Small Car will Warm Your Heart (Smart & Pulse)

Member Name: norton501

Product:	Smart & Pulse
Date:	31/07/09 (66 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fuel economy, easy parking, makes you feel safe

Disadvantages: Maybe not suitable for heavy heavy use

I bought my Smart Car Pulse (2000) in 2001 and kept it until 2008. During this time it cost me barely anything in parts (one link rod replaced (possibly due to me hitting a kerb?), 6 spark plugs, one headlight bulb, one brake light bulb) all general wear and tear items.

I took it to Mercedes to be serviced once, but a Service cost me £350 approx (just for s Service and the standard oil and filters and plugs changed) so I was only able to afford to take it to standard motor places for subsequent services.

Fuel economy is magnificent- a full tank would hold approx 17 litres and would cost me approx £16 (fuel prices permitting). One tank got me all the way from Junction 21 M1 to just outside of Penrith (Cumbria) so approx 170 miles. Smart Cars are limited to 90mph and the first day I got my Smart Car i drove 190 miles on motorways without any anxiety or problems.

Once you get used to how to work the car (ignition key goes where the hand brake is, foot on the brake to start the car as mine was Tiptronic so semi automatic (you can't stall them!), they feel safe and are almost like an optical illusion - look small on the outside, they are deceptively large when you get into them.

I cried when I had to eventually get rid of my Smart car and Smart cars are now the only thing I will buy/ drive because they are easy to drive, they feel like they look after you when you drive, they have a panic button to lock the doors if you stop for instance in town or somewhere and you feel like someone may try to get into the car, they are very economical for fuel, they are cute, they are easy to park and you will fall in love with them.

The negatives for me were: the inside of the windscreen froze up in winter as well as ice on the outside, on mine the electric heating strips on the back window burned out so they didnt work, and in mine- rain leaked into the passenger footwell (soggy carpet after heavy rain) towards the end (possibly perished door rubbers?).

In 7 years- mine had three knocks which were: two in rush hour city traffic- two small bumps and I hit a portion of tree like branch material on the M25 which only split the front panel a small amount (it sounded worse than it was when it happened) the respective panels suffered small cracks which is a lot better than a standard car which would have crumpled and had more severe dents.

In the end at 54,000 miles, one of the cylinders popped on mine and it had "severe engine problems" so I had to sell it to an MOT technician who wanted to repair it as a project for himself. I don't know if this is wear and tear or if it was just one of those things which goes pop (my partner at the time was driving it and he was probably trying to floor it so it isnt a surprise). But to have had seven years without any real issues is remarkable and I will certainly buy another Smart car and I would recommend them to anyone and everyone. Even if you hate how they look- go for a test drive as they will change your opinion.

Summary: I will only drive smart cars now ... nothing else comes close

Processing/Quality:
Reliability:
Driving comfort: