miles on it, and it has the 599cc engine. I fitted it with winter tyres, legal requirement in Switzerland in winter, and I had no problems on snowy and icy roads.
The wife and I now have a 2008 Smart Car, and we love it, it does have 95000 on the clock, but the engine is sound, and apart from a little bit of a problem with reverse gear, which is now sorted, things are now looking up. We do take it on the motorway, M5 and it is NOT the white knuckle ride you talk about, in fact we went on holiday to Ellesmere Port and on the motorway we had a great drive up and back, as long as you stick to 60 or 65, then you don't have a problem. We both feel there is loads of room inside, and the car is very comfy, anyway we are very happy with the car and hope the pleasure it gives us will continue Smart Cars give good M.P.G. and the tax is negligible, which as pensioners in our late 70s is a God send. I would love to get a sat nav fitted, but don't know where to start, also a couple of cup holders. Thanks to you and your video, it was the only choice we needed. Mike and Maureen Palmer
Agree.....I take mine up the m5 regularly from Devon to the Midlands and never had a problem even in windy conditions,it cruises easily at motorway speeds and has plenty of acceleration for overtaking.It also handles really well around twisty lanes and is great fun.I don't understand when people say they accelerate slowly....mine gets up to 60 effortlessly.
Finally, a car salesman I think I could trust. Always enjoy your reviews. From cars I don't have a hope of owning to ones that I do. Keep posting. Take care.
I've got one and I absolutely love it! it's amazing how much stuff you can get in it - especially with the front passenger seat folded down. I've even brought timber home in it with the back 'window' open. I actually drive it up and down the M25 once a week and I actually think it's quite good on the motorway - I cruise comfortably at 80mph. When I grow up I really want to buy the Brabus version - it sounds downright fantastic. Honestly, when you're inside it you completely forget how small the car is. It's only when you get out that you remember. Smart cars rule!
We owned a 2002 one for 6 years, absolutely loved it and my wife cried the day we sold it. Great fun, surprisingly spacious but the gearbox was frustrating and it started to throw up some rather big bills towards the end. Other small cars make more sense, but this has more charm.
OMG THANKS FOR THIS REVIEW!!! I love smart cars so much. Please do a review of the newer shape smart forfour, if you can. But they are quite rare but imo are the nicest city segment car you can get ( especially on the inside ! )
I have spoken to people who do get 70 miles per gallon out of their Smart cars by using hypermiling (eco-driving) techniques (except for following large trucks, don't do that) and shifting manually instead of using the auto shift.
Great cars. I had a Smart Roadster which was the best handling car I've ever driven. An old girlfriend had a fortwo and it was surprisingly spacious, comfortable and fun to drive. Just a pity about the auto gearbox at times as it's a bit dim. The roadster was fun with flappy paddles though :)
I owned a 2013 Smart electric ForTwo up until last July (when I got my Tesla) and it was a quick, fun little car to drive. No issues at all in my whole time owning it. If you get one, I have one warning. Do not let the battery discharge completely or your car will turn into a brick with no way to repair the battery.
Sadly these never took off in America. They exist. Neighbor parks his next to the sidewalk. Young chap. Ruined the outside of it with a bunch of add-on, boy-racer plastic parts. It looks hideous! Likely never became popular for two reasons. One, in America, bigger is always considered better. So, if you want something very compact, why? That's the attitude. Second, in America, it's actually against the law to park nose-first! No clue why. It just is. No exceptions! I think that particular law really destroyed any hope this car had in gaining traction here.
This is the best car review I've ever seen. Literally incredibly perfect. I was thinking of buying one for the commute to work to save a few quid. This neutral, honest, hilarious, detailed, informative review confirmed, my gut feeling was correct, this is not the car for me. Motorbike it is then 🤣
Thanks Matt, that's what I love about your channel, I would never have given this car a second glance without your thought provoking review. Great content 👍
Great fun cars but WOW you feel every mark on the road. It is spine shattering lol. On the convertible the wind noise is also something that at speed will drive most insane. That being said anyone want to buy a 2010 Brabus Cabrio? lol
With sister i looked on forecourt at a IQ, is it. I said to sister don't worry it's short, you only see the front of the car when driving, just don't look back when you park. Best small car i had Peugeot 106 diesel, 4 seater, 69mpg and you could chuck em round bends,
Love my smart car.. initially bought it just for a complete laugh... but now I don't ever wanna sell it.. the perfect car for nipping around in the city.. could do with power steering on mine though..
The original one was designed by a guy who was 6’6”, his only 2 criteria for packaging were to fit him and 2 cases of beer. Apparently the original ones had a bottle opener in the boot.
I think that's an urban legend. Lol. I've seen many 450s and asked them about the bottle opener, they don't know what I'm talking about. Lol. I own a 2013 451
@@lq8037 It could well be urban legend. I soo wish it was. I heard it got dropped after teh first facelift due to drink driving concerns. Again, could be urban legend.
