Smart Car

That Smart is probably the only car short enough to carry sideways. Did that Allegro Bus with the Smart on a lift, have a tag axle?

A red semi tractor came into the campground towing a big fifth wheel. It had a frame long enough to haul the fiver AND a Smart. The Smart was crossways on the tractor right behind the cab. They had aluminum ramps tucked away someplace and backed the Smart down from the passenger side of the tractor. Pretty neat! I believe that particular Smart was a diesel.

Just be aware of the difficulties getting one repaired. Last winter we wintered beside a guy that had a nice smart car. He had to have it hauled 250 miles to the only Mercedes dealer that would even work on one. We decided not to go with one because of that.

Dave

badbob1 wrote:
Ours is an automatic standard transmission.

BadBob

So is it automatic or is it standard? I've never heard of an automatic standard transmission.

-Michael

w3ozwizard wrote:
Thanks for the input. I know all the disadvantages of the Smart car. If I could take a golf cart on the public roads around campgrounds I would get one to that purpose. I want to put out the least amount of money for the towed car. I will only use it occasionally and in looking you can get a very low mileage late model Smart car around her for less than 7K. I really don't want the hassle of having to park a trailer and the car. I have seen the trouble people have moving the car off the trailer, and then parking it and the car and then reassembling the setup the next morning before they hit the road. But I am not sold on the Smart car, but one of the advantages of this little toy car is that when it is on the road it has an automatic transmission and the few times my wife may use it around the campground and around the corner to the store, she could use it. She can use a stick but does not want to because of physical problems she has with her legs. The Smart Car manual says you can flat tow the car and give a description on how to do it. I was just looking for suggestions and things to look out for. Thanks

Here in Ca they have street legal golf carts i see them all the time especially at the beach communitys.

*groan*

J&A, given the number of times we both have posted pictures and information about smart cars, I feel invisible.



To the OP: adding to what John & Angela have posted, there are 3 versions of the smart car (excluding the electric and CDI)

2000-2007 model 450
2008-2015 model 451
2016- ...... model 453

For each model there are 3 cars, the "Pure" (basic trim level), "Passion" (mid trim level), and "Cabrio" (convertible).

My 2009 smart fortwo Passion is a model 451.

smart cars have a 5 speed manual transmission, but do not have a clutch pedal. The computer does the shifting. smart cars are technically called an "automated manual". The smart CDI (diesel) is not offered for sale in the USA.

Prior to the model 453 the transmission had a single stage clutch. It can feel jerky when shifting. But it is easily remedied by feathering the gas pedal between shifts.

Beginning with the model 453, smart cars come with a DCT (dual clutch transmission) that shifts very smoothly. As of right now the model 453 is listed as NOT flat towable - because of the design of the DCT.

**UPDATE** 2/5/16 1:05 PM
I just checked the smartusa build-a-car web page. For 2016 there is a true manual transmission. The DCT is an upgrade. I was unaware that there is an option available.

In my signature is a link to my flickr photo albums. I have posted a lot of photos of my smart's towing set up and of some of the issues that I have encountered. A great many of the photos have detailed comments that I posted with the image.

As previously posted, the smartcarofamerica forums are an excellent resource. It has a towing section, where I have also posted.

Yes, smart cars are towable between the years 2008 and 2015. The earlier diesels were as well but there were no tow brackets for them. Follow the instructions and install a battery disconnect which disables the computer so it doesn't know the wheels are turning.

Thing to note though. ALL and I mean ALL smart cars are standards. They all however shift automatically. Make sure you understand the difference. There is no such a thing as an automatic smart car. The transmission stick on the American versions have been modified by Mercedes to make them more American friendly so they have the classic Park Reverse Neutral and so on. However they are all standard transmissions. There is no clutch pedal. When you step on the gas the computer releases the clutch. When you are going fast enough the computer engages the clutch and shifts the transmission and then carries on. It is a 5 speed. The "park position" actually just selects reverse like you would in a normal standard transmission. IN the North American market the smart transmission is criticized as the jerkiest automatic transmission on the market when in actual fact it is the smoothest standard transmission on the road. All the advantages of a standard and none of the disadvantages. These transmissions have been very reliable in the almost 1.5 million smart cars on the road in the world. They are not very popular in North America but rule over seas.

We have three smart cars, all convertibles, 1 electric and two diesels. The most reliable car we have ever had and probably the funnest. The electric is also the quickest car off the line I have had and I had a 400 TA TransAm.

We hall ours on a trailer for personal reasons but many we know in the smart car community haul four down with no problem.

On edit. All the electrics must be towed on a trailer.

Too bad people express opinions with knowing anything about the subject.

Yes the smart is small and has a bit of a rough ride due to the short wheelbase. It also has one of the best crash ratings on road (do your own investigating); anti lock brakes, stability control, traction control, eight (yes 8) airbags, and a fully enclosed roll cage type frame. Plus it will cruise all day at 85 or 90 without braking a sweat.

"toy car"? I think not. educate yourself before revealing your lack of knowledge!

Visit "Gone with the Wynns" site - they F/T and tow a SMART. ST

Will I love our Smart car and is fun to drive and pulls great behind our 24R Solera motor home. Have to turn on rear camera to even know it is behind us. Do not believe new 2016 Smart is able to be flat towed as the transmission has been changed. Ours is an automatic standard transmission. Very easy to set up and tow. We only need room for the two of us and it works for our needs as an RV dingy. When we do need more room I will take our Equinox along as it is also set up to use as a dingy. Just saying we all have different needs. Find it surprising that many folks that do not like the Smart have never driven one. I have owned a Civic and an Accord, both good cars but I enjoy the Smart as our dingy.
BadBob

Thanks for the input. I know all the disadvantages of the Smart car. If I could take a golf cart on the public roads around campgrounds I would get one to that purpose. I want to put out the least amount of money for the towed car. I will only use it occasionally and in looking you can get a very low mileage late model Smart car around her for less than 7K. I really don't want the hassle of having to park a trailer and the car. I have seen the trouble people have moving the car off the trailer, and then parking it and the car and then reassembling the setup the next morning before they hit the road. But I am not sold on the Smart car, but one of the advantages of this little toy car is that when it is on the road it has an automatic transmission and the few times my wife may use it around the campground and around the corner to the store, she could use it. She can use a stick but does not want to because of physical problems she has with her legs. The Smart Car manual says you can flat tow the car and give a description on how to do it. I was just looking for suggestions and things to look out for. Thanks