California Smart Car Review

February 1, 2008 12:58 am Matty Cars and Transport, Travel

First Batch of Smart Cars Hits Southern California, and GE&P Buys One!

Green Eggs Co-founder Matty Byloos sat down with Steven Patton, COO of Green Eggs and owner of a brand new 2008 Smart Car — one of the first new batch to hit Southern California. The following represents notes from the conversation.

Green Eggs / Matty Byloos: What influenced your decision to purchase a Smart Car?

Steven Patton: I think the style and design of the Smart Car initially sold me on ordering one, but the gas mileage (close to 50 mpg) is a definite plus. It also doesn’t hurt that it is designed and marketed through Mercedes Benz and Penske, so I knew I was getting a quality product.

My commute to work is 17 miles each way down PCH from Malibu to Santa Monica and the Smart Car is absolutely perfect for the drive.

Comparing the Smart Car With Other Automobiles

GE / MB: How does the Smart Car compare, experience-wise, to a regular car? (What were you driving prior to the Smart Car?)

SP: My previous car was (is) a Porsche Cayenne. I still own it, but a 6,000+ pound SUV gets about 10 mph when you drive it aggressively. It really doesn’t make sense to drive it every day when you can get 5 times the mileage from a Smart Car and have fun the process.

The Smart Car compares, surprisingly, very favorably to the Porsche. Quality seems on par. Obviously performance isn’t the same, but you can’t go more than 50 mph on PCH in the morning anyway without getting a ticket, so you really don’t need a 350 hp SUV for that morning drive. You purchase the Smart Car from the Mercedes Benz dealership, so one would expect customer service to be on par with Porsche. I had a great experience when picking up the car. It was the easiest car purchase I have ever had.

GE / MB:What was it like to drive on the freeway?

SP: Not as much fun as driving on Pacific Coast Highway! The car has enough power to keep up with traffic, but it seems a little squirely at higher speeds (75 mph +) due to its short wheelbase. I didn’t purchase the car to drive on the highway, so that isn’t a big deal to me. I bought the Smart Car as a commuter vehicle, and it is perfectly suited for that task.

The Smart Car and Its Appeal on the Street

GE / MB: Did you receive any attention from passersby on the street or from fellow motorists?

SP: Oh my God…it feels like you are driving a Ferrari Enzo! Thumbs up from passersby, people talking to you at signals, everyone at the gas station coming to check it out. It’s absolutely crazy. I had one of the very first Miatas when they hit the market 18 years ago and the feedback from the passersby is very similar. I don’t know if an affordable car has had this much excitement about it since that Miata.

Notes on the Interior of the New Smart Car

GE / MB: What is the interior like?

SP: The interior is surprisingly nice. Very Mercedes Benz like. The buttons in the center dashboard area remind me of the buttons in an MBZ E-class. It doesn’t feel like a car priced under 20 grand. Not even close.

The interior really is what sells the car… for me anyway. People are attracted to the car due to its size and style, but the interior is really what sells people on the vehicle. I showed the car to a friend of mind in Laguna Beach and she thought it was cute, but wasn’t really into it all that much until she sat in the car. The interior room is designed so it doesn’t feel like you are in a small car. It is very roomy. I’m 6 feet 2 inches and I have ample room in the car. Much more than you would expect.

I opted for most of the options on the Smart Car, one being leather interior. It is very well done with the fit and finish of cars multiple times its price point.

GE / MB: Given the rather cozy interior, which basically just wraps the driver with not much extra cushion, do you feel scared in any way when driving?

SP: I was a little concerned at first when I ordered the Smart Car, but I did a fair amount of research and found that they have numerous safety features built into the car. The vehicle is designed using a Tridion safety cell, very similar to a roll cage in a race car. It protects the passenger very effectively. It has achieved a 4-star crash safety rating here in the United States.

Questions About Speed, Power and Gas Mileage in the Smart Car

GE / MB: What is the maximum speed?

SP: No idea. I have had it close to 80 mph and it has plenty of power left to keep accelerating. As stated previously, I personally wouldn’t consider this a high speed car due to its short wheelbase.

GE / MB: How is the Gas mileage?

SP: So far so good. I haven’t driven it enough yet to do my own calculations on mpg, but I hear it should be somewhere between 40-50 mpg. That is 4-5 times what I am getting in the Porsche Cayenne, so any number close to these I would be completely fine with.

The Smart Car: Extra Incentives and Cost

GE / MB: Are there any perks for driving a Smart Car — maybe a tax break, access to the carpool lane, parking at meters without paying?

SP: None that I know of. Saving gas and getting lots of attention are the perks I have experienced first hand. The quality of the vehicle, safety components and high mileage are enough perks for me.

GE / MB: How much does it cost?

SP: The basic, smart car dubbed the “Pure” can be purchased for $11,590. The same model, better equipped is called the “Passion” and that goes for $13,590. And they even make a convertible version that is priced at $16,590. My black, black with black leather, nicely equipped “Smart fortwo passion coupe” ran right about $16,000, prior to the taxes, license and doc fees. I think it’s worth every penny!

GE / MB: Do you receive any breaks in terms of auto insurance?

SP: I added the car to my policy which has the Porsche, and it added like $400-500 a year extra. I didn’t think that was too bad.

Smart Car and Maintenance Costs

GE / MB: Any record of maintenance on the vehicle? Parts and service expensive?

SP: I wouldn’t think so. The entire car costs $16k, so I can’t see parts being all that much! I really have no idea. I’ll keep GE&P informed and give you a breakdown of how much the first service is (scheduled for 10,000 miles by the way), and how maintenance issues are handled (if there are any).

Full Release of the Smart Car Expected About When?

GE / MB: What number car did you get in the state of California — and when is the full release expected to hit the streets?

SP: I got the #10 car from Mercedes Benz of Laguna Niguel. They received 20 cars in their initial shipment and mine was one of the 20. I ordered the car on the very first day of availability, so that makes sense.

The full release is not set, but I hear that they are all sold out for the next year and a half! The dealer tells me it is the easiest sales job he has ever had… they just give him a list of 10-12 names at the beginning of each month and all he does is call the people to come up to pick up their new cars.

I did notice a bit of envy from the Mercedes Benz sales guys. They were all standing in the parking lot (like most car dealerships) looking over at all the fun the Smart Car sales people are having. I can’t image the commission on a Smart Car is anything close to a commission on a Benzo, but at least they are selling cars! I didn’t see any activity on the MBZ side and there was a ton of activity on the Smart Car side. I guess that shows you that people have finally started thinking green and are more into “form and function” and less into “flash.”

So, I’ll keep GE&P informed as to my experience with the Smart Car. So far so good though. If you are looking for a commuter car or something to run errands in, I don’t think there is a better car on the market.

GE / MB: Thanks Steven and keep us posted!

Copyright 2008 Matty Byloos

Last 5 posts by Matty

• Solar Hydrogen Home Michael Strizki - August 6th, 2008
• Russia and Venezuela in Oil Talks - July 22nd, 2008
• Green Shopping Online at Greenzer - July 8th, 2008
• New California Plan to Cut Vehicle Emissions - June 27th, 2008
• U.S. Climate Change Bill Elicits Comments - June 2nd, 2008