Very articulate explanations. Not your average salesman. Nice work.

Been thinking of getting a Smart car once I get my license (which won't be for a while longer, but I figure it's never too soon to start saving); saw the phrase "smartshift transmission" and had no clue what it meant--this explanation is much appreciated and much easier to understand than I thought it would be! Great video!

Hi Barry, I'm 53 and love manual transmissions. In all these years I've never heard anyone explain manual transmissions so well. I bought a 2009 smart passion coupe about 2-1//2 months ago. I love it! Those that truly understand this type of transmission will not have a problem with it, especially if they drive it in the manual mode as I do most of the time. Thanks again for a great video! It's much appreciated! By the way I'm 6'5" and averaging 44 mpg in stop-n-go freeway traffic here in Southern California. Someday I'll upgrade to the cabriolet or brabus.

Excellent explanation. I own a Smart and have no issue with the transmission. Driven manuals all my life so it feels normal to me. My wife has only driven automatics and therefore thinks the Smart is strange.

Phenomenal video! Thank you so much for the thorough explanation that truly showcases how special the engineering choices are in this vehicle. It was exactly what I needed to confirm that this car is for me.

Wow , it feels really good to hear someone explain the smart shift and just really understand the car. It’s amazing ! Just a comfortable ride ! NYC driver here

Outstanding, I love my 2006 Smart Roadster!

Drove one of these for the first time today. Honestly, as terrible as it was in vehicle standards, I loved it. Definitely takes some time to get use to but its hilariously fun to drive.

crazy, i just bought a smart car yesterday and wanted to learn more about the transmission, so i found this video. i was listening and then thought the trees etc. looked familiar, lol, i went to Cal Lutheran and used to surf down in Oxnard. that's cool. i didn't notice the channel name mbofoxnard until the end.

these cars are just like you say and the big review companies like Consumer Reports destroy these cars with their horrible reviews. I'm nearly 6 foot 7 , and the car is plenty room, I can't say that about Yaris or a Honda Fit or a Nissan Sentra, plus there's really no resale value so you can pick one of these up for about three-quarters of the price of a new one, with very low mileage. People don't understand you have to use the car for what it's designed to do, it's not designed to go off road, it's not designed for racing, unless you're racing Yaris. I feel safe in this car, it feels much larger than it is the only problem I have with it are the tires they are hard to find and the front ones are smaller than the rear ones, other than that it's a bare-bones vehicle that can last many years. To bad we didn't get the European version Diesel and a 5 speed, but now we have the new one which I'm not a big fan of the looks and I haven't driven it yet, it's probably very boring and usual micro car that doesn't have any character, unlike like the old one.

Great informative video, I learnt a few things!

You ran a red light but excellent explanation and video. Lol.

Great explanation.

Thank you for your excellent description of the Smart transmission. I was curious, as I have seen them being towed by RVs and auto transmissions (with the torque convertors) should not normally be towed. Your video has answered my questions about these great little cars.

Anyone who complains about the dangers of the car I'd ask if they say the same to a motorcycle or some of those tiny compact "luxury" convertibles. About a week or two ago I drove by one of those convertibles that actually made my smart car normal sized....

Awesome explanation !!

good explanition . most reviwers dont understand its not fully autmotic as you might expect only motors do the clutching and gear changes

Thanks for your video. Well explain on the transmission. Thanks again.

Drove a SC for first time yesterday. Daughter wants one. I actually thought, at first, there was a transmission concern. However, I figured it out just as it was explained here. Being a manual shift preference person, you can tell what it is doing on its own. I would let off the gas just a bit between auto shifts and it became much more optimal and comfortable. Everything changed when using the "manual shift" function. This one feels much more like manual than any of the others I have tried. Any thoughts on the "power" steering? It seemed to vary. Only other concern. THANKS

So what about uphill takeoff? I live in a city that's all hills and has a lot of intersections placed for taking off on a steep upgrade, so I prefer an automatic transmission as that makes a stickshift a pain in the neck. The operation described makes me wonder if a steep upgrade takeoff might cause a tendency to stall before getting on the gas. However, for me that's pure speculation. Anyone know how one actually performs on that point?

I am considering a 99' smart fortwo as a to and from work car. Only thing that bugs me a bit is that since there is no converter on this you will probably eventually wear out the clutch if you are creeping forward uphill. Is it just using the clutch when you are driving slooooowly or is there some other trick that I've missed?

