Buy a Smart (Smart & Pulse)

Name: krisgb

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Product:	Smart & Pulse
Date:	03/07/05 (279 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap to run, slow depreciation, good image, fun to drive

Disadvantages: No use to taxi drivers if they have more than 1 passenger

I bought my 2001 Mk4 Smart Pulse City Coupe in Jan 2004 & have had it for 18 months now, plenty of time to discover the plus & minus points, so I figured it must be time to tell the world to go out and buy one.

For a start it makes financial sense - the depreciation on these things is virtually non-existent. I paid GBP3500 for mine from a Smart main dealer and 18 months later its worth approx GBP3500. Thats a loss of nothing. How many cars does that happen with? In fact, the same dealer is currently offering the same age model fitted with less equipment & higher miles for GBP4000. So you could say I've made GBP500 on the price if you were being a creative accountant. Full tank of petrol? GBP14. That will keep you moving for up to 300 miles. (Approx 60MPG.) Insurance? Group 2E. I live in the centre of Liverpool so I pay a bumper premium based on a myth that we are all theives. (Its actually the safest UK city to live in. A statistical truth for all you fact fans out there!) Imagine my delight when my insurance premium HALVED overnight simply by purchasing one of these fine machines! Road tax. This doesnt effect my car but if you buy a 51 plate or newer your tax is based on emissions so 1 year is about (but not exactly) GBP70 if memory serves. Servicing. DIY & its about GBP25 for the filters, plugs & oil. Otherwise expect to pay normal garage rates of approx GBP125. Tyres are the only thing that have surpised me with their cost, but if you look hard enough you can find the larger rear tyres for as little as GBP42 each. All in all I worked out (because I'm sad) that its cheaper to own the smart than to use public transport to do the same weekly journeys I make. Conclusion here: your wallet is happy.

Secondly theres the image. Even though there are plenty out there these days (its been available since 1998), thanks to its bright colours and smiley grille, its still a sight that makes people smile. Some are laughing with you & others at you, but it doesn't offend anyone! Other smart drivers beep & wave. And as there are loads in every city, this is great if you're having a bad day as it never fails to cheer you right up. You've made their day & they've made yours! My mate had a go of mine the other week and told me he couldn't stop grinning for hours afterwards. Conclusion here: The smart is good for the wellbeing of you and others!

Then there is the cars practicality. What I like about it is it fits a matter of fact lifestyle. Other reviewers have badmouthed its practical ability, my theory on this is because other cars are marketed to be flexible adaptive vehicles in some cases offering 8 seats plus luggage space. Fine. Good for them. Perhaps they should note that the average car driving on the road has 1.4 people in, maybe with their lunchbox & a briefcase. so smarts designers based their car on this fact. I live with my girlfriend but we dont have kids. 2 seats suits us fine thank you. Thats all we need. That & enough space for 6 bags of Tesco's finest wares once a week. So, on a practicality level its simple to work out based on your lifestyle that you will either be able to live with it our you wont.. Its got 2 seats and a tiny boot so the conclusion is simple here: Are you a family? You don't want one then. Single or couple? Get one! It makes most sense.

Reliability & safety. Safety first as they say. NCAP rating is 3. The top supermini currently on the market has a rating of 4 I read somewhere. So its not the very safest in its class, but its safe enough. Did you see that crash test on Channel 5? They smashed one into a concrete block at 70MPH. The safety shell remained intact. Im happy enough to drve a car this small that can withstand that sort of force. If you saw that report I'm sure you would be too. Especially as you are unlikely to be doing more than 40 day to day anyway. Reliability. Quite simply if you follow the service schedules & do as it says, whether you DIY or use a garage, You will have very little trouble. Mechanically, there is a history of common faults with the turbo/exhaust manifold and if seriously neglected the engines have been known to die even on low milages. If you look to buy one used, make sure you get a full service history. If it hasnt got one then find another that has. There are loads out there that have been loved by their owners but sadly equally as many former company cars that have been thrashed & would prove a money pit (a new engine for example is approx GBP800, a new turbo & exhaust GBP450). Now that vaguely brings me on to a good point. You go to the dealer & want a shiny red sporty one but can only find one in tacky white. Other than tht its perfect. There is a red base model there on the forcourt aswell. Ask them to swap the panels. Easy as that. You can pick the colour of your USED car. Fantastic. Anyway.. Conclusion here: these cars are safe & reliable as long as they are looked after correctly!

So there you go! If you like money, like smiling & havent got a family yet then go and get yourself a good one of these!! Truly a brilliant car. I know what my next car will be when I decide to replace this one. Another Smart!


**ADDED ON 05.07.05**
I have got a link to the Channel 5 crash test mentioned above! Check out: http://www.bubski.com/Movies.htm
Obviously I can't control the content of external sites so this site may not work when you try to view.

Summary: Like money? Like Smiling? No Family? Buy One!!

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