Smart Roadster Coupe.....smart move?
Discussion
Hi,
Thinking of buying a Smart Roadster Coupe (marginally more practical than the notch back!)
Read quite a few horror stories online regarding mainly leaks, but also engine life and lazy gearboxes. I know about the non-existence of a sump plug and associated servicing issues (though having to pump the oil out isn't the end of the world.)
I'm looking to spend about £4K on one, looks like that'll get me one with around 50k on the clock.
I'm moving from a Subaru Legacy 2.5 GX, so it's a bit of a swing, but the Roadster looks like a cool car and the legacy's thirst is draining my pockets faster than I would like; that said, I have had it for nearly two years and not a thing has gone wrong with it and despite its barge-like weight it is real fun cross county weapon.
Does anyone have any experience with the Roadster? I do daily about 5 miles of country lanes and 15 miles on the motorway, can it keep up? I assume the motorway is not its natural habitat probably being at the top end of its capabilities. Does it have enough grunt to safely overtake for example?
I have also considered the Brabus, but these obviously command a bit more of premium. Here are some higher mileage examples within range, but due the reports of the weakness of the engine I am hesitant to buy a high miler. Though not filling the entire gap, would a simple remap bring the standard car almost up to the Brabus capabilities?
Cheers in advance,
Dunc
Thinking of buying a Smart Roadster Coupe (marginally more practical than the notch back!)
Read quite a few horror stories online regarding mainly leaks, but also engine life and lazy gearboxes. I know about the non-existence of a sump plug and associated servicing issues (though having to pump the oil out isn't the end of the world.)
I'm looking to spend about £4K on one, looks like that'll get me one with around 50k on the clock.
I'm moving from a Subaru Legacy 2.5 GX, so it's a bit of a swing, but the Roadster looks like a cool car and the legacy's thirst is draining my pockets faster than I would like; that said, I have had it for nearly two years and not a thing has gone wrong with it and despite its barge-like weight it is real fun cross county weapon.
Does anyone have any experience with the Roadster? I do daily about 5 miles of country lanes and 15 miles on the motorway, can it keep up? I assume the motorway is not its natural habitat probably being at the top end of its capabilities. Does it have enough grunt to safely overtake for example?
I have also considered the Brabus, but these obviously command a bit more of premium. Here are some higher mileage examples within range, but due the reports of the weakness of the engine I am hesitant to buy a high miler. Though not filling the entire gap, would a simple remap bring the standard car almost up to the Brabus capabilities?
Cheers in advance,
Dunc
Sorry to post again so quickly, but just wanted to add that the main reason for focusing in on the Smart Roadster is an attempt to get a car that is both fun and frugal. Roadster can apparently achieve 55mpg on the NEDC!
If anyone has any smart (sorry!) ideas for alternatives, I'm very open to suggestions.
Cheers!
If anyone has any smart (sorry!) ideas for alternatives, I'm very open to suggestions.
Cheers!
Lovely little motor . Stretch the budget a bit and find a Brabus version as they have a much more reliable engine . Check to see if the water leak issues have been sorted . They drive really well and are surprisingly practical for day to day use when you find a good one . Have a look at the various smart forums - www.evilution.co.uk
www.smartz.co.uk , www.thesmartclub.co.uk . Lots of good advice on theses sites . Have fun !
www.smartz.co.uk , www.thesmartclub.co.uk . Lots of good advice on theses sites . Have fun !
Thanks both!
I actually have a mk1 1.8 MX5 I bought as a bit of project for a tour round Europe in the summer, still needs some work before I can get it back on the road proper.
In regards to the Brabus I had seen some talk about upgraded internals, so thanks for confirming that. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a reasonable one, time may not be on my side with winter almost over now though!
I actually have a mk1 1.8 MX5 I bought as a bit of project for a tour round Europe in the summer, still needs some work before I can get it back on the road proper.
In regards to the Brabus I had seen some talk about upgraded internals, so thanks for confirming that. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a reasonable one, time may not be on my side with winter almost over now though!
My mate had one - went in it a few times. Fun cars, sound good the the little 3-pot, economical and never cost him anything more than servicing and the odd consumable.
However, the water literally pi**ed in. I've had 3 Lotuses, and none ever leaked the way his did. It was comical. It was back to the dealer numerous times to attempt to fix it but they never did; I think he managed to tolerate it for 2 years before finally chopping it in.
So, just make sure it's watertight before you hand over any cash
However, the water literally pi**ed in. I've had 3 Lotuses, and none ever leaked the way his did. It was comical. It was back to the dealer numerous times to attempt to fix it but they never did; I think he managed to tolerate it for 2 years before finally chopping it in.
So, just make sure it's watertight before you hand over any cash
The Smart Roadster was an excellent product with a brilliant design. The failure was that Smart were responsible for it's build and development. Smart were trying so hard to cut corners and get the product out onto the streets that they failed to engineer it properly.
