2008 smart fortwo passion

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

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

Good fuel economy, available features for price, attention grabber

Cons

Ride can be bumpy due to short suspension, a little difficult to drive on windy days

I have been driving my Smart Car for a couple of months and love it! It is a great city car - peppy, tight turning radius, easy to drive, consistently averages 40+ mpg, and is easy to park in small spaces that an average car would not fit into.

I recently took it on a road trip and was impressed by its roomy feel and speed on the highway (easily cruised at 75 mph). Although it does slow down a bit going over the passes (try turning off the AC on big, long hills).

It's not designed for rough roads so on hiking trips we still use my old Subaru Outback to get to the trailheads.

Don't buy one if you don't like attention. This little car is a serious head-turner that attracts a lot of questions. I get the same list of questions every time (often several times a day) - is it gas or electric?, what kind of gas mileage does it get?, how much does it cost?, do I feel safe driving it? It gets a lot of smiles and an occassional laugh.

All in all it is a very fun car and I am very pleased I bought it....read morehide

Pros

Excellent fuel economy, the amount of standard features are awsome, peppy engine, fun.

Cons

transmission, read below.

The car has great fuel economy, however you have to use 91 octane fuel which cost a few cents more, but remember you are driving a car made by mercedes benz so 91 octane is to be expected. The engine is very peppy, it is not like a go cart at all as some describe in the other reviews. It has great performance for a inline 3 cyl engine. I mean you can't go 60 in 5 seconds, but you can in 10-12 which is better than many four cylinders on the road. I find the car to be very comfortable not a lot of space for storage, but a lot of space for you. I am 6'1 and I weigh 295 lbs. There is an abundance of head room, that I'm sure could accomadate a person 6'7 tall. The leg room is also great, you don't fell cramped at all. I think the value is great considering you get Mercedes type features and quality with this one. It has great visability and the full panorama roof is a plus. Gauges are well presented and easy to read. The only thing about this car that take some getting used to is the transmission. It is an automated manual transmission which gives you power to shift or use is automatic mode, however the car still shifts a little jerky like a manual transmission. For some people this may be difficult and not for them, but I got the hang of it before the end of the test drive. I would have to say if you have doubts, test drive one for yourself. Overall the car is great. By reading some of the reviews it appears that some do not even have the car and may not have even test drove it. Drive it for yourself and see if it is for you....read morehide

Drove this car in Europe & loved it. It was easy to go up & down hills in Spain & getting around town was a breeze as well as parking...
Love it.

Pros

Great Fuel economy, Great standard features, Great fit and finish, Attention grabber

Cons

No tilt steering wheel, No vertical seat adjustments, bumpy ride.

For the money, it is tough to beat. You can have great amenities such as heated seats, leather seats, etc. For a car that gets an extra 4-6 mpgs better than other subcompact vehicles with such fit and finish, and low price, what else can you expect? The car does not have a rear seat, and the ride isn't butter smooth. The car is also quite slow in acceleration, but that is to be expected. Despite the lack of a rear seat, it does have good storage space....read morehide