smart Car
I'm hoping to be a Smart owner in the near future. I rented a diesel model last year for several days and really enjoyed. I'm curious to hear about the performance of the gasoline 2008 version in Canada.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jamessmart on -
I wanted a smart ever since they started selling them. When they dropped the price for 2008, I "bit the bullet" and purchased the least expensive model the pure and am very happy with it. I would rather have had the diesel, but the price was just too much, al they had was the pulse model (which I preferred) but could not afford. I'm getting just over 50 mpg which I am happy with, I expect that to get a bit better as I break it in and the weather gets warmer. Still the diesel gets better milage, but is a little smaller and a bit more cramped inside. Might be a bit tight if the passenger is close to my size 260 lbs!
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I have the 451 smart fortwo which is the gas version and have to say that as long as your not insane about getting one million miles to the gallon that the gas smart is not only a far better vehicle in terms of build quality and options it will be one of the most fuel efficient vehicles you can own.
Its hard to compare the gas to the diesel smarts as really they are 2 very different cars. The new smart has a almost Mercedes like interior, has almost double the truck/rear storage space and is even wider both inside and out. Another thing to note is you can buy a new 2008 smart fortwo (gas) cheaper then you can buy a 2006 smart fortwo (diesel). So do you really want to pay more for a 2 year old vehicle, just so that you can save a couple buck on gas?
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Permalink Reply by Gordon on -
I guess the only big difference in terms of gas/diesel versions is that diesel is cheaper to buy. I was watching the review of the 451 on jaylenosgarage.com, and Jay said the gas version goes like the dickens, which was not the experience I had with diesel I rented a year ago -- it was still pretty peppy. At the risk of derailing my own thread, I'm curious what wait times Canadian are experiencing ordering the new 451s. We've (my other half and I) agreed to put off discussion of a new car until March.
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I have a CDi over here in France, new in August last year.
I've done around 3500 miles so far both mixed in traffic, out of town and on the motorway. Average consumption is around 65mpg though it has been up to 72 and down to 58.... nowhere near the 85 in general use as advertised - not that I am after every last mpg - my other car is a '92 Merc 500E - but it would be interesting to know why I can't get near even the city figure whilst cruising on A-roads....
I pay about €1.35 / litre for diesel here, about $7.50/US gal ( I think!) so it's only pennies I'm losing but as an Engineer by trade, I'd be interested to see if anyone else out there has managed to match the official figures!
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Permalink Reply by Gordon on
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You pay that for Diesel -- holy smokes. The week I had my rental Diesel, I put in $12 or $14 CAD for diesel, compared the $50 CAD I put in my Elantra to drive the same distance. I will never, ever again complain about the cost of fuel in Canada. The big selling point of the Smart for me is a potential sixty % drop in fuel costs.
I pay about €1.35 / litre for diesel here, about $7.50/US gal ( I think!) so it's only pennies I'm losing but as an Engineer by trade, I'd be interested to see if anyone else out there has managed to match the official figures!
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I think the Diesel-Engine ist more susceptible to interference as the GAS one, because the Diesel has a Turbo, the other not! The GAS-Smart is also very nippier. It has 52kw, the Diesel only 33kw.
I drive my 451 (GAS/45kw) with a average consumption from
traxx123
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Ah yes, but the torque of the diesel is great in day to day traffic....!
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Permalink Reply by Carlos on -
In real world the 451 cdi is not as economical as advertised: 3.3 liter/100km/72MPG is really impossible to get. 48-52MPG is the average, when i'm checking the german smartforum. Also its to slow for 2008 standards. 19.8 sec to 100 km/h or 62 mph is not acceptable in my opinion. But of you only drive around town or in the city , its not an issue.
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I just filled up again and consumption was 72mpg (61mpg US) again after another A-road run with a short hop on the motorway.
I know the diesel is down on power (but up there on torque!) but there seems to be no speed-limiter at 135km and indeed, at one point, I managed to get a fairly easy 155km/h which seemed to be the engine governor limit. I don't have a rev-counter so am not sure if that's the red line....
It's pretty good in town on traffic-light take offs and keeps up more than adequately with other cars though as you might expect, it's a bit of a struggle on longer cruising speed hills.... it's only 40hp after all!
