dimlight65 Posted March 13, 2025 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2025 18 hours ago, UnderControl said: I'm really trying to not like these cars, and this one isn't helping that cause. Glad to be of (dis)service! 1 Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 18, 2025 Report Share Posted March 18, 2025 These smart cars are pretty rare around here. I first saw one about 20 years ago and they were grey-market, before they were actually sold in USA. I was thinking, they are neat, but why would someone pay $22K for one when a new corolla gets better fuel economy, is bigger and cost only $16K? Still dont see too many Saw this yesterday, the wheels are nice, but I saw what you mean about the wheel well gap not being filled Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted March 18, 2025 Report Share Posted March 18, 2025 (edited) 18 hours ago, ggzilla said: These smart cars are pretty rare around here. I first saw one about 20 years ago and they were grey-market, before they were actually sold in USA. I was thinking, they are neat, but why would someone pay $22K for one when a new corolla gets better fuel economy, is bigger and cost only $16K? FWIW,Tim's was around $16k new, priced comparable to a Corolla at the time. 18 hours ago, ggzilla said: Saw this yesterday, the wheels are nice, but I saw what you mean about the wheel well gap not being filled This is a Toyota, not a Smart car. 😁 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_iQ It's Toyota's rival to the Smart car, only it is front-engined and FWD, not mid-engined RWD. But they do look VERY similar... Edited March 18, 2025 by datsunfreak Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 18, 2025 Report Share Posted March 18, 2025 doh! a toyota yea the smart car made a lot more sense when it was officially sold. and being rear-wheel-drive Quote Link to comment
dimlight65 Posted March 20, 2025 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2025 We finally installed the wheel studs. Juan might remember them being just a little bit too long... Well, I made a fence on the chop saw to cut them all the same length... then cut them all the same length... (Yes, there are 10 more!) Then I cleaned up and beveled the ends... and sat back to watch John install them... f I think they turned out pretty nice... 1 Quote Link to comment
junkafide Posted March 20, 2025 Report Share Posted March 20, 2025 Man, this thing is cool as sh..t! A mate has one of the earlier generation ones he is trying to sell me, I might have to go have another look! 1 Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 20, 2025 Report Share Posted March 20, 2025 Nice! 16 hours ago, dimlight65 said: Well, I made a fence on the chop saw to cut them all the same length... There are two generations of Smart cars? 13 hours ago, junkafide said: A mate has one of the earlier generation Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted March 20, 2025 Report Share Posted March 20, 2025 1 hour ago, ggzilla said: Nice! There are two generations of Smart cars? Technically, there are 3. But we only got the 1st and 3rd generation in the US. 1st gens (451 chassis) are all auto/CVT, but the 3rd gen (453 chassis) was available with a manual transmission, but only for a very short time. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted March 20, 2025 Report Share Posted March 20, 2025 (edited) 451, slightly smaller, 3 bolt wheels... And 453 (like Tim's)... Edited March 20, 2025 by datsunfreak 1 Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 20, 2025 Report Share Posted March 20, 2025 thanks, i'll keep my eyes out, should i ever see another one. I thought they were all the same, but your two pics show some obvious differences like grille and beltline Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted March 20, 2025 Report Share Posted March 20, 2025 38 minutes ago, ggzilla said: your two pics show some obvious differences like grille and beltline The most obvious way (to me) is the wheels. 451s are 3 lug, 453s are 4 lug. 👍 1 Quote Link to comment
dimlight65 Posted March 20, 2025 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2025 3 hours ago, datsunfreak said: Technically, there are 3. But we only got the 1st and 3rd generation in the US. 1st gens (451 chassis) are all auto/CVT, but the 3rd gen (453 chassis) was available with a manual transmission, but only for a very short time. Almost... The first gen that we didn't get was the W450... distinguished by, what I call, the "tornado" headlights. We got the W451... with a more "normal" headlight and the terrible automated manual abomination gearbox. The W452 is the roadster... which we also didn't get here. Quote Link to comment
dimlight65 Posted March 23, 2025 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2025 One of the "Chicken Heads" fell off... so I took off the rest of them... Meh, it's what it's Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 23, 2025 Report Share Posted March 23, 2025 where is gorilla glue when you need him? 1 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted March 25, 2025 Report Share Posted March 25, 2025 On 3/20/2025 at 5:55 PM, dimlight65 said: Almost... The first gen that we didn't get was the W450... distinguished by, what I call, the "tornado" headlights. I have seen a few of these here, but suspected some/all were from Mexico, since I know my friend's Brabus 450 was from Mexico, so... 1 Quote Link to comment
dimlight65 Posted July 26, 2025 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2025 I just realized that I forgot to tell y'all my latest. Two weeks ago I got in to head home and the car was making NO boost. I took it to the Mercedes dealer (because, of course it is a Mercedes, and no one else knows what to do with it) and they determined the waste gate was leaking and needed to be replaced. They also noticed some compressor wheel "damage" but that wasn't affecting boost production, fortunately. So, one $550 waste gate later and we're back to full boost. The replacement turbo would have been $4000! Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted July 30, 2025 Report Share Posted July 30, 2025 glad it's not a Mini Cooper? BMW charges over $700 for the wastegate Quote Link to comment
dimlight65 Posted August 31, 2025 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2025 I changed the oil then cleaned and oiled the air filter yesterday. I know it's all in my head, but it always seems to be quicker and more fun with fresh oil. Anyhoo, while under there, I noticed it was time for more paint on the zorst. After causing that ripple in the space time continuum y'all felt earlier (I used a spray paint can), I decided to shoot a couple videos so I could hear what it sounds like... I think it sounds pretty good. And since I am the main character, that is all that matters. 1 1 Quote Link to comment
dimlight65 Posted March 14 Author Report Share Posted March 14 Since we had such good luck putting giant Brembos on the Dajiban, I picked up a pair of Mercedes calipers for the Smart... I may have to step up on wheel size... And yes, this "joke" was totally worth $60 to me. Quote Link to comment
iceman510 Posted March 16 Report Share Posted March 16 Just attach them on the outer circumference to squeeze the tires instead of the brake rotors. 1 Quote Link to comment
Duncan Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 Don't launch yourself out of the windshield at stop lights with those MB brakes! Quote Link to comment
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