Smart Roadster shed
Discussion
Thought I'd share this, it's fun.
Read a LOT of things about them on here beforehand, including: leaks, s
t gearbox, st in town, slow, numb and slow steering, noisy, better off with an MR2 etc etc, but always liked them and was lusting after something cheap and cheerful that I can leave anywhere and don't have to worry about.
Ended up with a car that had a missfire under full load and handling that was more terrifying than anything I've ever driven before, and a steering wheel that generally pointed off somewhere to the left irrespective of the direction I was travelling in. Turned out to be knackered spark plugs for the missfire, and alignment and/or tyres on the handling front, although have also replaced the dampers as well for good measure.
After driving 15k miles, have worked out that it leaks like a colander, it's fking noisy and it's also the first car I've had since various Elises that I've bothered to take for cross country thraps.
Depending on your driving style the gearbox isn't that bad - I miss being able to heel and toe and don't even bother attempting to get away quickly from a standstill, but it's easy to work around it. Don't lift at all for upshifts and it feels similar to making a leisurely change in any other car (sure, it won't bang up through the gears Fast and Furious style but as my wife is often in the car with me it's not something I do anyway) - point is it's not jerky and it's not nearly as bad as I've read.
Downshifts are more irritating, in so much that you have to be in the lowest gear possible at junctions or where you may want to move rapidly, as otherwise the car will probably decide to change from second to first on your behalf, leaving you without a gear in the middle of the road. It's predictable though, so as long as you either remember to change down to first or keep your foot on the accelerator a bit to keep it in second, and it's fine. Not the most engaging, but fine.
For me it's also perfect as a city and town car, is nippy, tiny and I'm getting just under 50mpg after driving most places with my foot on the floor.
Can even get my golf clubs in the boot.
They get a lot of stick, but personally find it a better proposition than a Mk3 MR2, the engine is a lot more characterful and for me it's worth putting up with the tardy automated gearchange.
Thought I'd share regardless - I know there have been plenty on here in the past (some even faster than TVRs, I'm told), but not seen any for a while.
Incidentally, here are a few of my older little cars that I'm comparing it against. Not as much fun as the Elises, but a decent replacement if you're on a tight budget.
Read a LOT of things about them on here beforehand, including: leaks, s
t gearbox, st in town, slow, numb and slow steering, noisy, better off with an MR2 etc etc, but always liked them and was lusting after something cheap and cheerful that I can leave anywhere and don't have to worry about. Ended up with a car that had a missfire under full load and handling that was more terrifying than anything I've ever driven before, and a steering wheel that generally pointed off somewhere to the left irrespective of the direction I was travelling in. Turned out to be knackered spark plugs for the missfire, and alignment and/or tyres on the handling front, although have also replaced the dampers as well for good measure.
After driving 15k miles, have worked out that it leaks like a colander, it's f
king noisy and it's also the first car I've had since various Elises that I've bothered to take for cross country thraps. Depending on your driving style the gearbox isn't that bad - I miss being able to heel and toe and don't even bother attempting to get away quickly from a standstill, but it's easy to work around it. Don't lift at all for upshifts and it feels similar to making a leisurely change in any other car (sure, it won't bang up through the gears Fast and Furious style but as my wife is often in the car with me it's not something I do anyway) - point is it's not jerky and it's not nearly as bad as I've read.
Downshifts are more irritating, in so much that you have to be in the lowest gear possible at junctions or where you may want to move rapidly, as otherwise the car will probably decide to change from second to first on your behalf, leaving you without a gear in the middle of the road. It's predictable though, so as long as you either remember to change down to first or keep your foot on the accelerator a bit to keep it in second, and it's fine. Not the most engaging, but fine.
For me it's also perfect as a city and town car, is nippy, tiny and I'm getting just under 50mpg after driving most places with my foot on the floor.
Can even get my golf clubs in the boot.
