Is the Smart Art? 500-mile review of a Smart Fortwo Cabrio 450 (now sold but more still to come...)

To be truly fair to the Smart's gearbox, we felt a minimum of 500 miles was necessary before providing a firm conclusion on whether the Smart 450 is good or not. A quick trip around the block would not do.
We fully explore the positives and negatives of Smart car life.
Head to ‪@hubnotes‬ to see our visit to the British Ironwork Centre seen at the start of the video (in a day or two) and stay tuned to HubNut for ‪@misshubnut‬ and her thoughts on the Smart! What is it like adapting to two-pedal driving for someone who only passed their test a few months ago?
HubNut merchandise is available at hubnut.org - make the most of our five stickers for a fiver deal! It won't last forever.
#smartcar #roadtest #carreview

[@andyarmstrong1493]

You've done so well to take your Smart from a non-runner with multiple issues to the great little car you've just shown us. It's now a desirable rarity. Enjoy.

[@Jaxs2]

Its the only car I've ever held on too Ian , been all over Europe and England, slept in it on occasions and im 6f 6 😁 mine has a hard top so no real noise issues but it does get hot in there 😅... great and fair review guys good luck with the sale , i do get its not good for families 🙏👍

[@Infinitrium]

61hp? Wow what a rocket. My 2006 CDi had all of 40 hp and was lucky to hit 60 in less than 25 seconds LOL. They were quite lively up to around 40 miles per hour after which they got quit slow. Top speed (down a hill) was electronically limited to 130 km/h, in case anyone wanted to know. Suspension firmness was indeed noticed on anything other than perfectly smooth roads. I had to laugh out loud at the dim-witted automatic bit, so very true. The fixed top versions were nice with that panoramic roof glass (might have been plastic) panel, but it also had the lovely ability of broiling your interior if you so happen to park in the sunliight and leave the car for any length of time. While I had my Smart, I kept a log of every fuel stop. IIRC, my best per-tankful mpg was 77 mpg (3.05 l/100k) and my worst was 45 mpg (5.23 l/100k). I miss mine and I'm sure you'll miss yours as well

[@ferrumignis]

I have a Roadster.ForTwo Brabus engine/ecu in my ForTwo and it doesn't appear to be speed limited at all. On a private road ( 😁) it will show an indicated 100mph, though the speedometer is a little bit optimistic at those speeds.

[@1102mutley]

Well done Ian for getting the Smart back into service. Re wind noise a square section soft self adhesive strip works well. There are some cheap coil spring assistors transform the ride. There are several adjustments available for the soft top. I have installed flappy paddle steering wheel. That really does transform the gearbox shifts. Airton probably the condenser at the front. Bit of a ball ache to fit but so lovely. Also I have obtained but not fitted yet one of those front wind deflectors. My friends car makes a huge difference to the noise roof up or down. Hope that this helps.

[@alankennethjames9467]

Could you publish a link for supplier/specifycation of coil Spring Assistors please?

[@brianfreeman8290]

12.30 New parts will sort that, but they made from unobtainium. I took mine to 4Smart in Cheltenham. He completely dismantled the roof, fitted the new parts (which were on back order for some months), and put it all back together. Superb now.

[@Jam3sA]

You're correct Ian, about the suspension stiffness relating to the Elk Test. The front suspension in particular was stiffened to avoid rollover during aggressive maneuvering, and give more understeer bias to a mid engine car. I'd argue that it's too far biased that way given my own embarrassing low speed understeer moment in a Currys car park 😅

[@patricksmodels]

Here in Italy the Smart was a big success. This soft top version is the only one I would consider, the opening roof making up for the complicated mechanical layout and all the electronics. I'm pleased you've managed to sell it quickly, it's no doubt gone to a good home. Cheers from Padua, Italy!

[@flange06joj]

I'm glad its not only me that reacts to seeing a smiley Transit like that.

[@Kevin-dp1vy]

The reason to remove the side bars is that when they are in the boot lid you can lower the side windows and drop the roof all the way without getting as much buffeting as you do with them in place. This is especially true for the Roadster. As for mpg my Fourtwo averaged 46 mpg around Birmingham in traffic, driven very hard, and up to 60mpg on a motorway trip. With the roof fully down we played catch with the Fourtwo, pushing it back wards and forwards!

