I think it makes great sense for you to tow this behind the RV, as it is much safer than a motorcycle, and you can drive it in any weather conditions. Kent
Actually it is more dangerous than a motorcycle. On a motorcycle you get thrown off in many accidents. In those you are trapped inside it. If I was him I would just take it on the side walks .
Congrats on the new car. I have a Sprinter Van (Mercedes Benz) and the transmission is the same style. I would call it a automatic that does manual rather than a manual that does automatic, but that is probably more semantics then anything. Most people drive it in normal automatic mode, but you can push it into a semi-manual mode. I call it "semi" because the automatic features are partly still there even in full automatic mode. For instance if you are driving at 70MPH and switch to semi-manual mode, you will be in whatever the highest gear is (on the sprinter that is 5'th). You can downshift to 4'th from 5'th, but ONLY if your speed is within the range that the automatic transmission thinks is acceptable. The same goes for upshifting. If you are going 10MPH and try to shift up to 5'th, the transmission will refuse to let you. I think it is a great system. I drive my Sprinter in full automatic 90% of the time, but I do switch to semi-manual to handle things like steep downgrades where I want to downshift to hold back my speed without chewing up my breaks. I can also use it on upgrades where I want to drop a gear or two to gain more power. In general, the fully automatic gives me the best MPG so I never switch it out to semi-manual unless there is a specific need, but it sure is great that I can switch it when I need it. Does the Smart car have the same limiting factors such as preventing shifting at speeds that would be inappropriate?
I have a female friend she has a smart car she loves it plenty of leg room for the passenger. I saw the aftermath of two semi trucks after a head-on collision neither one survived it doesn't matter what you're driving
I was thinking that. I mean if you hit head on with a semi at least the smart car offers more protection than a motorcycle. So.....what's the difference in his motorcycle and the smart car?? more protection. and....whatever makes him happy is what he needs to drive.
Much safer than a motorcycle. Nicest looking Smart Car I've seen. We were thinking about one as well. I have seen videos of people actually towing them on heavy duty landscape trailers. The benefit to not flat towing it is you can back up and maneuver the trailer. You can't back up a 4 down toad. You have to get out unhitch it and then rehitch it after you have backed up the RV and reposistioned it. The manual shift mode sounds almost like the way a motorcyle shifts. Safe travels Eric & Jax!
Yeehaw! You got the perfect car! I had the electric one and loved it. Nimble, fast when needed, and SAFE. 3 steel bands around where you pointed out plus 2 crosswise front and back. I saw a video of Toyota and a Smart hit a jersey barrier at 35mph. Toyota became an accordian. Doors still opened on the Smart. There was also a video of a semi trailer sitting on the top of a Smart. I did a A LOT of research about safety before pulling the trigger. I like how the tailgate drops down even with the floor and you can leave the tailgate closed and just open the upper part to load groceries. Got A LOT of teasing: Where's the other half? How are you going to carry your horse in that? I just laughed and gave answers suited to the stupidity of the questions. I laughed ALOT when sitting at a stop light and the person next to me thought he was gonna get out ahead of me. They ALL got left in the dust. The electric ones have all the torque available instantly from a stop. Tater tot is a hoot. And just plain perfect. Enjoy! Now for some sisterly advice...stop being defensive, defending your decisions and what you do or think or say. You don't have to answer to anyone. Period. That crap from folks goes with the territory. Just delete em and smile to yourself that you didn't give up any of your power to the ejits. Nuf sed!
I am sure I told you a long time ago to get a tow vehicle. I think you made a good selection. You Tubers "Gone With the Wynns" towed a Smart Car for years, and they had two cats. Personally I tow a H3 Hummer, and it works great. The only other vehicle I would recommend is a Jeep because of the 4 x 4 like my Hummer. But I think you will like the Smart Car because it is so light, and don't think you will hardly notice towing it. Congratulations. I think you will love it because it will give you so much more versatility of movement, and exploring.