They get a lot of stick, but personally find it a better proposition than a Mk3 MR2, the engine is a lot more characterful and for me it's worth putting up with the tardy automated gearchange.
Thought I'd share regardless - I know there have been plenty on here in the past (some even faster than TVRs, I'm told), but not seen any for a while.
Incidentally, here are a few of my older little cars that I'm comparing it against. Not as much fun as the Elises, but a decent replacement if you're on a tight budget.
Edited by pthelazyjourno on Tuesday 30th January 14:48
I had one of these for about 5 months and absolutely loved it! It has so many flaws, but has so much character you can forgive it almost anything.
I bought it as a daily and unfortunately it's really not ideal for a daily. If I had had a garage at the time and the ability to keep a second car I would never have sold it. My wife also loved it and we have a standing agreement that if we see a good one cheap we'll get it.
I bought it as a daily and unfortunately it's really not ideal for a daily. If I had had a garage at the time and the ability to keep a second car I would never have sold it. My wife also loved it and we have a standing agreement that if we see a good one cheap we'll get it.
I had the Coupe version of one of these, also had an MR2 roadster.
The Smart was easily my favourite car I've owned so far (but also the worst).
Despite its' flaws I loved it.
They're cheap to run, great fun to drive, and a little different to the norm.
Everyone seems to bh about the gearbox but I didn't find it nearly as bad as made out, however granted it culd be far better, although a standard manual would be best.
The Smart was easily my favourite car I've owned so far (but also the worst).
Despite its' flaws I loved it.
They're cheap to run, great fun to drive, and a little different to the norm.
Everyone seems to b
h about the gearbox but I didn't find it nearly as bad as made out, however granted it culd be far better, although a standard manual would be best. Sycamore said:
I had the Coupe version of one of these, also had an MR2 roadster.
The Smart was easily my favourite car I've owned so far (but also the worst).
Despite its' flaws I loved it.
They're cheap to run, great fun to drive, and a little different to the norm.
Everyone seems to bh about the gearbox but I didn't find it nearly as bad as made out, however granted it culd be far better, although a standard manual would be best.
Did you really prefer it to the MR2? In the market for a small roadster and had discounted the smart.The Smart was easily my favourite car I've owned so far (but also the worst).
Despite its' flaws I loved it.
They're cheap to run, great fun to drive, and a little different to the norm.
Everyone seems to b
h about the gearbox but I didn't find it nearly as bad as made out, however granted it culd be far better, although a standard manual would be best. Luke. said:
Did you really prefer it to the MR2? In the market for a small roadster and had discounted the smart.
I also prefer it to my MR2 Roadster; really disliked the engine. Had a lot of work done on it - started off as a pre-facelift car and ended up with an engine out of a 2005 MR2 with a few tweaks, but was still hugely underwhelming. I think it was just too linear - you can rev the nuts off it but it just felt a bit pointless to me, probably be a lot better with a 2ZZ. You can be more of a hooligan in the MR2 - the Smart Roadster has more intrusive traction control - but then again it's not like you can do huge powerslides with 130bhp or whatever it has (unless it's raining or greasy, then it's a lot more fun).
Just prefer the torque of the Smart, the sounds it makes and the fact I can put the roof up or down at whatever speed I want. Plus cheaper tax, insurance (for me), fuel, and, from what I've seen so far, parts.
I'd say definitely try one, and also get the owner to drive it as well - in theory you can then see what the gearbox could be like if they know how to drive it properly. I'm sure plenty of people have tried it, seen the worst side and gone away without ever realising what it could be like.
Then again you may hate it, but nothing to lose from having a go of both.
Luke. said:
Sycamore said:
I had the Coupe version of one of these, also had an MR2 roadster.
The Smart was easily my favourite car I've owned so far (but also the worst).
Despite its' flaws I loved it.
They're cheap to run, great fun to drive, and a little different to the norm.
