Had my 450 17-years now , and I wouldn't part with it , I have other vehicles , which come and go, but the little Smart I just love it's a keeper 🙏

I still love the Smart for Two 😊

I thought it was my imagination that people would get very upset when I would pass them; but I realized that they all acted like I had insulted them by passing. Just happened to me today in Washington DC when a guy in a Mercedes did not want me to be ahead of him. Ended up with him cutting me off and at the light getting out of his car and screaming at me. What we call “Brodozers” here, ridiculously large and lifted pickups really go to almost dangerous lengths when I am passing them on the highway… I do not get it; but you are spot on about the road rage.

You get that with small bikes/mopeds. People turn out in front of you thinking it's only a moped so think they have plenty of time to get out at a junction and get away before you get there. You can be doing exactly the same speed on a larger bike but they have more "road presence" so they tend to let you past. As for the front wheels I found my 450 was a bit twitchy so with the addition of a couple of 16mm spacers not only did it look more balanced it helped to reduce the twitchiness.

I absolutely HAD TO get a front/rear dash cam because of the other motorists. Someday this will save me when someone road-rage causes an accident, then tries to blame me.

Had my Smart for barely a week and did a jaunt 8 miles away to W*M. Parked and almost to the door, a fellow that also lives in my little town rolls up and shouts at me. I recognized him and stopped to chat. "I knew that had to be you. Huh? Yeah, who else would have passed me in a tennis ball? I have thought since then if I should add ball markings to feature it as such 😅 Yep, it is Light Lemon

I so get what you mean about people not wanting to be behind you, I was in a 40 zone was doing that and someone overtook me and must have been doing at least 60! I just thought ok if you want to get done for going over the speed limit that is your problem

Love my Smart but the bone crunching suspension is a big problem on our pot hole laden roads. Having said that I have downsized for having a 4.0 waft-o-matic jaguar for 10 years lol . I was dreading the 80mile motorway journey home but i was pleasantly surprised at it`s effortless 70mph cruising and easily hit its limited top speed of 90 when I needed to overtake, I never got any dirty looks , more shocked looks and double takes lol

Absolutely agree, especially No5. Nowadays I laugh. Drive smart, not fast. Tend to lose momentum when hitting a hill before it down-shifts, so manually shift in certain places. A little tedious sometimes.

The last thing was on point! Oh yeah That's why I have mine tuned with 130 bhp it's even more nippy just in case

Hi, great video. My 451 84bhp has power steering, it electric and disables at higher speed, therefore, has the same amount of under steer as the non assisted models. But when my tyres needed replacing I upgraded the wheels and tyres to: Oxxo Trias Matt, Black, Polished 6x15 ET25 3x112 57.1 Oxxo Trias Matt, Black, Polished 5x15 ET20 3x112 57.1 Falken Sincera SN110 Ecorun 195/50 R15 82H Falken Sincera SN110 Ecorun 175/55 R15 77T. These sizes are a factory fit option and certified (TÜF). This absolutely transformed the car its understeer is reduced dramatically (but still no danger of car flipping over). The ride comfort is also night and day. The larger tyres have 12% more air and run at 10% lower pressure (in accordance with owners manual). I know you have spent a small fortune on it recently, but worth considering once it proves it's reliability. I can send you on some photos if you want to see what the wheels look like fitted... Really can't recommend this highly enough. Keep up the content, it's great.

Stephen, for me point #1 (understeer) is not the most critical issue as it can be greatly improved with a simple MB approoved tires size upgrades… My 2013 451 Passion came with stock 155/60x15 front tires on 4.5 rims and and 175/55x15 rears on 5.5 rims… and the same awfull understeer Digging into factory litterature I found that there was an optional tire size upgrade with 175/55 in the front and 195/50x15 at the rear… I later found that this option is even printed on the pressure table inside the gas cap of my car So I bought a set of second hand matching rear 5.5 rims and a pair 195/50x15 rubber. Put them on the rear and moved the former rear to the front. It is night and day!!!… the steering is now crisp and responsive and the car feels more stable on highway and less sensitive to crosswind. With MB recommended tire pressures (1.8 bar front and 2.2 at the rear) the front feel a little softer on speed bump and the rear seems better too. I fully agree with #5 road rage This said for me the most annoying point on my 451 are: The early 5th gear shifting in automatic mode The lack of water temp gauge on post 2008 cars Nicolas

I agree with you on all 5 and the fifth one ( road hogs) I get most of the time. These people forget how nippy these Smarts are and especially the 84 bhp like mine. My Smart just wants to go like the clappers

I was the first one at a red traffic light on a two-lane road and a car pulled up next to me in the left lane. I noticed that cars behind me all lined up behind that car, 3 or 4 cars. There were no left turns further along. Of course they all thought "That Smart goes slow so we are faster on the left". I had already noticed that the man in the car next to me was very busy with his phone. So when the light went green I accelerated hard and I took off like a rocket. I saw the cars in the other lane honking and signaling. Losers, haha! btw I live in a 'right hand side drive' country.