I watched this and I don't remember is I commented. I think this is a great choice, it's a safer option in weather and sight wise and locking up your stuff plus ability to take Jax, so have fun, looking forward to your adventures
hey there eric , in the trucking industry those transmissions are called auto-shift ( standard trans but electronically shifted ) THEY HAD TO GO THAT ROUTE due to weight etc and the automattic (band style) could not handle it , Really a Good idea for those who just could not get double clutching Down & a Standard trans is less work most repairs ARE the clutch disc but with the computer shifting for you that should last a long time , NOW i am old school so it would noy be for me , but looks like you made a good choice
Eric, nothing wrong with "Smart Cars". They are actually safer than a lot of other Cars on the Rods. As an example I watched one get clipped on a main Road. The Car that hit the "Smart Car" was moving at a high rate of speed when it changed lanes and hit the front right Quarter Panel of the "Smart Car" pushing it to the side and causing it to hit a Traffic Island. This caused the Car to flip and roll down the Road while spinning. The result of this crash was the Passenger Compartment of the Car was not crushed in. Those Steel Side Supports work like a Roll Cage. Neither the Driver nor the Passenger were injured other than Bruises when I helped the Fire Department extricate them. As for towing the Car. Is there any way to get a shorter Car Hauler Trailer? This would, I believe, be better for your Car. (Much less wear on the Drive Train.) Plus you might even be able to fit the Bike on there which would give you options while on the Road.
I know you say you don’t care about the haters, but you spend a lot of time justifying your decisions. Do what you think is right for you and don’t worry about what others think.
With how you're going to be using it and pulling it behind the rv, it sounds like you got a great deal and it will be helpful to you to have a car like that.
So glad you got Tater Tot. We have a 2014 Chevy Spark (Daisy) manual, with 86,000 miles so you got a great deal. We can flat tow Daisy and get 41 mpg. You are going to love having access to everything and the space for groceries and Jax. Also, Jax will look cool in Tater Tot. Look forward to your videos of the area. I've never left the West Coast, except for vacations, so always interested in other States.
@BadDriversOfTennessee no its not i own a 2013 myself it has a real clutch like a disk clutch and it wares out like a regular clutch would do and it shafts the same as a standard would do lol
I recommend actually putting your smart car on a little trailer and towing that behind the RV. When you flat tow a vehicle on the ground behind something you can't back up with it. You would have to get out and unhitch your car from the back of your RV every time and go through the whole procedure of re-engaging the transmission and back the car up separate and park the car someplace so then that way you could back your RV up, I know you get into a lot of places with that big RV where sometimes you have to back up and jockey around things and do three-point turns get into certain places. with a trailer it would make it a lot easier.
Great addition Eric, it will make life a lot easier. You can go to a welding shop and they can fabricate the part for the tow bar, it is just a few bits of strait and angled steel welded together so it can bolt to the frame, likley cheaper that from blue ox. One thing to be careful with is YOU CAN NEVER BACK UP. So always look ahead to see a way out before pulling into anywhere. TRUST ME I'VE HAD TOO UNHOOK AND TURN AROUND SEPERATLY MANY TIMES looking for that boondocking spot at the end of a road, it takes 20 min and some effort to do. CHEERS Steve h.
I got my Smart Fortwo Pulse in 2006 - last year of the MB Diesel- 3 cyl turbo. After ‘08 they insert the Gas Mitsubishi. Still 3 cyl 40ish HP. I still have it and still smile every time I see my reflection in a store window. You can stop FAST - be aware of people rear-ending you. You can pack a LOT of stuff in it. I can go on & on but i’ll just let you discover more stuff. Enjoy
I just bought T.P. last weekend, the grocery here in MN has most of the brands that were around before the CCP virus struck. Cleaning supplies are still low but that is to be expected in a pandemic. The smart car is a good way to do the drive-thru, we will see how it does winter and the snow- if any. I heard that we are in a La Nina cycle so snow may not come around before Xmas. Good luck and God Bless you and Jax.
Just remember Eric, you can't straddle any road debris anymore. If you run over it with the RV you will destroy the front of the smart car. It sits very, very low.
Congratulations to Jax and his new car!!!! You are such a great DAD!!!! Merry Christmas!🎄🎁 TTer Tot, hysterical! Love the secret cannabis compartment too! You get a car, I get a fat tire bike.....same price! Neither one of us will do well against a semi head on....sheesh. Oh, and towing makes a ton of sense over the motorcycle. Costco has tons of TP.
Yeah.... nah.... There is a REASON why they are all over the craigslist for $2-3K. Should have gotten a 4x4 jeep to tow behind, even a 20 year old jeep would have been a smarter buy sir.
