The Final Smart Journey!

Canadian Turbo · 02-08-2010, 08:18 AM

Well I have had my 2005 Smart since July 2005 and it has been very good to me, a fun, cheap mostly enjoyable experience, and it has gone through a few phases of looks too.

16" Wheels and lowered

17" Wheels, lowered, exhaust

However the time has come to move on and so back in November I went ahead and ordered a 2010 GTI. I have been trying to sell the Smart now since the beginning of the year, but used cars are taking a pounding at the moment and the Smart market is flooded here so not much interest at all, and I was looking to be stuck with a very low trade in. Then a moderator from a Smart forum decided he was interested for a good price with two conditions; first had to come with the 16" wheels, second I needed to bring the car to him, 900kms away to Abbotsford BC.

Up to this point I have only used my car for city driving with a couple small road trips maybe about an hour away. This trip would be a full day of driving, through mountains in the winter, but I could not pass up the deal so, booked a return plane ticket home, watched the forecast and headed out dark and early Saturday morning.

Car loaded up, need to drive on snows and pack the 16s with me so no co-pilot on this trip!

The first couple hours were dark with lots of ski/snowbaord traffic as I was heading to the big local resorts. When the sun started to come up I was just getting into the first ranges of the Rocky mountains.

First pit stop, was pretty cold here, about -20C I would say

Back on the road in the Lake Louise area, roads a bit slippery

Came into Golden BC, for my first fuel top off and the conditions were not the greatest here in the valley.

Back on the roads heading into the Rogers Pass area and they get some snow up there!

Coming out of the pass I stopped for a second breakfast in Revelstoke which was the last of the snow for a while.

Getting into the interior of BC the Shuswap area is a big summer resort and not too bad in the winter either.

Next I arrived into Kamloops for a lunch, coffee and fuel stop, not much to see here but was no snow on the ground and fairly warm.

After leaving Kamloops you quickly head back up into the mountains which the Smart would not be the quickest at climbing hills, but I was still able to pass the semi's going up hill.

After descending out of the mountains for the last time you arrive into the lower mainland of BC, a great place and home of the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics although you would not think it be looking around.

Finally I arrived after 10.5 hours on the road and 916kms logged at the cars new home.

I did not fill up on arrival but I can estimate how much fuel would have been needed and I would put a total of 43.495L for my 916 kms so I would put my fuel economy at 49.54 mpgs for the trip. Not bad for a lot of hills and hitting some good speeds at some points along with a pretty full car. I arrived back to snow and -12c after having dinner on the patio Saturday night and now I wait for my new GTI which should be ready for delivery later this week.

Thanks for checking out the thread!

MoreSpeed · 02-08-2010, 08:33 AM

sweet! how much did you end up selling it for

MusicalGenius · 02-08-2010, 09:39 AM

Nice journal Blair! Can't wait for the GTI though.

asp gti · 02-08-2010, 11:02 AM

i love that drive, cool post and nice pics!

Wildfire · 02-08-2010, 11:06 AM

Good post....

Eurotuner. · 02-08-2010, 11:21 AM

You drove it all the way out and didn't even wash it?

Just poking, looks like a good trip, shame to see it go but can't wait to see the new GTI!

Canadian Turbo · 02-08-2010, 11:24 AM

The new owner washed it in the parkade of his place before we went for dinner so it was not dirty for long.

I got 7K for the car, not great but not horrible either.

Chris · 02-08-2010, 11:27 AM

Awesome post!

That is a really impressive trip to make in a Smart.

TDI DUB · 02-08-2010, 12:42 PM

Worth the road trip and a fun was to say goodbye to a car.

Nice!

Stonewall · 02-08-2010, 01:29 PM

Did you give him the plate too? lol

Compton · 02-08-2010, 02:20 PM

Nice.

Looked like a nice little trip!

100%VAGitarian · 02-08-2010, 08:16 PM

nice!

VeeDubArt · 02-08-2010, 09:38 PM

hottest smart out there!

cant wait to see the GTi this summer!

popp · 02-08-2010, 11:36 PM

Did he give you a ride back?

If not, I bet if you gave him that plaid shirt he would have!

Canadian Turbo · 02-09-2010, 07:09 AM

Lol, no I flew back Sunday morning, Westjet Abbotsford to Calgary is a reasonable flight. He did give me a place to sleep and took me for a nice steak dinner and dropped me off at the airport at 530am, so I cannot complain.

I did bring the SMRT plate back and I think it may live on still! A GTI is sort of smart

