'01 Smart 450 City-Coupe: needs to go!

[bmcnut]

I like these, drove one once and it was like driving a kids cosy coupe, but somehow not in a bad way. Looking forward to see what happens to it.
If you cant call it retro, I'm pretty sure you could class it as classic, I cant think of much else like them.

[MR TIKI]

love the Mooneyes theme,it puts me in mind of a BTTF taxi....

[fr€$h&m1nt¥]

In for updates. I like the idea of a mooneyes theme and that's the route I'd go down if I had a yellow and black one.

A compression test on the engine will tell you if a cylinder has gone and is the cause of the oil consumption.

The clutch issue could be just the actuator which suffered from problems ( I only experienced it in my 2003 roadster though so not sure if that problem was introduced with the 698cc engine rather than 599cc engine.

Personally I'd stick with the soft tip as it's quicker than the fully auto one and even though you can switch between the two it's easy to fall into the lazy mode and put up with the hesitancy.

[qwerty]

I love driving these. I found them such a hoot when we had a few as pool cars at work.

Tom

[composimmonite]

I've got one - 2005 700cc version and love it. Used as workhorse - can get three bails of hay inside !. Towbar fitted and hauls my trailers without a problem. Parts cheap. Economy suffered above 60mph due to aerodynamics. One tip is don't back off throttle between gear changes. Keep your foot in the same place and allow the computer to adjust engine speed that way you will get smooth gear changes. You can get PCD changers from Smart parts suppliers which allow more common 4 stud wheels to be fitted.
They are terrible in snow. The traction control switches off engine if one wheel gets stuck. You can't rev the engine to try and get grip as again traction control kicks in. Answer is a £10 bypass plug that fits in the ODB socket. I run on much wider wheels than yours and 195 tyres. Due to vehicle lightness even when traction control bypassed poor grip in snow despite new tyres. I've therefore now got a set of chains "just in case". If at all possible I DON'T use it in the snow and take the Skoda Fabia out instead.

[dikkehemaworst]

I had a passion model and drove a 100000 klm with it and loved every one of it. Mine had a melted valve in the end and as I was made redundant A week before , it sadly had to go. Keep an eye on the oil. Just drop in Aldi oil Untill she blows. Did 45000 klm like that. Just keep it topped up. A Recon engine is a 1000 euro's. She suckd in the snow , as told on here before, but I' m happy to but another one. Best leg room for a Guy over 2 meters.
+1 on the moon eyes theme for me

[fr€$h&m1nt¥]

I like how the 2.5" speakers will mimic the rev and clock pods. Think I'd stick to 2 each side though rather than the centre pair.

[skinnylew]

I drove my housemates one for a week or so and the gear change was so frustrating, in both full auto and tip modes.
Other than that it was capable enough and pretty nippy all said and told, good for short distance commuting, probably should have got one instead of my 106 but tu engines are just too easy to work with lol

[pistonpopper]

I quite like these myself, surely it should be in the readers rides section? I quite like the mooneyes theme, though I probably wouldn't go down the rusty roof route. Looking forward to updates with interest.

[dikkehemaworst]

Lupo gti 16v
Loved mine.... 😀

[mattiwagon]

Audi A2?

[mattiwagon]

Fair enough

[dikkehemaworst]

Only 2 klm? Buy a fiat 126. easlilly fixed By yourself and plenty of good quality parts from poland. Just keep the rust out. It's sadly still a fiat.
And another plus is that the small twingo roof fits..😜

[DrSebWilkes]

Nothing gets the ladies going like a Jaaaaaaaag

Too bad about those Smart Cars - quite a car of my era. Seeing those things rattle around when I was younger was amusing. I had a model one of these which I had some infatuation in throwing it around and attempting to damage it (basically treating it like a stunt car) but not too much because I'd be caught.

I was only 7 ....

[fr€$h&m1nt¥]

Dec 18, 2016 6:45:05 GMT @automatik said:

I replaced the tyres (= wheels) yesterday. The rear wheels slipped far too easily, even on frost-free days. Slightly wet curves and I drifted like Ken Block (not really) - which isn´t funny with a wheel base of only 5-6 feet.

The second day I drove it I nearly crashed it! Would have been quite sheepish to tell my gf I crashed the new car.
But I managed to catch it before I got in troble. I thought I was too fast in that curve that day, but it seems the tyres were just curse word.

So I bought a set of winter wheels from the small adds for a reasonable price.
I was mainly interested in the rear wheels, a pair of nearly new winter tyres (DOT from 2014) to replace those 2010 all seasons. But when I realized that the front tyres on the car were winter tyres nearly as old as the car (2001) I decided to use those 2007 front tyres, too.

They have a nice and lively back-end don't they?

[recarouk]

shame about the missus not gelling with it, looked to be in for a brilliant thread here.

as a substitute/swap what about a Nissan Cube

[65mustang]

Dec 22, 2016 5:07:31 GMT @automatik said:

Documents of the new/next car arrived yesterday.
Will pick it up after xmas.
VIN begins with JSAEMA... if that can serve as a clue for you?

I´m excited!

Suzuki ?

[grizz]

Dec 22, 2016 5:07:31 GMT @automatik said:

Documents of the new/next car arrived yesterday.
Will pick it up after xmas.
VIN begins with JSAEMA... if that can serve as a clue for you?

I´m excited!

So are we, now tell us.........

[fr€$h&m1nt¥]

Shame I've got the acty else I'd have the smart and give it some love

[paul555]

Dec 22, 2016 5:07:31 GMT @automatik said:

Documents of the new/next car arrived yesterday.
Will pick it up after xmas.
VIN begins with JSAEMA... if that can serve as a clue for you?

I´m excited!

Wagon R?? ;-)