Talk about picking your moment...

... to sell an old banger:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-Fiat-Panda-4 ... 35a5ff312d

A usefull little car..... in about 8 years when it snows again.
I think we have mosly coped ok with the snow.
Do we really need such cars........ unless we are field service staff, nurses, milk man, bus/lorry drivers etc.
I'd happily work from home a bit more often.
The cost of heating must be less than running a car for commuting 100 miles a day.

I've been having great success making progress in our little smart Roadster this past few days. Who needs 4wd?

just buy some winter tyres.... no problem in the snow....

just buy some winter tyres.... no problem in the snow....

Had a German family friend and he had two sets of wheels, one for the summer and some for the winter chains as well if required

not like us lot

si21

[mettersl]

Pretty much a legal requirement in Germany- Snow tyres from November to April - our German office has a room to store all the wheels from the company vehicles when not in use...

Any more Smart Roadster owners out there? -I have one too- great fun in these conditions and very like Alpines- French, badly made with systemic faults, rear engined, real wheel drive, not made any more, strong enthusiast following......

Pretty much a legal requirement in Germany- Snow tyres from November to April - our German office has a room to store all the wheels from the company vehicles when not in use...

Any more Smart Roadster owners out there? -I have one too- great fun in these conditions and very like Alpines- French, badly made with systemic faults, rear engined, real wheel drive, not made any more, strong enthusiast following......

didn't know you'd changed job and become a hairdresser Lee

very like Alpines- French, badly made with systemic faults, rear engined, real wheel drive, not made any more, strong enthusiast following......

Badly made?! Apart from the odd leak, they're really well put together, very cleverly designed for the mechanic who works on them.

...and it's mid-engined.... big difference

Lee, are you on TRn ?

[mettersl]

Yes Smart Roadsters are a bit metrosexual aren't they- but no I wanted a convertible that handles well and was a bit different- its aimed as my commuting car, but Colette has prety much grabbed it.

Being tall- 6 foot 3+ there are virtually no convertibles I can fit- except the smart!. Unbelievable but true.

Not sure its really mid engined, its a close run thing and I'll need to look at the engine angle to reach a firm opinion- its not hanging out the back like the alpine for sure.

BUT Quality is my real gripe ...yes they leak (mines a seal upgraded hard top so not so badly as some), but its the quality of the bits that is a bit depressingly familiar. I know they are early 2000's Mercs, but its all a bit disappointing. Yes they are easy to work on, but I'd prefer not to.
The common faults are....Air-con pipe fractures, brake switch failures, snapping springs, total electrical failures due to leaks (central controller is in a vulnerable position), steering angle sensor failures (ESP stops), clutch actuator problems, drive shaft leaks, wiper motor failures.....so many things they could have been made in Dieppe! But despite all that I love mine.
I think it proves I'm a masochist.
Merc/Smart stopped them as the average warranty was £3k/car....I know why.
Cheers Lee (also on TRN sometimes)

Funny you should mention springs as one of ours snapped a week or so ago. Waiting on a replacement but no couriers are working at the mo.

Ours does seem to be a really well put together one -the opposite of a Friday afternoon car! It's an 03 with 60k now and the only option is had was the flappy paddles and the PO fitted spikelines.

The clutch actuator can be replaced in under 5 minutes and they're really easy to pull apart and clean up and re-lube yourself.

Electrics, well yeah. We haven't had anything like the list you've had wrong with yours though

When it comes to making it easy to work on, that scores big in my book. Even if you do have to remove the whole rear clam to change the spark plugs, it only takes 20 minutes and the whole thing is held together with self tappers....

Did you see the smart car crash test on top gear recently.
I was impressed.

On top gear? There's a well known 5th gear one that's several years old now, and yes, it was a major deal breaker when replacing Polly's Figaro that she got something a bit safer.

[mettersl]

Fortunately I haven't had that full list of things yet, but I have got dodgy wipers (probably need stripping and lubrication, hopefully not a new rack) the Air con pipes went on the last owner and my brake light switch is in the pre full failure, trips the abs off occasionally stage (plus some small roof deal leaks of course).
I have promised myself a day on it when the weather gets better, but its under a lot of snow just now (Alpine has the garage).

Still love it though, but none of the punch in the back of the Alp and not enough power to disturb the handling.

Right back to alpines on this forum...I assume there are no technical/using/spares posts just now as they are all tucked up for the winter...?

[BIG_MVS]

Yes less talk of crappy smart cars and 6R4 replica's

Right time for a couple of thread resurrections....

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/car-snow-socks/

I picked up a pair of these in December prior to the snow . We have used them on all three family cars & found them brilliant . Fitted in seconds & better than chains.Its just like driving on tarmac with zero slip. They have already got us out of some tough conditions. Who needs 4x4 or chains ? However I would still like a 4x4 Pheaton W12 .