I got rid of my 2009 smart fortwo CDI recently after owning it for 11 years. It finally gave up after 150,000 rural miles. It was a fantastic car and a testament to German quality. It wasnt so easy to work on with everything being so compact but I did all my own servicing and even changed the clutch once. I'm glad I got the 45hp one as it had no DPF which were a massive failure on the later models. Finally it's the only car I've ever had that achieved and exceeded the quoted 85mpg for it's whole life.
Always wondered why more pensioners don’t buy these. For village errands they are spot on. Watched a really old gent in a G Wagon of all things the other day in Morrisons car park. He put his shopping in the boot (one small bag) and then struggled like hell to reverse out with a 15 point turn 🤣
Two white lines to park between and they always manage two wheels on or over the line on the offside. Our Morrisons and Sainsburys seem to mass produce them.
Thats like saying a Stannah stairlift is ageist. I would say the same about anyone driving a 4x4 1/2 a mile to buy a loaf of bread unless they lived in a field. Just so happens this was an old git 🤣
I don't find Smarts terribly easy to manoeuver, either. They don't creep in idle as most normal automatics do - they just stand. They'll only move if you hit the accelerator - and there is almost no pedal travel between standstill and a big leap. So in a parking lot, you'll hover over the brake pedal with your left foot to stop the car from crashing into the cars around you. Anyone used to regular stickshift cars (like your average pensioner) feels like a Neandertal man doing that. And people with age related mobility impairments like cars where they sit higher up and get in and out more easily. They liked the A-class a lot before it became just another Golf clone in 2012; not terribly many of them fond of the G-saurus....
I had one of the first ones. Drove it for 160 000km including from Hamburg to Seville and several trips to the Pyrenees. Loved it. I also had a towbar and could tow 60kg less than allowed for a Suzuki Jimney. Don't think about it... just get one.
Hi Matt, any advice regarding the Smart ForFour version? Considering a petrol automatic version. I understand they come in a 1.3 and 1.5 petrol. I read they use a Mitsubishi colt chain driven engine which are supposed to be good?
You need to get the "original" Brabus,they had Brabus Gearboxes,larger Turbos,much wider wheels and a trick exhaust.I had one and got it to 102Bhp.It was bloody mental!The current "brabus" are nowhere near as "modified" as the original one were,more cosmetic really.
Since my last comments we, the wife and I have changed our smart car to a 2013 model, the old car had 93000 miles on the clock, and is now at 97000. The wife was diagnosed with dementia and loves going out in the car, in fact, it is her only real pleasure, and so I needed to upgrade a little so that I could keep taking her to see the family and enjoy days out. Even a trip into town for her is a joy, but to take her further afield is better. The car we have is a cabriolet, and when the sun comes out I am able to open the roof for her to enjoy the sunshine, So the cat I have bought is the same, it does have satnav and the echo system as well, so I am hoping it will take us all over the south west, milage wise it only has 25000 miles on the clock so we cannot complain, we do love the smart car, it has a lot of character and does turn heads, and is very popular in the south west, but up north, not so much it would seem, we had a holiday in Chester, and only saw one, smart for four, then it was nothing until we got back to the bristol area. We hope to get the new car on Wednesday, so here's hoping she will perform as good as the 58 model did.
Hopefully they've made the engines a bit more long lasting, our early City lasted 66k before it expired which according to the forums was about par for the course. Just a shame cos it was actually quite a fun little car.
The problem in the USA is they have left this market - and have stopped making the traditional beginning model. You ALSO can't get parts - and even service is a problem because literally the "snooty" ( and freakishly expensive / gouging ) Mercedes dealers are refusing to even service these now. And let's say you actually get a Mercedes dealer that will service it - they will then charge you for the MERCEDES ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT parts ( imagine the prices ) AND then there is $ 160 an hour labor - book time applied to that rate - and the gouging markup of the parts as well. And so - a couple of basic services or breakdowns and you are with bills worth more than the car itself. And the transmission is freakishly stupid ( they should have just put a basic 5 speed with manual clutch in it ).
We have a 2013 Smart Pure and tow it behind our RV when we go out to the mountains. It’s a lot fun to drive as it feels like a go-kart. Correct about the effects of the wind as it does skitter sideways when a gust hits it.
Always a fan of your vlogs Matt and the content, must say also your camera filming is second to none, so clear and crisp, I've watched other channels in the past but yours is definitely the best by far..
I also own the 71BHP mhd and this review is pretty much on point. Something I noticed, that wasn’t mentioned, is that mhd versions of the car are troublesome. The start stop system is flawed and the cars often have issues with the accessory belt snapping or even the belt pulley. If that happens mid-drive, you run a risk of cooking the motor as on that same belt is the water cooling pump. After I bought my mhd, with 60k miles, the belt pulley broke on the third day. I would recommend the Turbo variant, it goes like crazy, gets similar MPG and doesn’t have start-stop.
