Track time with the Smart ForTwo
Many words have been spilled here and elsewhere about the Smart ForTwo since well before its recent debut in the U.S. market. One area that has not received much attention (perhaps for a good reason) is the Smart's prowess when being thrashed on a race track. We have just gotten our first reader report on how the ForTwo comports itself when tossed in among the big dogs like Mitsubishi EVOs and Honda S2000s. Turns out it wasn't a total loss. For those that have been following the ongoing saga of Tesla Motors, you might remember David Vespremi, who formerly handled communications from San Carlos.
David and his wife recently took delivery of a new ForTwo Cabrio (check out who came along to the dealership when they took delivery). According to David, the ForTwo has a real go-kart feel to it. While it has under-steer to spare, the rear wheel drive chassis apparently has the right fundamentals to have some fun. The shift logic of the automated manual gearbox leaves much to be desired, although David says the shifts have gotten a lot smoother as the clutch has been broken in over a couple of thousand miles of driving. A new air intake helped with performance and David says they are getting mileage in the upper thirties even with very spirited driving.
[Source: David Vespremi]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
chug 9:09AM (4/15/2008)
Upper thirties? Doesn't a spirited Toyota Corolla get that kind of mileage? And seat 4? And cost about the same?
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BassClef 9:21AM (4/15/2008)
A loaded up ForTwo Passion is around $15,000. To have a Corolla with the same level of equipment would run you closer to $17,000. Of course one can find a Corolla cheaper, but then they lose out on the sunroof or aluminum wheels or some other nicety.
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dann bohn 9:34AM (4/15/2008)
I'd much rather drive a Toyota Echo. Those things got 40mpg, and would seat four comfortably. Why doesn't this thing get 50+???????
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rgseidl 10:00AM (4/15/2008)
The smart fortwo is an urban yuppiemobile optimized for ease of parking and picking up other yuppies of the opposite - or indeed, the same - sex. Unlike the not-for-USE diesel, the gasoline engine options are *not* optimized for very high fuel economy. Neither is the fortwo supposed to be a Zonda on the racetrack, any more than a Zonda is supposed to be easy to park.
You should think of the fortwo as an embryonic Mercedes-Benz, not as a mass-market econobox. Yes, like all single-clutch manumatics, this one is crappy in auto mode. That's why they give you paddles for manual control. Perhaps one day smart will wise up and replace the conventional synchromeshes with Zeroshift drive rings.
However, if you're comparing the fortwo with a Corolla or an Echo, you're either missing the point or you're not part of the shi-shi target demographic. That's perfectly fine, no-one is holding a gun to your head to buy one.
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Jim 11:19AM (4/15/2008)
I have to wonder why there is not an all-electric version of the Smart ForTwo. Or is there?
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jeremie 11:58AM (4/15/2008)
Actually Jim
An electric version is in the works.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/fortwo-ev-smart-car-goes-electric.html
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mrbell321 12:12PM (4/15/2008)
"Upper thirties? Doesn't a spirited Toyota Corolla get that kind of mileage? And seat 4? And cost about the same?"
No. Highway driving in a Corolla will get you mid-upper thirties. Spirited(as in, what happens on a race track) driving will get you mid 20s I'd imagine.
You'd be amazed how much gas a track session will use. On the other extreme, you can take this as an example. The Chevrolet Corvette, I believe, is rated at 28mpg. Driven hard on the track, you'd be luck to get 10mpg.
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why not the LS2LS7? 12:23PM (4/15/2008)
Perhaps comments from an owner who tracks his will quell those on here who act like the transmission is all in the heads of a few autobloggreen commenters.
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Wildgoosechase 2:02PM (4/15/2008)
A Smart car on a race track? That's like hubcaps on a tractor, ridiculous.
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mike 4:13PM (4/15/2008)
RIDICULOUS, but Fun.
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Robert E. 1:57PM (4/16/2008)
I have ScanGaugeII installed on my Passion Cabrio. With less than 150 miles on the clock and while trying different speeds, I have already discovered that she appears to give well over 50 MPG when driven at a steady 45 MPH. Not every day driving, to be sure, but it is an interesting result nevertheless and shows how driving technique will have a big impact on fuel consumption.
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ronal 11:42PM (4/16/2008)
yup that was martin eberhart...
love that guy
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