Last night I got on the freeway in our long-term 2008 Smart Fortwo, and I made the mistake of enjoying myself.
By any reasonable and modern standard, the Smart is not a good car. But I like driving not-good cars. Even downright bad cars are sometimes OK. And I can think of at least one way in which our Smart is better than my stepfather's '92 Civic VX hatch: It doesn't feel like it's going to shake itself apart at 85 mph -- in fact, with no crosswinds on a calm evening, the Fortwo feels relatively stable. Of course, it hops and crashes over expansion joints, but what do you expect from a car with a 73.5-inch wheelbase and rudimentary suspension?
The main reason I like driving the Smart at freeway speeds is that I feel like this car needs me. It's not a 3 Series or a Passat. In trite terms, it's not going to "drive itself." It needs me to pay attention and drive defensively.
I realized that around town I've gotten in the habit of short-shifting (I never, ever use "D"), because the 3-cylinder makes decent low-end torque (relative to the weight of the car, obviously). But to merge onto the freeway safely, you need to draw out the revs more. And because there's no tachometer, you need to listen and make sure you get your paddle-executed shift in at the right time (the transmission will try to upshift on its own if you stray too close to the rev limiter) -- with an ever-so-subtle lift off the throttle to minimize the interruption in power delivery.
For a lot of people, this would be boring. But consider this: I'd say more than 50 percent of LA drivers cruise down entrance ramps at 40 or so and then hammer on the gas at the end of the ramp. Works fine if you're driving a V8 Tundra, but not so well in a Smart, which needs time to build up speed. So your heart rate fluctuates a bit.
Bottom line: There's risk and ingenuity involved in driving this car that none of the other cars in our fleet require -- at least not at typical traffic speeds. And I like that.
Erin Riches, Inside Line Senior Editor @ 8,317 miles
dragonflight says:
02:05 PM, 08/20/08
So basically, you like putting yourself at danger and having to work harder to drive an uncomfortable car?
This strikes me a little like the James May editorial in Top Gear last month...except he drives cars with charm, or at least had charm. This is a brand new car, overpriced, and already being derided. Not a great start for a brand-new-to-America brand.
mnorm1 says:
02:19 PM, 08/20/08
"...but what do you expect from a car with a 73.5-inch wheelbase and rudimentary suspension?"
A lower price than the $17k paid, a lower price than the $15k list price. A much lower price. Did I mention a much lower price?
lazyhater says:
03:46 PM, 08/20/08
Some people likes paying a lot to get punish, it is a fetish. I understand that.
cruiserhead1 says:
05:23 PM, 08/20/08
To continue Erin's logic on "risk and ingenuity involved in driving this car that none of the other cars in our fleet require -- at least not at typical traffic speeds. And I like that."
I think they should give her a LT 100cc moped on the 110 fwy. I think she might not be able to contain herself!
dougtheeng says:
07:36 PM, 08/20/08
I thought all southern California freeways were too busy to drive on at speed anyways? Gridlock!
noflash1 says:
06:29 AM, 08/21/08
Why are you blocking that driweway?!?! There's room b/f and after it?!?!
sabastian says:
07:38 AM, 08/21/08
Fantastic title, Erin. I think I'm with our poster on the Smart. There are so many reasons to hate it, but I just can't bring myself to do anything but admire it. There is a certain charm about a car that requires your full attention to drive under almost all circumstances. In fact, I think everyone should be required to learn to drive in a car that requires the driver to get to know its quirks. People would pay attention more and drive Camry's less.
oldchap says:
08:07 AM, 08/21/08
I agree with the charm of a car that requires focus (no comment on the Smart in particular). So many cars have become over-powered and over-automated to the point that drivers hardly need to pay attention to traffic or road conditions. The industry is being directed by a buying majority of drivers that don't enjoy/focus on driving. I am frankly amazed that it is so easy to obtain/keep a drivers license.
misterfusion says:
09:26 AM, 08/21/08
I've driven my share of low-powered economy cars, and I feel your pain about freeway onramps. Given a decently long onramp, even a "slow" car can be modulated well enough to merge safely.
But what invariably happens is that you get stuck behind a BMW 750il or a Corvette who crawls up the onramp at 20mph until the last second, when they just tap the gas and rocket into an open space. Leaving you without enough momentum or space to safely merge.
If people would just use onramps they way they're intended -- by continuously accelerating until they reach the speed of traffic -- then it would be a lot safer for everyone. It's great if you have 370hp, but the guy behind you probably doesn't.
felonious says:
09:48 AM, 08/21/08
Sounds a lot like riding a motorcycle, but without all that annoying acceleration and handling.
banhugh says:
10:36 AM, 08/21/08
OR its like driving a subcompact of the 90's hatchback for the price of modern car!
santiagofdz says:
05:58 PM, 08/21/08
For an car enthusiast site, I'm surprised at the amount of negative comments arising from the author suggesting you have the challenge of driving the car by yourself.
Now I wouldn't buy the car for me, but if I got stuck with one, I'd probably just get on with it and find ways of amusing myself, like the author.
poeticlicense says:
10:52 PM, 08/21/08
The smartcar's terrible fuel economy for its size/power just ruins it for me... for it to really make sense it should get at least 50 mpg... at least it is easy to park.