I bought an '08 Passion a few years ago as a joke and ended up loving the thing. The 451's have a nice aftermarket selection as well. I bought some Blizzak WS80's to winter her and holy smokes are they amazing in the snow once you turn off traction control. This march I purchased a '16 Passion with 9k miles, only downside is it's a former Car2Go so I ditched the garbage head unit it comes with. I love both generation of Smart's but the 453 is just way more comfortable for road trips here in the U.S. That's another thing; it's harder to find any local information since Mercedes want nothing to do with these cars anymore. Discontinued in the U.S.
@@smarte.r.1450 sorry it was a long time ago also wasn’t my idea but I went along with it and laughed like crazy with my friends. The cars were probably insured 🤷♂️. It’s not like I run around causing destruction in my adult life. I was like 12 and the older kids where like 14-18 years by the way.
Based on ownership of MK1 - Pros - Easy to park, Fun to drive, Plenty of driver and passenger space, Car has character. Cons - Build quality not great, Passenger door refused to open as handle mechanism broke, Front shocks are notoriously prone to failure despite careful driving, Electrical gremlins with semi auto box regarding shifting down gears and clutch engagement problems. On a side note - completed plenty of motorway miles and didn't find it much of a problem RE crosswinds and ride
@@S-Ltd1000 its still almost 3 times the power..except the screaming engine right behind you would wear you down very quickly, i admit. Would have to drive with earplugs in.
My mother had 2 of these. Mk1 and mk2. Both were crap. The mk2 was no better than the mk1 but lost some of charisma with the newer engine. Steering heavy and numb, gearbox jerky, build quality patchy. Changing a light bulb is a dealer visit. Not even as economical as you might expect.
I own two Smart cars. A 2008 that I bought new and a 2013 that I bought over a year ago used. They're great little cars. It's a shame that Mercedes has given up on the gas engine cars for the Smart brand. The Smart car market here in the US has collapsed because of their decision to go all electric.
I live I Michigan, and the Mercedes of Ann Arbor dealership doesn't sell them any more. I have to go to Ohio or Illinois if I want to get an electric version.
My wife's had a 2016 twofortwo for nearly 2 years. Good little car but servicing more than you think and not that great on petrol really. Lovely build quality though and great for getting in older small car garages.
The only reason i would buy a Smart car is because you can buy a class A motorhome with a garage to hold it. I am serious. Look up some examples on TH-cam.
I drove an early model, about 5 years ago and laughed my way around a test drive. I loved the style, but not the ride, too fidgety. The gearbox was awful but fun, I could make the car lurch as I moved the lever!! Then I looked in the rear view mirror and saw a lorry who was so close I thought it was trying to mate with the smart. I did find it full of character though!! I am glad they improved the quality.
I’ve secretly been waiting for this one. Don’t tell my friends.
Hahah I wont
Thought I was the only one
@@Birmingham_racing Apparently not! Matt has 19k views in 21 hours. That is impressive. I bet he cracks 50k views in a few days time.
Really fancied the roadster.
Surely a Fiat 500 is the best choice of little car.
"About half the size of a normal car"
Or about the quarter of the size of those giant SUVs you only see one person in.....
...or most EV's.
Had one of the last of this particular style and you know what... might just be the most fun car I've ever owned. No, I'm serious! More space up front than most superminis, ridiculously practical for its size (two people, luggage for a week and xmas presents was no problem) and surprisingly rapid up to around 40mph. Takes a while to get up to motorway speeds but, honestly, still better than most entry level superminis will do. Quite happily did 250 mile journeys home and got out the other end feeling no worse than any other car. That said if you DO buy one two things to watch out for. 1) The gearbox does have a mild identity crisis every time it has to swap a cog. It'll take it a few seconds to remember it's a gearbox and not a North African swallow so plan ahead. 2) High winds are not your friend. That one I discovered when going over the Severn Bridge and if you've ever seen the Top Gear episode where Jeremy built a 3 floor camper van on a Citroen you've got a pretty good idea of the driving experience.
Great feedback…
Yes absolutely they are good
I love these. I’ve owned Gwagons, range rovers, porsches... would still own a smart car
Got a lift off a workmate who has one and was impressed by how nippy it was and felt surprisingly big inside. Nice lil car.
My English teacher who admits she’s as tall as a 9 yr old owns one she says it’s the right size for her.
Size doesn't matter when you're 'Smart' ;-)
@@bluesun2215 genius comment
There's a video on YT of Shaq getting in and driving a Smart in New York. Yes, Shaq the basketballer, all 7'1" and 325lb/147kg of him. These are larger inside than most small cars.
@HotSpot Instrumentals Don’t give up your day job
I'm over 6ft and the new smart EQ has more room in the front than almost any other car I've sat in, it's huge inside.
I've been driving smarts for 19 years. They do take some getting used to initially, but they are the perfect city car for one or two people, plus a small amount of luggage. I regularly drive on motorways in the UK and many European countries and it's no problem. Economical, very easy to park, quirky and reliable if maintained properly.
Is there a lot to maintain on a Smart Car?
@@brandencoburn757 No more than any other petrol powered vehicle with a small turbocharged engine. It's basally the same, just smaller and packaged differently.
Do they feel solid above 60 mph still? I find it a very interesting car but the prospect of highway driving in one of these doesn't seem very appealing
@@laiks5485 Yes, absolutely fine at motorway speeds. Strong crosswinds can sometimes be an issue, however that can affect any vehicle, especially those with less than ideal aerodynamics.
what about MHD models? U had those and if yes did u have issues with it's "mhd system"?
I did really want an Electric FourTwo, but they're £24,000 and only have a range of 60 miles on a single charge, so I ended up buying a Renault Twizy instead.
A twizzy? That’s more like a motorbike than a car, but as long as it fits your needs, why not 😁
👊
I checked today and they're 16k brand new with the government grand included
Electric cars are a waste of time and money. If you care for the enviroment, dont buy an electric car
That's pretty much overpriced in my eyes.
My wife ran a Smart ForFour for six years and 45k - never needed anything other than a couple of tyres and annual service. The engine was a Mitsubishi 1.5 and was a great little unit. Congrats on the 100k subs. 👍
My wife had a ForFour, as well, the 1.1 pulse for around 6 years - great fun to drive, cheap to run, completely reliable, tardis like qualities, and a decent build quality, too.
She had a second mid life crisis, and so decided she'd like a Mini Convertible.
I’ve got long term knowledge of its Sister Mitsubishi. Mechanicals and engine are bullet proof. 100,000 miles and everything still worked.
Good choice! I currently have a Forfour 1.5 Cdi as my daily commute,, owned it 13 years this year. She's now hit 200k miles and still pulls like a train.
@@MrAarongilbeythat milage is amazing
I own one if these. Fantastic car for zipping around congested cities and parking is never an issue. It's a pretty stiff ride and positively terrifying at highway speeds on a windy day, but overall the benefits outweigh the downsides. Extremely cheap to run and very reliable. Also, I'm 6'2 and I fit just fine, although an adjustable steering column would have been nice.
I got to use these quite often in Canada through car2go, until car2go exited north america. I loved everything about it as a city car, and never felt the need for more. These are more comfortable and somehow more roomy than a lot of compact and subcompact sedans and hatchbacks.
How are they in Canadian winters!?? Im talking Alberta here
@@sabalasi788 horrendous. Winter usually starts in November and finishes in the month of April. (Ontario and Quebec)
@@sabalasi788 I don't get much snow where I am, but I'm sure they do terribly in the snow because they are so light, have low ground clearance, and have small tires.
These always remind me of those plastic toddler cars my kids used to play in, at the Early Learning Centre stores.
Yes, and look how much they enjoyed them. Just like a 4/2.
Little Tykes
I’ve had 3 smarts as my side car for the last 4 years now (2 mk2’s and 1 mk3) and I absolutely love them, super reliable and fun to drive. Will always have a smart in my life as my little city cruiser, and my Mercedes as my motorway mile muncher. Perfect combination
I had one of those as “Lone car” from getting my Merc dealership whilst my E class was being serviced, I am 6ft 3 and proportionately built and I only said yes to it as the Smart sales girl was a stunner with red high heel shoes!The car was a hoot and I could drive it easily.
Dude girls are gay
Did you get them digits?
My jaw hit the floor when I saw what you were reviewing. Thanks for the curve ball of eclectic reviews. Made my day👍
My pleasure!
It's a petrol model
@@Vatierville
ECLECTIC
adjective: Eclectic
1.
deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources
Can you also do a review of a Toyota IQ
Will you take a look at the Smart Roadster next? In fact, you could do a few cheap 2 seaters ready for summer...
Mazda mx5 :) :)
I believe a Smart Roadster was the first car of a certain L.Hamilton Esq, who still drives for a living...
@@AndySnap I think his first car was a Mini.
Had two of these for 13yrs in total. Tyres brakes a/c fan and an exhaust bracket. 90,000 miles so far. I have four other cars but will always keep one of these.
@@morganfreeman8584 mine is a bit leaky through the rubber roof seals (coupe with targa hardtop).
I’ve never owned one but find myself smiling whilst watching.Have always wondered what they are like.
Thank you Matt.
My pleasure!
Hey Matt. I’ve had two smart passion. They are fun cars. Not good for American freeways but wonderful around town as you say. I would be happy to have another
Reminds me of the rascal Van's. Went too fast over a railway crossing in one, took off and the engine fell out 🤣
I managed to lap a roundabout sideways in the rain in a Rascal.
Trouble was, it was a works van and the roundabout was on site at British Steel in Sheffield.
They made me walk everywhere after that.
Many years ago I was a glazier and for some reason the boss got a toy rascal van, we didn't get along at all and before he got a roof rack on, he wanted the lads to put ladders inside the van, yep you guessed it, I put the ladders through the front window, when I told him, he just said ah well accidents happen. I couldn't believe he was so nice about this, because he wasn't the best of chaps. The van was fun but it wasn't fit for the purpose the firm needed it to be.
I have a 2019 smart fortwo electric and I love driving my car in NYC - or should I say I love parking 😂 Thanks for the review!
Good choice! Perfect car for congested cities
This is the main reason I'm thinking of buying one, parking in Brooklyn is nonexistent.
Fantastic car. Its worth having.
I drove a 450 from Austria to Portugal all by myself and I loved the journey. So if someone tells you its not a car for motorways, its bollocks. Its a car for all roads.
I use to hate these cars but today I love them
How long did it take from Austria to Portugal? I have been freaking out because I am going to get one from London to Northern Ireland tomorrow...Reason why I am here to watch a video about it 😅
Totally agree, I like this reviewer but he's complaining about 4 hours on a motorway. I drove a 2002 cabrio one in winter to visit my family there, I live in Portsmouth. This drive was only a couple of years ago, and the Smart 450 had 102,000 miles on it, and it has the 599cc engine. I fitted it with winter tyres, legal requirement in Switzerland in winter, and I had no problems on snowy and icy roads.
I have had my smart fortwo for 4 years and never had a problem with it. I love it!
How much was it?
The wife and I now have a 2008 Smart Car, and we love it, it does have 95000 on the clock, but the engine is sound, and apart from a little bit of a problem with reverse gear, which is now sorted, things are now looking up. We do take it on the motorway, M5 and it is NOT the white knuckle ride you talk about, in fact we went on holiday to Ellesmere Port and on the motorway we had a great drive up and back, as long as you stick to 60 or 65, then you don't have a problem.
We both feel there is loads of room inside, and the car is very comfy, anyway we are very happy with the car and hope the pleasure it gives us will continue Smart Cars give good M.P.G. and the tax is negligible, which as pensioners in our late 70s is a God send.
I would love to get a sat nav fitted, but don't know where to start, also a couple of cup holders.
Thanks to you and your video, it was the only choice we needed. Mike and Maureen Palmer
Agree.....I take mine up the m5 regularly from Devon to the Midlands and never had a problem even in windy conditions,it cruises easily at motorway speeds and has plenty of acceleration for overtaking.It also handles really well around twisty lanes and is great fun.I don't understand when people say they accelerate slowly....mine gets up to 60 effortlessly.
Finally, a car salesman I think I could trust. Always enjoy your reviews. From cars I don't have a hope of owning to ones that I do. Keep posting. Take care.
I've got one and I absolutely love it! it's amazing how much stuff you can get in it - especially with the front passenger seat folded down. I've even brought timber home in it with the back 'window' open. I actually drive it up and down the M25 once a week and I actually think it's quite good on the motorway - I cruise comfortably at 80mph. When I grow up I really want to buy the Brabus version - it sounds downright fantastic. Honestly, when you're inside it you completely forget how small the car is. It's only when you get out that you remember. Smart cars rule!
We owned a 2002 one for 6 years, absolutely loved it and my wife cried the day we sold it. Great fun, surprisingly spacious but the gearbox was frustrating and it started to throw up some rather big bills towards the end. Other small cars make more sense, but this has more charm.
Prob more practical than a Nissan Juke
OMG THANKS FOR THIS REVIEW!!! I love smart cars so much. Please do a review of the newer shape smart forfour, if you can. But they are quite rare but imo are the nicest city segment car you can get ( especially on the inside ! )
Matt should I buy a Smart car for City driving.
What do you recommend
I trust your opinion
Kevin
Your number one watcher of your video's
Had a newer one as a courtesy car once, was really impressed and certainly much more spacious inside than you’d think!
That was a great comprehensive review Matt. I always wondered about this tiny car and now I know.
Many thanks
Glad it was helpful!
I have spoken to people who do get 70 miles per gallon out of their Smart cars by using hypermiling (eco-driving) techniques (except for following large trucks, don't do that) and shifting manually instead of using the auto shift.
I've watched thousands of car reviews and honestly this is the first one of these I've seen. Fair play, keep up the good work 👍
Great cars. I had a Smart Roadster which was the best handling car I've ever driven. An old girlfriend had a fortwo and it was surprisingly spacious, comfortable and fun to drive. Just a pity about the auto gearbox at times as it's a bit dim. The roadster was fun with flappy paddles though :)
Don't get a MHD model they suck. Get a non MHD. The top spec is Brabus spec.
PS Still a distinct lack of Shania Twain footage in your more recent recordings, I notice! 🤣
Always wanted one for fun but wife wants Fiat 500. A Hyabusa engined one might make for brown trouser moments though. Keep up the great videos.