People really underestimate how safe these little tanks are. Don't judge a book by its cover, a brand new tiny car you can barely fit into is multiple times safer than an old luxury sedan. That roll cage and the way it distributes force in case of a crash is so much safer than just having a bigger crumple zone. They don't feel very safe, especially on the highway when you hit a certain speed and everything starts rattling and you really feel every bit of wind pushing you, but they really are very safe.
Love tator tot, our smart car had paddle shifters like a sports car lol. The faster you take off the faster it will shift and there is also an upgrade for it to make it shift quicker
FWIW I had a 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4 wheel drive until this past summer when a hail storm did so much damage insurance wrote it off.....Now I have a 2014 Honda CRV that I'm in the process of making towable. Wiring with diodes at the rear tail lights is done and I have the Blue Ox baseplate here ready to put on in the next few days. I bought both baseplates and one for my 2000 GMC 1500 4X4 off Amazon and had no problem getting them or installing them.
Something about your vids has really put me off for the last many months and I couldn't exactly put my finger on what it was ... but I know now. You talk to camera, us, your audience, as if we were the worst of your trolls. Maybe it's silly but I don't like being addressed that way. will try back again maybe after the holidays. I like Tater Tot hopefully it has the ground clearance for the places you go.
Congratulations on your newest edition Tater Tot! A "purrfect" compliment to Miranda. I also want to thank you for explaining "what" this Smart car is. I really had no idea about the mechanics of a Smart car. I thought they all had to be "plugged" in to charge up. And your explanation of all the car has to offer has now let me think about purchasing one myself. Another excellent & informative video Eric!!!
Cool tow-along solution for Jax & you! Now let’s see if it’ll fit inside a Toy Hauler? An off-road config (with more clearance) would be ideal. BTW, Ignition key slots should be on vertical surfaces (never horizontal) to prevent fluid & crum intrusion resulting from spills. I hope there are plenty of safety features, like air bags all around. I’d install a Mack Truck horn.
Awesome “toad”. Great choice in so many ways. Hot/cold weather and fun exploring. Makes the rv life so much more fun. Love motorcycles but they are mostly our fair weather friend❤️ Great decision! Enjoy!!!
I think what you need to be towing behind Miranda is a tow truck. Kidding aside, you made a good choice, especially when you consider the fact that you won't be logging a lot of highway miles behind the wheel. As a campground commuter / local exploration vehicle, it ticks off a lot more boxes than a bike or an ATV.
I think you picked a great car also perfect for the nomads. I think you and Jax will be very happy driving around in it. Congrats to you both. Im loving your videos and whats to come.
Tater Tot is a great addition. Even though my car is a Toyota Corolla, if I’d stayed in the DC area I was planning on getting a Smart Car just for the convenience. Parking in a city is almost impossible, and I knew quite a few people who used their Smart Cars as their everyday commuter car! Hope you can find the tow package you need because Miranda and Tater Tot will link fantastic going down the road! Congratulations to the new addition to your family! 😀
The Smart is only $3,000.00, I think a trailer is as much. Eric is only one person putting a car in a trailer is a lot of work. Eric will be able to back up on all 4 down as he doesn't need trailer breaks.
Your car is automatic. not manual....if it was manual it would have a clutch...and it would not start unless you pushed in the clutch...love your videos give jax lots of pets
We have a 2013, if you have any questions be glad to share info. We trailer ours. You will enjoying driving. Very nice and clean....they aren’t $3000 around Arkansas great deal..
I am glad that you're going to be in something safer than the motorcycle. The other day you said something about going to town in the RV, and I was thinking that you need a car to run errands when picking things up. 😊😎🚌🚐🏕🏞🛣🏖🏜🏝😾
You are right. They are very safe. In my FD career I saw a couple smart wrecks. The chassis is almost like a sphere with the people inside. So the entire car just gets pushed out of the way. As long as seatbelts worn they are very safe. Very much safer than your bike. And it should tow like a dream.
The car wizard just did a video on this car. The transmission is a manual transmission with extra parts on it to shift it. He compared it to the egear transmission from Lamborghini.
