Why Should You Lease A Smart Car
In an increasingly environmentally-conscious world, the Smart car leads the way in reducing CO2 emissions. If youre looking to lease a city vehicle that is cheap and eco-friendly, a Smart is a great choice.
Not only will leasing a Smart car reduce your carbon footprint itll also save you money. As well as cheaper running costs and lower CO2 emissions, it can cost less overall to hire a vehicle than buying one outright for the full RRP.
Decide which Smart car you want to drive and find a great price from Leasing Options.
How Fast Does A Smart Car Go
The Smart Car ForTwo’s speed is regulated and capped at about 90 miles per hour . If you’re looking to race your neighbor, acceleration is gauged at 0-60 in about 12.8 seconds. That makes the Smart Car faster than my Hyundai was back in high school, but probably slower than my hand-me-down 1976 Ford Granada Ghia 302 4-door sedan .
What Is The Average Cost For Maintenance
Base your estimate of regular car maintenance costs on the manufacturers recommended schedule oil changes, brakes, rotors, fluid levels, etc. Dont forget to factoring paying more for such things engine or air conditioning repairs.
Remember, your driving habits will also influence your car expenses. Are you hard on your brakes or are you an aggressive driver? Youll put more wear and tear on your brakes.
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Is It Worth It To Have A Car
It really depends on your personal situation and needs. Some people require a vehicle for work and to get around. Others have one as a convenience. There are countless people who get by just fine without a car. Assess your situation, compare the pros, cons and costs and see if it makes sense for you.
How Much Does A Smart Car Cost
Smart cars are small in size, which might mislead you into thinking they come cheap. On the contrary, Smart cars are expensive. In Europe, for instance, a brand new Smart Fortwo car costs between $15,000 and $33,000, according to BBCs Top Gear.
Thats quite a lump sum by all standards. For such a large amount of money, you can buy other quality vehicles such as the 2020 Hyundai Venue, 2020 Chevrolet Spark and 2020 Subaru Impreza, just to mention a few.
Sadly, Smart cars are no longer sold in the US. However, you can find yourself a used Smart car that costs between $7,000 and $13,000. Still, thats a steep price for a used car, considering there are many other used cars that cost way less, and offer comparable specs.
So, is a Smart car worth it based on the base price only? That totally depends on you. If youre city dweller, a Smart car is not a far-fetched option. Its incredibly easy to maneuver into the tiniest of parking spaces, and can help you save on fuel, especially if you use it a lot around town.
For rural dwellers, youre better off with a large SUV thats easier to drive on tougher roads. Plus, rural drivers have strikingly different needs to urban drivers. If youre carrying large loads, for instance, it doesnt make sense to go for a Smart car.
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Ways To Improve Any Car’s Mpg
This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.
Leasing A Smart Car For Under 400 Per Month
At the higher end of the Smart range is the ForTwo Cabrio 60kW EQ PrimePremium 17kWh. Theres nothing quite like it out on the road at the moment. As the smallest convertible around, the Cabrio is fun to drive and makes light work of narrow streets. Its perfect for weaving through city traffic on your commute.
The full price tag stands at over £23,000, but you can pay just under £400 a month to lease a brand new Cabrio with us.
Whats more, when the battery is fully charged, you can get through as many as 96 miles. Charging only takes 2.5 hours, so itll be ready in no time. This battery-powered car is also a compact 2.69m in length, making parallel parking easier than ever.
Some of the standard equipment that comes with this agile car includes a DAB digital radio, cruise control, a remote roof opener and leather upholstery in the cabin. Theres additionally a surprising amount of space in the 260-litre boot.
As for safety, youll find useful features like automatic door locking, crash sensor technology and Smart road assistance. If you want to add a little more to your Cabrio, you can pick from a range of options which include your choice of paint, lane keep assist and tri-top hood variations
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Finding Cheap Car Insurance
protect you and your Smart car from unpredictable situationsProgressiveGeico
âI have been with the same insurance provider for over 10 years. Jerry found me a new policy with Travelers that is $107/month cheaper. The pandemic has made finances tight, but Jerry helped me out.â ââGabriel T.
Havenât shopped for insurance in the last six months? There might be hundreds $$$ in savings waiting for you.
Discover What It Can Do
Radar-based energy recovery.