Everyone seems to bh about the gearbox but I didn't find it nearly as bad as made out, however granted it culd be far better, although a standard manual would be best.
Did you really prefer it to the MR2? In the market for a small roadster and had discounted the smart.The Smart was easily my favourite car I've owned so far (but also the worst).
Despite its' flaws I loved it.
They're cheap to run, great fun to drive, and a little different to the norm.
Everyone seems to b
h about the gearbox but I didn't find it nearly as bad as made out, however granted it culd be far better, although a standard manual would be best. I think they are great. Look like nothing else, different approach to engine etc.
My parents had one. That gearbox is flawed, but it was so much fun and with lots of character it didn't matter.
Before they got rid of it I checked you couldn't drop a different engine and gearbox in, but couldn't find a solution that was anything but very difficult.
My parents had one. That gearbox is flawed, but it was so much fun and with lots of character it didn't matter.
Before they got rid of it I checked you couldn't drop a different engine and gearbox in, but couldn't find a solution that was anything but very difficult.
Edited by covmutley on Tuesday 30th January 22:05
I bought one in November for shedding and light restoration, I would strongly advise you not to chuck I into corners like a budget Elise, they are set up to under steer a lot. So far it has been enjoyable, changing the lower sparkplugs is a clam off job but the rest of servicing is very convenient. Good luck with her!
Thanks all.
Bit surprised by all the positive comments, I thought it'd be more polarising.
It'd probably understeer more in the hands of others, but I find it pretty good on that front - as said have already covered 15k miles in it so have got to grips with most of its foibles.
It's probably more of a 9/10ths car though - push it to the limit and it all gets a bit ragged. Stay a bit below and it's really rather fun - it's so narrow that you can really thrash it on a b-road and still have plenty of space to move over where necessary, and then you look at the speedo and you're doing 50 something mph. Makes me laugh, seems like the ideal car for speed camera mad Britain.
Unlike the Lotus I've got no real desire to take it on track though.
Since buying it have made a few changes, including the speakers and stereo, as I also seem to spend a fair bit of time stuck in traffic. The old setup seemed to be missing something...
Have fitted new discs and pads (£40!), new Toyo tyres (considered going with something like the AD08s I was running on my old car but it already seems a bit over tyred for a car with 80bhp), new brake lines and rear brake cylinders, new dampers, a full service and a couple of new light bulbs. Plus an MOT. Fair bit of work but then again I will go buying cars worth the same as a sofa.
After that lot, I believe it owes me somewhere in the region of £600. Which although not insubstantial for a shed, didn't seem too bad considering I've spent more than that on dampers alone previously. It's a bill that's also easily covered by the saving in fuel and tax over the Lexus IS or my 28mpg Cooper S, both of which seemed to throw up much bigger bills on top (you don't want to know how much some garages quote to supply and fit an electronic steering rack for an IS 250!!).
Will keep updating as I go regardless.
Bit surprised by all the positive comments, I thought it'd be more polarising.
It'd probably understeer more in the hands of others, but I find it pretty good on that front - as said have already covered 15k miles in it so have got to grips with most of its foibles.
It's probably more of a 9/10ths car though - push it to the limit and it all gets a bit ragged. Stay a bit below and it's really rather fun - it's so narrow that you can really thrash it on a b-road and still have plenty of space to move over where necessary, and then you look at the speedo and you're doing 50 something mph. Makes me laugh, seems like the ideal car for speed camera mad Britain.
Unlike the Lotus I've got no real desire to take it on track though.
Since buying it have made a few changes, including the speakers and stereo, as I also seem to spend a fair bit of time stuck in traffic. The old setup seemed to be missing something...
Have fitted new discs and pads (£40!), new Toyo tyres (considered going with something like the AD08s I was running on my old car but it already seems a bit over tyred for a car with 80bhp), new brake lines and rear brake cylinders, new dampers, a full service and a couple of new light bulbs. Plus an MOT. Fair bit of work but then again I will go buying cars worth the same as a sofa.
