Smart Forums

wobby

I was reading on the net that the diesel smart car has such low emission and high MPG (90) that there is no road tax and no London zone charge, sounds to good to be true, or is it?
If it is the case I just might buy one.

Wobby

DJP

You are 50% correct1

The Smart DIESEL is free from raod tax. The congestion charge is under discussion. Currently a charge is payable.

See for info congestion charges

GerryD

Sounds great but not an official import to the UK and not supported. Also not available in RHD.

Waleem

When Smart Cars were first launched, they were all LHD and none were official imports, but that didnt cause too many owners too many problems. As a driver of an LHD van, I would also say that LHD in a car that small is no handicap at all. I would certainly go for one of them as the benefits seem to FAR outweigh the drawbacks. I would have to wait until they are a fair bit cheaper though !! Crying or Very sad

LPDrifter

Just got a letter in the post today from Land Rover. (I am a Land Rover customer)

They sent quite a lot of marketing material saying how good Land Rover are on envirionmental impact ... and they list the improvements that they have made in recent times.

One claim they make is

" A fully loaded DISCOVERY 3 emits less CO2 per occupent than a fully loaded SMART CAR.

Perhaps I should take to towing my Discovery 3 Smile

carol

Wobby back in 2000 we were staying with our friends near Stuttgart and when asked what we would like to do, I suggested a look at the Smart. So duly arranged, we visited, the then nearest dealer and he had arranged test drives for us. We went in the diesel engined version and were really impressed, and I would have purchased it then, but we were informed that they would be bringing them in in RHD, so Duncan decided to wait, and we purchased one in 2001 I think it was when they first came in, having to wait ages for the colour we wanted, but no diesels, and we were informed even then that they would not be importing the diesel....a real shame I have always thought... we were going to tow it, but in fact never did, not our style of motorhome travelling .....

Trouble was, our friends, who had had no intention of buying bought one there and then, and then a cabrio when it came out the following summer and since then 2 more...... they are far more popular in Germany than anywhere else....

I loved it, still do (although we sold it - and it was to be towed) but Duncan always hated it, thinking it now safe at roundabouts when used in the auto mode...(hence his worry about ordering the new Fiat autobox on the awaited Rapido..... )

Carol

Drummer

Had an older model. Until they improve the gearbox & I could be convinced about the reliability, I'll stick to my Jap Crap.
But for two people, short journeys & inexpensive running costs (they remain very dear to buy, for what you get) they are fun, cheerful, comfortable & occasionally very scary! Laughing

an99uk · Moderator

I love my smarty, she is called Joe and I use her everyday backwards and forwards to work.
She is RHD but LHD wouldn't bother me.
She is cheap to run, £35 road tax per year,a full tank of petrol lasts for 6 weeks.

A bonus for me is I can park in the smallest of spaces even "nose into" the kerb. Causes many a funny look.

Angie.......

doc_cam

Ditto Angie's post. We tow our Smartie on a Brian James Trailer when in the m/home and enjoy using it between times. It is surprisingly capacious and fits just about anywhere. There are numerous Smart repair specialists up and down the country who have no problems maintaining "unofficial" diesel LHDs or any other Smart for that matter. Mercedes dealerships are generally not that great with maintenance unless they are tooled up as an "official" Smart workshop, which most are not, although they will (reluctantly) arrange warranty stuff for you.

The petrol Smarts use so little petrol that they are equally cheap to run - low insurance, low car tax as well.

Highly recommended - to date ours has been reliable and cheap to service as well.