Water leaks and poor engine and electrics were it's downfall. Along with the early Smart fortwos, (on which it is based), Smart learnt early on that trying to fool Joe Public by churning out a badly engineered product would soon backfire - and backfire it did. They didn't make a single bean of profit on any Smart product for 10 years.......
Having said all that, if you can find one that's been loved to death - you will benefit no end. Finding that car is going to be the challenge.
The Brabus Roadster was built in a different plant to the other Roadsters. As a consequence, they were MUCH better built, especially the engines.
Water leaks and poor engine and electrics were it's downfall. Along with the early Smart fortwos, (on which it is based), Smart learnt early on that trying to fool Joe Public by churning out a badly engineered product would soon backfire - and backfire it did. They didn't make a single bean of profit on any Smart product for 10 years.......
Having said all that, if you can find one that's been loved to death - you will benefit no end. Finding that car is going to be the challenge.
The Brabus Roadster was built in a different plant to the other Roadsters. As a consequence, they were MUCH better built, especially the engines.
We bought a smart brabus coupe in excellent condition with low mileage . For the short time we owned it(1,500 miles) it was a lot of fun.
Engine management light came on a few times,I disconnected the battery to clear it.
100hp and it felt quite pokey, getting out of it was enjoyable apart from rolling about on the pavement a couple of times.
They need to be used regularly .
But in the end I couldn't live with the paranoia and exchanged it after a very short ownership.
Engine management light came on a few times,I disconnected the battery to clear it.
100hp and it felt quite pokey, getting out of it was enjoyable apart from rolling about on the pavement a couple of times.
They need to be used regularly .
But in the end I couldn't live with the paranoia and exchanged it after a very short ownership.
Funnily enough, we bought one 6 months ago and we’ve got a Forester sitting on the drive!
My wife, who is more of a car person than me, (I have bikes), bought it as a fun car.
Got it from a dealer, for just over £3k FSH, receipts for a new turbo.
Here’s what I think about it:-
Looks good.
Looks small but I fit in it comfortably, I’m 6ft.
Handles well.
Fun to drive.
You can cruise on the motorway at an indicated 80mph, comfortably.
You can throw it into bends with gusto!
Some details:-
You need to get used to the gearbox, takes about 10 minutes. Using semi auto mode you just have to make your change a few yards further back than you would in a manual.
You will never win the traffic light GP, it’s slow off the mark.
Full auto mode is great for city driving, not as good on the open road.
Practicality, well there is a bit of room inside, but you’re not going to get more than a weeks shopping in there!
The only problem we had with it was the battery in the key fob was getting low, this required an afternoon at a Merc dealer. Apparently if the key fob dies/gets too low the whole car’s computer system has to be reset. If you don’t sort this the car will have problems starting and locking. You’ll need multiple forms of ID for yourself and the car before any work will be carried out. Off the top of my head I think it cost around £160.
AFAIK you can get a remap the standard model and reach the dizzy, Brabus, heights of 100bhp with no other changes!
Having had a look at some owners forums, the general consensus seems to be that the Brabus route, in particular, the blingy bits, just add weight!
Would we buy another?
We’re thinking of buying another, so we have two to play with.
PS. Haven't worked it out but it does seem to sip fuel rather than gulp it down!
My wife, who is more of a car person than me, (I have bikes), bought it as a fun car.
Got it from a dealer, for just over £3k FSH, receipts for a new turbo.
Here’s what I think about it:-
Looks good.
Looks small but I fit in it comfortably, I’m 6ft.
Handles well.
Fun to drive.
You can cruise on the motorway at an indicated 80mph, comfortably.
You can throw it into bends with gusto!
Some details:-
You need to get used to the gearbox, takes about 10 minutes. Using semi auto mode you just have to make your change a few yards further back than you would in a manual.
You will never win the traffic light GP, it’s slow off the mark.
Full auto mode is great for city driving, not as good on the open road.
Practicality, well there is a bit of room inside, but you’re not going to get more than a weeks shopping in there!
The only problem we had with it was the battery in the key fob was getting low, this required an afternoon at a Merc dealer. Apparently if the key fob dies/gets too low the whole car’s computer system has to be reset. If you don’t sort this the car will have problems starting and locking. You’ll need multiple forms of ID for yourself and the car before any work will be carried out. Off the top of my head I think it cost around £160.
AFAIK you can get a remap the standard model and reach the dizzy, Brabus, heights of 100bhp with no other changes!
Having had a look at some owners forums, the general consensus seems to be that the Brabus route, in particular, the blingy bits, just add weight!
Would we buy another?
We’re thinking of buying another, so we have two to play with.
PS. Haven't worked it out but it does seem to sip fuel rather than gulp it down!
One other thing I should mention.
Having done much googling it appeared that the glass back on the coupe is very expensive to replace, and increasingly rare to find second hand.
We sourced one from a scrappy, £200 for the hatchback, the quarter lights, gas struts and the interior trim! It’s currently bubble wrapped in case the worst happens!
Having done much googling it appeared that the glass back on the coupe is very expensive to replace, and increasingly rare to find second hand.
