Smart City Test Drive Compartment 1998 - 2002 hatchback
About that wise guy
Smart PALS Smart & Pulse Smart made his debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1997 and was expected to sell already in the spring of 1998. However, literally at the last moment there were problems with stability, which postponed the meeting of the car with the buyer until the fall. Today in Western Europe, this micro-car can be purchased in two versions: Smart End-Pewa (33 kW/45 hp) and smart end-pals (40 kW/55 l.), And soon the most expensive will appear Smart End Pashn with the richest serial equipment.
How would you relate to the fact that your future at one fine moment will become known to you to the last detail? It is unlikely that such a prospect will please. It is another matter when the case will allow you to get acquainted with the car from the future, which ended up in our time.
Where they buy
On the roads of Germany, you rarely meet this outlandish machine - its official sale began only on October 2 last year. However, you can buy smart in eight European countries, but with one reservation: traditional dealers do not trade smarts - the manufacturer sells them only through a specially created network of original smart centers. In Stuttgart, for example, there are two of them, and in Berlin there are as many as seven! Here you can get a loan for the purchase of a machine, insure it, install additional equipment, make maintenance or repair of any complexity. With a 35 percent payment of the basic smart during the purchase and installment plan for three years, only 103 German brands will have to be unfastened monthly. The loan, however, is offered at 7.9% per annum - according to local concepts, not the most tempting offer. At the same time, the annual mileage should not exceed 10,000 kilometers.
Who buys Is the demand for smart? To whom did he like? Sellers usually answer such questions reluctantly. But two hours spent in a smart center made it possible to make some idea about this. Buyers are by no means poor. An elderly gray -haired German and his companion with a fashion model appearance arrived on the latest S -class, a couple of aged hippies - on Harley, a large and noisy family - on the fresh Audi A6 Avan. These are only those who signed the papers. They will receive their smarts only after 6-10 weeks - production does not yet keep up with demand. According to calculations, one smart center should sell at least 1000 cars per year, and works in it, by the way, only 25 people.
Just curious in the center of the dime a dozen - they clap the doors of the car, sit on the seats, twist the steering wheel. Signing up for a test drive on Saturday is a whole queue, on weekdays, they say, easier.
What they buy
The first thing you pay attention to is the size of the car. From the nose to the tail is exactly 2.5 meters - less than the wheelbase of a middle -class car. Actually, this is the main advantage of the smart. It should be borne in mind that even on a tight street in the city center, the border for car parking is marked according to one standard: 2.5x5 meters, so that the impressive Mercedes-Benz S-class, and tiny Seo-arose occupy the same place. Unless it’s easier to call on the latter. But this is not about smart. It is allowed to park across (!), And therefore, in place for one normal car, they will fit along two, and across - even three babies! In Switzerland, there are already special parking lots, the cost of which for smart drivers is three times cheaper. That's it!
Well, it's time for the wheel. Contrary to the expected, two any complexions will easily fit inside, except, maybe basketball centr. Only the driver of great height will be extremely inconvenient to switch the programs: the lever will be under the right knee. However, the author has no complaints about the workplace. The seats seem to be unpretentious, but quite good. The bizarre form switches and ventilation deflectors are located logically and functional, in addition, the invention of the interior does not at all detract from the quality of performance.
Along ... Stuttgart We insert the ignition key into the castle near the gearbox lever - only now you can turn on the transmission - and go. There is no adhesion pedals, but this does not cancel the obligation to move the lever back and forth. Smart has six gears, and they have to switch them very often, which is not surprising for a 600 cubic motor with a turbocharged. Acceleration to 100 km/h has to be completed on the fourth, and the maximum speed of 135 km/h is reached in the fifth gear. That's just automatic clutch is not able to work truly quickly, and the gas pedal must be released when switching.
