2008 smart fortwo User Reviews

Purchased As New

I love my smart cabriolet! It is soo much fun to drive easy to park and surprisingly has a good ammount of storage for when I go to the grocery store! I save soo much money in gas! Plus the convertable is a lot of fun and easy to use!

Pros

Car does 99.9 % of what I need a car for hauling a lot less tin around

Cons

attracts too much attention

Will not haul your full size American washing machine but then most places offer delivery.

Have lived with the car for a year now and still love it.
Nice to be able to get around in reaonable comfort and still not have to pay a lot for gas. Very Happy to have the choice to own somthing like this. I don't feel as I was forced into this car by economics but bought it for the fun of it with a dash of practicality right along with it, Still the most sought after key in the house.

The car has averaged 39 mpg over the last year will cruse at 80+ mph limited to 90 mph. asked for an oil change and an inspection at 10K miles. Not too shabby in my view...read morehide

Pros

Parking spots are everywhere!

Cons

Not family friendly

My fortwo pure is fantastic. Mass transit is great, but there are groceries to buy and other stuff to carry...and let's face it: sometimes you just don't feel like waiting for the train/bus!
This little guy is very manueverable. It can squeek in and of traffic - and park on a postage stamp of pavement.
Snow and ice are not a friend of this car. You can get around in a pinch, but it's best to keep an eye on the forecast....read morehide

Pros

Fuel economy, ECO friendly.

Cons

Rough ride, weird transmission, too much attention.

Had mine 7K miles now. Rides rough, worry about damage on poor roads. Worst problem is transmission. The auto-manual just doesn't work. Car lugs way too much. Needs a new chip or something. I switch to manual but often forget and over rev gears.

Otherwise, this car gets AWSOME MPG and certainly points to the future. I can cruise aimlessly without sweating out fuel use. I use it as my commuting car.......read morehide

while a very small car ( perfect for parking) it feels like you are sitting in a large car. Vision is outstanding, easy to see all around the car from the drivers seat.

Pros

Great handling, good mpg, lots of standard equipment, attention-getter!

Cons

cruise would be nice, longer std warranty would be nice

7000 miles in 7 months and it is still the most fun to drive vehicle I've owned in the past 30 years! 40+mpg on highway consistently.

Short wheelbase is bumpy on some roads, just like a Jeep. Had to lube the shift knob at 10months: 2squirts of WD40 and smooth sailing ever since.

Very knowledgeable mechanic at dealer (Bergstrom, Milwaukee).

I use it to advertise my business. This car definitely turns heads!

My advice, buy all the options you can get. Dollar for dollar, this little car will make you happier than any previous car. The total cost of ownership is great!...read morehide

Pros

Roomy, agile, easily parked, great turning radius, cute

Cons

Slow transmission takes alot of getting used to, subject to wind buffeting

I'll start by admitting the smart fortwo has some quirks that require getting used to and that may turn some people off to the car immediately.

It is not a car for everyone. The transmission is the largest of the issues. However, the actual driving experience once you know the hows and whys of the car is a great deal of fun. With power steering the car is extremely agile on the road and responds to the slightest touch. The transmission is slow, but with reason. Contrary to popular belief it is not poorly designed, it is simply designed in a different and fuel saving manner. As a manumatic transmission it requires a different driving style than either a true manual or a true automatic.

The car accelerates nicely and has a good amount of power when you need it. It runs very nicely at highway speeds and seems quite happy when doing 60-65mph. Surprisingly enough for what is deemed a city car, the fortwo's performance can be a bit jumpy in stop-and-go traffic, though honestly this encourages better fuel economy as you learn to let off the break and accelerator and glide more.

There is ample room in the car for both the driver and passenger, including leg, elbow, and head room. The car also has a surprising amount of storage space, more than enough for usual errand running or even a trip to the airport. The passenger seat folds down to allow more storage room, but as the back of the seat is hollow under a cloth cover, I personally wouldn't want to put too much on top of it....read morehide

Pros

Fun - Much faster than I expected! The Auto Manual works very well

Cons

Being mobbed in parking lots!!! Can not lower the seats

Handles well on the highway.
After nearly one year - people are still asking about it.
I never use the "Shift" option.

Pros

Small, stiff suspension, great looking

Cons

not at this time

I love the car and its economy. I had a dealer tell me to lift your foot off the gas to make a smoother shift. well that is completely untrue. what are you are buying is a manual transmission. that is why there is a delay. the trick to getting great gas mileage out of the car is to drive it in auto mode and position your foot on the gas pedal where you normaly have it for cruising and let the computer do the work. It is strictly a economy car so i hate all the people that compare it to a sports car. You want a sports car go buy a sports car. I also understand that this car is not for everybody. so do your research before you ridicule the ride. also with the premium fuel? if you research enough this car has a 10:1 compression ratio in the engine so i understand the fuel, you have to have this to get the most power in a little package. This is an outstanding little car and smart has there reasons for making it the way they did. it has been out for over 12 years. they have it all worked out. So show a little love people...read morehide

Pros

Park anywhere size, looks that make people smile, gets good gas mileage

Cons

Ride is too rough, gas mileage could be better, tranny is poor.

I've put nearly 9000 miles on my Smart. Thus far it's been an ok commuter. Overall, it's a good car packaged nicely by Mercedes to give you better than expected space inside. The Smart's small stature garners a lot of attention. It performs well, there's enough power for merging and keeping up with traffic. Its small size helps with parking and manueverability but, the Smart's small wheelbase means that you will feel every bump & undulation on the road, which becomes very tiresome after a while. The Smart's tall height relative to its short length and light body makes it susceptable to wind gusts. While not dangerous it will keep you on your toes when wind hits the car. The biggest Achilles' Heel of the Smart is its awful manumatic transmission. It up-shifts with a jerk, often making the car rock back and forth as it shifts. It downshifts very slowly, which proves interesting when you need to pass cars. Even going from 2nd to 1st to get you over a speed bump can create disturbing clutch drag as the transmission tries to hold a higher gear.

For those who commute in cities the Smart is a good choice. For those who spend more time on the freeway you're better off getting a Yaris, Fit, or Accent....read morehide