Sweet car, Eric. I was literally just telling my wife in your last episode that you should get something small to tow instead of the motorcycle. Congrats on the purchase
I used to love taking my Yamaha out to Sequim and Port Angeles. Now a days people don't watch out for motorcycles or they don't have the patience/ respect to leave room on the road. With age comes the need for comfort. Life wears on us all. As to the hater, haters hate, pass over those comments unless there is real constructive criticism including possible solutions. Remember your here for those of the viewers who appreciate you & your content. Keep on keeping on! 🤪
Perfect!!!😁 Great video, very informative and a great decission to move into a smart car. Now Jax can trip with you and cat nap as you drive, as you say. One of your best upgrades ever. IMHO
Just a suggestion, but put it on a small utility trailer behind Miranda and you won't even have to do the 7 step process to pull it or worry about out of stock items. It wouldn't take a very big trailer. I've seen RVers pull trailers and it seems to work great.
It’s great that you can take Jax with you now! And another great idea that if your RV breaks down again you will still be able to be mobile. Great choice!
I think it makes great sense for you to tow this behind the RV, as it is much safer than a motorcycle, and you can drive it in any weather conditions.
Kent
Actually it is more dangerous than a motorcycle. On a motorcycle you get thrown off in many accidents. In those you are trapped inside it. If I was him I would just take it on the side walks .
Congrats on the new car. I have a Sprinter Van (Mercedes Benz) and the transmission is the same style. I would call it a automatic that does manual rather than a manual that does automatic, but that is probably more semantics then anything. Most people drive it in normal automatic mode, but you can push it into a semi-manual mode. I call it "semi" because the automatic features are partly still there even in full automatic mode. For instance if you are driving at 70MPH and switch to semi-manual mode, you will be in whatever the highest gear is (on the sprinter that is 5'th). You can downshift to 4'th from 5'th, but ONLY if your speed is within the range that the automatic transmission thinks is acceptable. The same goes for upshifting. If you are going 10MPH and try to shift up to 5'th, the transmission will refuse to let you. I think it is a great system. I drive my Sprinter in full automatic 90% of the time, but I do switch to semi-manual to handle things like steep downgrades where I want to downshift to hold back my speed without chewing up my breaks. I can also use it on upgrades where I want to drop a gear or two to gain more power. In general, the fully automatic gives me the best MPG so I never switch it out to semi-manual unless there is a specific need, but it sure is great that I can switch it when I need it. Does the Smart car have the same limiting factors such as preventing shifting at speeds that would be inappropriate?
Eric you need to add a large windup key on the back. That would be awesome.
Or a big coin like a penny racer
... or a Hot Wheel’s track❗️🚗
LOL That was a great one!!!
Or Macky ears and tail.
Wings...
No complaints here Eric. Looks about the same as my recliner.
But does your recliner have a tailgate? 😉
Lmbo
Just dont drink an sleep in the drivers seat,lol
To funny
I have a female friend she has a smart car she loves it plenty of leg room for the passenger. I saw the aftermath of two semi trucks after a head-on collision neither one survived it doesn't matter what you're driving
A welder/machinist will gladly create the “baseplate” for you.
Send him a guy
I know someone down where he is at, if he were in Chicago, I would help him out
@@richard.alber.6137 Is that a Vice Grip Garage reference?
@@hfvhf987 No it is used to connect it to a tow hitch. For towing.
@@VickyGeagan yeah I know what it's for, I think the 'guy' reference was referring to vice grip garage, another UA-cam channel
Worked with a guy at AT&T who was 6’ 8” and said he could comfortably fit into one with headroom!
Yep. My 6’4” husband is a mechanic. He needs his shorter coworker to drive a nineties model integra into the shop but fits into a smart car just fine.
The Smart car is safer than my Harley.
@@LarryTaint-qn8pd it’s meat over metal vs metal over meat. No comparison.
I was thinking that. I mean if you hit head on with a semi at least the smart car offers more protection than a motorcycle. So.....what's the difference in his motorcycle and the smart car?? more protection. and....whatever makes him happy is what he needs to drive.
Facts
And weather proof 👍
Safer but these cars are incredibly poorly built and rife with mechanical transmission and electrical issues
Much safer than a motorcycle. Nicest looking Smart Car I've seen. We were thinking about one as well. I have seen videos of people actually towing them on heavy duty landscape trailers. The benefit to not flat towing it is you can back up and maneuver the trailer. You can't back up a 4 down toad. You have to get out unhitch it and then rehitch it after you have backed up the RV and reposistioned it. The manual shift mode sounds almost like the way a motorcyle shifts. Safe travels Eric & Jax!
