Cockpit clock somehow disconnected; dealer replaced
passenger side window motor was faulty; dealer fixed/replaced.
Really fun to drive. Most people I talked to beforehand seemed put off by the size, but after driving it I was hooked. The cabin feels at least as roomy as my Corolla, which isn't saying a lot, but at 5' 11'' I fit just fine. The diesel engine is quick, revs evenly, and the turbo puts out a fair bit of torque.
Seats are comfortable, but not meant for extremely long drives. My family lives in Ohio and I wouldn't want to drive it all the way there from Winnipeg.
Can't say enough about the engine. Plenty of power for the commute, decent speed on the highway and great fuel economy. I get looks every time I drive it, which might make some people uncomfortable, but I feel better knowing I can fit into any parking space.
I am told there is a way to convert this engine to biodiesel, which is cheaper to run on, so I plan to do that in the next year or so. This is just for my own conscience, not the cost.
Cool! I really want an electric smart fortwo tho. My Washington state is hydro powered & has just approved extra cost renewable energy sources like wind, solar, wave & tidal. Presently here, an electric car would have only 6% of the pollution of an Internal, Combustion Engine (ICE) when all sources of pollution are accounted for. & within cities, pollution would indeed by zero.
I would be careful about using biodiesel. I've heard it can gum up the engine over time. I recall reading an article some time ago in the Western Producer discussing this and if I can find it on the net I'll post it.
Yes stay far away from Bio diesel. Here in Europe where diesel is more popular than petrol, I have heard a few horror stories. Bio works fine for a while, but it is slowly starts blocking the engine. No manufacture will warranty the warranty as they clearly state, their engines weren’t designed to be used with bio diesel.
Biodiesel can work and does, but you have to replace your fuel lines otherwise they can corrode.
Fun fact - the first ever diesel engine ran off peanut oil. Diesel was the last name of the guy that invented the motor, not the name of the fuel.
UPDATE.
I've been driving the car for about a year now on biodiesel--no upgrades whatsoever. Car is running fine.
Properly manufactured bio-d is actually better for your engine as it runs cleaner than petroleum based fuel. You will need to monitor your hoses, filters, etc because the bio will be cleaning out your system for a while. I run b-99 (99% vegi, 1% petrol) and have 340,000 miles on my Mercedes 300sd.
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