[@anthonystevens8683]

Another top notch video Ian and Carly. I've never driven a Smart but for some odd reason having seen this car on the channel since she was adopted I really want to try one. It's great that you had some time to get to know her better but as times move on so does the fleet. I really wish her the very best whoever looks after her in the future. I wish I could justify adopting her but I just do not have the space.

[@edsilvester]

Absolutely loved mine. It’s a go-kart design. Flat floor. Rear engine. Certainly a future classic.

[@alansmith1770]

There is a Smart in my town. Very often in our Aldi Supermarket car park. Another great video Ian & Carly.

[@marccelik]

Many thanks for this video - I'm glad to see that you also like the Smart. I think that the 450 with the leaf spring on the front axle drives like a mixture of VW Beetle and the original Mini - it's a shame that the little one has to go, but it's great that you've breathed new life into it.

[@FourthDrawerDown]

I have seen a few Smarts on the Autotrader website with a red trimmed interior and rarer and perhaps more desirable, brown ❤️

[@happyhermit2022]

Re-mapping improves the gearbox no end...no jerking around...a great fair review 👍 In the original LHD ..the drivers seat is lower ..there is a box of tricks on the right hand floor...so when RHD the seat sits on the box of tricks, hence the high driving position

[@Grahame59]

Another less well know addition is that if driving with no passenger the left seat can fold down flat giving a cup-holder on top! And, no, it doesn't have power steering (only RHD Roadsters have that). It doesn't need it as no engine over the wheels. Roadsters don't need it either, fitted more as a marketing thing as buyers expect it! Agree with you that with familiarity the gearbox is much less of an issue. Roadtests of course were usually written after only a relatively short drive. Better, as you rightly say, if fully auto is avoided.

[@MrOvershoot]

The British Ironwork Centre is just down the road from where my late mother lived, still pass it on my way down to the In-Laws. Have never called in so will be waiting for the @hubnotes review

[@davematthews8520]

i saw your smart just outside oswestry, and thought no they won't be up here. This video proves me wrong.

[@davidhinkson8856]

I didn't realize you guys had put so many miles on this car given all the issues you were having with it initially. Congrats on getting it back into reasonable working order given it was a non runner when you got it.

[@micheltebraake7915]

Checked off the dream car list. So everything works again, nice long test drive, on to the next owner.

[@dominicchesterman2107]

Glad you won the battle on this one. I've seen the struggles you've been having and success is yours now! I had an early smart 660 coupe in Spain as a hire car in about 2005 and enjoyed every minute. Complex little vehicle though isn't it?

[@mickfoster7140]

Yes, I agree, the steering wheel makes my hands hurt after a while as well. It also looks like the wrong size wipers are fitted, it needs longer ones. Someone in a Skoda Karoq drove into the back of my Smart this week at some considerable speed whilst I was waitng to enter a roundabout. Surprisingly little damage was done, they are very tough little cars. Its now in the bodyshop having a few new panels bolted on.

[@HubNut]

I don't think you could fit larger ones without them meeting in the middle... Glad the Smart largely escaped too much damage.

[@plym1969]

This was a very interesting and entertaining review. I never understood why these weren't advertised as the ideal first car and priced accordingly.

[@timhancock6626]

Putting my sensible hat on....a Skoda Citigo does so much more for being not that much bigger and does long journeys OK, but you won't get one free. I think you have done really well with the Smart. It's been very interesting.❤

[@dlittlester]

I got the chance to take a Passion for three days a few years ago. It was an 800cc diesel. By the end of my time with it, I figured out the shifting. I used it in auto most of the time, shifting with the throttle. Good on ya with the S..M... Art. A lot of people don't know that. Also, the C at the front stands for Compact, and the arrow in the middle of it means Forward Thinking.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

An excellent review Ian and Carly. It's one of those cars people love or hate and I am in the love camp, a little weekend toy or a work commuter car.

[@thatcheapguy525]

like the comparison with the original A-Class. I had a 1400cc petrol A-Class W168 as a first car back in England after 10 years abroad. really loved it. a proper little tardis, moved home 3 times in 10 months with it before getting a company car. key downsides were suspension bushes as the trader who sold it me found out, the 1400cc engine was gutless, any slight cross-wind annoyed it, the Magnetti Marelli electrics were troublesome and the air driven central locking regularly went wrong.

