2008 smart fortwo passion cabriolet

Pros

Super easy to park, roomy interior, cool looking

Cons

Horrendous transmission, uses premium fuel, mileage too low for size

I was one of those people who gave the $99 down for one of these cars. When it finally arrived in Miami, FL I was notified to go the dealer to see the car and test drive. I thank God I took it for a test drive first.
Yes the car is tiny but it is very cool looking and is available in various color panel combinations and interior colors. I wanted the Passion Cabriolet which is the one with the folding rear roof. I test drove a red and black one. Inside it was also a red and black interior. it does not look like the quirky European model but more "Americanized" and more conservative but still very stylish. Everything you expect in a modern car is inside the Smart. The car starts like any other car but that is when everything changes...
The transmission is an "auto -manual", no clutch but you shift with two paddles on the steering wheels. I am someone who has driven manual transmissions all my life. There is a "too long" delay between first and second gears where the car suddenly surges after a delay when the transmission shift into 2nd gear...almost like a rocking motion...think of someone who is learning to drive a stick shift for the first time with all the sudden surges and stops...this feels the same. I thought I was doing something wrong but it appears this is a characteristic of the transmission. It is beyond annoying and downright crude. Smart should have used a CVT transmission!!! Once the car rolls along things smooth out but you can still feel the transmission changing gears constantly.
This is a tiny car and the handling is nimble and parking is literally a breeze. It takes bumps surprisingly well. Taking curves is a little challenging because there is some body lean and this car is tall.
Ok, I come down to why I didn't buy it. There were a few factors. Number one issue, the horrendous transmission; Smart please use a CVT instead! Second it uses premium fuel only which defeats the purpose of owning this car. Third, I overheard a sales guy commenting to another sales guy that this car's mileage is around 30 combined(!!!)
Unfortunately I could not justify buying at this time but I will consider it when Smart gets a new transmission and new engine (hybrid?) and the mileage is 50+. Man, I was so disappointed!!!!