Tater tot is adorable, I think it’s a “smart” purchase that will bring you much enjoyment 😀
Yeehaw! You got the perfect car! I had the electric one and loved it. Nimble, fast when needed, and SAFE. 3 steel bands around where you pointed out plus 2 crosswise front and back. I saw a video of Toyota and a Smart hit a jersey barrier at 35mph. Toyota became an accordian. Doors still opened on the Smart. There was also a video of a semi trailer sitting on the top of a Smart. I did a A LOT of research about safety before pulling the trigger. I like how the tailgate drops down even with the floor and you can leave the tailgate closed and just open the upper part to load groceries. Got A LOT of teasing: Where's the other half? How are you going to carry your horse in that? I just laughed and gave answers suited to the stupidity of the questions. I laughed ALOT when sitting at a stop light and the person next to me thought he was gonna get out ahead of me. They ALL got left in the dust. The electric ones have all the torque available instantly from a stop. Tater tot is a hoot. And just plain perfect. Enjoy! Now for some sisterly advice...stop being defensive, defending your decisions and what you do or think or say. You don't have to answer to anyone. Period. That crap from folks goes with the territory. Just delete em and smile to yourself that you didn't give up any of your power to the ejits. Nuf sed!
I always thought those smart cars are perfect for RV people. Good for you man.
I am sure I told you a long time ago to get a tow vehicle. I think you made a good selection. You Tubers "Gone With the Wynns" towed a Smart Car for years, and they had two cats. Personally I tow a H3 Hummer, and it works great. The only other vehicle I would recommend is a Jeep because of the 4 x 4 like my Hummer. But I think you will like the Smart Car because it is so light, and don't think you will hardly notice towing it. Congratulations. I think you will love it because it will give you so much more versatility of movement, and exploring.
Fun fact: 'Täter tot' means 'perpetrator dead' in german.
I watched this and I don't remember is I commented. I think this is a great choice, it's a safer option in weather and sight wise and locking up your stuff plus ability to take Jax, so have fun, looking forward to your adventures
My daughter, has one it's her first car, she loves the vehicle, we have had zero problems with it, and the car is very well built and easy to work on.
hey there eric , in the trucking industry those transmissions are called auto-shift ( standard trans but electronically shifted ) THEY HAD TO GO THAT ROUTE due to weight etc and the automattic (band style) could not handle it , Really a Good idea for those who just could not get double clutching Down & a Standard trans is less work most repairs ARE the clutch disc but with the computer shifting for you that should last a long time , NOW i am old school so it would noy be for me , but looks like you made a good choice
I like that car ! F those Tater- Haters. Peacefrom510
Love it!!! AMEN!!
Eric, nothing wrong with "Smart Cars". They are actually safer than a lot of other Cars on the Rods. As an example I watched one get clipped on a main Road. The Car that hit the "Smart Car" was moving at a high rate of speed when it changed lanes and hit the front right Quarter Panel of the "Smart Car" pushing it to the side and causing it to hit a Traffic Island. This caused the Car to flip and roll down the Road while spinning.
The result of this crash was the Passenger Compartment of the Car was not crushed in. Those Steel Side Supports work like a Roll Cage. Neither the Driver nor the Passenger were injured other than Bruises when I helped the Fire Department extricate them.
As for towing the Car. Is there any way to get a shorter Car Hauler Trailer? This would, I believe, be better for your Car. (Much less wear on the Drive Train.) Plus you might even be able to fit the Bike on there which would give you options while on the Road.
Love the car 🚙 just what you needed 👍🏻
I know you say you don’t care about the haters, but you spend a lot of time justifying your decisions. Do what you think is right for you and don’t worry about what others think.
✅ Agree
With how you're going to be using it and pulling it behind the rv, it sounds like you got a great deal and it will be helpful to you to have a car like that.
Good choice for local/sighting trips. Looking forward to seeing how you hook it up to the RV and how it tows.
Actually, that is one of the few cars where you could survive a head-on with a Semi. It is basically a NASCAR Roll Cage with a car built around it.