[@coupe9876]

Aberaeron looks great. One of our favourite getaways.

[@mrjsv4935]

Nice video series about this Smart, learned a lot more about it than ever before :) In light of this, took a better look at my 1/43 New Ray model of Smart Fortwo Hatchback, and from dual exhaust pipes, I guess it's modeled after Brabus version, maybe 2003 model year. Same looking front end and headlights as in your Cabrio, same colour scheme too of red and silver.

[@weirdcarsphil]

I'd suggest it probably doesn't have power steering. When you drove my wife's 451 you mentioned it having power steering in the video, however it didn't. Also, agree you do absolutely find the Smart gearboxes much more palatable once you are more familiar with them, to the extent where on our 451 I actually got a lot of satisfaction driving it with the flappy paddles, which I don't at all using the similar robotised manual "Dualogic" gearbox in the Fiat 500C we replaced it with.

[@northstar1950]

I think you have really done well to get it sorted, I'm surprised your selling it. Then again I know so little about cars, I used to think a McPherson strut was a Scottish dance.

[@BrorAppelsin]

I've owned a fortwo diesel and a roadster along with a Citroen C4 with the BMP automated gearbox and a MB Sprinter van with the SprintShift automated gearbox ... out of those four I think I liked the Citroen best 😮 But it's certainly possible to get used to their quirks so the slow and/or unexpected gearchanges don't come as a surprise.

[@RedHunter500]

For a good auto, try a Yaris CVT We are currently exploring Cornwall in ours and it never ceases to impress. It’s the easiest thing to drive, it just takes everything in its stride.

[@martinneumann7783]

Thumbs up No. 800! That was me! Enjoy your Smart as long as you have it. The Pajero needs more attention and the new car... I'm looking forward to it! See you soon --- Martin

[@TheLeylander]

Ive had 2 smart fortwo,s 450 one like this and the 451 with the mitsubishi engine with larger door mirrors which i prefer much more than the 450 ive loved both but they do look better with the two pods on the dash of clock and rev counter , and when you get used to the gearbox its not that bad.

[@ferrumignis]

8:40 Power steering was a very rarely specified option on the 450, the majority of them don't have it and neither do they need it with skinny front tyres, light weight and a rear weight bias.

[@sebo_up_and_down]

We've owned a City Coupe from new in 2002. It has been one of the most enjoyable cars we've ever had. The correct size of blades for these earlier models is 21" on both driver and passenger sides. The ones fitted to your example certainly appear too short. If 21" blades collide this would indicate wear & slop in the mechanism or the arms being misaligned.

[@HubNut]

I think it's 21s I have, possibly 20.

[@pdsnpsnldlqnop3330]

An OG A Class review is due, particularly a deluxe spec early one that has been kept in mint condition. You never see OG A Class these days and they will undoubtedly become a future affordable classic. Please get one in and compare with the ForTwo.

[@Klutch58Customs]

Ironworks centre?!? 🤓 Yay! I hope we see a stationary engine at some point. They'll do "that" all day you know? I do love an early smart. My uncle has had his since 03 an only intended to keep it three years! That gearbox tho! 🤬Anyone know how to reverse the shift direction?

[@JamesAllmond]

Will be a great sacrificial car for a young driver...supposedly very safe. Saw several junked smarts in Switzerland, stacked 4 high... Frame is good...

[@bondbug73]

You've done a great job with the Smart, and I love it.

[@icascone]

I look forward to WHEN FINALLY Miss Hub Nut drives Betty! :D

[@HubNut]

That could be some time away. Having trouble insuring her on it because it's an import.

[@rbx9762]

When you fold the rear window up you need to make sure you chop the window plastic so it folds neatly in half - it’ll crease (as it has done in the vid) and will split on a cold day.

[@HubNut]

What a pain. Glad they changed to glass for the 451.

