April 10, 2005
Finally bought a Smart ForTwo Coupe, after 4 years of waiting. Got the "Pulse" version. Finally got the chance to own a piece of Mercedes-Benz's technology. The back seat of my car is 90% unused anyway, so I figured that it will be a good idea to have a smaller car, but a car with good safety and technology. This car really really turn heads.
This 730kg city car is powered by a 2nd generation Mercedes-Benz 700cc Suprex Turbo engine. A touch of a button changes the sequential 6 speed tranmission from Automatic to Manual and vice versa. Comes with 15 inch rims and Continental tyres.
Engine is located at the rear and is back wheel drived. Safety features includes Anti-Lock Braking System(ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution(EBD), Electronic Stability Programme(ESP), Cornering Braking Control (CBC), Acceleration Skid Control (ASC), twin air bags and other goodies.
My Smart's cute meters. Located on the center of the dashboard, they looked like a crab's eyes to me. The meters can swivel 90 degrees left or right, and it backlighted when the head lights are on.
Sunroof, something I always wanted. The seats with hard edged cushions, feel a bit like bucket seats but are comfortable.
The Smart is very agile. The short wheel base makes it feels a bit like a cross between a motor bike and a go-kart. The turning radius is just 8.7 meters. I even managed to drive it into a pedestrian area of a park in Putra Jaya.
It is only 2.5 meters in length. Parking is really easy. No reverse sensors needed.