The Smart car is an inexpensive two-seater car that has a lot of mechanical flaws. The automatic shifting in the car was not well made, therefore, there is constant jerking when accelerating and decelerating. The car has repeatedly had issues starting and has left me stranded three times. Upon inspection at the dealership, it was determined that there was a "computer programming error." These multiple issues all occurred during the three year lease period on my vehicle. On the positive side, the inside held up during three years of wear and tear, and, it costs around $20 to fill up the tank.

This vehicle has been great for me, especially since I am a college student that attends a commuter college 20 miles away. The gas mileage is exceptional and has yet to cost me over $30 to fill it up in the 3 years that I have had it. I chose to add heated seats in the car which have definitely come in handy in the winter! They provide just the right amount of heat and contain two different settings that adjust the heat intensity. The air conditioning is great as well, it cools very quickly and operates on an automatic setting based on the temperature. The "trunk" provides just enough storage space for small bags and is perfect for small shopping trips. Because of the size, the car is very easy to park and operate. The safety ratings are also very good, which makes you feel safe even though the car is so small. The few things that I dislike about the car is that the seats are a bit uncomfortable after driving or riding in it for a significant amount of time. The turning radius also isn't very good, which is surprising because it is so small. The air vents also aren't very well manipulated and only move down to a certain area (around your face). If you are a little bit shorter, the vents won't go down far enough to blow on other parts of your body. Overall, the car is a great transportation method for a young, single, college student who does some traveling but doesn't have a lot of luggage to transport from place to place. The gas mileage makes up for most of the small cons that the car posses.

What I like most about this car is it's size. One can maneuver very well in city traffic, and park just about anywhere. I also love the look of the car. Also, it you have a minor fender bender, and have an hour to spare, it is very cheap and easy to swap out a damaged panel yourself. It has a nice, sporty appearance, even though the engine is governed at 100 mph. It is very comfortable for my wife, me, and some of our larger friends, but there does reach a point where a husky fellow may feel a little too "cozy". Over all, it had plenty of room for my daily needs, and one can fit a surprising amount of cargo in the trunk, and a cabrio is a must because larger objects can project through the rear, or the top of the vehicle. One major issue is blind spots. For such a small car, the cabrio w/the top up has just about the worst blind spots on both sides I have ever experienced, but this can be remedied by setting the side mirrors wider than one would on a normal car. It has never been in for anything more than a key reassignment, but that was very expensive, as was the dealer oil changes. It is a Mercedes after all, and at least you only have to take it in once a year, or 10,000 miles. of course if one does their own maintenance, or gets work done at a local shop it is actually cheaper than the average sub-compact.