negotiating a smart diesel

[fuzzer]

Been there , done that and lasted 6 months. Only lost about £1000 on my smart over the 6 months. Paid £12,500 for my 84bhp passion with every available option and sold it for £11,500.

It even had side airbags and heated leather , was lovely in yellow with black leather and the full brabus kit and wheels and exhaust.

If i was doing it again , i would get the Passion diesel with power steering and heated seats and the upgraded sound system and DRL.

 

[Sp!ke]

The one option you really should consider is power steering on a Smart!

Neither one I drove had power steering and I cant say I noticed it being heavy so I dont think I need to bother with it -

Many people complain of vagueness if you do get the power steering option and I've already been stung for the cost of fixing electric power steering units on my daughters Mini so know how unreliable they can be.

 

[spinaltap]

We had a Smart Diesel for nearly a month when our diesel A-Class was off the road for an extended period. I still miss it, even today.

I loved the Smart, but the dealer agreed with me that the diesel Smart was 'gutless' compared to the petrol version. Given my 'extended' road test over a month-long period, if I were buying a Smart it would definately be the petrol Smart Coupe.

What is more, I would buy on Agility rather than use my own money. Forget the ridiculous £2k suggested deposit on the Smart website: at the time I negotiated with my local dealer to accept a £200 deposit and £160 per month (that is, if I had bought one).

 

[Maz]

Here's an economical (65mpg+) car for less money than you were going to part with on the deposit for your hire car (sorry PCP).

2004 VAUXHALL CORSA 1.3 CDTI DESIGN TURBO DIESEL 5 DOOR 12 MONTHS MOT HPI CLEAR! | eBay

No monthly payments, if it gets wrecked on the commute no expensive end of lease/rental bodywork worries.

Problem solved.

OT but that guys t&cs are horrendous!

How can people like this stay in business?

OP: are you planning on buying car at end of PCP or handing back?

 

[Sp!ke]

OP: are you planning on buying car at end of PCP or handing back?

Not sure... I guess I'll wait and see if there's any equity in the car at the end of the three years or not. I'll be putting aside a few bob a month in case I do.

Car is ordered now anyway so hoping to get my hands on it within a couple of weeks.

 

[wemorgan]

Car is ordered now anyway so hoping to get my hands on it within a couple of weeks.

Glad a conclusion was made as I thought this thread might have rolled and rolled

Looking forward to the long term review.

 

[Alfie]

Not sure... I guess I'll wait and see if there's any equity in the car at the end of the three years or not. I'll be putting aside a few bob a month in case I do.

Car is ordered now anyway so hoping to get my hands on it within a couple of weeks.

Whats the full spec of the car?

 

[Sp!ke]

Its a Passion CDI in deep black with design red upholstery with soft touch, navigation and all the other passion bits and bobs.

 

[Sp!ke]

I am now a few weeks into smart ownership and today filled up the tank for the second time. I've been keeping a very close eye on the Torque application on my phone (which talks to the ECU of the car via a bluetooth OBD2 connector) giving me some useful stats regarding fuel consumption, throttle position and manifold pressures in real time so I can work how drive the car frugally.

The good news is that already, even with a tight engine, a reasonably heavy right foot (I had it up to 90 the otherday) & London rush hour driving I'm getting some impressive MPG figures (full to empty) and the Torque application calibration is very close indeed to what I am getting when calculating at refuel.

Sat on a flat piece of road, maintaining a constant speed anywhere between 20mph and about 60 I seem to be getting over 100mpg. Between 40 and 50 in top is where it is most happy and here I'm seeing over 130mpg.

Overall however, ducking in and around the M25 commute I am already reaching an average of around 70mpg (calculating full to empty). Torque confirms a similar story. (see below) I expect it will improve too as the engine loosens up.

I am very happy indeed with these numbers as the fuel savings pay for the car and then some. I suspect that 100mpg would be achievable on a long run should one be of a mind to achieve those sort of figures.

I'm actually quite enjoying driving it too. :bannana:

 

[st4]

65mpg. I got that once. Difference was I drove down an alp on the overrun...

 

[st4]

65mpg. I got that from the shed once but I drove down an alpine road on the overrun