History/Description: Changes to diesel emissions standards meant that for the 2008 model year, smart had to scrap the diesel engine powering their tiny model and install a gas-powered unit instead. Said engine was a 1.0L 3-cylinder with 70 horsepower and nearly as much torque. The model’s rear-drive setup remained, as did its “automated” 5-speed manual transmission.
Look for a coupe or ”convertible,” which featured a fold-back fabric roof. The “Pure” designation was given to more basic models, with the “Passion” after it. Models in the used market wearing the “Brabus” badge got sporty exhaust, wheels and some extra equipment.
Fully featured, fortwo was available with power accessories, automatic climate control, heated leather, a CD player, and more.
What Owners Like: Maneuverability, at-hand storage, relative interior roominess, ease of use and styling are all highly rated by fortwo owners taking to the internet. Others note that the fortwo is easy to tow behind an RV -- making it an ideal runabout for those who vacation for extended periods.
What Owners Dislike: Wind noise, a harsh, jouncy ride, limited trunk space, and subpar audio system performance were among the most common owner-stated complaints. Others wish for better fuel mileage, especially relative to the fortwo’s size.
Common Issues With A Used smart fortwo: Start your fortwo test drive with a full and complete inspection of all interior electronics. You’ll want to triple check for proper operation of all lights, the stereo system, the horn, the climate control system, the instrument cluster, and more. Scattered reports of hard-to-diagnose electrical problems have popped up.
Outside the car, check for rust and the overall condition of the vehicle’s paint. Pay special attention to the roof panel on coupe models, which is known to be easily “crazed” when exposed to the elements over time. (Crazing is the development of a series of small cracks in the membrane.) Some owners have had the panel replaced multiple times -- so look closely for this problem.
Check for any check-engine lights or warning codes present, and ensure the fortwo you’re considering is running properly both at idle and while accelerating. Note that the automated manual transmission isn’t known to shift smoothly in any situation compared to a “normal” automatic, though it should do its job free of unwelcomed noise and slippage. If that’s not the case, have the clutch actuator checked out for proper operation.
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| 2008 smart fortwo (Photo: Philippe Champoux - Matthieu Lambert) |
Look for a coupe or ”convertible,” which featured a fold-back fabric roof. The “Pure” designation was given to more basic models, with the “Passion” after it. Models in the used market wearing the “Brabus” badge got sporty exhaust, wheels and some extra equipment.
Fully featured, fortwo was available with power accessories, automatic climate control, heated leather, a CD player, and more.
What Owners Like: Maneuverability, at-hand storage, relative interior roominess, ease of use and styling are all highly rated by fortwo owners taking to the internet. Others note that the fortwo is easy to tow behind an RV -- making it an ideal runabout for those who vacation for extended periods.
What Owners Dislike: Wind noise, a harsh, jouncy ride, limited trunk space, and subpar audio system performance were among the most common owner-stated complaints. Others wish for better fuel mileage, especially relative to the fortwo’s size.
Common Issues With A Used smart fortwo: Start your fortwo test drive with a full and complete inspection of all interior electronics. You’ll want to triple check for proper operation of all lights, the stereo system, the horn, the climate control system, the instrument cluster, and more. Scattered reports of hard-to-diagnose electrical problems have popped up.
Outside the car, check for rust and the overall condition of the vehicle’s paint. Pay special attention to the roof panel on coupe models, which is known to be easily “crazed” when exposed to the elements over time. (Crazing is the development of a series of small cracks in the membrane.) Some owners have had the panel replaced multiple times -- so look closely for this problem.
Check for any check-engine lights or warning codes present, and ensure the fortwo you’re considering is running properly both at idle and while accelerating. Note that the automated manual transmission isn’t known to shift smoothly in any situation compared to a “normal” automatic, though it should do its job free of unwelcomed noise and slippage. If that’s not the case, have the clutch actuator checked out for proper operation.
 |
| 2009 smart fortwo (Photo: Philippe Champoux - Matthieu Lambert) |