Smart Fortwo Pulse

I purchased my Smart ForTwo Passion convertible in September 2009 and I haven't stopped grinning yet! I've gone from being a Smart car hater to a Smart car lover. Yes it has it's quirks (no power steering, poor acceleration in automatic mode, interior mists up quickly) but it's so much fun to drive. The only thing I would say, is if you're thinking of buying a convertible, make sure you get a suitable roof cover as once the fabric gets wet the interior windows remain almost constantly wet!

I love my little car and couldn't recommend it highly enough if you're not too worried about speed and want something different and funky!

Against my better judgement my wife persuaded me to get us a Smart Fortwo Pulse as a second car. Passenger space is better than I anticipated and it is excellent in town. Less enjoyable on motorways although it keeps up with the flow of traffic. Not quiet enough for a relaxed ride compared to larger cars.

The exterior finish is easy to keep shining and bright although the wheels that seem to be one of the sales staff selling features are not easy to clean.

Wife still loves the car and its economy from £40 annual tax to 60 MPG are hard to better, but the price market now has many competitors and the Smart is not at the cheapest end.

The MCC Smart Car had a sports exhaust and 90bhp remap. Goes like thunder, sips like it hates fuel. It can accommodate two people and a weekend kit or couple of sports bags, on your own one seat folds flat and holds a lot. Nimble, highly manouverable comfy - except on speed humps or very uneven roads. Easy to customise and lots of after market stuff. Servicing has been cheap. Not bored by it yet, but definately well placed as a second car - the fourfour would have been better as a stretch fourtwo. Difficult to master the "auto" which has a biting point and easy to leap off from standstill so parking can be tricky to learn. Once mastered, an ideal city car - and we have children!

I am in the process of salary packaging a black Smart For Two for the use of my father and mother, who live in Cairns, in Far North Queensland, Australia. We have been hit by fuel spikes, $1.30 AUD per litre. Our family has always been into small 1.3 litre cars, owning Suzuki's. My brother the mechanical engineer owned a Messerschmidt, and a red Bambino. In Australian terms, where big lazy six and eight cylinder sedans are the norm - our family is not. My father has just turned 62, has diabetes, and kept bumping into things in Shopping mall carparks in his big Ford. Also, it uses about 13 litres per 100 kms. When I sat in the Smart, it had more room all around than the big Ford, the driving position was better, higher, and much easier for mum and dad to get in and out of. Best seats I have sat in. It is a very logical car. And at 4-5 litres per 100 km, just the ticket for my parents. I love the turbo whistle, I love the rear drive experience after years of torque steer in small cars.

The MCC Smart Car is a little head turner. Is a fun car to drive and isn't as small inside as you would think. It is like a 'Tardis' inside, very well laid out and lots of extras that a 'normal' car would never have like twin airbags, electric windows, PAS, glass roof. ABS. It's certainly a winner in my eyes.

I own a Smart Pulse on an 02 plate and it is undoubtedly the best car I have owned to date.

Fuel economy: I commute about 40 miles a day, so 200 miles a week and I have cut my fuel bill in half. I fill the car up with about £16 of unleaded fuel (at time of writing petrol = 89.9p/litre) and that is enough to cover those 200 miles. So a monthly bill on fuel of between £60-70! which is fantastic.

Reliability: no real problems in six months, one thing was a split fuel filter which I do not really want to count as that is general wear and tear.

I find the drive to be good in general. However, I am a little apprehensive in windy conditions as you can really feel cross-winds in the car.

Services are expensive - around £300 for a B service with Smart. Managed to get a B service with an independent for about £230 and that was with K&N air filter fitted instead of the standard, so it would be cheaper still if a standard filter had been used.

The Smart Fortwo Pulse is a great car, and it is nice to drive.

My best ever buy!!