Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

[minisoph]

Hi,

Just a quick question, are newer Smart Cars more reliable?

Having had an 03 cabrio for 3.5 years, the engine needed re building, which I couldn't affrd at the time. Anyway after 2 years having a different car, I've now got an 04 with 11,000 on the clock, but..... I am now considering selling & getting an 08 onwards. Are these more reliable? Or is it still the same??

Many thanks,

Sophie x

[137699]

Re: Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

Yes provided you don't buy the MHD version.

Or buy a 2003-2007 Brabus ForTwo and they are fine also.

[madDan]

Re: Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

They have had their own issues particularly the MHD none turbo variants, smart have applied various fixes, verdict is out just yet as to if they have finally sorted it, go for the Turbo'd variant if you want to play safe.

[Adamsmart84]

Re: Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

Generally a more reliable engine other than the MHD 71hp cars they have a belt failure and they fry the engine, but the pre MHD model and the cdi and the 84turbo have no major known faults
I've owned two of the 451 model and I have had 1 450 model and love the 451 much comfier in my eyes

[MrPoo]

Re: Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

I'll reiterate the point about the MHD, that failure could cost thrice the rebuild price for the 450. Got for either the 84 and sacrifice economy, or try the cdi.


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[ColSmart]

Re: Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

The secondhand MHD's at the moment are roughly selling around £500 cheaper than their petrol turbo equivalents for the year, so you can either decide to take the risk of an MHD to save money initially, and take the risk of belt wear later, plus the associated repair/replacement costs, or go for the petrol turbo or CDi.

I decided way back, that I did not want MHD 'start/stop at lights' technology anyway (never liked the idea, as being an 'old school' driver, I like to keep an engine running till the end of journey), so got a CDi.

[earthman]

Re: Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

Out of interest, why exactly are the MHD's failing?

Is this common on other makes of cars that use this feature? I test drove a Fiat 500 with that feature a few years ago, got to say, I didn't like it, just didn't seem right that the engine would cut out at every set of lights etc,.....I guess I'm just too old school when it comes to motoring.

[ColSmart]

Re: Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

A lot of us 'old school drivers' would never go for stop start MHD. I suddenly had a flashback to my old Fords that had poor ignition systems in winter, that staggered and cut out at junctions, Argh!, that would put you off stop/start for good

Anyway, the other Fortwo options are a faster petrol turbo compared to the MHD, or a better fuel return diesel CDi.

Have a read of this about MHD on this thread or do a search, to see the problem with the belt wearing or failing. It seems some owners have had problems right from the start with belt wear/alignment problems, there has been fixes from Smart, not sure how good, yet others have been luckier with no problems. Its the luck of the draw.

http://www.smartmaniacs.co.uk/showthread.php?70880-MHD-Belt-failure-survey/page2&highlight=belt+wear

[madDan]

Re: Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

Keep the old one, don't just change for the sake of it - you'll may regret it, especially on the economy front.

[earthman]

Re: Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

A lot of us 'old school drivers' would never go for stop start MHD. I suddenly had a flashback to my old Fords that had poor ignition systems in winter, that staggered and cut out at junctions, Argh!, that would put you off stop/start for good

Yep, I totally agree.

[137699]

Re: Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

What puts me off stop/start is that everyone I know with a car that has stop/start has disabled it as they get better economy when it's switched off. Probably because it takes more fuel to start an engine than it does to leave it idling for a few mins.

[Thrumbleux]

Re: Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

What puts me off stop/start is that everyone I know with a car that has stop/start has disabled it as they get better economy when it's switched off.

What they say....

Probably because it takes more fuel to start an engine than it does to leave it idling for a few mins.

All the research says otherwise.

[MrPoo]

Re: Newer Smart Cars - are the engines more reliable?

What puts me off stop/start is that everyone I know with a car that has stop/start has disabled it as they get better economy when it's switched off. Probably because it takes more fuel to start an engine than it does to leave it idling for a few mins.

There are far better systems out there. I've currently got a B-Class Merc with stop start, it actually allows you to put the parking brake on when the engine is off, and will start the engine up when it's released solving the problem of not having to be an inconsiderate @rsehole to use the system. That said, I keep turning it off, in creeping traffic, it takes too long to get going again when I just want to roll forward. Seems too jerky to me.