Smart or not so Smart?

[Daimo]

Ze little Smarties have the answer mobile.

has anyone got one, do they really return 60+mpg?

After 9-10 years of winters, snow, ice, sun and heat, I think im finally going to give in and look at getting a car for work. Bikes no faster really, just cuts through the traffic. It returns 40-50mpg, but added with tyres every 3-4k, pads, servicing every 4k, new jackets etc every few years, im seriously considering getting one. That way I can have my nice bike for sunny days, it'll fit in the garage too.

Gonna have a nosey on AT later, anyone got one though? Yes they are girly, slow, sound like a hairdryer, but its small, light, good on juice, and its literally for going to work and back every day as we'll still have the S3 for longer/shopping drives etc.

Bad idea, known faults? I can deal with looking like a lemon. Biggest issue is me driving it how its not intended and rolling the bugger :lol: With its tiny turbocharged engine, 3 stud wheels, pimpin....

But really, theres not much else out there thats cheap enough?

[454697819]

why not drive the S3?

[Skip]

Peugeot 106/Citroen Saxo diesel FTW :)

[Daimo]

S3 is missis car so she uses it for work.

Would never go near anything with a French, Saxo, 106, or non turbo derv. I'd rather walk, probably faster too :lol:

Budget isn't going to be much, but im warming to the idea of heaters and a radio every day, and keep Nelli for sunny days to work.

[Noble Ox]

Seat Arosa TDi?

Cute little things.

[G]

Peugeot 106/Citroen Saxo diesel FTW :)


Yep +1 on this, except I would stay away from the french and consider a 1.4/1.6TDCI Ford Fiesta instead. Cheap to fix and look after and much less likely to break than the french ones.

[Bedhead]

Peugeot 106/Citroen Saxo diesel FTW :)

The TUD5 engine in them is a little gem, and they cost peanuts to run.

My mate runs a Smart FourTwo and it's getting about 44mpg, admittedly that's town work and he boots it on, but it's no better than my 14yo 306 is doing.

I just sold a clutch and flywheel for a TDCi Fester. £450

[Skip]

Would never go near anything with a French, Saxo, 106, or non turbo derv. I'd rather walk, probably faster too :lol:

If you are purely going to work and back then you want cheap as possible! If your budget will stretch to about £1500 I would also consider a Vauxhall Astra Eco4 - we have one and around town it does 58mpg - 65mpg is easily achievable on a run (think 600+ miles on £50 of fuel) - it is not that slow (but still not fast!) and has A/C which is nice in this weather. If anything happened to this one we would get another one in a heartbeat :)

[Daimo]

Been there with my Vauxhalls though, had enough of them, all we've owned for the last 12 years :lol: Would rather get a crappy Corsa B 1.7 td than the 106/french tin can stuff. Really really RELLY hate them. Dash, seats, stearing, its just all awful.

Speed isn't an issue really, cheapness is. Plus the Smart will fit in the garage along with the S3, and the Benelli which is whats swaying me. Just searching common problems on them.

I hate pretty much anything French, apart from the Clio Williams/Sport, or Megan Sport hot hatch, all of which arn't what I really need.

[Skip]

Sounds like your mind is made up then ;) Personally it seems that it fits one of your criteria (fits in the garage) and none of the others!

The question has to be asked - if you are only going to work and back in it and you want something cheap - why do you care if it gets garaged or not?? :???:

[Daimo]

It is really, Im just trying to investigate common faults, gather anyones opinion who has them, do they really hit 60+mpg if driven normally etc.

Garaged, as I live off the road and whilst its not a huge walk, the car would not be directly around so would be in the back of my mind. Whilst it might be a work mobile, I still don't want it being stolen or damaged really.

[Daimo]

Oh, and lack of spaces on the road where it is, so fighting for spaces, as the damn white van men hog the road at 3pm to go to the pub for after work drinks, and by the time i get back theres no space anyway.

[sloppy joe]

An ex-gf had a '51 plate base spec Smart. Think she got about 50mpg ave. Faults - not sure, we split after a year and it was new when we got together, no time to get issues.

Problem was servicing at the time - Merc dealer what sold it then said they would not service (we wanted dealer service at the time for warranty) when it came to first service time. I told them they f*cking would, I was not driving 100 miles to get it done, and eventually they did. On an old one, not a prob though I expect as you would do yourself or take to local spanner monkey.

Suprisingly spacious inside, i am 6'2" and no head or leg room issues. Enough room in the boot for a week's shopping just about.

Horrific understeer. Set up that way to avoid tipping over. However, piling in to a wall because the bugger won't turn is not a great alternative to not tipping over. Something to watch for. Appallingly slow auto. However, great to sneak into tiny parking spaces.

Personally, I would prob buy 106/Saxo type car if going for cheap work transport. Or a proton. Friend got one for £150 off e-bay 5 years ago and its still passing the MOT.

But, if the smart fits the bill, it seemed to me to be a pretty good little town car. Possibly a bit overpriced, but seem to hold value so good for re-sale. Good luck.

[embee]

A lot of reliability issues with the Smart by all accounts (cracking manifiolds/electricals/leaks etc). I've only driven one (LHD) example, something of a toy really, cute but seriously compromised.

How about the Pug107/Toyota Aygo/Citroen C1 (all come off the same production line). Great little Toyota 3cyl engine, excellent economy, Band B (£20) road tax, good safety (air bags/side bags/belt tensioners/ EBD etc), a lot more space than the Smart, quite nippy. They just escape being nasty by a whisker when it comes to interior materials though. A few well documented issues but no real show stoppers (early models got through front discs and tyres at a rate of knots, silencers rattled, water pumps leaked, some door seal leaks, most issues seem to have been fixed). Owners pretty happy all round.