2008 smart ForTwo consumer reviews

I just drove the SMART cabriolet from VA to Ct and back, to a wedding around NY in traffic. What a hoot. I only felt unsafe from the other drivers trying to take pictures of me with their cellphones while trying to drive next to me. I found its 6 gears idea for the highway and I was in the passing lane most of the way. The only problem.. I wished it has cruise control. You may want to add different cupholders. I put the top down and had my sons bike sticking up and out of the trunk one day. Not elegant but it worked. A headlight burned out and I took the front end off to change the light bulb. It took a standard bulb from an autoparts store. The oil filter is about the size of an ink cartridge for a computer printer. I drive my wife and her luggage to the airport every week and pile up luggage behind the seats with no problem. I found a velcro holder to be ideal for holding in small grocery bags and bottles and keep them from rolling about in the large flat cargo area. I have been driving it a Smart for 4 months. Thats more than enough time for my driving style to adjust a bit to the Smarts way of doing things. Instead of trying to dart out into traffic across a street, I drive the the light and wait for a change. I don't expect to rocket ahead like I was in my SL500 convertable with a V12. I agree that its, like riding a motercycle, you have to be on alert for others. I would describe its handeling like a go cart with the engine under the trunk and a low center of gravity. I flew around an off ramp at night full speed, the tires screamed a bit and the rear did not drift. It did a good job. I am thinking it will be good for my teenager. Only one seat for a passenger so less distractions while driving plus no jack rabit starts. He can learn patience and driving humility vs driving agression.

I own one of these and I found it absolutly facinating! You don't have the feeling of being in a small car after driving for five minutes. So much for those who called it a golf cart! Snobbery!!!! In the city it is MARVELOUS but it can handle highway speeds as well . I drove it at 90 mph for five hours on a trip and was NOT tired! I am used to drive a Chevy Blazer , that is quite different . I just love it and would HIGHLY recommend it ! And it has the reliability of "Mercedes" Need I say more!!!!

I find it hard to believe that a 89 Honda Civic was getting between 34-50 MPG almost 20 yrs ago and later a company makes a midget version of that car with less gas mileage(31city-40highway) smaller size and higher price.This car is doomed, may as well buy a Hyundai Accent for 2 G's less , Big warranty and you can fit stuff in there. Oh but wait you do get a few less MPG's. This would be a great car if the MPG were about 20% more.

This vehicle is a City Drivers Dream, small enough to park anywhere, cheap and simple yet it does everything you'll need it to. The common buyer may be scared of accidents but with the "Nutshell" design the interior cabin is surprisingly safe and it comes with more then enough airbags. The front and tail of the car are meant to cripple thus absorbing the impact shocks while the cabin and its driver/passenger are kept safe but a design that resists extreme impact and not bend. At a cheap price this car is perfect for City Drivers and great for the single town commuter, but highway drivers might want to stay away.

I drove one of these in California, where there are a few of these on the road titled as "conversions." It was a real head-turner in downtown Santa Monica, that's for sure. But it felt a lot like driving a glorified golf cart, only not as fun. Pickup and handling are very golf-cart like. This might be a fine car for making short little trips around the neighborhood to do small errands or visit people. But you'd be a brave soul to take this puny, underpowered go-cart out on the road with the big dogs. So my feeling is, if all it's good for is cruising around downtown or in your subdivision, buy a bicycle. Or walk. Don't waste $20,000 plus on an impractical car that's real cute but not as practical, peppy or useful as a $12,000 true subcompact car.