Depending on the traffic, your smart selects the optimal level of energy recovery itself.
Planned pre-entry climate control.
With app-controlled pre-entry climate control you use electricity from the grid to keep more battery capacity for range.
ECO mode.
Green is beautiful: activate a whole range of energy-saving functions at the touch of a button.
Ultra-quiet.
The almost silent electric motor is even more fun in urban traffic.
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Cheapest Evs To Lease
Leasing an electric car could be a great alternative to buying one. We’ve got access to the best cars at great prices, thanks to our partnership with Drive Electric. And once you get your car, don’t forget to switch your electricity to our GoElectric tariff. It’s currently Britains lowest off-peak rate for cheaper charging overnight.
You can also get your EV home charger from us – all your electric car needs in one place!
Car Loan Calculator: How Much Car Can I Afford
Modified date: Nov. 16, 2021
How much should you spend on a car? Probably not as much as you might think.
You can spend between 10% and 50% of your gross annual income on a car. Thats a big range, we know, so if we had to set a rule, it would be this:
Spend no more than 35% of your pre-tax annual income on a car.
Lower is better, but we recognize personal finance is personal. You might spend more only if you can securely pay cash for your vehicle and the kind of car you drive is important to you. You can explore how much car you can accord in our car affordability calculator below.
You can limit how much money you spend on your car by:
- Saving up and paying cash.
- Buying used.
If you do both of these things, youll save thousands of dollars compared to financing or leasing a new vehicle.
That said, sometimes you need transportation before you have cash saved to buy a car. So there are some additional rules to consider when you get an auto loan.
Whats Ahead:
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Depreciation Can Be Up To 15% As Soon As You Leave The Lot
A couple of online sources state that you can lose from 10-15% on the value of your car when you leave the lot. That can add up to a lot of cash in a short period of time.
This infographic shows the TMV of a vehicle (at the time of purchase is $29,873. Then 1 minute after purchase, the TMV is $27,314 or 91% of its value on the lost 60 seconds prior. Thats 9%.
- A new car loses 11% of its value when it leaves the lot.
- For each year of the first 5 years, a car depreciates 15-25% per year.
- After 5 years, a car is worth 37% of what you originally paid.
How Long Do Smart Car Engines Last
Smart car engines typically last approximately 150,000 miles, and most need only minor repairs once they reach that age. The engines of smart cars may have lasted up to 200,000 miles with proper maintenance and use, according to one owner. A modern car engine, as a general rule, can last about 200,000 miles or roughly ten years in most cases.
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Explanation Of True Cost To Own Terms
Total Cash Price
For new vehicles, the Total Cash Price displayed is the vehicle’s True Market Value® price plus typically equipped options, destination charge, base tax and fees assessed by your state, and, if applicable, gas guzzler tax less any widely available manufacturer-to-customer cash rebates. For used vehicles, the Total Cash Price shown is the sum of the vehicle’s Private Party TMV® price in “clean” condition plus typically equipped options, and base tax and fees assessed by your state.
Depreciation
This is the amount by which the value of a vehicle declines from its purchase price to its estimated resale value. The purchase price employed is the vehicle’s Total Cash Price, minus any taxes and fees included in that amount. We estimate the resale value assuming the vehicle will be in “clean” condition, will be driven 15,000 miles per year, and will be sold to a private party.
Insurance
This is the estimated average annual insurance premium in your state. The premium has been determined based on annual premium data for defined driver profiles and coverages from a major national insurer. While this information is specific to vehicle make, model, model year and body type, your personal information is not taken into consideration and could greatly alter the actual premium quoted by an insurer. Factors that will affect your rate include your age, marital status, credit history, driving record, and the garaging address of your vehicle.
Financing
Taxes & Fees
Fuel
How Does The Car Affordability Calculator Work
The above car affordability calculator uses a conservative but solid assumption about how much car you can afford. Whether youre paying cash or financing, the purchase price of your car should be no more than 35% of your annual income. If youre financing a car, the total monthly amount you spend on transportation your car payment, gas, car insurance, and maintenance should be no more than 10% of your gross monthly income. The calculator doesnt ask for gas and insurance values but will begin to reduce the purchase price you can afford if the terms of your loan make your monthly payment exceed 10% of income.
