451 smart fortwo

wheels and tires for sale

2010-04-28T02:31:38.120Z

i have two rears and a front from a 2008 pure for sale, balanced WITH the tpms intact. they have 20K miles on them and would make perfect spares. asking $130 each. i'm in the chicago area, if you require shipping, that will be "at cost".

Aston Martin Cygnet

2009-12-18T23:37:11.433Z

Aston Martin will make a microcar called the Cygnet based on the Toyota iQ. It should list @ $32K

smart mirror covers

2009-12-09T01:04:48.074Z

hi all, i just discovered a way to keep snow and ice off your rear view mirrors, today chicago is getting whacked by the first snow storm of the year and this is my second winter with the smart. the way the mirrors are, they are hard to clean/clear due to being recessed so far in. i have discovered that Hefty "onezip" baggies of the "gallon" size fit perfectly over the mirror assembly.

simply place the baggie over the mirror, zipper side down, then snug it up to the bottom of the "arm", this will keep the mirrors clean and clear and let you drive off faster on them snowy/frosty days. will add photos tomorrow.

just noodling...

2009-06-30T04:51:21.450Z

i have known about the mini cooper for about 40 years, the first car my father had after i was born was a 1960 VW beetle (new). my father started buying a string of MG midgets in the mid '70's. seeing the mini in photos and on TV, it intrigued me. i've gravitated towards smaller cars all my life. my first car was a '65 beetle, then a '71 corolla, a series of ford escorts, a first generation subaru justy, a couple of geo metros, and now, my little smart.
i've looked at other small cars over the years, when i felt like buying a new car, the renault 5 (le car), the yugo (bought the suby instead). then in the last few years i've looked on ebay for little minis. i've bid on a few, knowing their innards from my father's midgets, not complex, but not that reliable. my brother picked up a subaru 360 in 1980, that was a piece of work (quite close to a smart, rear engine, rear wheel drive).

i've always enjoyed my smaller cars, i'm a slight person, 5'8" and 115 pounds, i prefer to "wear" my car than "swim" in it... i've had a few biggies, a '68 polara, a '68 catalina, a ''71 LTD, i always was clinging to the steering wheel to stay in place while driving.

today, i finally met up with an original mini, over the years, i've seen a couple, quite aways away, never close enough to walk up to one, get the actual scale/size of it. i was shocked and awed at the same time. it was so tiny! i parked my smart next to it, and it towered over the little car. the mini had seats behind the fronts, i have no idea what could inhabit them, the front seats were at "gocart" level, which is sure to induce a degree of paranoia in most ( i rode in my aunt's toyota camry a few weeks ago, it rode so much lower than my smart!)

i went home, picked up my camera, then drove back to take pics and a movie. the owner, i think was the manager of a local store "tuesday morning", as i drove past the store i saw 2 people in the window watching me, who were probably watching me take pics of the mini and smart. it was so cool! i'm tempted to go back and ask to "trade rides" for a bit, to get the feel of a real mini.

gifts from smart!

2008-10-06T21:04:36.655Z

smarties! be on the lookout for a surprise from smart usa!

For sale: Pioneer DEH-P2900MP AM/FM/CD unit, 100% "smart ready"

2008-09-06T20:18:42.655Z

Got a pure with no radio? Don't like the smart original? I have a 5 month old Pioneer unit, 100% smart ready! Fascia panel (2 DIN with cubby hole insert for extra storage) all wiring and adapters professionally soldered and taped and the antenna adapter for the smart.
This unit has 50W x 4 power, AUX input and a subwoofer OUT, currently wired for the standard smart 2 speaker set-up. 5 screws out, pull the panel/radio, plug this unit in, and 5 screws in and you're done! 10 minute job, if you take your time!

$140 OBO (fascia panel and adapters run over $60, if you can find them)

message me here or at vapor_eyezd@yahoo.com

oncars.com gives honest review

2008-09-05T05:45:54.448Z

oncars.com gives a short but honest review on the smart. they even end up driving the smart down a bike path.

http://www.oncars.com/video/148/2008-smart-fortwo-Quick-Test

radio/dash panel for sale

2008-08-29T02:04:47.583Z

hi,
i have a smart pure that i ordered without a radio. i got a 2 single DIN smart panel (approx $50) and a Pioneer DEH-P2900MP tuner (single DIN) in it. (50 watts per channel, 4 channels). it'll play normal CDs, MP3 & WMA CDs with a subwoofer control as well (boost/cut-off).

i've been using the AM tuner mostly over the last 6 months, it sounds great, and has custom wiring harnesses that will readily plug into any smart (quality work, soldered)

i just purchased a "radio 10" smart 6 disc changer for my pure, so if you don't like the smart "radio 9" and want a little more power, or have a pure like me and want a quick "plug in solution" for less than $350 that smart wants, contact me for this fine unit, pre-fitted to the smart.

smart diesels in the USA

2008-08-19T18:52:05.658Z

I wonder why Mercedes doesn't use their "Blue TEC" technology in the smart for the USA. They are so proud of it with their SUVs in the USA.

