Anybody else find they do this?

[Wing Commander]

I'm thinking of getting a 3rd vehicle for me and the OH. The reason behind the purchase is to use it for my business and to have lots of sign-writing and generally be seen (and economical) so I immediately turn to the new Smart diesels. Not the last word in refinement, but 85mpg etc.

Once looking through the spec I think, "hmm, for 8-10k, I could buy a second hand brabus version", and then that leads on to me then remembering the Smart Brabus Roadsters.

So in the matter of a few minutes and with a bottle of nice cider gone, I am now contemplating one of these



instead of one of these



So, I wonder, does anyone else start off with honourable intentions and then get *completely* sidetracked in the process?

Also, and more importantly, what is the general consensus on suitability for vehicle advertising. This is the entire raison d'être for the purchase. Can I realistically get the same attention from advertising on the roadster as I can on the inflated roller skate?

In terms of living with both/either, I have owned a brabus roadster before and also the first gen smart cars but never a diesel. Something to add - it would be a private purchase, and separate from the business, although used for business advertising.

Your thoughts please!

[Baryonyx]

I wouldn't look twice at a Four-Four-Two or whatever they're called but I still like to see the Roadsters around, quirky little things.

[TheStoat]

Better visibility of your advert from the taller profile of the FourTwo. Much easier for others to read, especially when you extend the blurb onto the rear window. Roadster would be too low I reckon from my memories of toodling around in one...

[PKLD]

I'm leaving my current job which means I don't need/want my diesel CC so I'm looking to replace my car with a quickish bike and when the deal is up with my OH's TT I'm looking at these smart roadsters as a more economical runabout. I also have a wee fiesta for other stuff but that's getting sold to fund the bike

We were supposed to reduce to one boring diesel car - oh well!

[Ian974]

Being lower won't help its visibility, but if it's eyecatching it could help having something a bit more unsusal, you don't see a lot of them as it is, never mind a signwritten brabus version!
See, you can justify anything! I'm sure a similar sort of thing would grab attention too on a caterham!

[W00DY]

With 2 contrasting colours so it's bright and obviously a Smart, I think they attract a lot of attention from most people. The Fortwo is common and not very interesting.

You know it makes sense

I once went from needing no car to buying a 4.0 Jag because it was cheap. Whilst at University.

It worked out very well.

Edited by W00DY on Thursday 3rd March 22:20

[slipstream 1985]

i went from going to buy a 330d m sport -> 350z-> lotus exige->noble m12. then had to get another car as couldnt run that all the time so bought a 2k snotter diesel clio.

[Wing Commander]

Excellent stuff guys! Now when the OH asks, I can just say that you all told me too!

I have also drafted in some top blagging (read: lies) by telling her that if we got a sporty car, it would be hers to drive. That should get it on the drive, and then I can just tell her shes keeping her stty punto!

Excellent! Now I just have to wait for a few months before I can save up the required funds

[300bhp/ton]

Wing Commander said:

I'm thinking of getting a 3rd vehicle for me and the OH. The reason behind the purchase is to use it for my business and to have lots of sign-writing and generally be seen (and economical) so I immediately turn to the new Smart diesels. Not the last word in refinement, but 85mpg etc.

Once looking through the spec I think, "hmm, for 8-10k, I could buy a second hand brabus version", and then that leads on to me then remembering the Smart Brabus Roadsters.

So in the matter of a few minutes and with a bottle of nice cider gone, I am now contemplating one of these



instead of one of these



So, I wonder, does anyone else start off with honourable intentions and then get *completely* sidetracked in the process?

Also, and more importantly, what is the general consensus on suitability for vehicle advertising. This is the entire raison d'être for the purchase. Can I realistically get the same attention from advertising on the roadster as I can on the inflated roller skate?

In terms of living with both/either, I have owned a brabus roadster before and also the first gen smart cars but never a diesel. Something to add - it would be a private purchase, and separate from the business, although used for business advertising.

Your thoughts please!

Roadsters are fab!!

[deveng]

I wanted to spend max £7k on either a polo GTI or renaultsport clio. Cheap to run nippy little car.

Ended up spending £10k on a V6 A3.

[aizvara]

When I was after my first car I started sensible, looking at Corsas and Fiestas up to Focuses, Astras etc... Looking to spend perhaps 1-2K. By the time I bought my 325, the budget had grown from 1K to 6K, and some pretty interesting cars had come into range. I'd even considered an RX8, which I now slightly regret not going for.

[Cock Womble 7]

The Smart Roadster is one of the few cars that I can look eye-to-eye with at the driver from my Caterham.

Do it.

[kiethton]

When i was changing the astra a month ago (25k a year) i was first looking at bmw 118d's/octavia vrs diesel for about 10k..............after a test drive and look around a BMW showroom i came back with a.......335i for nearly double that

[Diabolik]

I always end up pushing the budget slightly and slightly higher till my end figure is not even close to my starting figure.

[Wing Commander]

Glad it's not just me then! Another justification is that depreciation has all but stopped on the brabus roadsters so I wouldn't have a hefty loss on that either

Now to think about suitable advertising, and to see if there is enough "real estate" on the roadster...