On the machines of smart end-Pals, a similar gearbox, but equipped with a mechanism of automatic switching software. This is exactly what was on my smart. The logic of her actions seemed quite primitive. Electronics include the next transmission only when the maximum power is reached or gas discharge. Another program is unlikely to fit for a tiny engine - it is incapable of pulling from low revolutions, although the medium and high are quite alive. According to the manufacturer, acceleration to 60 km/h takes 7 seconds.
But the most curious is the behavior of the car on the road. Of course, you can’t grab on the city streets, but a couple of turns and a circular denouement passed with a breeze left vivid impressions. Smart is too different from normal cars to match the usual canons. In this sense, he is an amazing parody (if you want, caricature) on ... Porsche 911. A quick, sensitive steering wheel without an amplifier - and at the same time stubborn unwillingness to enter the turn, hard suspension - and impressive rolls and swing, spread out low -profile rear wheels - and The absence of a powerful motor capable of cranking them. However, the electronic stabilization system and ABS will not allow the machine to spin the wolf. By the way, try to name another modern micro -litter car with rear -wheel drive and rear -engine layout.
In urban conditions, maneuverability and visibility are important. Alas, the review leaves much to be desired. But if thick front racks can be regarded as an reckoning for passive safety, then for which a tiny rear window and an absurd shape of the rear view mirror are paid, it remains unclear.
What is smart? Most likely, not a car at all. This is a city vehicle for non -poor people in a rich country. The baby will be thoroughly loaded with additional equipment for 24-25 thousand marks. The future version with a turbodiesel will be even more expensive. The issues of durability or convenience of wealthy repair are usually not interested in. The warranty and developed service are more important. And therefore, they are unlikely to tell you about the resource of a 600 cubic motor with a turbocharged - but they boast that replacing it takes only two hours. Where is the spare wheel? It is not at all. Only a spray can with a gel to seal the puncture, if it does not save, you need to call the service on wheels. Fortunately, his services have already been paid a year in advance when buying a car. Service? Once a year or 15 thousand kilometers. And three years of guarantees from all troubles. Now calculate how much you can save by buying smart ... in Russia. But such a question is simply inappropriate - this vehicle is not for us either today or in the foreseeable future.
Now let's understand the impression. A year ago, representing the car (ZR, 1998, No. 2), we wondered: Smart - wise guy (as his name translates) or upstart? No one will decide to give a definite answer to this and now. The Daimler-Benz engineers created a tricky phenomenon. After all, the success of the novelty can launch the expulsion of full -fledged machines from cities. Of course, even 200 thousand smarts per year in Europe will not make, but examples are contagious ...
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
General data: number of places - 2; equipped mass - 720 kg; full weight - 980 kg; maximum speed - 135 km/h; acceleration time from a place to 100 km/h - 18 s; The average fuel consumption is 5.0 l/100 km; fuel supply - 22 l; Fuel - AI -95. Dimensions, mm: length - 2500; width - 1515; height - 1529; base - 1812; The track in front/back - 1286/1354; Road clearance - 131; trunk volume - 150 l; The turning radius is 4.3 m. The engine: with distributed injection, turbocharged and intermediate cooling, two valves per cylinder, three -cylinder in a row, located on the back is transversely inclined; working volume - 598 cm; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 63.5x63.0 mm; compression degree - 9.5; Power - 40 kW/55 liters. with. at 5250 rpm; The maximum torque is 80 N.M (short -term 88) at 2000-4500 rpm. Transmission: rear wheel drive; gearbox - mechanical six -speed with automatic clutch; Transporting numbers: I - 8.52; II - 6.18; III - 4.44; IV - 3.38; V - 2.45; VI - 1.76; h. X. - 8.06; The main program is 1.66. Suspension: the front is independent, with transverse levers and transverse springs, the rear is a dependent spring type de Dion, reptile stabilizers in front and back. Brakes: hydraulic with a vacuum amplifier and ABS; Front - disk, rear - drum. Steering: rheck without an amplifier. Tire size: front - 135/70R15, behind - 175/55R15.
A source: The magazine "Driving"
