Paging Miss Mercedes:

"Dsscats" (dsscats)
08/28/2017 at 18:37 • Filed to: None

Looking into replacing my 300ZX with a Euro Smart ForTwo with 5000 miles, advice needed.

DISCUSSION (17)

Mercedes Streeter > Dsscats
08/28/2017 at 18:55

What do you want to know? Are you in the US or elsewhere?

Some quick facts:

- The 450s are prone to rusting in certain areas, specifically right in front of the wiper motors and under the wheel well liners. Sometimes rust will also form under the side skirts too. So check under the liners and skirts if you cna.

- The 450s also have cheap rear windows. The hatch is glass, but the windows that flank it are a thin polycarbonate that by now will look pretty hazed.

- Older 450s have a HUGE glass roof. If you’re in Europe, you may need to worry about that glass roof shattering. If you’re in America, the G&K conversion company added a support beam under that glass which seems to have alleviate that glass breakage.

- Their engines are somewhat known for needing rebuilds at or not soon after 40k. Some 450 owners have avoided this by driving the daylights out of their cars and not cheaping out on petrol.

- Fuel mileage will be pretty amazing. I’m getting 60 some off US MPG right now.

- If you want good handling, nuke those skinny front tyres. Don’t do that and you’ll oversteer for days!

Future next gen S2000 owner > Dsscats
08/28/2017 at 18:56

The window on the roll up door looks suspiciously like a wing when the picture is thumbnail size. I’m glad to see there isn’t a giant wing taped to the back.

Dsscats > Mercedes Streeter
08/28/2017 at 19:00

I’m California based and it’s a G and K converted 5000 mile 2005 Passion. My main worry is that I do a decent amount of freeway driving.

Mercedes Streeter > Dsscats
08/28/2017 at 19:06

Well, California’s good news because rust likely isn’t going to be a factor there. I don’t think there’s a single G&K smart in America with high mileage (I haven’t seen a G&K with higher than 30,000 miles) as most American 450 owners only drive them on occasion, as I will myself. lol

The car handles the highway pretty awesome. Of the three generations, I think the 453's best on the highway followed by the 450, then finally the 451. If you do long distance, I’d recommend picking up a cruise control unit. After driving my 450 back to Chicago from Denver, my foot wanted to murder me.

The 450 (not unlike the 451) is also not a fan of high crosswinds. It will squirrel around just a little in high wind. It’ll also do the same on roads with “ruts” in them. Getting wide front tyres pretty much minimizes those movements down to no worse than any other small car.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Dsscats
08/28/2017 at 19:13

O-0

Dsscats > Mercedes Streeter
08/28/2017 at 19:15

Most of my freeway driving is within 20 miles or so, would that be difficult on the car engine wear wise? Is comfort on the freeway decent? Does $6000 seem like a decent price? Take a look at the ad and let me know what you think.

http://www.cncexotics.com/detail-2005-smart-fortwo-passion_-used-16664826.html

Dsscats > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
08/28/2017 at 19:16

I know. 45 MPG vs 15 MPG is a big difference.

Stapleface > Mercedes Streeter
08/28/2017 at 19:18

Reason #846 why Oppo is so awesome. Where else could someone go to get that much knowledge off the cuff about such a niche vehicle?

Mercedes Streeter > Dsscats
08/28/2017 at 19:23

Oh just a 20 mile drive? It’ll do fine! :) My biggest concern is ride comfort. If you’ve never driven a smart before, the ride quality is something you’ve never experienced before. It’s bumpier than most other compact cars on the road. Though, in my opinion no worse than an average sporty car.

As for the price, holy cow that car’s in awesome condition! It looks like it spent 100% of its life thus far in a sealed bubble. Aside from the lame custom stereo head (I wouldn’t have done that) that’s a pretty good price as far as I’m concerned! :)

Mercedes Streeter > Dsscats
08/28/2017 at 19:26

It also appears this car is not on the registry of known 450s in America, so I’d wager the previous owner was pretty private with this car or didn’t know a such a smart registry exists.

Mercedes Streeter > Stapleface
08/28/2017 at 19:27

I know!

Every Oppo is an encyclopedia of knowledge on at least one car. :)

Dsscats > Mercedes Streeter
08/28/2017 at 19:34

Keep in mind my daily driver is a 25-year-old 300ZX. Looks clean to me too. I may drive over to take a test drive in the next couple of days to see what I think. It’ll also likely only get 3000-4000 miles put on it a year if I leave it in CA. Anything I should specifically look for during the test drive?

Mercedes Streeter > Dsscats
08/28/2017 at 19:44

Fair enough lol. The ride quality may be an upgrade for you then! I mean from the pictures, I don’t see any red flags. That car is amazingly well cared for and is selling for the same price 450s of 3x-4x the mileage sell for.

If the dealership doesn’t teach you, here’s how to use the transimission:

To start - Make sure transmission is in Reverse, move gearshift to Neutral, put foot on brake. Start once you see “N” on the speedometer.

To shut down - Stop the car and put the shifter into Reverse. Set the handbrake then shut down.

If you see a blinking key on the speedometer - Take the key out, hit the unlock button on the fob, put it back in.

There isn’t a creep mode in the car. So when you’re stopped you can let off the brake and the car will just sit still (unless you’re on a hill) like a real manual.

To turn on Auto Mode - Hit the button on the left side of the shifter.

Note: You can get a tachometer pod for rev matching and additional fun! (diesel pictured, the turbos petrols rev to 7k)

Kinja'd!!!

Dsscats > Mercedes Streeter
08/28/2017 at 19:52

Thanks for the advice! I’ll be sure to update if I make it down there.

I have another burner, try to guess it! > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
08/28/2017 at 20:39

He probably want’ s something even harder to work on :)

Mercedes Streeter > Dsscats
08/28/2017 at 21:26

You’re welcome! Also, if you’re in SoCal and you do pick it up, I can contact my friends at SoCal Smarties (I think the largest and longest running smart club in America) to send you a care package of goodies. If you give me forewarning I can probably get them to meet you at the dealer!

One more thing! 450 smarts don’t have an oil drain plug. Your oil change options are basically buy an oil pan with a drain (pretty cheap) or get an oil extractor (equally cheap). Personally, I will be using an extractor so I don’t have to deal with changing an oil pan.

Pich, with Z32 now featuring Civic [Si] / No > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
08/29/2017 at 14:52

THAT sentence fragment does not add up