We sourced one from a scrappy, £200 for the hatchback, the quarter lights, gas struts and the interior trim! It’s currently bubble wrapped in case the worst happens!
Hi
I owned one for a couple of years. Mine had zero problems, no leaks, no electrical gremlims etc.
We toured France in it and it was fine on the autoroute and cruised well. Highest mpg I got was 60mpg and 54-55 was easily achieved.
It was fun, but I found it was over-tyred. It was very difficult to get the wheels to 'slip' which gave the false impression that it handled well. It probably did handle well, but I found it was not as much fun as other cars I had owned. (mk1 mr2, eunos and vx220). Mine had 17" wheels and I suspect the cheaper steel wheels may have made things more 'fun'.
Conversely, I grew to love the gearbox. Getting it to slip into gear at just the right moment whilst going round a corner became a good game to get maximum speed.
I had a remap early on - which took mine from 80bhp to about a claimed 94bhp. It felt fine and the three cylinder engine and turbo spool did sound quite good (to my ears!)
I would recommend one, but you may want to change after a couple of years....
Mike
I owned one for a couple of years. Mine had zero problems, no leaks, no electrical gremlims etc.
We toured France in it and it was fine on the autoroute and cruised well. Highest mpg I got was 60mpg and 54-55 was easily achieved.
It was fun, but I found it was over-tyred. It was very difficult to get the wheels to 'slip' which gave the false impression that it handled well. It probably did handle well, but I found it was not as much fun as other cars I had owned. (mk1 mr2, eunos and vx220). Mine had 17" wheels and I suspect the cheaper steel wheels may have made things more 'fun'.
Conversely, I grew to love the gearbox. Getting it to slip into gear at just the right moment whilst going round a corner became a good game to get maximum speed.
I had a remap early on - which took mine from 80bhp to about a claimed 94bhp. It felt fine and the three cylinder engine and turbo spool did sound quite good (to my ears!)
I would recommend one, but you may want to change after a couple of years....
Mike
Had one as my daily for 2 years - the Brabus coupe. Check all the fixings are present and correct in the rear/side perspex windows - they de-bond in direct sunlight over time and start to rattle/leak. Not astronomical to replace with new parts off smart parts direct but a pain. Keep a tube of silicone grease in the glovebox to touch up the window seals and treat the roof canvas regularly and you shouldn't suffer too badly with water ingress, but do check the very front of the footwells for any sign that the bulkhead has leaked as that's what causes the expensive SAM failure... Other than that, I loved it - I don't have a garage, used to have to park it up on the kerb which would exaggerate the water issue and it still gave me two years of happy and relatively trouble free motoring.
Buy a Pela pump or similar if you want to do your own oil changes, I used to run it on premium cos you feel every extra hp in that tiny engine, the cat needs a good blast occasionally to keep the emissions light from coming on, so make sure you take it on the motorway or a fast A road at least once a fortnight, and although it's a 6 speed you can't shift up to 6th until you're going over 70kph (somewhere in the 50's mph wise) which I didn't learn until an embarrassing phone call to the dealer...
Buy a Pela pump or similar if you want to do your own oil changes, I used to run it on premium cos you feel every extra hp in that tiny engine, the cat needs a good blast occasionally to keep the emissions light from coming on, so make sure you take it on the motorway or a fast A road at least once a fortnight, and although it's a 6 speed you can't shift up to 6th until you're going over 70kph (somewhere in the 50's mph wise) which I didn't learn until an embarrassing phone call to the dealer...
that s
t must be strong !My wife has had a Roadster Coupe for about 8 years and bought it with 15k miles and about two years old. It now has just clocked over 150k miles! (yes you read that correctly 
)
She still commutes 50+ miles per day in it and it really is amazingly reliable. Very few problems over that mileage just normal consumables. I've changed the oil and filter every 5k miles and the little engine sounds sweet as a nut, doesn't smoke or burn any oil at all.
Also changed the cam chain and tensioners at 100k miles (very important). They are very light on consumables generally....for example the original factory front tires lasted until 70k miles and even then we only changed them because they were starting to crack!
Really the only problem she has had with it is the dreaded water leaks....I'm pretty sure they all will leak by now. If you keep it under cover or use a waterproof car cover you will save yourself chasing leaks all over the place but good luck with curing them.
If they still made them and Smart had cured the water-leaks we would probably buy another one.
)She still commutes 50+ miles per day in it and it really is amazingly reliable. Very few problems over that mileage just normal consumables. I've changed the oil and filter every 5k miles and the little engine sounds sweet as a nut, doesn't smoke or burn any oil at all.
Also changed the cam chain and tensioners at 100k miles (very important). They are very light on consumables generally....for example the original factory front tires lasted until 70k miles and even then we only changed them because they were starting to crack!
Really the only problem she has had with it is the dreaded water leaks....I'm pretty sure they all will leak by now. If you keep it under cover or use a waterproof car cover you will save yourself chasing leaks all over the place but good luck with curing them.
If they still made them and Smart had cured the water-leaks we would probably buy another one.
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