02-08-2010, 08:18 AM	#1
Canadian Turbo El Presidente Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Calgary Posts: 11,578	The Final Smart Journey! Well I have had my 2005 Smart since July 2005 and it has been very good to me, a fun, cheap mostly enjoyable experience, and it has gone through a few phases of looks too. 16" Wheels and lowered 17" Wheels, lowered, exhaust However the time has come to move on and so back in November I went ahead and ordered a 2010 GTI. I have been trying to sell the Smart now since the beginning of the year, but used cars are taking a pounding at the moment and the Smart market is flooded here so not much interest at all, and I was looking to be stuck with a very low trade in. Then a moderator from a Smart forum decided he was interested for a good price with two conditions; first had to come with the 16" wheels, second I needed to bring the car to him, 900kms away to Abbotsford BC. Up to this point I have only used my car for city driving with a couple small road trips maybe about an hour away. This trip would be a full day of driving, through mountains in the winter, but I could not pass up the deal so, booked a return plane ticket home, watched the forecast and headed out dark and early Saturday morning. Car loaded up, need to drive on snows and pack the 16s with me so no co-pilot on this trip! The first couple hours were dark with lots of ski/snowbaord traffic as I was heading to the big local resorts. When the sun started to come up I was just getting into the first ranges of the Rocky mountains. First pit stop, was pretty cold here, about -20C I would say Back on the road in the Lake Louise area, roads a bit slippery Came into Golden BC, for my first fuel top off and the conditions were not the greatest here in the valley. Back on the roads heading into the Rogers Pass area and they get some snow up there! Coming out of the pass I stopped for a second breakfast in Revelstoke which was the last of the snow for a while. Getting into the interior of BC the Shuswap area is a big summer resort and not too bad in the winter either. Next I arrived into Kamloops for a lunch, coffee and fuel stop, not much to see here but was no snow on the ground and fairly warm. After leaving Kamloops you quickly head back up into the mountains which the Smart would not be the quickest at climbing hills, but I was still able to pass the semi's going up hill. After descending out of the mountains for the last time you arrive into the lower mainland of BC, a great place and home of the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics although you would not think it be looking around. Finally I arrived after 10.5 hours on the road and 916kms logged at the cars new home. I did not fill up on arrival but I can estimate how much fuel would have been needed and I would put a total of 43.495L for my 916 kms so I would put my fuel economy at 49.54 mpgs for the trip. Not bad for a lot of hills and hitting some good speeds at some points along with a pretty full car. I arrived back to snow and -12c after having dinner on the patio Saturday night and now I wait for my new GTI which should be ready for delivery later this week. Thanks for checking out the thread! __________________ Blair 2010 Volkswagen GTI

02-08-2010, 09:39 AM	#3
MusicalGenius V-Dubbin' Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,728	Re: The Final Smart Journey! Nice journal Blair! Can't wait for the GTI though. __________________ Music to permeate your soul … Jayson MKIV Jetta GLS VR6

02-08-2010, 11:02 AM	#4
asp gti bi turbo Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: calgary Posts: 967	Re: The Final Smart Journey! i love that drive, cool post and nice pics! __________________ ME=SKI!!!!! \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ 2001.5 noggy blue s4

02-08-2010, 11:06 AM	#5
Wildfire Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Calgary Posts: 430	Re: The Final Smart Journey! Good post....

02-08-2010, 11:21 AM	#6
Eurotuner. F N Pothol Join Date: May 2008 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,325	Re: The Final Smart Journey! You drove it all the way out and didn't even wash it? Just poking, looks like a good trip, shame to see it go but can't wait to see the new GTI! __________________ If it rubs, it was never meant to be there, hammer or sawzall it. 2004.5 Jetta GLI

02-08-2010, 11:24 AM	#7
Canadian Turbo El Presidente Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Calgary Posts: 11,578	Re: The Final Smart Journey! The new owner washed it in the parkade of his place before we went for dinner so it was not dirty for long. I got 7K for the car, not great but not horrible either. __________________ Blair 2010 Volkswagen GTI

02-08-2010, 11:27 AM	#8
Chris Chilled-out Entertainer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 2,226	Re: The Final Smart Journey! Awesome post! That is a really impressive trip to make in a Smart.

02-08-2010, 12:42 PM	#9
TDI DUB VW Owner Join Date: May 2004 Location: Calgary, New Brighton Posts: 1,131	Re: The Final Smart Journey! Worth the road trip and a fun was to say goodbye to a car. Nice! __________________ Rob - TDI Sport

02-08-2010, 01:29 PM	#10
Stonewall Viva la resistor! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 5,116	Re: The Final Smart Journey! Did you give him the plate too? lol __________________ Brent His: '99.5 Black Magic Pearl TDI Golf Mods: Hail today, gone tomorrow... Family: '99 Porcelain Blue Eurovan Projectzwo body kit, grill, exhaust, wing. Hella dual headlights. Sport suspension and 19" rims. If it's smoken it ain't broken '92 Blue Karmann Crabby Cabby

02-08-2010, 08:16 PM	#12
100%VAGitarian I love VAG's Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: near by Posts: 567	Re: The Final Smart Journey! nice!

02-08-2010, 09:38 PM	#13
VeeDubArt got boost? Join Date: May 2003 Location: Edmonton Posts: 782	Re: The Final Smart Journey! hottest smart out there! cant wait to see the GTi this summer! __________________ Arthur \|\| Blue Lagoon Jetta GLI Formerly SilverArrow

02-08-2010, 11:36 PM	#14
popp VAG Slayer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: calgary Posts: 1,480	Re: The Final Smart Journey! Did he give you a ride back? If not, I bet if you gave him that plaid shirt he would have! __________________ Some Cars

02-09-2010, 07:09 AM	#15
Canadian Turbo El Presidente Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Calgary Posts: 11,578	Re: The Final Smart Journey! Lol, no I flew back Sunday morning, Westjet Abbotsford to Calgary is a reasonable flight. He did give me a place to sleep and took me for a nice steak dinner and dropped me off at the airport at 530am, so I cannot complain. I did bring the SMRT plate back and I think it may live on still! A GTI is sort of smart __________________ Blair 2010 Volkswagen GTI

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