I owned a 2013 Smart electric ForTwo up until last July (when I got my Tesla) and it was a quick, fun little car to drive. No issues at all in my whole time owning it. If you get one, I have one warning. Do not let the battery discharge completely or your car will turn into a brick with no way to repair the battery.
I considered buying one of those before settling on the Fiat 500e
The electric versión of the Smart Fortwo Mk2 were made and designed by Tesla.
Sadly these never took off in America. They exist. Neighbor parks his next to the sidewalk. Young chap. Ruined the outside of it with a bunch of add-on, boy-racer plastic parts. It looks hideous! Likely never became popular for two reasons. One, in America, bigger is always considered better. So, if you want something very compact, why? That's the attitude. Second, in America, it's actually against the law to park nose-first! No clue why. It just is. No exceptions! I think that particular law really destroyed any hope this car had in gaining traction here.
This is the best car review I've ever seen. Literally incredibly perfect.
I was thinking of buying one for the commute to work to save a few quid. This neutral, honest, hilarious, detailed, informative review confirmed, my gut feeling was correct, this is not the car for me. Motorbike it is then 🤣
Thank you!
Thanks Matt, that's what I love about your channel, I would never have given this car a second glance without your thought provoking review. Great content 👍
Thank you
Your excellent at presenting, maybe it’s a career move.
Replacing a headlamp bulb is how many hours of labour you think?
Just imagine if there was a decent EV version with 250 miles range. They would fly off the shelves so to speak. I'm waiting for the EV equivalent.
Electric cars cause cancer.....me post Ph.D. E.E. and synthetic Virologist....
Great fun cars but WOW you feel every mark on the road. It is spine shattering lol. On the convertible the wind noise is also something that at speed will drive most insane. That being said anyone want to buy a 2010 Brabus Cabrio? lol
5:07 ... coin holders for your trolley. Love it.
SMART is actually short for Swatch Mercedes Art.
You can thank me later...😂
With sister i looked on forecourt at a IQ, is it. I said to sister don't worry it's short, you only see the front of the car when driving, just don't look back when you park. Best small car i had Peugeot 106 diesel, 4 seater, 69mpg and you could chuck em round bends,
You're a smart guy, no doubt about that :)
Hope your business is doing well.
Love my smart car.. initially bought it just for a complete laugh... but now I don't ever wanna sell it.. the perfect car for nipping around in the city.. could do with power steering on mine though..
The original one was designed by a guy who was 6’6”, his only 2 criteria for packaging were to fit him and 2 cases of beer. Apparently the original ones had a bottle opener in the boot.
I think that's an urban legend. Lol. I've seen many 450s and asked them about the bottle opener, they don't know what I'm talking about. Lol. I own a 2013 451
@@lq8037 It could well be urban legend. I soo wish it was. I heard it got dropped after teh first facelift due to drink driving concerns. Again, could be urban legend.
Can this car handle long drive? For example San Francisco to LA?? I’ve always dreamed of having on of these.
Love the variety of the channel, congratulations on 106k subscribers too 🤩
I'll give it to you, I've never once watched a ForTwo review before.
Thats a compliment then :)
I got rid of my 2009 smart fortwo CDI recently after owning it for 11 years. It finally gave up after 150,000 rural miles. It was a fantastic car and a testament to German quality. It wasnt so easy to work on with everything being so compact but I did all my own servicing and even changed the clutch once. I'm glad I got the 45hp one as it had no DPF which were a massive failure on the later models. Finally it's the only car I've ever had that achieved and exceeded the quoted 85mpg for it's whole life.
My girlfriend had one and they have the build quality of a bamboo shed..
No you shouldn't.. i just threw up in my mouth a little
😂😂
I owned one back in 2006 while living in Rome. No other cars but Smarts should be allowed in such busy roads. Then it got stolen.. 😨
Perfect for Rome. You see lots of them there. Same is true of Nice too
Smart stands for Swatch Mercedes ART. That was the branding.
Always wondered why more pensioners don’t buy these. For village errands they are spot on. Watched a really old gent in a G Wagon of all things the other day in Morrisons car park. He put his shopping in the boot (one small bag) and then struggled like hell to reverse out with a 15 point turn 🤣
Two white lines to park between and they always manage two wheels on or over the line on the offside. Our Morrisons and Sainsburys seem to mass produce them.
That's ageism and stinks. Would you say the same about women driving 4x4's? lol
Thats like saying a Stannah stairlift is ageist. I would say the same about anyone driving a 4x4 1/2 a mile to buy a loaf of bread unless they lived in a field. Just so happens this was an old git 🤣
@@andrewbaxter9395 thats called freedom to choose. Just accept you are an ageist.
I don't find Smarts terribly easy to manoeuver, either. They don't creep in idle as most normal automatics do - they just stand. They'll only move if you hit the accelerator - and there is almost no pedal travel between standstill and a big leap.
