Raising my pulse rate! (Smart & Pulse)

Name: samclinton

Hello doyoo user, You have to be logged in to use these functions... Login or register Close window

Send message to member

Product:	Smart & Pulse
Date:	19/06/01 (595 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Distinctive, Economical, Pleasure in driving

Disadvantages: Boot size(what boot?), Left hand drive, My airbag light keeps coming on!

Working for a car leasing firm I find it increasingly hard to get excited about new cars on the market, however, having just been given a couple of smart cars to whizz about in I think that I've finally found that buzz that I haven't had since driving my first car(a Mini). Okay so thay look a little strange, but no stranger than a Renault Avantime or the new Beetle! Anyway that just adds to the character.
For those of you that are unaware exactly what a smart car is or what it looks like imagine a picture of a car that you would have drawn at nursery school. Its a liittle blob with a wheel in each corner and only two seats. It has a little "safety cell" that you sit in and the rest of the body panels are made of plastic. Interestingly enough(especially for us girls as I know that this is important!)these body panels, as well as the interior of the car, are changeable. So if you were bored of the snazzy little metallic blue number you were driving around in you could take it to your dealer and,hey presto, you have a snazzy little red one instead.
The interior carries on the designed by a child theme with a clock and a rev counter that sit on the dash and look at you whilst driving like a couple of frogs eyes!
One nifty feature is the petrol gauge. It comprises four blobs that are black when full and become hollow as the fuel level drops. I was somewhat worried when I first drove the car as I wasn't sure that when I was on the last blob that meant that I was out of fuel or whether i still had a 1/4 of a tank. No need to worry however as the petrol pump flashes and a message saying 4.5L comes up(a gallon to those still working in metric)!
Driving a left hand drive car has never really appealed to me but to be perfectly honest it hasn't been an issue. The only time it is a little hairy is when trying to overtake as you have to edge out quite a bit to be able to see. The other downside is there does seem to be a little bit of
a blind spot on the right hand side which becomes an issue with motorway driving. This is not helped by the racing style bucket seats which are nearly as tall as the car itself.
I would agree with those that say that the 6 speed sequential gearbox is a little hard to get used to but I've been driving my little beast for over a week now and I have to say we're perfectly in tune. Not in the last three years have I driven a car that actually puts a grin on my face(okay,apart from the Subaru Impreza turbo but that isn't a fair comparison!). When you drive round the streets everyone stares at you(distinct advantage for an exhibitionist like myself) and be it with disgust or admiration I really don't care. It has just cost a mere 11.29 to fill up with fuel and that will last me over a week. It gets to 60 quick enough and for those that say it crawls from there to 80, what are you doing speeding anyway? We're not on a German autobahn! For what it was designed for,i.e nippy,convenient city driving I'd say that most other manufacturers have a long way to go before they get Smart!

Summary: