phil_lihp Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Anyone know anything about Smarts? My dad's due to retire and hand back his company 3-series and wants something small and a bit more interesting to buzz around locally in, possibly a convertible but has to be reliable and he wants low mileage, newer than 2000 and full service history. He has to have something easy to get in and out of with good visibility and light controls due to a car accident neck injury a couple of years ago. He wanted an MX-5 originally but thinks it will be too low down. He's since found a 53-plate Smart at a trustworthy local dealer for £3300 with only 12k miles on it - it's been serviced according to mileage and not time so only has two stamps in the book but it's pretty much mint. I know nothing much about these, what's to watch out for? Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smart-City-Coupe-0-7-Passion-Automatic-Part-Exchange-Welcome-/111240607988?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item19e674f8f4 He also found an 04 Tigra at a local Ford dealer which they've had for ages and can't seem to shift, only 24k on the clock but I have warned him off it due to reliability concerns and leaky roof syndrome, my thinking is a canvas roof is less hassle if it's in good condition. Can't really think what else to find in this sort of category at under £3k, any suggestions? I have tried suggesting Peugeot 306 convertibles but they're too old, he's not into fixing cars and wants something that still feels 'modern'. That's the 2CV out then! overrun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardmorris Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Their ride is terrible and could understeer for England. A friend of mine had an early LHD one (Passion I think - that's the spec. (Pure, passion and sport?)). Anyway we went on the first London_brighton smart run in it. Fine round town, if bumpy, but on the motorway I'd rather be in the 2cv! It was well made though and quite funky with some nice ideas inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 slk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthebeard Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 MGTF?Low down admittedly, but big doors and easy access. Ticks a lot of the boxes.Cheap to buy also if that is important. Circa £2900 for a low mileage 55 plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asimo Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Very easy to get in and out of and very good visibility. Good driving position. Bobthebeard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveb47 Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 http://autoshite.com/topic/15934-nearly-shite-mercedes-slk-230-kompressor-k-reg-for-sale/?hl=mercedes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messerschmitt owner Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 smart fortwos have chocolate pistons! Expect bore two or three to die. CHeapish to fix but they're overpriced and over rated. I am a smart owner. Cavcraft, Vince70 and Talbotman 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthebeard Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 smart fortwos have chocolate pistons! Expect bore two or three to die. CHeapish to fix but they're overpriced and over rated. I am a smart owner.Proof that the MGF (TF) is the way forward then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saucedoctor Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 smart fortwos have chocolate pistons! Expect bore two or three to die. CHeapish to fix but they're overpriced and over rated. I am a smart owner.SHIT! My mate just bought one as a promo vehicle, and it's running like a bag of nails. I stupidly said I'd take a look at it. I haven't even clapped eyes on it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keymaster Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 I had an early lhd pulse which I used to buzz around town in. They are fine for what they are built for but grim for long distance/motorway speeds. Auto box is horrible, it always contrives to be in the wrong gear to the one you need but you learn to drive around it eventually. I managed to spin it 360 degrees on the spot much to the wide eyed horror of the driver of the astra behind me driving down islington in liverpool on a wet day... that was exciting. As already said, they eat pistons and turbos are well known to fail at around 40k miles. I used to get my parts from merc as they were always cheaper than independents. If its got a glass roof, make sure its also got aircon. They still dont appear to depreciate much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willswitchengage Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Yes, that's a bargain but YPFWYG remember. They were also designed and made (in France) at Mercedes' quality control low point. Save up and buy a Toyota iQ, it's an infinitely better small car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplebargeken Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 I used to have an '03 plate Passion, low mileage and I was the second owner. It also had a full dealer service history, it looked brilliant but seemed to have no suspension and was at the dealers more times that I actually used it. It took several months before they admitted defeat and fitted a new gearbox. It was scary on roundabouts too, such a lag before the engine and gearbox decided to co-operate. Not good when there is an artic bearing down on you. Great looks, great concept, utter shite reality. Go for the IQ, I would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messerschmitt owner Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 if he;'s buying one, you want one with the manual and auto modes (button on side of gearlever). The roadsters (which I own) are better on the engine front but low compression on two or three is normally a sign of oil being eaten by the engine, which kills the turbo. A rebuild will set an owner back about £850 but ensure a specialist does it. Fudgesmart are mobile and recommended. I had a cdi fortwo, bought for £900, sold for £3000 - all I did was run it for three months but SWMBO didnt like lhd - even though the insurance was cheap and tax free. Remapped, a fortwo is great on the motorway (with wide wheels) - and mine could do 105mph+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Car mechanics had one as a project - it was shit and cost not an insignificant amount to put right. I never saw the attraction myself - better cars out there. Twiggy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overrun Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 I am selling my 2002, semi-auto Cabrio Passion, soon. It has about 45K and part service history, so probably not what your dad wants. That being said, I don't want anything like £3K or even £2K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micrashed Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Hells bells those iQ's are expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New POD Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Do they have a sump plug ? No? In which case they are NOT a car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 The Smart is an appliance that needs as much petrol, and costs more to run, than a car, which can transport 4-5 people and their luggage. It's pointlessness is hence on par with that of a 7.6 litre Lincoln Town Coupe, which by all means should make it appealing, but, alas, it has nowhere near the class. Twiggy and Wilko220 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssDeeWon Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 The GF was adamant she wanted one of these last year, talked her out of it, so over priced and seem too small even for a new driver. Bought a K11 Auto for £650 instead, never went wrong or cost a penny over a year. Conclusion....spend £2.5k more on a car to save £100 on Tax? No thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lankytim Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 I one drove a Smart from Edinburgh to Stratford, I thought it was great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 I dont know about buying one, but I'd really fancy crashing one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 I had a diesel forfour. Other than the fact that it's a dressed up Mitsubishi Colt in fancy pants it was great. Lots of space, nice inside, looked kinda funky. The 1.5 diesel was super frugal too. You can even get them with normal gearboxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_lihp Posted March 4, 2014 Author Share Posted March 4, 2014 My word, I knew this place was a hive of knowledge but I wasn't expecting 19 replies with all that useful detail in such a short time! Thanks, that's a lot to digest. I had a feeling they tended to lunch their engines fairly early on - small motor under high stress doesn't bode well for high mileages - but there's at least a case for saying that the low mileage of that particular one coupled with his likely small annual limit (they have my mum's car to use too) it would take years to get near 40k. I've suggested a long test drive to decide on the auto box, allegedly early ones are reluctant and lurchy but later ones from 2003 onwards are better, no idea if that's true. I do like the idea of the SLK/TF and I will suggest that to him but I think he's going to struggle with any low-slung sports car to be honest and the IQ is too new and expensive, it's only for running around town so to be honest the existing budget far the requirements in many respects. No sump plug? What madness is this? Oh, and I did consider it my duty to try and get him in a Rover 200 convertible but it didn't work... saucedoctor and Jim Bell 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messerschmitt owner Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 the roadsters don't lunch their engines so readily - they die at any age - normally piston rings gumming up and allowing oil past into the bore! Lack of full throttle seems to be the issue, roadsters are driven hard and fortwos aren't. I've seen 10k cars with dead engines and ones with 100k that run perfectly. a sump with plug is c.£50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shep Shepherd Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 I drove several Fortwos in 2002. Great fun and really easy to drive, but I wouldn't want to drive one on a motorway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssDeeWon Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Bird at work had a roadster, absolute PITA I remember her excitement at getting rid and hoping nothing else would fuck up before the actual sale date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negative Creep Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 We used to use them as delivery cars when I worked for Pizza Hut. Dreadful ride, awful handling, naff sounding engine, useless gearbox and didn't even have a glovebox although I assume later ones will). Only good side was the fuel economy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KruJoe Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 phil_lihp, Heidel_Kakao, loserone and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
explosive-cabbage Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Good call Joe. Bit old though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M'coli Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Car Mechanics had a Fortwo as a project last year, they covered the engine work quite extensively if you fancy finding out what's involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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