So in a parking lot, you'll hover over the brake pedal with your left foot to stop the car from crashing into the cars around you.
Anyone used to regular stickshift cars (like your average pensioner) feels like a Neandertal man doing that.
And people with age related mobility impairments like cars where they sit higher up and get in and out more easily.
They liked the A-class a lot before it became just another Golf clone in 2012; not terribly many of them fond of the G-saurus....
I had one of the first ones. Drove it for 160 000km including from Hamburg to Seville and several trips to the Pyrenees. Loved it. I also had a towbar and could tow 60kg less than allowed for a Suzuki Jimney. Don't think about it... just get one.
I have a 2002 and it’s the best car I love it
Anyone needing repairs always go to smart tecnic in Birmingham they are brilliant
Hi Matt, any advice regarding the Smart ForFour version?
Considering a petrol automatic version. I understand they come in a 1.3 and 1.5 petrol.
I read they use a Mitsubishi colt chain driven engine which are supposed to be good?
Electric versions of these make a lot of sense, A 2 year old one 4 door just over £11k.
I'd love to try the braubus model,, 😊
You need to get the "original" Brabus,they had Brabus Gearboxes,larger Turbos,much wider wheels and a trick exhaust.I had one and got it to 102Bhp.It was bloody mental!The current "brabus" are nowhere near as "modified" as the original one were,more cosmetic really.
I have my Smart fortwo - 2003 version and ADORE it. Feels like driving a little Range Rover everyday :'D Great review!
I mind the 5th gear crash test, was really impressed.
Any Smart, as long as its a Brabus.
Since my last comments we, the wife and I have changed our smart car to a 2013 model, the old car had 93000 miles on the clock, and is now at 97000. The wife was diagnosed with dementia and loves going out in the car, in fact, it is her only real pleasure, and so I needed to upgrade a little so that I could keep taking her to see the family and enjoy days out. Even a trip into town for her is a joy, but to take her further afield is better. The car we have is a cabriolet, and when the sun comes out I am able to open the roof for her to enjoy the sunshine, So the cat I have bought is the same, it does have satnav and the echo system as well, so I am hoping it will take us all over the south west, milage wise it only has 25000 miles on the clock so we cannot complain, we do love the smart car, it has a lot of character and does turn heads, and is very popular in the south west, but up north, not so much it would seem, we had a holiday in Chester, and only saw one, smart for four, then it was nothing until we got back to the bristol area. We hope to get the new car on Wednesday, so here's hoping she will perform as good as the 58 model did.
This guy is so easy to listen to, no playing about or silly nonsense just good information.
Liverpool
As a rather tall fella I'll buy two. I could do with some roller skates 😊😊
Hopefully they've made the engines a bit more long lasting, our early City lasted 66k before it expired which according to the forums was about par for the course. Just a shame cos it was actually quite a fun little car.
Hopefully I will have a better experience. I change the oil twice a year and change the spark plugs every 2 years plus the transaxle fluid every year.
.......... but............ what about the Brabus?? 🤔
1 year later first time seeing November 30 2022
I had one-off the first smarts in Germany …. and it was the best car, i’ve ever had.
i'd say when filling it up at fuel pump feels like a hug from jesus,,,lol
The problem in the USA is they have left this market - and have stopped making the traditional beginning model. You ALSO can't get parts - and even service is a problem because literally the "snooty" ( and freakishly expensive / gouging ) Mercedes dealers are refusing to even service these now. And let's say you actually get a Mercedes dealer that will service it - they will then charge you for the MERCEDES ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT parts ( imagine the prices ) AND then there is $ 160 an hour labor - book time applied to that rate - and the gouging markup of the parts as well. And so - a couple of basic services or breakdowns and you are with bills worth more than the car itself. And the transmission is freakishly stupid ( they should have just put a basic 5 speed with manual clutch in it ).
We have a 2013 Smart Pure and tow it behind our RV when we go out to the mountains. It’s a lot fun to drive as it feels like a go-kart. Correct about the effects of the wind as it does skitter sideways when a gust hits it.
Always a fan of your vlogs Matt and the content, must say also your camera filming is second to none, so clear and crisp, I've watched other channels in the past but yours is definitely the best by far..
Glad you like them! Thank you
I also own the 71BHP mhd and this review is pretty much on point. Something I noticed, that wasn’t mentioned, is that mhd versions of the car are troublesome.
The start stop system is flawed and the cars often have issues with the accessory belt snapping or even the belt pulley. If that happens mid-drive, you run a risk of cooking the motor as on that same belt is the water cooling pump.
After I bought my mhd, with 60k miles, the belt pulley broke on the third day.
I would recommend the Turbo variant, it goes like crazy, gets similar MPG and doesn’t have start-stop.
I opted for the Toyota iQ back in the day. Loved it.
I agree, i'v owned an IQ since 2015 been to Lands End & John O'Groats and most places in-between , it's a brilliant little "big" car .
