USED Smart Fortwo Coupe (03 - 07)

My car

I have owned my 699cc Passion ForTwo since March 2005. My girlfriend is on her second, having had a left-hand drive 599cc and then bought a 699cc. We love them, although I am not above being critical.

Road tax is now £40 per year, and insurance for me (aged 32, one speeding ticket to declare) is £130. The best fuel economy I have had is 64mpg, the worst is 42mpg.

I bought the car with 1700 miles on the clock and it now has done 15,000. I have not had a single mechanical, electrical or any other problem. It starts first time, every time, irrespective of weather conditions, as does my girlfriend’s car which has covered similar miles. We both have full leather seats which are heated and are brilliant in winter.

Air-conditioning is standard on the Passion, as is a CD player – although with only two speakers, the sound quality could be better. The passenger seat folds flat and I have had a dishwasher in there. Versatility is superb if you are imaginative enough!

Both our cars have had the ECU remapped from 61bhp to 84bhp, which makes a massive difference in acceleration, torque and gear-change time. Although the clutchless system is not to everyone’s taste, it isn’t difficult to learn how best to operate it to avoid momentary lack of power.

Motorway cruising above 70mph is no problem, but fuel consumption will increase.

I have a tow bar on mine and I tow, effortlessly, a trailer with my 1000cc motorcycle when I want to go to track events or long distances from ho

My car

I have had this car for three months and, overall, it's good. The cabin trim and quality is poor and feels cheap and tacky, but from the outside it looks quirky and compact.

The auto gearbox is a pain, because it has the tendency to drop in power when pulling away through roundabouts, and going uphill, the car will suddenly slow down when the power is needed most.

Going over bumps and sleeping policemen is a nightmare, as you have so little ground clearance - every bump in the road feels like you're driving over a tree trunk, and the ride is firm.

The car is also difficult to get into. I am over 6 feet tall and often have to duck to get into the car and shuffle around in my seat before I can close the door.

The car is very nimble and once it gets going is a joy to drive. The engine has a nice throaty roar as it builds up pace, and feels light and tight going through bends and tight gaps. Mine is averaging about 45 mpg at the moment.

The cabin is quite roomy with plenty of legroom and a boot that is bigger than you would think - the passenger seat folds flat for large items.

Overall, I would recommend this as a car for a quick nip down the shops or a (short!) daily commute to work, but not really as a day-to-day vechile.

My car

I have owned my current Smart for two years. It is the best car for London that I have ever driven - it has cut 10 minutes off my 14-mile commute into central London and returns 45mpg, all urban, with the air-conditioning on. I cannot fault it at all.

All the criticisms I read are relating to its performance out of town - I would suggest that this is unfair, since the car was not designed for motorways or long distances. It is well equipped and has been reliable, though I agree that Smart dealers are not up to much. Then again, neither were the Mercedes dealers when I owned a Merecedes - it's no surprise, since they are the same people.

There are a few excellent independent dealers in London and around the UK, and these tend to be much better. I feel that Smart has let itself down through lousy marketing. Also, the Smart fortwo should be exempt from the congestion charge, since it's actually greener than a hybrid - the figures prove it.

My car

We have owned our Smart car for two years now. It is a lot of fun to drive and when pushed feels faster than the dial says.

Primarily we use it for commuting about five miles each way per day. Parking is expensive and problematic in Glasgow, so the Smart wins hands down. I have never once not managed to find a tiny space to squeeze into, much to the amazement of other drivers.

I also regularly drive to Edinburgh on the M8, and once it gets wound up it sits nicely at 80mph. However, in cross winds it can be fidgety. Running costs are low, and fuel economy is good. Servicing, though, is expensive through a Smart Centre.

We also use it for our two-year-old daughter, who loves it as she is up high in the car. Overall if you need a run-around and only have a single shild, this makes a great second car.