smartnhappy

Here's a couple I took at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show.

"Well I'm not sure where that little targeted rant came from, but I love my smart even more than Ian loves his and I never talk it down, unlike him. I daresay I love my car more than you love yours....and that I will still own it long after yours is gone due to concerns about "costs after extended warranty" I'd say we probably both appreciate our little cars quite a bit, but you seem to take a lot of pot shots at them. We all know it's not 'rich, Corinthian leather' used on our steering wheels, and the leather used on the seats that some have optioned for isn't the best available. Many of us also know that Mercedes themselves offer two types of what they call 'leather' in their regular line of vehicles, but to refer to the Smart as using "edible oil product" does smack of insult and cynicism, and I'm probably not the only car owner on this forum that feels somewhat offended by the comment. Maybe be a bit more constructive. And as to how long I'll own my Smart, I don't know. Check back with me in several years. [i"]The new leather still feels and smells like an edible oil product compared to the wheels on my other cars!"[/i] And please, the world doesn't revolve around Peugeot. Personally I doubt whether Peugeots are any better (or any worse) than any other manufacturer, now or anytime in the past. It's debatable to the n'th degree (please, no). We all know you own a Peugeot and an MB B200, and that you recently retired another Peugeot. If you check back at previous posts you might notice that you've been treating us to Peugeot's so-called 'superiority' for some time now, and also your B200. Enough about your Peugeots. Wow, I mentioned Peugeot seven times. I may have just beaten a record!. I'll check on the Peugeot board (oops, that's eight times now).

ianjay... yes, the new wheel feels great. Amazing how the old one wore to smoothness, and the new one is so tactile. I guess I find 'edible oil product' a good enough material for a Smart steering wheel, just as the custom wood and leather wheel is appropriate in my Cadillac.Mike T... Do you have anything good or positive to say anymore? You just seem to be flogging your 'opinion' on the superiority of some French vehicleswhile dragging down the Smart car and logging as many posts as you can, maybe to be the first to 20,000 (you'll win, by the way).

My original warranty expired mid June and at that time, at a regular 'A' service, they charged an extra $50. for the extended warranty inspection.They also replaced an axle seal, installed a new battery and replaced the turbo. I doubt if they would have done all this without the extra warranty.A couple of weeks ago they replaced the steering wheel because the paddle shifters worked intermittently.Personally, I'm glad I got the extended warranty. There isn't too much on these little cars that's cheap, and the service rates certainly aren't cheap.I've recouped about two thirds of the cost already, and only one month into the warranty.

Then bring Steppenwolf and Collin James CDs, but just for the 'peaks'.

Screw the IPod. I started years ago and spent hours and hours dubbing music from albums to open reel, making both background and party tapes. I then went through the 'portable, personal music' thing with Walkman years later (anyone remember the TPS-L2 @ $349.95 ?).Spent hours and hours dubbing music from albums to cassettes. Carried several boxes of cassettes wherever I went.Then I carried several pounds of CDs during the Discman era.I hate headphones and/or earbuds. I find that none are comfortable, most have very poor specs and ALL will cause hearing damage (I know!).Then I had a trunk full of CDs, and then a CD changer in several vehicles.Spent hours and hours dubbing music from albums and CDs to make CDs.Now I only carry music channels..... 100+ of them on XM radio, with lots of news and sports, if I feel like it.Huge selection of music is now available anytime in the Smart and at home (a portable unit), and in the wife's Caddy.There's too much music out there to bother recording it. You'll never fully appreciate the effort required to record everything you want.Even though it's much faster than it used to be, don't waste your time and effort copying music. Ten dollars a month is worth it, for my time.Anyone want to but some great mix cassettes?? I don't seem to use my Walkman as much as I used to.Also have a few open reel tapes kicking around.Yes, I did have a car with an 8-track player in it. Tried recording my own tapes for that too, but it didn't work very well.My 2¢

There is a favourable review of the new Brabus Smart on page G1 of Saturday's issue of the London Free Press (in Ontario). Would someone please locate and post a link to the article. My efforts haven't been successful.Thanks.

Glenn,Don't buy till I show you my daughter's car. She's moved to England and left me to sell it for her.I'll talk to you both tomorrow night.Bill

What's the big deal. I have a chauffeur-driven Smart car too.(signed) The Chauffeur

I was into the London dealer last Friday and was told that Smart is way behind in getting out the cards with the PIN numbers to owners, including info to the dealers. They ARE coming.

Glenn,I hope you invited Dave from Mufflerman (and his wife) to the Feb 02nd Valentine's feedbag in Lambeth.