SMART purchase Eric!! Doing it your way!
I actually happen to think those cars are awesome! Perfectly designed for being towed by RVs because of their light weight.
So glad you got Tater Tot. We have a 2014 Chevy Spark (Daisy) manual, with 86,000 miles so you got a great deal. We can flat tow Daisy and get 41 mpg. You are going to love having access to everything and the space for groceries and Jax. Also, Jax will look cool in Tater Tot. Look forward to your videos of the area. I've never left the West Coast, except for vacations, so always interested in other States.
Bruh....that’s an automatic. Automatics shift automatically regardless
Yep, our Subaru has that gear override also..its still an automatic though.
What a sales men
@BadDriversOfTennessee no its not i own a 2013 myself it has a real clutch like a disk clutch and it wares out like a regular clutch would do and it shafts the same as a standard would do lol
Great Eric now you can enjoy things with Jax and stay warm when it gets cold! Be safe !thanks for sharing!
Tater Tot is as cute and adorable as you! Miranda's Mini-Me!
I recommend actually putting your smart car on a little trailer and towing that behind the RV. When you flat tow a vehicle on the ground behind something you can't back up with it. You would have to get out and unhitch your car from the back of your RV every time and go through the whole procedure of re-engaging the transmission and back the car up separate and park the car someplace so then that way you could back your RV up, I know you get into a lot of places with that big RV where sometimes you have to back up and jockey around things and do three-point turns get into certain places. with a trailer it would make it a lot easier.
Congrats 🎉! May you have many exciting new adventures in your new ride.
Congrats Eric and Jax, enjoy and be safe. Thanks for the vids !
Awesome, I was wondering how long it would be before you got one.
I had one and loved it. The best tow behind vehicle you can get.
Great addition Eric, it will make life a lot easier. You can go to a welding shop and they can fabricate the part for the tow bar, it is just a few bits of strait and angled steel welded together so it can bolt to the frame, likley cheaper that from blue ox. One thing to be careful with is YOU CAN NEVER BACK UP. So always look ahead to see a way out before pulling into anywhere. TRUST ME I'VE HAD TOO UNHOOK AND TURN AROUND SEPERATLY MANY TIMES looking for that boondocking spot at the end of a road, it takes 20 min and some effort to do. CHEERS Steve h.
You gonna love that car, I’m pulling a fiat 500. 😎💪🏼
I sold my 2009 Smart and bought a Fiat 500. :-)
YOU are the smart one! CONGRATULATIONS Eric!!!
Wonderful choice! This is a great addition and it fits you very well too.
I got my Smart Fortwo Pulse in 2006 - last year of the MB Diesel- 3 cyl turbo. After ‘08 they insert the Gas Mitsubishi. Still 3 cyl 40ish HP. I still have it and still smile every time I see my reflection in a store window.
You can stop FAST - be aware of people rear-ending you. You can pack a LOT of stuff in it. I can go on & on but i’ll just let you discover more stuff. Enjoy
Any welding shop can make you a base plate.
Was thinking the same thing .
One of the things I like about your channel is how open you are to change and new ideas. Go Eric!
Just looked on RVugrades, their website is showing (22) Blue Ox Smart Car baseplates in stock.
I just bought T.P. last weekend, the grocery here in MN has most of the brands that were around before the CCP virus struck. Cleaning supplies are still low but that is to be expected in a pandemic. The smart car is a good way to do the drive-thru, we will see how it does winter and the snow- if any. I heard that we are in a La Nina cycle so snow may not come around before Xmas. Good luck and God Bless you and Jax.
Just remember Eric, you can't straddle any road debris anymore. If you run over it with the RV you will destroy the front of the smart car. It sits very, very low.
Good point, I'd tow it on an auto trailer.
Congratulations to Jax and his new car!!!! You are such a great DAD!!!! Merry Christmas!🎄🎁 TTer Tot, hysterical! Love the secret cannabis compartment too! You get a car, I get a fat tire bike.....same price! Neither one of us will do well against a semi head on....sheesh. Oh, and towing makes a ton of sense over the motorcycle. Costco has tons of TP.
Yeah.... nah....
There is a REASON why they are all over the craigslist for $2-3K.
