The First 2015 Smart Fortwo Review is out.

"Luc - The Acadian Oppo" (luc5)
11/07/2014 at 23:25 • Filed to: None

I'm sort of looking forward to these coming out. If the price is right I could see myself picking up an all black manual turbo model in the future. It's basically a 911 turbo so what's not to love?

The first review just came out earlier this morning I thought you guys might enjoy it.

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DISCUSSION (14)

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/07/2014 at 23:39

I wouldn't mind having one.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
11/07/2014 at 23:59

I actually quite like it as long as it's mono color. I have never been a fan of anything two tone.

This one in all white with leather looks pretty damn good.

JGrabowMSt > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/08/2014 at 00:09

Damn that thing is ugly. Not entirely in a bad way though. Having spent quite a fair amount of time in an older Fortwo, I can see the appeal for people who just need to get from point A to point B, but lets be honest, this car would never be able to support me long term. There's a couple reasons.

1) I eat a lot. I cannot fit all of my groceries into this thing.

2) They handle horribly. Bumps and potholes are the least comfortable thing ever.

3) They shift horribly. Ever drive with someone just learning manual, and then pound the clutch in without letting off the gas and the whole car lunges forward? Every time, every gear. Smart Fortwo ©.

4) They're some of the worst things to work on. The Scion iQ is pretty bad as is (have you ever looked under the hood of one of those?), but this will steal the thunder right away from that.

That's the bulk of it for me really. I mean, if my girlfriend wanted one, I'd give it a solid "maybe." But the whole safety issue would play a very large part of my "how about no."

Give me wagon, or give me death.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > JGrabowMSt
11/08/2014 at 00:24

1) We have more than one vehicle so this is a non issue.

2) the new one is supposed to be much better but you are probably still right in a way.

3) that horrible automated manual is now gone. You can now get it with 3 pedals.

4) definitely a huge drawback of small cars that's why you have a warranty for the first few years.

5) safety issue? surely you can't be serious? that Tridion cell is virtually indestructible. The Smart isn't any worst that any other small car. it's probably better in a crash in most cases that a Toyota Yaris or similar.

Here is a MUCH bigger vehicle so it must be way safer shouldn't it? Lets find out.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/08/2014 at 00:30

Oh wow, that actually looks really good. If I'm honest, this car is perfect for Hong Kong. And since the boot in a Smart is actually bigger than our MINI, it would have no problem carrying our weekly shopping. My dad might consider getting one as a second car...

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
11/08/2014 at 00:35

My wife has a Ford Escape so that would take care of carrying bigger things and I would use this to go to & from work. Plus it would be a neat little car to have. I was going to buy a first gen smart when they first came out in canada in 2006. I was sold on it until I got to the dealer and went on a test drive. the transmission was a big deal breaker. but now with a proper manual this is quite appealing. I still love the first gens and smile when I see one but the bad transmission was too much for me to own one.

Jonathan Harper > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/08/2014 at 00:35

I saw it in person about a month ago, gotta say, big improvement over the last one. The goofy headlights kind of suit it.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Jonathan Harper
11/08/2014 at 00:42

I liked the look of the first gen(hated the transmission), Hated the second gen(including that god awful transmission), Really liking the 3rd gen(hey look 3 pedals!).

To me it looks like they finally got it right this time.

JGrabowMSt > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/08/2014 at 00:49

I knew someone who was killed in a Smart Fortwo. My dad's best friend was killed in a head on collision back in the early 70's. I certainly don't need to tell anyone how that ended, and he was driving a fairly new car. I don't trust any manufacturer to really produce a truly safe car in a real world accident. Crash testing can make vast improvements, but by no means is it the last word. Running into a solid, stationary object at various speeds can certainly help in accidents that replicate those conditions. However it is by no means the last word in how a car will react and actually perform in the event its safety features are required.

I've also been in accidents where airbags should have gone off and didn't.

What would make me feel truly safe? A real good tube steel roll cage, bucket seats and a 5 link harness.

I fully understand your point, but my real world experience isn't going to be changed by crash test pictures. I'm not saying you're wrong, the Smart Fortwo Tridion safety cell is a very good piece of engineering, and it can certainly help in many situations, but it is nowhere near the last word in regards to safety.

Cé hé sin > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/08/2014 at 05:01

"Hated the second gen(including that god awful transmission)..."

I hired a first generation Smart (six speed box, 700cc turbo engine) years ago having read nothing but horror stories about the automated box and was amazed. Not because it was terrible but because it was absolutely fine. Smooth changes unless you floored it, changed down promptly going both uphill and down, easy to manoeuvre at low speeds. I've driven two different AMTs since (Toyota and Citroen) and found them less good but still quite satisfactory

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Cé hé sin
11/08/2014 at 09:17

I don't know? I test drove a first gen diesel with the full intention of buying it before the test drive and the transmission is what was a deal breaker. I don't have 2 seconds to wait between shifts, I WANT MY SHIFTS NOW! I told myself if ever they change the transmission I would reconsider it because I still love the little things. well it looks like it's finally happening. No more automated manual!

Cé hé sin > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/08/2014 at 10:17

I suppose it depends on what you expect. You're not going to get near instant changes because of the way it works. It's the same with a normal manual box - you can change smoothly or you can change quickly but not usually both. In my experience a Smart changes gear rather more smoothly than the average human but it does so in a slow and deliberate manner which drivers may not like.

m2m, apex detective > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
11/08/2014 at 11:18

I wouldn't mind not having one.

Unless it is a very different car than the first series. Then I could see myself trying to hoon one.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/10/2014 at 19:13

The problem with the Smart's safety isn't its strength. The problem is that if you decelerate from a high speed in an extremely short distance, as is usually the case if involved in a crash within a ForTwo, your insides are probably fucked.