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How Much Does A Smart Car Cost To Maintain
Weve already established Smart Cars dont come cheap. But how much does it cost to maintain a Smart Car? How many times per year do you need to take in a Smart Car for service? And how much do spare parts cost?
Well, according to Edmunds, it will cost you about $5,640 to maintain a Smart Fortwo car over the course of five years if you drive only 15,000 miles per year. Its just an estimate, but you get the picture. On average, it costs about $1,400 per year to maintain a Smart car for ordinary service. Carnewscafe.com
What about a typical vehicle? How does it cost to maintain? Well, according to a study by AAA, a new cars routine maintenance and repairs could cost an average of $1,186 each year. Thats why its important to budget for this expense.
Dont forget that the average cost of owning a car ranges from $6,354 annually for a small sedan to $10,054 annually for a pickup truck. The expected cost of routine maintenance may surprise you. Balance.com.
If we are using average, thats about $8,000 for a typical car. But dont forget that the cost of maintaining a typical car can be as slow as $1,200 per year. It goes to say that maintaining a Smart Car costs as much as maintaining a typical car. There are no big disparities.
Everything You Need To Know About Smart Electric Cars
Why you can trust Jerry
The smart EQ Fortwo went all-electric in 2017, only to vanish from US showrooms by the end of 2019. Long seen on the European and Chinese markets, this wee German-made economy two-seater had some success in big cities but never really caught on in the US for a variety of reasons.
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How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Car
The single biggest question many people ask about electric cars is: What will I spend to charge the vehicle?
If youre looking at an electric car vs. a gas car, doing a bit of upfront research on charging costs vs. gas costs will help you make an informed decision.
To answer the question of cost, we enlisted the help of John Voelcker, a longtime automotive journalist and industry analyst who specializes in electric vehicles. Hes heard every argument made for electric vehicle ownership, including the cost of recharging compared to traditional refueling.
Car Ownership Cost Estimator
With some research and knowledge, you can save yourself a lot of money on buying and driving your car. Make sure you take all the necessary time to weigh the costs, evaluate your options and choose a car that best fits your needs and budget.
In an effort to help drivers understand the true amount involved with owning and driving a vehicle, the CAA offers a tool to estimate the total outlay. Try it out to get an idea of what you will spend.
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Finding The Right Plug To Charge An Ev
Voelcker explains the difference sounds more complex than it is. The vast majority of fast-charging locations have both kinds, with a different cable on each side of the station. Its like the same gas pump could dispense both regular gasoline and diesel fuel from different hoses.
As for the price, a 240-volt recharge could cost you anywhere from zero dollars to a fixed hourly rate. Charging networks often provide membership programs to minimize your recharge cost. Thats something especially useful if you cant regularly charge your vehicle at home.
The EVgo network charges rates by state and it varies for Level 2 charging. Checking the companys website, the pay-as-you-go approach costs 30 cents per minute in Georgia for its rates effective September 2021. However, if youre an EVgo Plus member, the rate per minute drops to 24 cents.
The Term Of Your Car Loan Should Be No More Than Four Years
The longer the term of your loan, the more interest you pay. The longer your loan term, the longer youll have to meet your lenders insurance requirements, which often means higher rates.
Plus, by the end of four years, your car will have lost a lot of its value, and you wont want to still be paying it off.
Four years is the maximum most personal finance experts recommend. If you can swing paying off your car in three years, thats even better. If you feel you absolutely must stretch your payments further, you could get a five-year loan, but never longer.
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You Need To Do Some Math
Dont sweat it. The math involved is pretty simple. For the most accurate estimate, it helps if you have a recent electric bill for reference. Thats because were kicking things off by calculating the amount consumers pay for electricity in a given month. Then well provide examples so you can determine how much you spend on each kilowatt-hour of electricity used.
For home charging, find your electric bill, then divide the of kilowatt-hours you used into the bottom-line dollar total. Thatll give you the price you paid per kWh, Voelcker explains.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average U.S. household pays nearly 14 cents per kWh as of May 2021.
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To use a simplified example, if you used 1,400 kilowatt-hours of electricity and your monthly bill is an even $100, youre paying exactly 14 cents for each kWh. Most bills arent this nicely formulated and clear-cut, of course.
But for the sake of this example, lets stick with this easy-to-use rate and apply it to a typical electric car.