Should have gotten a 4x4 jeep to tow behind, even a 20 year old jeep would have been a smarter buy sir.
Congratulations. Love it. You enjoy. 👍🏻😁
That’s not a manual transmission. That’s an automatic. Pretty much 50% of automatics transmissions have that manual shift option .
They're actually manual transmissions that have an autoshifter basically bolted on to it.
People really underestimate how safe these little tanks are. Don't judge a book by its cover, a brand new tiny car you can barely fit into is multiple times safer than an old luxury sedan. That roll cage and the way it distributes force in case of a crash is so much safer than just having a bigger crumple zone. They don't feel very safe, especially on the highway when you hit a certain speed and everything starts rattling and you really feel every bit of wind pushing you, but they really are very safe.
Love tator tot, our smart car had paddle shifters like a sports car lol. The faster you take off the faster it will shift and there is also an upgrade for it to make it shift quicker
Good vid, it's nice you found a good/safe solution to the daily challenges that pop up all the time!
I like your Smart car, great choice for you & Jax!
You can keep takeout food warm with the heated passenger seats 👍
I bought a used car with heated seats for the first time. You will love them.
FWIW I had a 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4 wheel drive until this past summer when a hail storm did so much damage insurance wrote it off.....Now I have a 2014 Honda CRV that I'm in the process of making towable. Wiring with diodes at the rear tail lights is done and I have the Blue Ox baseplate here ready to put on in the next few days. I bought both baseplates and one for my 2000 GMC 1500 4X4 off Amazon and had no problem getting them or installing them.
Something about your vids has really put me off for the last many months and I couldn't exactly put my finger on what it was ... but I know now. You talk to camera, us, your audience, as if we were the worst of your trolls. Maybe it's silly but I don't like being addressed that way. will try back again maybe after the holidays. I like Tater Tot hopefully it has the ground clearance for the places you go.
Congratulations on your newest edition Tater Tot! A "purrfect" compliment to Miranda. I also want to thank you for explaining "what" this Smart car is. I really had no idea about the mechanics of a Smart car. I thought they all had to be "plugged" in to charge up. And your explanation of all the car has to offer has now let me think about purchasing one myself. Another excellent & informative video Eric!!!
We tow a Jeep behind our motor home and love the freedom it gives us enjoy your new toad looks 😎
Cool tow-along solution for Jax & you! Now let’s see if it’ll fit inside a Toy Hauler? An off-road config (with more clearance) would be ideal. BTW, Ignition key slots should be on vertical surfaces (never horizontal) to prevent fluid & crum intrusion resulting from spills. I hope there are plenty of safety features, like air bags all around. I’d install a Mack Truck horn.
Awesome “toad”. Great choice in so many ways. Hot/cold weather and fun exploring. Makes the rv life so much more fun. Love motorcycles but they are mostly our fair weather friend❤️ Great decision! Enjoy!!!
I think what you need to be towing behind Miranda is a tow truck. Kidding aside, you made a good choice, especially when you consider the fact that you won't be logging a lot of highway miles behind the wheel. As a campground commuter / local exploration vehicle, it ticks off a lot more boxes than a bike or an ATV.
I think you picked a great car also perfect for the nomads. I think you and Jax will be very happy driving around in it. Congrats to you both. Im loving your videos and whats to come.
Tater Tot is a great addition. Even though my car is a Toyota Corolla, if I’d stayed in the DC area I was planning on getting a Smart Car just for the convenience. Parking in a city is almost impossible, and I knew quite a few people who used their Smart Cars as their everyday commuter car! Hope you can find the tow package you need because Miranda and Tater Tot will link fantastic going down the road! Congratulations to the new addition to your family! 😀
Tow it on a trailer, easier to tow, you can reverse, less ware and tear on the smart.
And more clearance.
@@timburrose2833 If the smart is like my Saturn Vue toad, the odometer doesn't turn over when towing. Towing on all 4's is the easiest way to tow.
The Smart is only $3,000.00, I think a trailer is as much. Eric is only one person putting a car in a trailer is a lot of work. Eric will be able to back up on all 4 down as he doesn't need trailer breaks.
Agreed, people don’t understand how difficult it is to backup something so small as a smart car. It’ll pivot quick and jackknife
Good idea.
I love it!! Goes perfectly with an RV. Enjoy !!