If I leave it in first gear when I am stopped will it disengage or is it better to put it in neutral?

I wish there was simply a 4-speed (even 3-speed) model. My girlfriend is looking for a car and we were tossing some brands around, and Smart popped up; we both love driving standard automobiles, so we looked into it and was hoping someone would explain this whole "Smartshift" thing. For the masses, I'm sure it's great, but we're just looking for an honest-to-god standard transmissions, no flappy paddles, slap shifters, or any other doodads. Just a simple clutch pedal and gearbox.

i just bought my dads 2008 smart car after he passed away, and we love it, i exit on to the high way and have no problem getting up to speed. great video you answered a lot of my questions about the transmission. and i am not a small man 6 foot two and 235 lbs. it has more head room than the Sentra we had before we upgraded to the Rouge. you have to judge the car for what it is as it is, its kinda unfair to judge it against other cars. its different in a good way as it fits certain people perfectly.

my 2006 cdi smart fortwo start so slow. I like revs for a few seconds before it take off very slow. also on a hill it rolls backwards before engaging because if this. anyone have any ideas why ?

"This automation is very good if the user imagines the system is not automated and has to follow every step the system does" - Johnny "Weakest point ever made" Smith

i want to get one of these and put a gsxr1000 engine in it. Good idea?

I love my smart car❤️

Is the suspension on this vehicle pretty bad.

I'm so confused lol. Can your average person that only drives an automatic economy car drive this car in auto mode without a problem? I understand that the 2016 model has a 6 shift auto mode...my understanding is that you drive it like any other automatic vehicle and the car essentially shifts for you.

What model year is this Smart Fortwo?

I think shifting should be easy as driving an automatic. There is enough distractions while driving to have to play with the shift and clutch. It becomes 2nd nature to regular drivers of manual , but still, I want all attention on the rode and what's around me. Talk to a seasoned manual driver and I'm sure they can make a solid case for the stick shift being just as focused or more so then automatics.

Good explanations - but it would have been the same broadcasted on radio. The images have absolutely no connection with the words: just hands on the steering wheel.

Sounds like an auto with extra steps.

My car feels like it's trying to change gears faster thus I get that jerky stuff

These people who have only test driven a smart car and complain about the transmission, I have to wonder if they are accidentally putting it into manual mode. I did this when I test drove it, and it can be easily hit with the gear shift buttons on the steering wheel. The guy who was riding with me didn't know a thing about smart cars so he didn't correct me until halfway through the test drive when he finally figured it out. It drove much better when set to automatic (considering I don't know how to drive manual, at least not properly yet.)

My gti had dsg. Sort of the same...

The steering wheel looks bent.

I drove a smart for the first time yesterday. I thought the transmission was terrible. I was especially frustrated with it in traffic - I daily drive a manual and the 'creep' was poorly executed. There's no coasting, either, unless you move the stick over and up into neutral. The automated clutch is poorly executed, and the shift is much slower than most people shift a manual. In addition, in most modern cars the stick is at par or less than the auto in MPG (like a CVT transmission). outofchars

To compare any motor sports cars to a smart car is laughable, THOSE CARS HAVE FULL HARNESSES, smart cars use normal seat belts, there is a difference and that’s how they get away with little to no crumple zone. Also very few exotic car owners are tracking their cars.

It looks like a baby clown shoe.

So in plain English, the transmission sucks.

LOL i love my smartcar but man this guy is crazy . It shifts hard . it goes through spells where its like the car is dumping the imaginary clutch pedal. no one complains when its working properly . Its when it temporarily starts shifting hard. it feels like all your motor mounts are ripped in half but really its just the tranny shifting like shit. Smart cant fix it they just upgrade the firmware and charge you 175 dollars to do so . an road noise is fucking horriable . at highway speeds its almost like why do you even have a radio in the car you cant hear it over the road noise. Dont get me wrong ive had my smart for 7 years . an still drive it daily . but this guy is funny .

Nice try. I have been driving cars with manual transmissions for over 30 years and find automatics of any kind boring. Until you produce this car with a manual trans in the USA... and perhaps with the turbo diesel as Smart does in other countries... For Me: No.

Lmfao if a manual transmission didnt need power from the engine what would be the point of having an engine lmfao