Can it climb a hill?

I'd had LittleTow for more than a year, scooting up, down and around the Ozarks. I loved the little Smart car that didn't seem to know the difference between a hilly road and a flat one. In the back of my mind, though, I wondered how those three cylinders would handle a truly steep hill or a real mountain road.

Last September I attended an RV rally in Colorado Springs and, when I looked up, I saw the hill meant to test my little Smartie. They called it Pike's Peak.

My love for mountain driving has tested every vehicle I've owned. For instance, my big V-8 Ford van was powerful but would gasp for air at precisely 8,000 feet altitude, crawl to a stop and stay there. My 4-cylinder Toyota crawled to the top of what was billed as "the highest paved road in the world" in first gear at such a slow creep that I could have walked faster. Although I questioned whether or not the road was actually paved, the Toyota did indeed make it to the top of a 14,000 foot mountain.

Now it was LittleTow's turn. I was taken aback by the $10 charge for driving the road, but I wasn't about to turn away. As the man in the toll booth gave me my change, he looked at my car, then at me and grinned sarcastically as if to say "you silly dame."

The road started out easily, but in anticipation of a strenuous drive, I decided to shift manually. As I drove along I shifted from fifth to fourth gear and then to third as the road steepened. Up and up I drove easily, still in third gear. LittleTow didn't seem to think the road was all that steep, even as I drove around and passed a Hummer. Hee, hee, I really felt like a Smartie pants, passing that Hummer and did it with a big grin on my face!

By the time I got to the top third of the mountain, I was convinced that the transmission could handle it just as well automatically and I shifted into drive. It was still in third gear as I cruised into the parking lot at the top and drove through the snow patches and slush left over from a recent snowfall. I parked, walked around enjoying the sun and spectacular view, went inside the shop to troll for trinkets, and ate a really awful hamburger.

Weather changes very fast at 14,110 feet and clouds were coming on fast, so it was time to leave. I shifted manually into second gear and rode down the mountain, slow enough to see the scenery and never having to touch my brakes. About two-thirds of the way down, we were all stopped at the brake inspection station where our brakes had their temperatures taken. The ranger said she saw me going up and had been waiting for me. "Did you get all the way to the top in that little thing?" she asked.

"More easily than I could have imagined," I answered, chuckling. "This 'little thing' has a big heart!"

My brakes were as cool as the car, and I drove back to Colorado Springs with a smug little smile on my face.

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Comment by Dody West on March 26, 2010 at 11:44pm: Thanks, folks, for your kind comments. I certainly did enjoy myself that day.

Toes, I enjoyed your photos of all those Smarts on Pike's Peak and Independence Pass. Looks like you have a good group there in Denver.

GetSmrt28277, don't yet know where I'll be in the fall, but I'd love to ride the Dragon with y'all if I'm anywhere near NC.

Comment by Mary Ann on March 26, 2010 at 5:48am: I've had my little PINK Smart since last Sept, 2009, and have driven from Paradise, CA to San Diego 3 times so far. Have had absolutely no problems driving over the Grapevine, passing cars going up 70-80mph without a hiccup. Each drive has cost me less than $80 round trip with about 1200 miles round trip. Love the car, love the thumbs up I get all the way! Mary Ann

Comment by Tim Devinney on March 20, 2010 at 7:12am: i cant wait to take the Bumble up Mt. Mitchell here in NC

Comment by GetSmrt28277 on March 18, 2010 at 7:36pm: Great story...you'll have to come east this fall and ride the Dragon with us.

Comment by Cherie on March 18, 2010 at 12:50pm: Go, LittleTow! We get asked that question all the time -- how does it pull up hills. Glad to hear your story, and can't wait 'til I get my shot at the NC/TN mountains in a few weeks. No comparison to Pike's Peak, I know, but they are still a challenge to many autos!

Comment by XCAPEPOD on March 18, 2010 at 12:13pm: Now we know who's "king of the mountain"! Great story!

Comment by Connie and Tim Fellows on March 17, 2010 at 11:24pm: Dody, that is an awesome story! I've often wondered myself what the limit is with these little cars. I don't think there's a better test than Pike's Peak. I've been up there once on the Cog train and I was quite winded walking from the train to the restaurant and back. I'm very impressed with these little cars. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I hope you got a picture of Little Tow on top of the mountain.

Comment by toes on March 17, 2010 at 11:15pm: Dody, glad to hear you enjoyed driving up Pike's Peak. Next time look us up (Cosmos Group). We actually took a whole group of smarts up last summer. I also have taken my smart on a 5-pass trip in a day (from Denver through Leadville, Aspen, Vail, back to Denver). Check out my photos from our Pike's PEak tour and the summer of 2008 (Independence Pass at 12k feet). Drive smart! t.