SMART FORTWO CITY COUPE (cabrio) - 2000

In November 2003, I decided to buy a Smart, after a long period of consideration. Another option would have been the BMW C1, but after a test in rainy and windy weather, I made up my mind. If you want to stay dry and warm, the BMW C1 is definitely NOT the vehicle you should buy!

So! I wanted a Smart, because I like the compact and practical design. These small cars truly are ingenious! They look awfully cute and are a joy to drive. And... like it or not, you do attract the attention!

Mine is a 2000 cabrio model, star blue metallic, full option. Neat white/blue leather seats, airco, front and side airbags, alarm, clock, speedometer, fog lights, cup holder...
These cars are very complete, but they aren't cheap either! Even the "cheapest" version is equipped with ABS and traction control.

Learning how to handle a Smart two-seater at first gave me the creeps! Because I was always overestimating the car 's dimensions. No panic... once you get used to this, it becomes a breeze! And you'll always find a parking spot!

The inside doesn't match the outside. Once you're behind the wheel, it feels just like a regular car, it's even more spacious! The Smart provides excellent comfort for 2 persons. The seats are well designed and quite comfortable. The interior is a delight, compared to most regular (read: grey) car interiors. It's not the car I'd recommend for a long vacation, but it could very well do the job. If you don't carry too much luggage! ;-)

Slamming the door doesn't sound cheap, well on the contrary! It sounds very solid and gives you confidence in the build quality of the car. It's plastic, yes, but only on the outside! Though it's a small car, great efforts were made to make it as safe as possible.

I'm happy to have purchased the cabrio version. The top is really ingenious. You can use it as an open roof, and choose how "open" you want it. All the way open, you almost get the cabrio feeling. All this can be done while driving. The top can be lowerd completely, the body parts above the windows can be removed and stowed away in a special compartment in the trunk. So the Smart transforms into the smallest cabrio in the world. Neat! But: it leaks. This seems to be a well known problem that can't be solved; you'll just have to live with it...

This is my first Smart, AND my first cabrio ever. Our other car, a Saab 9000, is much more comfortable, but is not nearly as much fun to drive as the Smart. When it's transformed in cabrio, it's just great! You get to see everything above and around you. If the wind bothers you, you can always "close" the windows :-). There's also a rear windshield that you can buy as an option.

To my opinion, the Smart Cabrio has a very important advantage to other cabrio's: the top offers you plenty of options to choose from: a little open, more open, even more open... and cabrio! I don't know any other cars that are so flexible!

2005. I'm still enjoying it. It's not a sports car, but it catches up with traffic very well. Besides, there's speed limits and traffic cams everywhere, so why hurry?

Some things you might consider when you intend to buy a Smart:

• The suspension is quite hard. But unless you encounter very bad roads, it never gets really uncomfortable. I owned a Saab 900 which had a similar suspension. So I'd rather call it "sporty".

• The most annoying thing about the Smart is the gap between the gears, especially when you use the automatic gearbox. It might take some time before the car responds to the pedal, so make sure the coast is clear when you make a move!

• Did you know that it's built with respect for the environment? The factory is quite ecological itself. Smarts have a catalyser, and are completely recyclable.

• You get an over-complete small car with a unique concept. It's built for 2 persons, just perfect for small families or youngsters. The trunk is surprisingly "big" for such a small car. And if you need more, the passenger's seat can be inclined. Smart thinking.

• For all those who'd think otherwise: Smarts are no snails! Apart from the basic version, the 600cc engines have a turbo, which makes them accellerate faster than "normal" small cars. Don't be mistaken: they do their job quite well!

• Road behaviour isn't all that bad. Just keep in mind that they have a very short wheelbase; Smarts are no sports cars! ;-)

• The same short wheelbase makes a u-turn a delight! It's amazing how quickly you can turn this baby Merc around in just one move.

• Smarts are expensive. But if you're willing to pay the price, you get a lot in return. For the same price I paid for this 4 years old cabrio, I'd have bought a brand new small car? But then... what fun is there in driving a regular small car??? (no offense to people who drive a small car... I just needed this to make a comparison :-)