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[darklord]

I was given a lift today in a Renault Twingo, which I understand is the same as the Smart Forfour.

It seemed a nice little city car, but was horribly cramped after the Colt! The engine in the back seemed surprisingly deep, but I think it would get quite wearing after a while, and although it seemed nippy enough in the town, didn't give the impression it would be much fun on longer trips.

What's the Smart owners view on here of it?

[Brabs]

Well. In the same way that the Mark 1 forfour shared mechanical components with the 2004 Mitsubishi Colt yes the Mark 2 forfour does share mechanical components with the new Renault Twingo. However, just as the Mark 1 and Colt were poles apart in build quality, equipment and image so the Mark 2 and Twingo are. I too have been in both the Mark 2 forfour and the Twingo and they are chalk and cheese. Yes the Twingo is a good little car but I could see straight away why it was much cheaper (just as the Colt was). The build quality of the forfour, the sound deadening and the overall impression of the forfour over the Twingo was very noticeable. In my opinion of course.
Having said all of that I still prefer my two Mark 1 forfours.  Of course over time I may have to think about changing... to what I don't know. If I wish to remain faithful to the smart brand then I will have limited choice I guess.

[Ocracoke]

I've been for a ride in a 0.9 W453 (the new ForFour) and it was OK. The turbo in it was very on/off though though wherever that was the enthusiastic driving I don't know. I am aware of someone on one of the Smart forum having done a cross Europe trip in one but it felt and sounded like "a city car" when I was in it (much like the various generations of the ForTwo in many regards).

The 454 on the other hand (the old ForFour) feels that bit more special to be in, especially when the VVT engine howls past 3,500RPM before the gear switches up at the red line (in a AMT) to do it all over again. Sure, it isn't as practical in a city but then again, it wasn't made for the city specifically and the W453/Twingo was.

They are, of course, different classes of car so the the comparison feels a bit like comparing an apple to a pear.

[darklord]

Re difference between the Forfour and a Colt - I've never been in a Forfour (although I like the look of them) but I must say that the Colt is very robust, and of good quality construction. Mines 11 years old, and doesn't have a spot of rust anywhere. Just look at the equivalent Fiesta/Polo/etc la.

I'm not a huge fan of the interior, although the boudoir red seats are certainly interesting...

The biggest drawback for me is that they seem to have forgotten to include any soundproofing...there hardly a scrap anywhere! Sometimes I hatch plans to take the car apart and stuff it full of it, but it's expensive and I never get the time...

By far the best attribute is the tardis like space. Every other car seems cramped by comparison.

I just wish it was more refined...

...but then that's why they sell posher models I suppose!

[FireFlower]

Cramped is the word... I wasn't able to get a comfortable sitting position as driver, assistant driver or rear seat passenger (I thought 180 cm tall is pretty average number).

Interior seems pretty fancy but not very practical, original mark 1 had all those small spaces here and there to store stuff where as new one has a few of them and they're very small. Even glove box is so small that you can barely put even the gloves in there.

The reason why it feels so cramped is that interior volume is much smaller. The doors are very thick compared to mark 1 and eat up space.

Solution: Face lift mark 1 with following changes: make current engine bay to be a trunk and move engine to rear so front tires can turn almost 90 degrees. Of course features need to be brought back to 2017 but that would have been perfect solution.