Thursday 6th February 2003

Smart Prices

Is there any alternative to smart's new roadster?

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[dontlift]

v cool, i like it

[TheLemming]

I like the car, I like the idea, but the front end styling is hideous... That plastic strip is horrible lol.

I hope that this is a roaring success simply to encourage some of the prototypes and concepts we saw a few years back of mental little roadsters.

Anyone remember the Suzuki C2? A tiny old-mini sized roadster with a 2 litre bike derived V8...

Or the Honda S600? A little like the Copen but far better looking, with a fireblade derived engine...

A successor to the AZ-1 or the Beat maybe?

We can only hope

[Qualia]

Cute! I wouldn't buy one myself, but it's the kind of motor you would like your girlfriend to drive....

[guysh]

Surely this is a competitor to the Suzuki Cappacino??

[Citizen Rat]

In spite of myself, cool. Now they just need a 600cc bike engine to drop in.

[MikeAR303]

Looks like it would be a fun daily driver... too bad we'll never see them here in the US. Detroit would never allow such an efficient car to get to our shores - they would be sure to pay off some of our many corrupt politicians to figure out a way to keep it out.

[Tony Hall]

Great idea.
Probably as fast as my Tivvy for the drive into work each day.
Possibly even want one...

[dandarez]

The base models coming into the UK first are not only l-h-drive but have bloody awful steel wheels, partially gutted inside, and almost like going back to the old days some essentials are being listed as extras (radio?!!). Ten grand and it has less room than a Smart car itself and will probably get overtaken by the older member of this marque!

[Dan]

10 grand (ish) for a funky looking roadster... Fair play.

I hope they sell loads. As long as its fun to drive it doesn't matter what the 0-60 and top end is. My old man had am austin healey sprite for a while and it was a hoot to drive... not really very fast but great fun.

This is the spirit of motoring. Long live the Smart.

P.S. I have had a mungo quantity of alcohol... I'll revisit when sober.

Cheers Dan

[superlightr]

10K - sorry I thought the opposite, blimey thats a lot for a smart.

I like the look of them but they need to be cheep to storm the market place ie 4-5k. loads of first time buyers perhaps, parents for their kids to get them away from scooters if the kids are lucky,

[clanger]

Reckon they're onto a winner here, looks fun - esp with the younger, cough, generation - wish it every success..

[rich 36]

Untill i witnesed one at first hand, replete with dump valves, i was unaware of these cars, but having looked in some detail at them lately, i think they have a lot of potential, i don't want one myself though, and neither does my son taking his test soon!