It’s the Other Guy I’m Afraid Of

Like a few others posting on this site, I’ve allowed Chicago winter weather to temporarily interrupt the enjoyment of my Smart. pulled mine into the garage about ten days ago, with twelve inches of snow on the ground and near zero temperatures, and didn’t even attempt to drive it. Little of that interruption was due to concerns about how the Smart handles snow or inclement weather. I find it handles as well as anything on the road—not as much traction as a AWD SUV, but less weight and thus easier to stop. My problem is that I don’t trust the other drivers on the road. I’ve now had two instances where I’ve been stopped in traffic on slippery roads and had big old trucks nearly rear end me.

Now if I have a choice, I’d prefer to have a whole bunch of otherwise unnecessary sheet metal and rolled steel slowing any invasion of my space by an oncoming F150. But my real concern is not really one of safety... I think the Smart would protect me just fine. What I’m really concerned about is getting to the first days of Spring with my precious Cabriolet in the body shop rather than top down on a sunny road under my control. I CAN’T WAIT TO TRULY ENJOY THIS THING THE WAY IT IS MEANT TO BE DRIVEN!

March? I hope so... but it could easily be April or beyond. :-(

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Comment by DLP on December 30, 2008 at 4:05pm: live in upstate New York and I have not had any difficulty driving in snow. Once I pulled into a spot that was not plowed out and got stuck. My sister pushed me out with no problem. Other than that, it handles very well in snow. When the wind is blowing fiercely, I just hang on and mind my driving. Of course, if there were 12 inches of snow on the ground, I would not be driving anything regardless of how big it was. You were smart not to drive in that kind of weather. As good as it is in the snow, one must use the spirit of a sound mind when it comes to bad weather no matter what you drive.

Comment by Sarah on December 30, 2008 at 1:37am: I just drove my smart in some nasty weather....it was very scary for me. the poor thing was being buffeted around by high winds. Add in heavy rains and no lights on the highway and it just about did me in, I whiteknuckled the steering wheel the whole way home. yikes! Everytime I relaxed, the car would feel like it was going to get blown over the side of the highway and down the mountainside.

Comment by Wally Gullang on December 29, 2008 at 7:35am: Alan the way our winter is going, have you thought about June? But then again May might be a good month but you might need pontoons straped on the sides.

Comment by Jim Yedor on December 29, 2008 at 12:14am: Alan- You have my sympathy! I had the top down on my cabrio all this week-it's been a very nippy 58 here since the rain went away the day before Christmas but tomorrow is forecast for 70 and TINIBNZ's top will drop as soon as it warms up past 50!