[twixxer]

Hey guys i need a little commuter car to get back and fourth to work with and pull other small errands. Probably wont see the highway very often. I was thinking about picking up a brabus smart car anyone got one of these or looked into getting one of them? Any good deals available? Any info is appreciated.

Tia.

[Jsunu]

I know a member his selling his:
http://www.revscene.net/forums/fs-brabus-2006-t592013.html

I always wonder how these cars drive on the highway, must be fucking harrowing!

[twixxer]

I would rather buy new...i want the coupe version in all black but thanks for the link. Can smart cars handle a little snow fall? Anyone work for smart?

[Timpo]

I know this might be off topic, but if you have time, why don't you wait for Toyota iQ?

it's more useful and probably better aftermarket support too.

[skyxx]

^ Cause he wants it now.

[danizer]

drove ilvtofu's family smart last night...definately the most fun in a car ive had in a long time...totally worth it and very practical! not to mention economic!

[RE-Jo]

I remember seeing one on Repo.com, maybe you can check it out

[ULTRAMAN]

I got a 2009 brabus smart. My wife and I love it, pretty good handle, good on gas. 30L tank will get you at least 480km - 500km. Its not bad for highway in vancouver but its not good to drive down to the states. I drove it on the tiny bit of snow last monday and its still pretty good. I have snow tires on as well. Its doesnt slip because it doesnt have enough power to slip. hahaha... hope this will help you. I got mine from richmond MB.

[twixxer]

thanks for all the info ultraman...does anyone know an Eddy? that works for smart? apparently he is a good guy to buy the thing from but i have no more info than his name i don't even know which dealership he works for!

[ULTRAMAN]

http://shop.flyingtiger.ca/index.php?p=home

I think you are talking about Eddy from flying tiger. He works on a lot of MB and Smart.

[notching]

I got a 2009 brabus smart. My wife and I love it, pretty good handle, good on gas. 30L tank will get you at least 480km - 500km. Its not bad for highway in vancouver but its not good to drive down to the states. I drove it on the tiny bit of snow last monday and its still pretty good. I have snow tires on as well. Its doesnt slip because it doesnt have enough power to slip. hahaha... hope this will help you. I got mine from richmond MB.

why its not good to drive down to the States?

[Death2Theft]

Because they suck for highway driving.

[ULTRAMAN]

yeah smart is not fast enough to merge into the freeway and it can be dangerous. I drove it down once and I dont think I will do that again.

[hk20000]

just pick up a Toyota Yaris or something.

brand image aside I can see NO merits of getting a Smart over a Yaris. Name me one thing that you can do on the Smart that you can't do in the Yaris/Fit/other superminis.

Smart is a piece of utter utter crap. You are legally not allowed to park perpendicular to the curb anyway so you are sacrificing that body length for nothing at all. (in case you want to come back with a fuel argument, my answer is no, do some research.)

[InvisibleSoul]

Hey guys i need a little commuter car to get back and fourth to work with and pull other small errands. Probably wont see the highway very often. I was thinking about picking up a brabus smart car anyone got one of these or looked into getting one of them? Any good deals available? Any info is appreciated.

Tia.
I briefly considered a Smart car as well... and if all you ever need to do with it is drive not too far from point A to point B, with no more than one passenger and a few bags of groceries, then maybe it'll work for you...

But if ever you need to carry a little more luggage, or need to drive a third person... you're going to regret it.

It's a very non-versatile vehicle. I decided I needed to get something a little more practical, so I went with a Toyota Yaris. The Honda Fit wasn't out yet at that time, so I didn't have to decide between those two.

I know I can say with no hesitation that I am extremely glad I got the Yaris instead of a Smart car.

[!Aznboi128]

Just to let you know, "Brabus" on a smart is simply looks. Does not make it faster then a turtle. The transmission shifts are crude and slow NEED to be in the manual to feel better but still jerky.

[Hehe]

Wait for the AM Cyget or whatever it spells.

[Qmx323]

smart car makes a good 2nd car, not only car :)

[twixxer]

smart car makes a good 2nd car, not only car :)


The smart car would be my commuter car (for going to work, errands), i already have my weekend/summer car.

Thanks for the input though.

[punkwax]

Get a Fit.

[hk20000]

smart car makes a good 2nd car, not only car :)

even for a second car it's still not as good as it could have been.

The other Smart product we don't get, the Smart ForFour, is a Mitsubishi Colt in disguise, now I don't know which one is more of a ripoff the ForFour or ForTwo...

Smart is just some designer clothes wearing brand name whore in the marketing department's brainfart. It never should have existed, dragging the tri-star badge to the gutter with it.

Actually a Brabus Smart is more expensive than a base model B class is it not?

[ilvtofu]

If you need a commuter car, the brabus smart is $$$, I wouldn't consider it. I've driven my mom's 450 smart in the snow last week, I'd say it's pretty good. then again it's relatively light and easy to stop, engines on the driving wheels. New ones all have power steering I believe and my cousin's 451 passion smart is no where near as fun as the old diesel. Feels so much more raw.

Transmission is acceptable in manual mode, completely unacceptable in auto mode. Make sure you take it for a test drive in all sorts of situations. That's the worst part of the car.

Also fuel economy is not very good in the new petrol powered smarts. You'll be looking at about 7L/100km in the city realistically.

I've driven the old smart on the highway in fact just 2 days ago. Its okay on the highway going at about 110. 120 is a different story. The petrol has enough power to keep going on the highway and it's pretty good especially if you've driven older cars before. Don't compare it's highway driving to any other mercedes in the current lineup though....