Congrats, Eric! I think it was smart to get the Smart Car! 😉 Perfect car to zip around town with Jax. 💜
Congrats on your purchase. Really enjoy the videos. Safe travels.
Your car is automatic. not manual....if it was manual it would have a clutch...and it would not start unless you pushed in the clutch...love your videos give jax lots of pets
Automated manual. Computer controls the clutch and gear selection.
Good for you buddy. have all the fun you and Jax can handel.
eric, you really need to do a vinyl wrap and make "tater tot" look like a tater tot
Great idea!!!
We have a 2013, if you have any questions be glad to share info. We trailer ours. You will enjoying driving. Very nice and clean....they aren’t $3000 around Arkansas great deal..
You could easily take both the bike and the smart car. The bike on the RV bumper and towing the car.
Congratulations on your purchase and enjoy your life.
Perfect, congrats buddy!
Congrats on the car! We tow a 2009 Smart Car behind our Tioga. It's a fun little car for the RV Lifestyle. Cheap & Easy to tow.
This car fits you and what you want to do! Tator Tot, great name!
I am glad that you're going to be in something safer than the motorcycle. The other day you said something about going to town in the RV, and I was thinking that you need a car to run errands when picking things up. 😊😎🚌🚐🏕🏞🛣🏖🏜🏝😾
Congratulations on getting Tater Tot. Hopefully you will find the part so it can be towed as soon as you leave Base Camp.
You are right. They are very safe. In my FD career I saw a couple smart wrecks. The chassis is almost like a sphere with the people inside. So the entire car just gets pushed out of the way. As long as seatbelts worn they are very safe. Very much safer than your bike. And it should tow like a dream.
Love the Smart Car and love your name 'Tater Tot' for her.
Love it. They are incredibly safe!
It an automatic quit calling it a manual.
The car wizard just did a video on this car. The transmission is a manual transmission with extra parts on it to shift it. He compared it to the egear transmission from Lamborghini.
Yes they are mechanically a Manual transmission that does the clutch and shifting for you.
You will love it! Great for scooting around town in.
love the car ! & I think it’s just perfect for you & Jax. Happy trails❤️
Eric, great car! We will enjoy watching you and Jax cruising in that bad boy!
BTW they make a Small Trailer for that car. I have one for my Spark. Makes it easier.
Good choice for towing with your rig. Great quick review of the car. Fun channel Eric,......
Sweet car, Eric. I was literally just telling my wife in your last episode that you should get something small to tow instead of the motorcycle. Congrats on the purchase
Good buy for you! Great mileage and much safer than a motorcycle.
It’s not odd for me to leave my purse in the car. With a Smart Car, I wonder if I might be at risk for leaving the car in my purse. 🤣💕
Hilarious!!!!!!
Good luck with the new ride!!!
Great car....you and Jax can now visit out of the way places together.
I used to love taking my Yamaha out to Sequim and Port Angeles. Now a days people don't watch out for motorcycles or they don't have the patience/ respect to leave room on the road. With age comes the need for comfort. Life wears on us all. As to the hater, haters hate, pass over those comments unless there is real constructive criticism including possible solutions. Remember your here for those of the viewers who appreciate you & your content. Keep on keeping on! 🤪
For months I have been wondering when you would get a smart car!!
Perfect!!!😁
Great video, very informative and a great decission to move into a smart car. Now Jax can trip with you and cat nap as you drive, as you say.
One of your best upgrades ever. IMHO
I want one now. I'll pull it behind my RV with a smile on my face!
Just a suggestion, but put it on a small utility trailer behind Miranda and you won't even have to do the 7 step process to pull it or worry about out of stock items. It wouldn't take a very big trailer. I've seen RVers pull trailers and it seems to work great.
Called up the specs and it doesn't recommend flat towing over 30 mph. Hope you found something different
A dolly trailer may be the solution
@@yzhang8629 Dolly trailers aren't allowed on some highways. Towed vehicle has to be either four down or on a trailer. Found this out the hard way :-(
Is there any kind of flat bed trailer option for the car?
We are in Oklahoma, and we don't have any shortages here(yet). Everything seems to be running normal... lol (just sayin).
It’s great that you can take Jax with you now! And another great idea that if your RV breaks down again you will still be able to be mobile. Great choice!