smart #1 Review

[brd]

Here's a 16 minute rather positive review of the new smart #1 [pronounced HASHTAG ONE] small electric 4 seat SUV. The 400HP 4 wheel drive brabus version is featured in this review. The brabus has a 250 mile range whereas the regular version gets about 270 miles. The brabus does 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds. The estimated price for the brabus is 38,000 pounds which is roughly $60,000CDN which is taxes all-in.

 

 

Edited September 28, 2022 by brd
correction

[MikeT]

That's a lot for a Chinese car.

[Willys]

Didn't they say it was sitting on a Volvo type chassis or something....?  At that price you can buy the Mustang my brother bought.....not sure which is better as I'm not a big fan of the mustang either.  IF you are dead set on an EV what is wrong with this? The fit and finish looked good, and just because it comes from China doesn't now a days mean it's complete garbage.....they have come a long way from where they used to be. Especially is MB is partnering with them? 

But it did look a bit cramped with that high centre console sort of thing, but until you sit in one you'll never know?  

I'll keep my opinions about the whole EV situation out of this post but the car itself looks not bad.  
Also at $60K for the Brabus at 400 hp 4 wheel drive, that's far better than the mustang......Hmmm....?

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by Willys

[MikeT]

Volvo is Geely which is Chinese too; though I think they may be Swedish-designed still. Some of those Volvo cars are made in China, including some of the all electric Polestar cars on sale now in Canada for less than this smart. With this smart, the article says that only the styling is German and all the engineering was done in China. Hmmm. It also says the platform will be used in an upcoming Volvo smaller SUV model, not that it's based on any existing Volvo..

 

That's a lot of money for a car with a distressed brand badge that is engineered in China. Plus I'd not be surprised if the car reports regularly to Chinese Intelligence agencies! LOL

[Willys]

19 hours ago, MikeT said:

That's a lot for a Chinese car.

What did you pay for the first Smart Cars...?  an hefty price also imho for what it is.  Can you say this was a great car for the money from the dealership etc...I wouldn't...but I do love the little bugger all the same at the very reasonable used car prices.....or better yet one someone can't figure out how to fix it or one the dealership has scared the pants off the owner by over pricing a repair bill....no way i would've paid full pop for one ...damn!

 

[MikeT]

I bought the one I have now at half MSRP at a dealer when it was 3.5 years old, and had 3.5 years full warranty left due to only 380 km on the clock. Better deal than new, that's for sure.

 

What is entertaining is watching people who so religiously avoid dealers for parts that they'll pay $10 for a $6.50 oil filter, or $15 for a $12 H7 bulb. Maybe we're lucky out here but M-B Victoria and Nanaimo are excellent and good value for money. I'd much rather pay them the fixed rate for some of the repairs that I can do but don't WANT to do. I suppose I'm fortunate to be able to afford that.

 

I avoid buying anything made in China whenever possible, and with new cars, it certainly is possible. I don't want a Chinese engineered BEV SUV at any price.

[Willys]

So at half the asking price this car would be a good deal also then .....lol
I do agree to my surprise that some parts are far cheaper at the stealership after asking by chance expecting to be shocked one day while waiting for injector copper seals.....typical tune up parts were cheaper than Crappytire  FFS...!   It's the shop rates that kills most if not all repairs done to our Smarts when taken to them.  imho.  And yes IF you can afford to pay their prices then you are fortunate, many can't....I refuse to just because I can still do my own work and still value the money I have in my wallet....again to each their own.   Our time is of certain value to us, so it's up to you how you spend it so to speak.   IMHO, it's only the electrical issues that I can't seem to get my head around, everything else is similar to any other vehicle on the road.  

No arguments here.....I just hate the stealership's shop rates and how they try and over sell everything they do....and it's not just MB stealerships it's them all. imho.

By the way, what isn't built in China these days...?    It's getting harder and harder to find things we use daily that isn't or hasn't got some part in it that they make.

[smart142]

16 hours ago, Willys said:

....no way i would've paid full pop for one ...damn!

 

 

This was the first (and only) vehicle that I paid full price. It was well worth it imho to experience this unique vehicle. What a time it was!!

The enthusiasm of the new owners was awesome and we had many events where new friendships were made.

 

I am disappointed that the smart car was not embraced by the general public. If 10% had bought a smart there would have been less harm to the environment and with less demand for fuel it could have helped lower costs.

[MikeT]

Our first one cost MSRP minus $200, but even it was good value. I did a lifetime cost analysis on it when it was written off (posted here), and it came out well under 10 cents per km.

[brd]

From what I have read MB has no intention to sell the smart #1 to North America. That could change going forward I suppose.

 

China apparently produces over 80% of the EV batteries in the world. So if you buy an EV you’re more than likely to have some portion of it made and/ or designed in China.

 

According to Brian Kingston, President and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, the transaction price [is that the all in purchase price?] for a compact electric SUV in Canada is $60,000 CDN. So it would seem that $60,000 for a smart #1 would be more or less the going rate for such a vehicle in Canada.

[brd]

On 9/30/2022 at 10:46 AM, smart142 said:

 

I am disappointed that the smart car was not embraced by the general public. If 10% had bought a smart there would have been less harm to the environment and with less demand for fuel it could have helped lower costs.

Agreed 100%.