What`s the crack with Smart Cars?

[Dichtung]

The other half keeps mentioning how handy a Smart for 2 would be???

Looking around, there seems to be many with faulty engines; blown engines and rebuilt engines. All petrols.

So, digging a bit further, it would seem that engine oil changes are not an easy task, cos there`s no sump plug?? Is that correct? Is this the cause of this high engine failure rate, or is the engine design a total MB cockup? There seems to no trouble with diesel versions.

Has this problem been eliminated in later models? ,and if so, which cars are to be avoided?

I believe MB have pulled out from the Smart link up, so who is making the engines now? and what`s the spares situation like?

Any advice please.

 

[wemorgan]

The oil is sucked out with a pump. With a a pump it's easier than a conventional oil change. IMHO that's not the reason for the engine issues the first generation cars had.

Typical petrol engine failures in the first generation cars are at 50-70k

RHD diesels only came with the second generation Smart ForTwo.

I believe all engines in the second generation Smart are better than the first with regards to reliability but not with economy.

For two use I think the cars make sense. They tend to wonder a bit a motorway speeds, so are best at a max of 60mph.

 

[blondebier]

Never owned one, but did look into them as well.

(The unofficial crash test on youtube put a swift end to my searching.)

I believe the early cars had 599cc engines and the later ones were 699cc. I suspect the earlier ones lacked power and were probably ragged to within an inch of their lives.... could be a reason for earlier issues?

The newer generation look much better and are apparently safer.

Not sure I would want my nearest and dearest driving one though.

Just my 2p's worth.

 

[grober]

Better to buy a Fiat 5OO---- Chic city car ---- Good resale ---4 seats---- if you want a noisy engine they have a twin air model too! ----- and if you want to go topless they do a soft top version ----customise the paint/trim/decals to your liking ---- not built in Italy 5star NCAP --- what's not to like?

 

[Sp!ke]

where are they built if not Italy?

 

[wemorgan]

where are they built if not Italy?

According to wikipedia the 500 and Ka are built in Poland.

Ford Ka - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[grober]

They are built at Tychy plant in Poland along with the Fiat Panda and Ford Ka. [ all basically the same platform] So far evidence is that they are screwed together better than the Italian Fiats. Perhaps the Polish workers are keener to produce a good product than their Italian bretheren? There's precedent-- Look at Skoda v VW virtually the same platform/mechanicals but widely differing customer satisfaction with the product ?

 

[martin_a]

Lass at work had a Fiat 500. Paid extra to have the orange flashes down the side and thought it would be paint... nope a sticker so noticable bump from the paint, plus it was wonky!

Pure quality. They sold it and er... now have a Smart. Not sure what that says though!

m.

 

[grober]

Says they're naive? Or perhaps they are the sort of folks that throw out their lounge sofa every 2 years because it doesn't match the new curtains?

 

[wemorgan]

The Smart car is flawed but I'm not sure it entirely deserves the reputation some people give it. In that respect it's rather like the A-class.

Second-hand prices are very affordable now. Yes it only has two seats, but if two is all you ever need why carry around more? Smooth gear changes took some practise but were possible and made congested town driving easier than a manual clutched car. Fuel, tax, depreciation and overall running costs were all very low in my experience.

If my needs dictated I'd happily buy another one day. But I accept that the 500 is the car of the moment so I realise why people would choose that over the Smart.

 

[NOMONEYBUTAMERC]

I think you either love or hate Smart cars . I do not love them

 

[trapperjohn]

Is there not something about the oil level being hard to check so people dont. Hence the engines (in the early ones) crack up at around 60K.
Thats is the crack with the Smart car.
Was it not one of our own esteemed mechanics on here who said. Thinking of a Smart, buy a Yaris.

 

[Dichtung]

Thanks guys; I`ll keep you posted.

 

[martin_a]

Says they're naive? Or perhaps they are the sort of folks that throw out their lounge sofa every 2 years because it doesn't match the new curtains?

Practicality I think. There is only two of them. Didn't fancy the Fiat as they just didn't think it was as good as it was cracked up to be, the wonky vinyl didn't get them off to a good start. Since they live in the city, a Smart is a sensible choice really.

m.

 

[grober]

I'm not having a go here honest but I get the impression the Smart has the hallmark of a "design from scratch" based on what a theoretical city car should be. As opposed to Fiat who have been been in the business of making millions of city cars for years. Why don't they also take a look at the TOYOTA iQ while they are at it? If its good enough for Aston Martin--------? Toyota iQ Specification, Colours and Engines | Toyota UK

 

[jk037]

I know a couple who actually run two Smart cars (and no "proper" vehicles)!

He has the roadster, and swears by it, has had no problems, love the way it drives and looks.

She has the ordinary model (I think they call it a coupe for some reason, rather than the more accurate "shrunken hatchback!) and it recently had to go in for some major work on the gearbox, which cost about £700 - I'm not sure how much an '03 Smart is worth but I'd bet that £700 is a pretty significant chunk of the car's value!

Before it broke properly it made a nasty whining noise when moving off, so I'd avoid any that do this as it appears to point to a gearbox that's close to expiration

(Not sure how they manage to move anything more bulky than a few bags of shopping, mind!)

 

[MrT]

We have a 2010 1.0 petrol fortwo - don't believe the fuel economy figures around town, intensive urban use got us 30-40mpg. Longer journeys at 50-60mph have got us in the region of 60mpg - very useful as I do 120miles a day at the moment - cuts my fuel bill by a third compared to taking the B, and in a car that costs little more than £100/month to contract hire.

 

[Dichtung]

Update; The Fiat 500 is a NoNo. Spoke at length to neighbours who bought a brand new 500 about 18 months ago. Was returned to the maindealers within a week for major surgery! Can`t recall whether it was the clutch or transmish or both. Mutterings of `Bl***y Polski Fiats were heard.

Trawling through Maff`s thread (6 months ago ) at the mo.

 

[manalishi]

I really wanted one when I went looking for a titchy town car about 3yrs ago. The Smart's bad fuel economy and engine stories put paid to the idea and I bought an Aygo. It does 55-62mpg no matter how and where I drive it.

Cheap materials and NVH are about the only downsides worth mentioning (it's not really a Toyota, after all.)

I still look at the Smart Brabus Roadster and wonder, though...

 

[Aeroman]

Lass at work had a Fiat 500. Paid extra to have the orange flashes down the side and thought it would be paint... nope a sticker so noticable bump from the paint, plus it was wonky!

Pure quality. They sold it and er... now have a Smart. Not sure what that says though!

m.

My wife has a Fiat 500, the Abarth 695 Tributo and it has been totally reliable so far and I must say the build quality is pretty rock solid, if not of Mercedes quality. Head Office said that she would like a convertible for this good weather, so I have just bought her in addition a Smart Brabus Convertible.

Very different cars, though also at very different price points. The Smart is much better than the last Brabus we had which was the previous model, it's pretty fully loaded with a much better gearbox and more powerful engine.

Off the two I must say that I much prefer the Fiat Abarth, but can understand why people do like and buy the Smart.