Not Harleys. Smarts. CAR recently let a few of its readers submit questions to former F1 driver Coulthard, and naturally, someone asked what "normal cars" he owns. His reply:
A couple of Smarts, a Mercedes M-Class and G-Class, an Infiniti FX45 - I brought that in New York with Jenson Button about four years ago and shipped them to Monaco. What else? A 1971 280SL Pagoda roof - same age as me - and that's it. I don't have anything sporty because I drive F1 racing cars for a living.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor
caheew says:
07:28 PM, 05/26/09
Ummm, I wouldn't get a Smart. Maybe he uses it because it is the best thing for where he lives or something. Silly Europeans. That diesel van racing thing was really cool. Looks awesome.
carlisimo says:
07:41 PM, 05/26/09
Outside of the US you can get a real manual transmission, right? That must help. Maybe he keeps them in a couple of useful locations.
firstwagon says:
08:35 PM, 05/26/09
You also get the diesel which gives you 70 mpg and torque.
Monocrom says:
09:11 PM, 05/26/09
Two Smarts??
I guess some folks like slumming it.
mercedesfan says:
09:52 PM, 05/26/09
I have said this before and will say it again, outside of the US the Smart really isn't a terrible car. Recently I was in Germany and was provided with a Smart for my urban commuting. The car had a 3-cylinder CDI diesel that made about 45-hp and 81 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual. It may sound pathetic, but the car was actually kind of fun in that setting and had plenty of grunt because all the power was down low. I still wouldn't buy one, but I can understand why someone would if it was similarly equipped.
johnnyr3 says:
03:54 AM, 05/27/09
I can understand why he has at least one. Its the same reason why Hamilton doesn't own anything that is terribly fast. To paraphrase, when you pilot F1 cars for a living you sorta want to drive slow on the way back from the office.
But an FX45? That thing is more sporty than many sedans.
nomercy346 says:
09:33 AM, 05/27/09
All Smarts come with the automated manual transmission, even in Europe.
firstwagon says:
10:37 AM, 05/27/09
I'm not sure about the 2009 models but Smarts used to be available in Europe with a true manual. A 6 speed I believe.
I can't why they would drop it as most small cars are manuals there.
nomercy346 says:
12:54 PM, 05/27/09
Apparently the 1st gen models had a 6spd but it was an auto-manual as well. Who knows why they went back to 5 speeds. Maybe because they got new engines. But then again they're Smart cars so there might be no logic at all behind this decision. lol
pjungnitsch says:
08:48 PM, 05/27/09
Stirling Moss is a fan of the Smart as well. From the Belfast Telegraph, Nov 07:
"I much prefer having a small car and driving the arse off it."
Which he then proceeded to do, with me as passenger, in a Smart ForTwo. We took it round the handling track at Mercedes-Benz World, at the old Brooklands circuit in Surrey. He pushed it, but Smart stayed out of trouble. He hasn't lost his touch.
Stirling had come to pick up a new Mark 2 Smart for himself and Lady Moss: "The understeer's almost gone, the steering's jolly nice and it's great improvement – but when they make a manual, that'll be fun."
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/carfinder/article3199418.ece
sgude says:
05:49 AM, 05/28/09
I too love small cars and driving the arse off them, but I like my small cars from GTI to E46 3-Series size.
And just because Cool Breeze (my nickname for Coulthard) and Stirling Moss like the Smart, it still doesn't change my opinion of the car.
Or those two great drivers...