I have a 451 the passenger seat goes back farther than the driver seat.

It seems I've been lucky, not having these problems. I don't have the polystyrene wedge, I didn't know there was supposed to be one. Plenty of leg room for my large size in the passenger seat. The seat goes a very long way back, as well. My two biggest complaints are lack of view reversing, and the electronic gearbox/clutch setup. I would prefer manual with a clutch pedal, or a proper automatic. I only ever had one problem with maintenance and that was when I popped in to a "specialist" exhaust company to have the exhaust replaced. The technician went straight under the car to check the exhaust & I had to point out that it was at the rear 🙂 Anyway, they wouldn't replace it so I ordered the exhaust online and took it to a local garage to be done. I've never had a problem with a local garage doing repairs, including springs, starter motor (twice!), steering column and rack, and lots of other stuff I can't remember off-hand. I've only once had a break down (starter motor) where I had to call out help, and when the help arrived the car started! They followed me to the garage and I did need a new starter motor. I would like to do my own work on the car but I don't have anywhere I can do anything major, but I agree with everything being squashed in, but I have also found that to be the case on many more modern cars. I do miss my old Valiant where I used to sit on the wing with my feet in the engine bay as I worked on the engine 🙂 I can't say I have had the problem with other road users, either. I used to get a lot of problems in my Reliant Robin with people pulling out in front of me, assuming I couldn't go very fast. I've not had that in the Smart. I do get a lot of smiles from people 🙂 The Smart car I have is the longest I have ever owned a car. I have always bought cheap old bangers the last a year or two before they aren't worth repairing, or traded in when I get fed up with them (I had a Saxo diesel that wouldn't die) but the Smart I really enjoy and have no plans changing, unless for a Brabus version 😀 One thing I do miss is luggage space. I would be happy to use a trailer instead but not allowed on a Smart 😞

And I took a step forward and just put my Smart up for sale :)

I’ve not owned my Smart for long but love it…… despite its flaws (water pump replacement…… what a pain the backside!🙄). Kicking myself for not getting one sooner though. Loving the Smart content-there’s surprisingly little on KZfaq for the model.

And now the 11 things I love my Samrt. I know you just love 'm. Watched all your videos and are a member of Evilution and one of those specia manual books. Understeer... I put wider tyres under them. 155 front gone to 175 and rear to 195, makes a serious differance. Working on them... soo glad we have a Smart Specialist here nearby. It's mostly the plastic. Already changed my brakeswitch and the rubber engine mount. And rubber bushings front squeek Reliability... soo glad I went from 450 with turbo to my Smart 451 now, with Mitsubishi engine. Roadrage.. yes... Even my wife with her bigger Toyota iQ has this problem. Lastly one Audi was roadreaging behind her like mad, with middlefingers and headtoutcing. I looked at her dashcam footage andnoticed that she slowed down for an older pedestrian at a pedestriancrossing. That made them (her) rage. very very weird. Yes.. She and I have front and rear dashcams. If they tailgate me I try to slow down. And allways .. allways are passed at our 50 km/hr road (a long strech of asfalt).. when I drive 55. Anyways I love my Smart, mostly used for transporting my little Dachshund to the forest. Bigger Suzuki for the bigger trips with the wife.. 😅

I absolutely agree with what you said, except the seating - I just shove the seat all the way back and my 6' tall son rides just fine (for the most part 😆) The repairs are my issue - because replacing some parts requires computer talk and only MB has that or dropping engine - which is out of my experience range (as I said before, 2 1/2 hour haul away). Enjoy your videos!

Interesting. I have noticed this in less than a week of ownership of the smart 451. I take on board the annoyed reaction of other road users to the presence of something that looks like it belongs in a funfair. I intend to print a sticker for those following that the driver is a class 1 and you would normally be behind him in a 44 ton artic unit. I make progress, so do try to keep up! (I also work for the DVSA) We will see eh?

the only thing about the car is the seatbelt retractor, it just doesn't have a stiff enough spring. It doesn't retract fast enough and the damn thing gets caught in the door, Ive tried light lubricants with marginal success. drove mine from Colorado to Ohio 1000 miles running 85 and 90 al the way. It ran perfect =, never missed a lick. great car. they need to bring them back to the US

Yeap, number 5 . . . Because the Smart is small, other drivers seem to think they should have priority over you. As a defensive driver, I can always spot these kind of people early. It fascinates and amuses me in equal measure.

One does not drive a Smart car. You wrestle it, and hope to win! I have a 451 and a great local garage. When you broke down the other week in Guildford, I'm just round the corner. I live in Godalming. Are you a local chap?

No 5 - if I overtake another car in my Smart - he doesn't know what hit him, I'm just gone... hooray for 130 hp.

I hate the door handle cables on the 450

I find the smart car videos from England to be much more informative and interesting than the ones from the US . Just wondering if you're thinking of getting some swag for sale.