2009 smart fortwo passion cabriolet

Pros

Tons! Parking, fuel economy, handling, ownership cost

Cons

Distance to nearest smart center

Purchased As New

I've had mine for about a year. It's been a great ride, does well in the snow and in the summer, and gets great mileage. I've been tracking mine religiously on Fuelly and am getting about 40mpg mixed.

The interior is roomy, and there's lots of space in the trunk for groceries and such. The heated seats work well in the winter, and the rag top is great for summer driving. The best part is that it's small enough to fit in a 10x10 shed without a problem.

The car only has two major downsides. One is that the ride can be rough, especially on very bumpy roads. Not as bad as a Jeep, but this isn't a luxury car. The closest I can compare it to would be the early Saturn line. The other is that cruise control is not a factory option. There are two aftermarket vendors, but it's a DYI deal, as only a few dealers will install either module. (Both are easy to install as a stereo system though, so...)

This is a great car for single people, childless couples (looking to stay that way), or as a second car for commuting. If you have a family of four, this will not be a good "only car" solution for you. But if I have to tell you that, you shouldn't be driving anyway...

With the convertible option starting at $16K, it's *the* lowest priced convertible you can buy new. It also gets great mileage, handles well, and only requires service (oil changes, etc) every 10K miles. Add up the cost of the car, fuel, and maintenance for a year, and you'll find that any smart by far has a lower operating cost than most available on the market today.