smart forfour

[daveyjp]

Visited our local MB dealership over the weekend to see the new forfour. I'll be changing the A2 in the new year, so am looking at possible alternatives. The car is about the length of an A2, but does not have the height. It feels very well put together and reflects the MB brand with high quality switchgear and audio straight from the other ranges - the one fitted to the demo model was the same as fitted to the £30k E class next to it in the showroom. Rear seats slide to give plenty of legroom in the rear (a guy over 6 foot tall sat in it whilst I was in the drivers seat and he had plenty of room).

The boot appears smaller than A2, two seater rear seat as standard, three seats optional extra and the front seats backs can be pushed forward to create tables - handy when watching a DVD in the optional DVD player!

It's much cheaper in factory spec than the A2 with the range topper coming in at £12,500 (but there are plenty of goodies to push this price to £17-18K). The 1.5 diesel engine is new from MB and will be fitted in the revised A class, the forfour diesel is £50 CHEAPER than the equivalent petrol - other manufacturers take note!

Test drive booked for Friday.

 

[Johann]

Most tests of this car say it is very much overpriced and not as good as it should be. Boot is very tiny and especially with the rear glass going down so low the parcel shelf is even lower... Some of the exterior plastics are also a bit iffy IMHO - especially the "bonnet" and the massive panel gaps around it. It is based on the new Mitshubishi Colt which will cost far less, and is generally deemed to be the better car... but alas does not have any of the snob/badge appeal of the smart! hehehe... the forfour does have the better "designer" interior though... The new A-class (as per my post in the Car Park forum) will probably be a better bet... as will be the SEAT Altea...

____________________________________________________________________________________
[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm

 

[Will]

I'm with Johann on this one. How can Smart really market the Forfour when it's just a Colt in drag? The original Smart had innovation and plenty of unique selling points. I don't think a new paint job with the so-called 'safety cell' really adds value in my book. But having said all of that, if you like it after the test drive and think it’s good value, then why not buy it. It’s certainly a better option than the new CityRover!

 

[daveyjp]

Had the test drive - won't be getting one! It drove very well, but even the 1.5 petrol with 110 bhp felt underpowered - I really missed the kick you get from the turbo in the A2. Window switches are down by the handbrake and there is no rear parcel shelf. Panel system is not as good as the original smarts with bad fit and panel edges everywhere (but a new colour is only £200 - it's nearer £500 for the original smart). Also, despite me setting the car up the steering wheel obscured the instrument binnacle. Best part of the car is the optional 6 speed semi auto gearbox which provides very smooth and quick gearchanges.

 

[Johann]

It does not have a parcel shelf!!!!!! How stupid and unsafe is that! Or even a secret floor ala A2!!! Where do you leave your valuables? That is totally daft! When I saw them in Frankfurt and this past week at the Canary Wharf Motorexpo I though the parcel shelf was purely optional... Weird.

____________________________________________________________________________________
[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm