[uptick]

OK, it's a matter of time before the flames start flaring up on this. It's starting to get chilly in New England, so let's get some heat going:

(BMW) MINI Cooper v. (Mercedes) Smart

Let's LEARN, READ...
http://www.thesmart.co.uk/index.html
http://www.compactcars.about.com/lib.../aa022103a.htm
http://www.waitnews.com/smart_roadster_test_drive.htm
http://www.fastlane.com.au/News_Merc...ours080803.htm
(to start)

..then DEBATE.

So, has anyone test driven a Smart?

[NEMINI]

I can't get past the ugliness of the (not so)smart. That and I'd never own a chrysler.

[Bk MCS]

I remember back in my freshman and sophmore years in high school (now a freshman in college) when I went to west europe (germany, italy, switzerland, france, austria, spain, think thats it) I would see a few here and there, they were neat and different looking so me and my dad would take pictures of them everytime we saw one. Now just because I say neat and different doesnt mean I'd drive one. They arent as good looking as the MINI, and probably doesnt even perform near as well in any category.

[uptick]

the city-coupe does look like a squished ML (the ugliest SUV on the market )

low on the performance scale too!

[Paul]

Try a search for smart (especially in 'titles only') and you will see this has been discussed quite a lot in the past.

Smarts are fine, the Roadster is fun, but in the UK at least for what you get they seem very over priced, which is a shame.

Please search though, as you'll find a lot of good debate already on this subject.

[polska344]

I have driven the Smart Car Roadster, and to tell you the turth, well it was something else. The only thing I didn't like is the shifting, it's the smart, or sport shift. I'm not sure what it's called, but it has no clutch, but it's standard shift. Besides that, It's only 80 Horse power turbo'd, but it's kind of like a Pontiac Fearro, on how it's set up. But I was a blast to drive almost better then the mini, and it handles better then the mini b/c it weight so less and it's lower to the ground. If you look at my pictures, you can see me driving one. here is the link to teh German site, hey it's in german, but the pics are there.http://smart.com/-snm-0135155096-106...dster/showroom but the Mini has A LOT more accessories then the Roadster does, and I would take the Mini any day...

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by polska344

I have driven the Smart Car Roadster, and to tell you the turth, well it was something else. The only thing I didn't like is the shifting, it's the smart, or sport shift. I'm not sure what it's called, but it has no clutch, but it's standard shift. Besides that, It's only 80 Horse power turbo'd, but it's kind of like a Pontiac Fearro, on how it's set up. But I was a blast to drive almost better then the mini, and it handles better then the mini b/c it weight so less and it's lower to the ground. If you look at my pictures, you can see me driving one. here is the link to teh German site, hey it's in german, but the pics are there.http://smart.com/-snm-0135155096-106...dster/showroom but the Mini has A LOT more accessories then the Roadster does, and I would take the Mini any day...

I've driven one too, cant say it handles better than the MINI from my experience, because it's slower, so I never got to corner at the speeds I would in the MINI, it's certainly fun, and very sticky.

[uptick]

Quote: Originally Posted by polska344

I have driven the Smart Car Roadster, and to tell you the turth, well it was something else...
...and I would take the Mini any day...

Wonder what's the perceived cachet of the smart v. MINI.

I think one of the greatest thing about the MINI is the personality of the vehicle. Personality has to do with much more than design aesthetics and engineering, but also its quirks and intangible qualities, such as the motorer's experience and even culture. (Ownership experience could be an entirely different thing !)

Will the MINI novelty further diminish with the smart rolling around the corner? The novelty issue is probably unavoidable, since time and supply will always affect that (...why aren't MINI motorers waving to each other anymore?). Or is this just another BMW v. Mercedes showdown?

[polska344]

When I drove it, i was down in Germany. You can really "test" out a car there, if you get a chance. But you are right about the personallity of the Mini, but I don't forsee that changing b/c of teh Roadster. It's a totally differnt looking car all it's self, and it's a Smart Car. But I would take the ramps of teh Autoban at about 45-50 mph w/ my Mini, and w/ teh Roadster I took them at around 70moh, and really didn't slide at all. BUt I'm very Very very happy with my Mini,a nd I would never trade it for a Smart car"t" Personally I think the Smart cars all around look like death traps, but I've never really heard about any accident w/ them. Oh well, bla bla bla, lol...

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by polska344

When I drove it, i was down in Germany. You can really "test" out a car there, if you get a chance. But you are right about the personallity of the Mini, but I don't forsee that changing b/c of teh Roadster. It's a totally differnt looking car all it's self, and it's a Smart Car. But I would take the ramps of teh Autoban at about 45-50 mph w/ my Mini, and w/ teh Roadster I took them at around 70moh, and really didn't slide at all. BUt I'm very Very very happy with my Mini,a nd I would never trade it for a Smart car"t" Personally I think the Smart cars all around look like death traps, but I've never really heard about any accident w/ them. Oh well, bla bla bla, lol...

Round the Roundabouts and country lanes of Milton Keynes the roadster let go sooner than my 'S', but that's more extreme cornering I imagine!

As for safety, the Smart is very safe for a small car, there was a report in one of the magazines that smacked one head on with a fiat, the fiat passengers would have been killed, the smart occupants would have had pretty minor injurys! It was impressive.

[Hat]

the smart is a 2 seater toy for gettinf around town. the mini is a proper car.

end of

[jasonfields007]

it is soooo scary going 90mph in a smart

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by jasonfields007

it is soooo scary going 90mph in a smart

It's quite fun a roadster, thing is you can just feel how light the thing is, the interior is very cheap and nasty feeling compared to a MINI/most cars in the price range though, which is a shame.

[Cape Cod MINI]

80 hp, 113 top speed , ugly as hell.
No contest, no debate.

[Z1GZAG N]

Quote: Originally Posted by uptick

OK, it's a matter of time before the flames start flaring up on this. It's starting to get chilly in New England, so let's get some heat going:

[
So, has anyone test driven a Smart?

How anyone that bought their Mini Cooper for any other reason than to get from point A to point B would even consider this Smart thing is beyond me. There is nothing here to compare. The two cars have nothing in common except they're both small. People don't buy a Ferrari just for basic transportation and I don't think any of us bought our Mini because we just needed a car. We bought our Mini's for the look, the handling and the history. Until something unique comes along that spurs my interest like the Mini did the very first time I seen one in a magazine, I don't see replacing my MCS for anything else. Defininently not any cookie cutter econobox on the market today.

[LuckyRVA]

Taken from one of the test drives: "Bear in mind that the Smart is neither low, sleek, nor sporty, and that its footprint is barely ten feet long. "

MINI wins in every catagorie IMHO.

Sportiness: MINI
Looks: MINI
Value: MINI
Everything else: MINI


-Jason

[badboyzbadboyz]

Quote: Originally Posted by uptick

So, has anyone test driven a Smart?

I have driven the Smart Coupe. Its funny to drive coz its so small but it ends there I'm affraid. The handling is so bad it makes my Saxo 1.1 look like a performance car. Dangerous if you ask me