Don't know if this video has been previously posted, but it's fun to watch. I'll bet you're rooting for the little bugger by the end of the events. I know I was. http://www.wimp.com/doublecar/

Peace, calm and rationality to all. May the New Year bring sanity to the world.Season's best,Bill

I guess you've got to put two snow tires on it to use it in Quebec, right ???

My 08 Cadillac CTS came with nitrogen filled tires. Dealer tops up for free anytime I've needed it. Also if I'm in for regularly scheduled service (also free for 4 years). Just had 2 snow tires installed and, guess what. Free nitrogen.Two local tire dealers wanted only $5 per tire for nitrogen with new snows.Asking $65 is beyond a rip-off, it's pure theft.Nitrogen has some good points... it's less susceptible to leaking, maintains a more constant temperature range, it contains no moisture which prolongs the life of the tire and pressure readings are more accurate and reliable. There's lots of good reasons all forms of race cars use it. Most people view it as a little insurance against tire failure. Maybe with the diminutive size of the little rubber bands on the Smarts we all bomb around in, it wouldn't hurt to consider nitrogen use as a bit more acceptable for us.

I believe Glenn has seen it also, in the Lambeth area (sw London).In fact, it circled our Smart group while we were at a dinner outing last fall in London, then took off.

I see an EV-1 scooting around London, Ontario from time to time.

What package and size did you get?Are you happy with the fit and final result?

Here's a link to the story at the Auto Channel. http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2008/08/08/095831.html I like the fact it's a 5 year old car, purchased used.

Maybe the club members could look for a supplier or manufacturer of 2 or 3 sizes in metal finish only, leaving the buyer to spray paint it in black or white or whatever, in any finish they prefer.Anyone out there with connections to a machine shop?Steve might have exact specs to turn out a few dozen.

Smartieparts no longer sells the short rearview mirror mounts for the 450. Too bad because it sounds like someone could sell quite a few of them, judging by the comments above. I include myself in the list, as I'm still looking for one (the shortest was 25 mm and the longest was 45 mm, if I remember).Anyone interested in selling the shortest one, please PM me.

My 2 cents on Consumers Reports.... Somewhere I've got 3 old copies of this 'rag', the first with a write-up on VHS VCR's placing a Sony as the 'best buy'. The next testing issue had it's direct replacement model rated as unacceptable (identical chassis with a couple more features). Sony wrote to them expressing their concerns about the evaluation and stating some facts that didn't seem to come out in the product review. CR printed the letter in their next issue along with a quarter-page ad for a new electronics engineer to head-up their product testing facility. BTW, Sony had never submitted free product to them for test purposes over the years. Not too many years ago, any manufacturer that didn't submit free product for testing seemed to always automatically received a 'poor' rating. This attitude prevailed with the magazine until public opinion seemed to force them to 'buy' their own product for testing, much of which came and (I believe) still comes from suppliers via various under-the-table routes. I don't believe Consumer's Reports is worth the paper it's printed on. I wouldn't rely on any of their testing procedures, their honesty or their integrity. If I want a second opinion on something I'm going to buy, I'll research it more completely and find someone that owns one for a valid appraisal. Does anyone really think this magazine will sway anyone that wants to but a Smart?

So you're recommending the dealer, or nothing, right?No franchised shops?Everyone else agree? Any good or bad experiences out there?

Meanwhile back to 'broken windshields', I too have received a kiss from Hwy 401 and want to know ifmembers that have replaced windshields have any recommendations as to the best place for replacement.I found Apple Auto Glass in London to be way too expensive with my other vehicles, but would try other franchise shops if experiences were positive. What about your local MB/Smart dealers?Suggestions ????Feedback ????Thanks.

An answer to the gravel question.... the car is just fine.I've been on lots of rural gravel roads in my job of leasing land for wind turbines and gas wells. If you remember that the tires aren't that wide and that your speed should be well controlled, you'llbe ok. I'd strongly recommend front mud flaps to reduce flying stones (and rears to reduce dust, if you don't mind the look). Also some 3M (or similar) stone guard applied to the front of the rear fenders to protect from and reduce stone damage in that area. You might consider doing the 3M thing across the entire front, depending on volume of traffic encountered on your roads. Smarts present a big smiley face to flying road debris, so windshields are vulnerable. You might already know about windshields if you've driven lots on gravel roads. I know because I just got another chip in Lil'Toot's "glasses". Remember also that the Smart isn't that wide, so I've found a degree of comfort in knowing that I don't have to move over quite as far to the shoulder to pass oncoming vehicles, particularly Ontario's ruralroad-racing farmers. This is a good thing since the roads, and particularly the shoulders, are usuallypoorly maintained. The stone guard topic is covered in-depth elsewhere in this club site, as are cold weather issues.Personally, if it gets to -30/-40 C, I'm not going anywhere.... It's toooooo cold.Cheers.