I bought an '08 Passion a few years ago as a joke and ended up loving the thing. The 451's have a nice aftermarket selection as well. I bought some Blizzak WS80's to winter her and holy smokes are they amazing in the snow once you turn off traction control. This march I purchased a '16 Passion with 9k miles, only downside is it's a former Car2Go so I ditched the garbage head unit it comes with. I love both generation of Smart's but the 453 is just way more comfortable for road trips here in the U.S. That's another thing; it's harder to find any local information since Mercedes want nothing to do with these cars anymore. Discontinued in the U.S.
Nope 👎🏼 crap little hate boxes. As lads we pushed a few of them over like cow tipping only with smart cars. 🙂
That was someone’s property. Big of you. What if it was your nana car 🤦♂️
@@smarte.r.1450 sorry it was a long time ago also wasn’t my idea but I went along with it and laughed like crazy with my friends. The cars were probably insured 🤷♂️. It’s not like I run around causing destruction in my adult life. I was like 12 and the older kids where like 14-18 years by the way.
We’ve all been lads and grown old enough to regret something.
@@stermindelves4251 yes exactly 👍🏼 I still found it highly amusing back then though. I regret it but I’m not sorry.
Based on ownership of MK1 - Pros - Easy to park, Fun to drive, Plenty of driver and passenger space, Car has character. Cons - Build quality not great, Passenger door refused to open as handle mechanism broke, Front shocks are notoriously prone to failure despite careful driving, Electrical gremlins with semi auto box regarding shifting down gears and clutch engagement problems. On a side note - completed plenty of motorway miles and didn't find it much of a problem RE crosswinds and ride
Ed eccola qui la smart di mio padre modello del 2011
I remember people putting Kawasaki Ninja engine into this and doing burnouts and donuts. Wonder if can still be done, i'd be tempted.
Suzuki Hayabusa engines mostly. 😂😂
@@smarte.r.1450 couldnt remember, i knew it was a bike engine
Fun for about 10 minutes then the reality of sticking an bike engine designed to haul less than 200kg into a car weighing 800kgs begins to kick in.
@@S-Ltd1000 its still almost 3 times the power..except the screaming engine right behind you would wear you down very quickly, i admit. Would have to drive with earplugs in.
I'm not smart enough. great shopping cart though. Could be useful for certain tasks
I drove to Smartimes at the factory Caen to Hambach in about 6 hours just stopping for fuel and lunch in Paris- got out the other end totally fresh.
I've owned my 2008 Pure since 2008.
Drove it all over the US. Moved with it.
Also drive it 85 mph on our freeways. Shout out to the I 696 daily peeps.
‘Should you buy a Smart car?’
Answer - No
Video approximately 3 seconds
Let me know if you need help with the editing 👍🏻
Couldn't have said it better myself. Just no lol
I moved house in one of these things (a cabriolet, so lower tailgate only). Have to say, it's like a TARDIS inside.
That's what I was thinking 🤔 the exact opposite to a Range rover, Massive outside and hardly any space inside.
don't forget if you ever park nose-on to the kerb people will make sure they park close enough to stop you opening the doors when you get back.
key them up in revenge lol ,, DONT
I dont know why but I really like it!
This came up for me today... I'm searching for a Smart Brabus Fortwo or ForFour 453 gen - would make for a fantastic review
My mother had 2 of these. Mk1 and mk2. Both were crap. The mk2 was no better than the mk1 but lost some of charisma with the newer engine. Steering heavy and numb, gearbox jerky, build quality patchy. Changing a light bulb is a dealer visit. Not even as economical as you might expect.
New ones are just electric now :-(
I own two Smart cars. A 2008 that I bought new and a 2013 that I bought over a year ago used. They're great little cars. It's a shame that Mercedes has given up on the gas engine cars for the Smart brand. The Smart car market here in the US has collapsed because of their decision to go all electric.
I live I Michigan, and the Mercedes of Ann Arbor dealership doesn't sell them any more. I have to go to Ohio or Illinois if I want to get an electric version.
My wife's had a 2016 twofortwo for nearly 2 years. Good little car but servicing more than you think and not that great on petrol really. Lovely build quality though and great for getting in older small car garages.
The only reason i would buy a Smart car is because you can buy a class A motorhome with a garage to hold it. I am serious. Look up some examples on TH-cam.
Can’t wait for the Renault Twizy review 😜
Maybe in the summer
I drove an early model, about 5 years ago and laughed my way around a test drive. I loved the style, but not the ride, too fidgety. The gearbox was awful but fun, I could make the car lurch as I moved the lever!! Then I looked in the rear view mirror and saw a lorry who was so close I thought it was trying to mate with the smart. I did find it full of character though!! I am glad they improved the quality.
I love tiny little cars. Was always interested in these Smarts. I ended up going with a Fiat 500 instead though and am thrilled with it!