Blue Technology Will Make Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC Diesels Clean Running
The BlueTEC-powered vehicles achieve a 20 to 30 percent increase in fuel-efficiency.

The 2009 ML320 BlueTEC, GL320 BlueTEC and R320 BlueTEC, utilizing Mercedes-Benz AdBlue exhaust treatment system, will run cleanly enough to meet the strict emission standards of every state including California. Yes, we said diesel.

With the new widespread availability of clean low-sulfur diesel fuel, the Mercedes-Benz diesel history in the United States will continue. Mercedes-Benz is bringing three new vehicles to these shores equipped with the world's latest and cleanest diesel engines.

In fact, these new models—the R320 BlueTEC, ML320 BlueTEC and GL320 BlueTEC–– will initially be available exclusively in America. They are powered by a Mercedes-Benz V6 fitted with BlueTEC technology, considered the world's cleanest. Mercedes-Benz has enhanced the BlueTEC system with AdBlue exhaust injection, already an effective technology in Mercedes-Benz trucks and buses. So equipped, the three new SUVs achieve low emissions that meet the stringent emissions standards in the USA. They also have the potential to meet the coming EU6 standards. The new models will be available in the USA from autumn 2008.

In October 2006, Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer to offer a BlueTEC car in America. Even with the then-limited availability of low-sulfur diesel fuel, the E320 BlueTEC proved a great success from the outset and was voted "World Green Car of the Year 2007." As a next step, Mercedes-Benz will offer the R, ML and GL320 BlueTEC SUVs here. Capable of 25 mpg, the GL320 BlueTEC will be the most economical full-size SUV sold in America.

Achieving this feat requires some innovative emissions technology. The most important goal is to achieve a drastic reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions, the exhaust gas component that has tripped up diesel engines in the past. The answer is BlueTEC. The Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC engine is new from the ground up — an ultra-modern, 72-degree, V6 diesel with four valves per cylinder, dual overhead camshafts and centrally located piezo-electric fuel injectors. An engine-driven pump sprays fuel directly into the center of the combustion chamber, and each injector is precisely positioned in the aluminum cylinder head to ensure even dispersion of fuel as its flame front spreads concentrically across the combustion chamber. These injectors operate at an astonishing 23,000 pounds per square inch of fuel pressure to ensure clean and rapid fuel detonation.

Various catalysts and filters have reduced particulate emissions—the heavy black soot associated with diesel engines—to acceptable levels, but until now, emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) have been too heavy for 50-state certification. The answer to this need is AdBlue, an aqueous urea solution (carried in an auxiliary tank) that is injected into the engine exhaust. AdBlue creates a chemical reaction that releases ammonia, of which 80 percent is reduced to form harmless nitrogen and water by the downstream SCR converter. Particulates in the exhaust are trapped in a filter. The result is a clean, environmentally benign diesel powertrain.

The BlueTEC/AdBlue clean diesel technology is particularly effective for larger vehicles like SUVs. Other clean diesel engines accumulate nitrogen oxides and destroy them periodically by cycling through a richer combustion mix to burn up the chemical. It’s good enough, but actually increases fuel consumption significantly when the burn-off occurs. The BlueTEC/AdBlue approach is simpler and more fuel efficient. The 215 hp 3.0-liter turbo-diesel will be available in the 2009 GL320 BlueTEC, the ML320 BlueTEC and the R320 BlueTEC SUVs from Mercedes-Benz.

The 2009 GL320 BlueTEC is a seven-passenger luxury SUV that offers seemingly unlimited interior space without huge exterior size. Even the third row of seating is comfortable for adults. The GL320 is a great touring machine with an impressive tow rating of 7,500 pounds. With permanent AWD, it’s also capable of handling most off-road challenges. A seven-speed automatic transmission teams up with the BlueTEC/AdBlue diesel drivetrain to achieve a 25 percent reduction in fuel usage compared to the 4.6-liter V8 gasoline engine version.

Smaller than the GL320, the ML320 BlueTEC receives a sporty facelift for 2009 in addition to its new clean diesel drivetrain. It seats five in luxury with a level of fit and finish only available from Mercedes-Benz. It’s a comfortable SUV with responsive handling and a quiet ride. It, too, achieves a 25 percent reduction in fuel usage compared with the 3.5-liter gas-powered V6.

The sporty 2009 R320 BlueTEC has room for six passengers in its flexible, family-friendly interior. With its new clean-diesel drivetrain and seven-speed automatic, the R320 BlueTEC offers much improved gas mileage and remains the most affordable SUV in the Mercedes-Benz lineup.

With the fuel-economy benefits of diesel—typically 20 to 30 percent higher than comparable gasoline engines—these three SUVs now have a range of 600-plus miles. Check out the world’s cleanest, most fuel-efficient SUVs on the road—from Mercedes-Benz, of course.

Smartster in Car & Driver

2008-08-09T18:51:17.883Z

3 months ago, "smartster" Stephen participated in the 2008 One Lap Of America (aka the "Cannonball Run") He and his smart are featured in the September 2008 issue of Car & Driver. Way to go Stephen!