Three Is Better Than Two. Part II

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
08/16/2017 at 16:40 • Filed to: another road trip

I should totally make this a yearly thing! Last year, it was !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . This year, we are only going half the distance (thank heaven) but it’ll still be just as fun!

If you didn’t read about it before, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! It’s confirmed, I’ll be getting a third smart!

I called up the owner to get the scoop. Alrighty, so he’s had this car for some years registered in other states, but getting it registered in Colorado has always been a problem as the car doesn’t show up in their OBD database for emissions testing. He got a two year extension on this that allowed him to register the car without doing an emissions test, but the state never added the car to the database. This unfortunately means that come September, the car’s registration cannot be renewed at all.

He was thinking about selling it to family, but decided to give back to the smart community instead. I was lucky enough to catch his ad only 10 minutes after he posted it.

The car only has two problems. The door windows don’t roll down due to the motors burning out (common 450 problem) and the windscreen is cracked (common problem with all smarts). Otherwise, it’s a 2005 with 20,000 miles and in rather spectacular condition.

No photos of course, I’m not going to spoil the surprise early! :P

Some back story on why W450 smarts are hard to register (and even insure) in the USA:

The first generation smarts were never sold in the USA. Various import companies (like G&K) worked with the government to allow them to be importable. So they had to be crash tested and otherwise federalized (big $$$$$$). This would make them something called a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! import. Gray market imports are basically cars that are exempt from the 25 year import rule because someone was willing to invest the big dollars to federalize the vehicle for the US. The first generation fortwo (specifically model years 2002 through 2005) were imported by roughly two or three importers.

Unfortunately, even though they are legally within US borders not every state will allow a gray market vehicle to be registered in the US.

I talked it over to the owner. He’s giving me his bootleg Mercedes-Benz STAR computer with the car. The title’s clean and all we have to do is sign it into my name then drive home.

I booked a $40 ticket with the worst airline in the world and on Sunday I’ll be hitting Denver on a beautiful Airbus A320!

DISCUSSION (16)

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Mercedes Streeter
08/16/2017 at 16:44

Jalopnik in 20 years: Women selling massive collection of 30 Smart cars.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/16/2017 at 16:53

Smartass clickbait headline in 20 years - woman sells collection of cars; considered it a ‘Smart’ investment.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Mercedes Streeter
08/16/2017 at 16:55

Well this seems like a questionable decision

benjrblant > Mercedes Streeter
08/16/2017 at 16:56

A Smart ForTwo that is incredibly similar to the next gen sold in the US was federalized for grey market import but not other vehicles like the Defender?

Kinja'd!!!

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Mercedes Streeter
08/16/2017 at 16:56

Why not advertise it in Canada. MB imported them here.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/16/2017 at 17:12

Cats or smart cars, pick your poison.

Mercedes Streeter > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
08/16/2017 at 17:16

I’m the queen of questionable decisions lol

Mercedes Streeter > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
08/16/2017 at 17:17

Flooded market, few Canadians will drive south of the border for a broken 450 with weird side markers when the domestic market has plenty.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Mercedes Streeter
08/16/2017 at 17:20

Buying a car which is crusher bait is, most leniently, considered questionable. Less leniently...

Mercedes Streeter > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
08/16/2017 at 17:26

Nah, it’s not crusher bait. Unless Trump decides to go after legal imports (the 2003-2005 smart is still listed the US Customs page of importable cars) I’m pretty safe from the feds. :)

Kiltedpadre > Mercedes Streeter
08/16/2017 at 17:27

Was almost hopeful I’d see a post with a picture of the new Smart being towed home by one of your other Smarts. I realize it’s probably too heavy, but the mental image made me chuckle.

Mercedes Streeter > Kiltedpadre
08/16/2017 at 17:48

The 453 could probably do it if I had a light enough trailer...but then it’d need a towing hitch too. xD

Cé hé sin > Mercedes Streeter
08/16/2017 at 18:10

I’ve only ever driven one Smart and that’s the model. Six speed automated manual and 700cc turbo. I set off in it from CDG airport in Paris having heard nothing but tales of horror about the automated box and waited for it to jerk its way into second gear and.....it didn’t. It engaged second and every subsequent gear about as smoothly as the average manual driver. It continued to work just fine for the week that I drove it, changing down on uphill stretches without having to floor the pedal and somewhat to my surprise doing the same going downhill to maximise engine braking.

Out of curiosity I tried giving it the foot to floor treatment once. There was a noticeable pause in acceleration during each change but no more than in a manual car.

It remains the most economical petrol car I’ve driven, hybrids included.

Since then I’ve driven automated manual versions of the Citroen C3, Peugeot 107 and Fiat 500 and they’ve all been OK, but not as good as the Smart.

I’ve been driven in buses with the Volvo iShift automated manual and they’re better again.

Mercedes Streeter > Cé hé sin
08/16/2017 at 18:16

I’ve never driven a 450 before so I’m crazy excited. I too have never found issues with any smart’s transmission. Everyone hated the 451's transmission too. For me, that’s one of the best parts of the car! After all, it doesn’t shift any slower or faster than I would myself, so why would I complain?

It’s also crazy to think I’ll have one of each generation too.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
08/16/2017 at 19:35

Then all you’d need is a manual trans Smart :)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Mercedes Streeter
08/17/2017 at 06:58

nice one.