If you are scared of driving it on the highway, you either need to grow a pair of balls or gain more driving experience in less refined cars.

As much character that the Smart has. I still wouldn't recommend it unless you have at least 1 or 2 other cars and they a considerable amount of spending money. If that is not you, don't touch it. Insurance is only average, It's about the same if not more expensive than the Astra.

The brabus is pretty sexy in black coupe form. Followed one on marine drive near UBC going down the curves. Older civic couldn't keep up with us LOLOL

LOL btw its not eddy its fast eddy (i think)

[heleu]

just pick up a Toyota Yaris or something.

brand image aside I can see NO merits of getting a Smart over a Yaris. Name me one thing that you can do on the Smart that you can't do in the Yaris/Fit/other superminis.

Smart is a piece of utter utter crap. You are legally not allowed to park perpendicular to the curb anyway so you are sacrificing that body length for nothing at all. (in case you want to come back with a fuel argument, my answer is no, do some research.)

I said the same thing until one of my friends bought a smart car. He loves the thing. It's just like a mini; it's relatively impractical, overpriced, but it's a desirable little car. For the money, it's fairly unique car that people really seem to like.

Cars are emotional purchases for most people on this board...otherwise, we'd ALL be driving yaris...or scooters.

[kyo]

my gf almost brought one but ended up buying a yaris instead after the test drives

i even rented one (the diesel version) for a day and drove it down to Seattle
driving at 130km.. let's just say its a little bit shaky at that speed

great little fun car for city driving imo
but if you need to go highway, smart is not for you

[fliptuner]

Get a Fit.

Or even a VW diesel IMO.

I think the hippie mentality plays a huge role in the Smart's popularity.

Smarts are good for getting groceries and that's about it. For the price, there are much better cars that are equal to or better on fuel and are more practical in terms of storage, highway driving, comfort and passenger space. Oh and I'm sure MB shop rates are waaay up there.

Not bashing your decision to buy one, just a few things to consider.

[ivanz]

I would get a more "normal" car as well. The people I see driving Smart cars are sort of like Prius owners, they just seem to hate everyone and everyone hates them back. If you want to be in that clique, then its a good car for that. That's something to consider, as people will label you a tree hugger or whatnot simply because you drive one.

[wacko604]

With the amount of money you spend on a smart car you are better off buying a fit, yaris or versa. With the 3 cars i mentioned you get 3 more seats and alot more cargo room for around the same price. Another thing is with a smart car if you're out of warranty prepare to spend big dollars on parts an labour. The transmission shifts like crap and the brakes aren't the greatest.

[slammer111]

My understanding is that a Brabus Smart is just a Smart with a Brabus body kit. There are no performance/handling enhancements.

I must say I agree with most people that you're only really getting a Smart to turn some heads. Otherwise a Yaris/Echo/Fit/Versa is definitely more suitable/practical for the price. Smarts are surprisingly expensive for what you get, and the cheap plastic interior is worse than a GM.

[ilvtofu]

the cheap plastic interior is worse than a GM.

I must say, agree for the 450 pre 07 smarts but for the current ones that OP is looking at, I must strongly disagree, the car's interior is pretty well made I have to say and I really like the seat materials.

Hey coming from where I'm standing the astra was about 17k and was more fun than all the econoboxes aforementioned. Although to find a new 5 speed is getting pretty hard. In fact i doubt there are many astras left out there. but just saying :rolleyes:

The new Fiesta is one that you must consider OP, its at least a good 30% cheaper than the smart I believe and looks great :D anyone in their right mind would avoid the yaris and versa at all costs to get a fiesta >.<

[freakshow]

I've never driven a smart, so it's hard to say.. but I keep hearing great things about the Fit. A friend of mine likes them so much, he bought two.. one red and one blue.

[eurochevy]

would never drive a smart car just because if it gets into a crash your epicly finished

[notching]

I'd rather get the Soul

[yvrnycracer]

if you are in the price range of a brabus smart... there are so many other cars that you could get that would be far superior and more practical... I have driven both a gas and a diesel smart and found they were both dumb cars. The transmission was my biggest complaint as you feel like you are driving a bucking bronco... shifts are far from smooth... Just not worth the money IMO... it is more of a toy

[VK79]

Personally driven one for a day when I did some work for MB Kelowna.

The feeling is strange as the rear window is right behind you, the transmission is also very jerky. I also felt that it is very underpowered esp during overtaking and changing lanes at speed.

There is also the problem of space, if you are traveling alone then I guess you can use the passenger space for your bags and stuff etc.

Like what everyone says, go do an extensive test drive, for ~22k you should seriously consider the Fit, Yaris, Mazda 2 (soon) and maybe even a base Mini Cooper if you want to have fun while driving.

[spoon.ek9]

I got a 2009 brabus smart. My wife and I love it, pretty good handle, good on gas. 30L tank will get you at least 480km - 500km. Its not bad for highway in vancouver but its not good to drive down to the states. I drove it on the tiny bit of snow last monday and its still pretty good. I have snow tires on as well. Its doesnt slip because it doesnt have enough power to slip. hahaha... hope this will help you. I got mine from richmond MB.

my 1990 civic dx hb gets 500km on 32L :p

plus it has 4 seats and a full trunk. you can fit a twin size bed in it!

to OP, i'd recommend you get a Fit/Yaris as well, hk20000's arguments are valid.