[@itstheterranaut]

I might have posted this on one of your previous Smart videos, but can't remember. So anyway. Cut and paste. I imported one from Holland in '99 and put it through the various things needed to pass an SVA in the UK. This was easy enough; swapped the reverse and fog lights, designed and printed a new index for the speedo that had MPH as the major. It was fun, there were only a handful here at the time. People would stop you in filling stations as I put petrol in....is this electric, mate? Yes pal, thats electric petrol I'm putting in there. And people would wave you out at junctions, staring. It was very disarming. However, it wasn't much fun to drive. Skinnier front tyres to let you sense the back end breaking away, crashy ride, the ever-rattling roof blind, that awful gearbox. I was surprised to get a letter (remember them?) from MB UK one day. Would I like to bring mine to my local dealer for a checkup and chat? It turned out that they'd flown over an engineer from Hambach to put updates on it, including the gearbox. And then they sat me down with coffee and biscuits, and MB UK's marketing team, to ask me why I'd bought one and done all the rest. The hint was that they were releasing in the UK soon and wanted feedback. Myself and a few other 'original' UK owners (all on the old 'Smart Club' forums) contributed some ideas to the launch. One of them that didn't make it (mine) was a hold mode for gears. Occasionally, when scooting up to a roundabout, coming off the gas would drop the gear, and that half-second or so could be terrifying while it decided what to do. V799 FSF, I see that long ago you met your maker, but I still remember you fondly. I doubt I'd have another, although I'd have a Roadster in a heartbeat- but for a short time it was nice to be at the cutting edge.

[@andrewthornegeo]

I remember a weekend back in, I think it was, 2001. There was a meeting of the Wessex Ducks 2CV club at The Elm Tree in Ringwood and somebody turned up in a left hand drive Smart Diesel. They claimed it did over 80 to the gallon. A few days later my friends grandmother finally received her Aixam which was also a Diesel. This did about the same MPG and had a similar engine capacity as I remember. There was quite a significant difference in the standard of build quality though. The Smart appeared to be a small version of the latest, most economical car whereas the Aixam was something somebody had thrown together in a shed. It would be amazing if you could do a head to head between the two. :o) I have absolutely no idea where you would find a diesel Smart or an Aixam though.

[@CauliflowerMcPugg]

Nice, review 👍 Good luck with the sale, and I look forward to seeing Miss HubNut having a drive and hearing her thoughts on it.

[@jonricketts6570]

Another great video Ian funky little car love it

[@daniellee9015]

Absolutely brilliant video Ian miss hubnut ❤👍 it is a car for fun you have to come to your own decision brilliant

[@NeilBarratt]

Very much a car that interests me; especially as after moving homes I live quite close to a Smart specialist. IMO all cars should have 1960's/1970's French designed seats. They've never been surpassed and it seems never will be.

[@icascone]

I kind of do miss the old reviews I mean whilst the walk around and visuals are MUCH better I kind of miss not having a better view of the road during a review... I felt it was great part of the enjoyment of the review...

[@PaulCunningham-sf5pu]

Well done for getting smart on the road and it would be great if you could change the colour on video

[@ivortoad]

Hi HubNut. FYI . NOREV of France have a sale on for detailed models of old Citroen. I thought you would like to know.

[@davidfromborneo259]

Bwoody hell! When I was a kid new to motoring in the lipsmackingcoolfizzin seventies 145 tyres were wide!

[@19892CV]

@Carly, I like the firm seats too

[@d.c.Jones70]

I think next big job is to get underneath and tackle the crustyness before it progresses,other than that lovely little thing

[@niklaswejedal463]

I got one of those 1/18 Maisto models of the Smart Coupe for ages, you know the one where you can swap the body work from (in my case) red to yellow - maybe a better way to enjoy the gorgeous looks than actually own a real one? 😅

[@michaeljohnson9421]

On a slight tangent, what sort of weird font have they used on the New Quay town sign? Was that the only sheet of Letraset left in the council office, or something?

[@peterlarkin762]

I drove a first gen Forfour years ago... also had a rock hard suspension. Great car though, loads of space and fairly nippy.

[@Nicenotherbaltea]

Nice design and very acceptable red .

[@jonp5641]

A very splendid hat!

[@fhwolthuis]

Is the rev counter plug and play? Might be a nice upgrade

[@HubNut]

Can be, but can also need someone with the right software to activate it.

[@gafrers]

Love the 450 Smart ForTwo

[@sim6699]

The front lifts in acceleration, lacks power and torque. Screaming 5th gear on motorway hills. Resulting in turbochargers failing and awful mpg. In the early days, you had to pay high Mercedes prices and labour rates for a cheap car which takes more time to fit. The gearbox was awful, often leaving me without a gear. I owned one for about a year. I remember making full use of the safety systems throwing yhe car at speed around round abouts, forcing the car to get me around as quickly as possible. It brakes on individual wheels if you go fast enough. It was a lot of fun. I challenge you to get it sideways! I only managed it once in snow.

[@alansimpson835]

Is yours on larger wheels than standard? I wonder if it would ride better on smaller wheels and chunkier tyres? Great to see it resurrected and glad you could scratch the Smart itch. So, what next now it has sold? Bella resurrection or Bella replacement?

[@HubNut]

Standard wheels. Still hoping to resurrect Bella because we just love a hopeless case...

[@tonysargent7787]

Nice always wanted a smart please don't sell 😢 another great video has always Ian and Carly miss/mrs hubnut and hublets and hubmutt 👍

[@HubNut]

Too late I'm afraid. We also feel it was too short an ownership experience. Maybe we'll get one again one day.

[@bentullett6068]

Did you try parking the smart in the way it was intended on a roadside parking bay front or rear to the kerb? Also have you considered the mk1 Smart 4 four. It's based on the Mitsubishi Colt and looks pretty cool. Plus rare to spot now.

[@HubNut]

Didn't try that! Never felt comfortable with it... A ForFour is something we'd like to try.

[@-sargntclashroyaleandmore-491]

Do the newest smarts use DCT boxes?

[@10rGreenninja]

Can you fit a longer wiper blade on the right to increase the swept area?

[@Tedcowboy]

Bloody hell!!! When were you there? I've driven past twice this week!!!

[@HubNut]

Last Tuesday.

[@richardbaron7106]

First saw Smart cars in France and thought they were really cool city cars. For those familiar with the VW "punch-buggy-colour" game, my sister and I also do something similar, with it being "Smart-slap-colour", including the slapping part. Yes, we're still kids, even though we're adults 😂

[@anthonydonnelly8419]

I've driven a couple of these, and helped a friend swap out the gearbox on his example. Never really clicked with them. I don't mind a small car (ex Daihatsu Charade 1.0Cx owner), but these are not for me.

[@edgarbeat2851]

Im loving this video.

[@FrankJCarver]

The smudging on your camera reminded me of a scene from a 1970s, French, romantic movie.

[@noplan724]

Maybe check your front left suspension. It is very well known for broken springs (had two Smart 450 and both had that) and yours looks pretty low on front left. That would explain the very firm ride.

[@HubNut]

Certainly is a bit low. Can't really see the spring but it doesn't feel broken.

[@ben_jam]

Did you get the Smart for free ? Selling it on makes total sense, got some nice content, onto the next one !!

[@HubNut]

We did. Spent a bit on it, left with a rare profit to 'invest' on others on the fleet. And maybe something new...

[@ben_jam]

@@HubNut oh yeah ,,, Can't wait to see

[@fulwell1]

Any reason why longer wiper blades couldn't be fitted?

[@HubNut]

I think they'd probably clash.

[@michaelwright2986]

13:00 to the list of desirable small cars spoiled by over-stiff suspensions, add the BMW i3. I was convinced we were going to buy a used example until on the test drive we got it to our part of town with the potholes, and the stiff suspension to stop it rolling over, and the 20" wheels as an upmarket accessory, made it very uncomfortable indeed. The only car I've driven that was worse was a sporty model of the Lexus which had been slammed, yo, for drifting or something, and nearly broke my spine at the first small pothole. Some day the engineers will get a better compromise between stability and comfort in really small cars. But the Smart might win me over, anyway.

[@HubNut]

That's disappointing. I'm keen to try an i3.

[@michaelwright2986]

⁠@@HubNutI’ll be interested to hear your reactions. It was lovely on the new roads where the dealership was, but on rougher roads of Auckland’s infrastructure deficit, crashy. It also had a natural period of oscillation that locked in with a waviness of the harbour bridge and I nearly lost my lunch. But in other ways, we really wanted to buy it. Good electrovroom, too.

[@tonys1636]

We need more cute smiley faced cars today, a firm ride and seats means one won't nod off easily so makes them safer. The noise also helps.

[@caw25sha]

If Mr Swatch had managed to sell the idea to Volkswagen it would have been called the Svwart. Or maybe they'd have given it a game name similar to Golf or Polo. How about the VW Tiddlywinks?

[@theclappedoutdairy-man3507]

Great video

[@domrynk2]

I could very well be wrong but your wipers might not be the correct length, I’m sure my partners Smart 450 wipes more of the screen than your video shows there. They’re both supposed to be 21” long apparently, worth a check!

[@RadlerMannheim]

A modern 2CV...? The foldable roof signals at least some kind of relationship...

[@michaeltutty1540]

There is a reason for the rock hard suspension. Blame the Moose Test. The initial run of Smart Cars was recalled in its entirety because the cars tried to kill 2 motoring journalists by flipping spectacularly while doing the moose test.

[@wanderingorganist]

The outtro music sounds like John Shuttleworth did it... Thank you for the exposé of smartdom, I've liked the look since they were first imported. Again, driving one is something I cannot think I will ever do, so vicarious thrills here.

[@lordbungle6235]

The Man Who Lives On the M62 could be on a Hubnut Album.

[@chrisdowns1987]

Ooo, Ken..... Edit: I just found out there's a Shuttleworth tour this year. I'm hoping to go when he's local!

[@Teflonkrawatte3000]

Mine (2004 pulse numeric blue with pedalshifting and glass roof) has a very predictable auto-mode... if the engine has load, e.g. uphills, it will not shift. only when taking the foot off the gas on high rpm, it will shift.

[@michaelstaunton1632]

Farewell to the Smart Vehicle. 👍👍

[@Oldsmobile69]

Please test drive one of the new ones. Maybe even the electric one. Try it on the motorway and drive as fast as you can.

[@jaytoppo1670]

You could say it's a futuristic version of the Invacar in a way, would have made a decent mobility car had it not been for the expense of manufacture and the like that hindered the little nipper..

[@fhwolthuis]

Lovely video. Is the black rear bumper original?

[@HubNut]

No. Would have been red.

[@rahmann936]

If you've already sold it, I can see a big profit💲💲 on this Smart car.👍 But even with its cute styling, there are too many shortfalls counting against it for my liking. 👎😖😤😤 Will the Pajero still be a keeper? As we haven't seen you drive it yet.

[@HubNut]

Pajero hasn't made it to the unit yet. Will be the next project.

[@TheFlyingdeuces]

What was the MPG like?

[@HubNut]

We did discuss that. 52 and 60mpg recorded.

[@tyresandtarmac]

I quite fancy owning a smart now

[@davidrumming4734]

Is the diesel a manual transmission or still that semi-automatic?

[@HubNut]

Still semi-auto.

[@joesullivan-y9r]

I always wondered what happened to Neil Pye. What's Vyvyan been up to?

[@Electrowave]

My Smart has the colour of the panels on the V5.

[@trams66]

Where did you get that hat?? I want one 👍

[@HubNut]

I can't even remember...

[@trams66]

@@HubNut I’m on eBay and looking 😂

[@HubNut]

I think it was a random charity shop find in Aberystwyth. They had a job lot of them, all brand new.

[@caw25sha]

It's a Panama. You can buy them in a small country in Central America, plus loads of other places. I think what you should have said was "I would like to have one just the same as that". 😂

[@iancairns7398]

Would you not have to get informing the DVLA every time you swapped the body panels for a different colour/style etc.

[@HubNut]

Nope, because the base colour is silver. Oddly, my 2CV is registered as red even though she's red and white.

[@caw25sha]

The point with the gearbox though is that many potential buyers must have given the car a brief test drive and been put off by it. First appearances are everything as some wise person once said.

[@HubNut]

Very true. Plenty decided to give it a go though.

[@tristanyseult]

Gear box can be remapped, this done it was one of the best gearboxes I have ever used

[@tommyolsen8224]

I ❤ SMART