After that lot, I believe it owes me somewhere in the region of £600. Which although not insubstantial for a shed, didn't seem too bad considering I've spent more than that on dampers alone previously. It's a bill that's also easily covered by the saving in fuel and tax over the Lexus IS or my 28mpg Cooper S, both of which seemed to throw up much bigger bills on top (you don't want to know how much some garages quote to supply and fit an electronic steering rack for an IS 250!!).
Will keep updating as I go regardless.
Edited by pthelazyjourno on Wednesday 31st January 17:38
If you have the standard radio etc, you can buy a cable online for ~£10 which you just plug into the back and feed back into the cabin giving a simple 3.5mm Aux connection for a phone etc.
Join up on the site Evilution. membership was £10 a year and there are guides on how to do pretty much anything on pretty much any Smart car.
Join up on the site Evilution. membership was £10 a year and there are guides on how to do pretty much anything on pretty much any Smart car.
Sycamore said:
If you have the standard radio etc, you can buy a cable online for ~£10 which you just plug into the back and feed back into the cabin giving a simple 3.5mm Aux connection for a phone etc.
Join up on the site Evilution. membership was £10 a year and there are guides on how to do pretty much anything on pretty much any Smart car.
Thanks a lot. I think I used that for reference when changing the plugs on my ForTwo, didn't realise it was subscription. Seems worth it regardless, lots of useful info. Join up on the site Evilution. membership was £10 a year and there are guides on how to do pretty much anything on pretty much any Smart car.
Somebody had already changed the head unit for something with spangly blue lights, needed to change it as it was reflecting in the mirror from the rear window at night, kept thinking I was seeing emergency lights!
Luke. said:
Any more updates? Your post has really got me looking at these. In fact, I'm viewing three on Saturday.
What did you think of the ones you went to see? Love or hate... Always interested to hear first opinions, mainly because of the gearbox. Have done a few bits and bobs to the interior, will update at the weekend if it's nice and can take some pics. About 200 miles away from 100,000 miles, still running well.
Concentrating on my ForTwo at the moment, maybe I should add that to the thread, is time for me to fit the £35 worth of discs and pads!! If anybody thought the gearchange on the Roadster is bad, they should try my other Smart, time taken to change gear is measurable in rotations of the moon around the earth! That said it's another car that really amuses me, and although it's flawed there's so much to like about them too.
Luke. said:
Any more updates? Your post has really got me looking at these. In fact, I'm viewing three on Saturday.
Actually tell a lie, I do have the most minor of updates (and probably not in keeping with petrolhead mentality, as it's literally sticking stickers around the heater vents!). Before:
And after:
Granted, I think most of the difference is in the fact that I've actually cleaned it for the first time since I bought it!!
Also with new stereo. Just wanted something that had a similar screen colour and Bluetooth. Does the job, although quite a world away from the 13 speakers and Mark Levinson head unit in my last car...
Other updates include new seat covers, floor mats and hopefully the first wash of 2018, the excitement.
Stick with me, occasionally my threads are more exciting than sticker updates!! (This was previous fun project..):
I test drove one of this a couple of weeks back to see if I am sure I want to get one.
Was a fairly fun drive, the steering wasnt as light as people have made out to be honest and bloody ell it did feel nimble. This was a 82 hp bogo model so I'm hoping the Brabus is pokier, sharper and stiffer.
Just need to sell my car and hope to get one.
Keep the updates flowing, its good to see another person going through ownership as it provides insight into a future car for me
Was a fairly fun drive, the steering wasnt as light as people have made out to be honest and bloody ell it did feel nimble. This was a 82 hp bogo model so I'm hoping the Brabus is pokier, sharper and stiffer.
Just need to sell my car and hope to get one.
Keep the updates flowing, its good to see another person going through ownership as it provides insight into a future car for me
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