smart roadster... the car it should have always been?

[Du1point8]

If only this was based upon the Brabus version with the proper boot:

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3515287.htm

seems a little expensive and not liking the lights.

But I bet its serious fun and quite a sleeper till the engine note can be heard.

Edit to add this is the profile of the roadster I prefer:

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1464055.htm

Edited by Du1point8 on Monday 13th February 15:57

[pidsy]

that would be fun!

similar to the Hyabusa kits available for the for2 smarts - famous video of "Diablo" a Busa engined smart destroying a fezza over 1/4 mile.

looking at getting a Brabus roadster at the moment, dont think i could throw that sort of money away though.

[iansumuk]

Wow, expensive! What's with the silly neons? Either it's a nice track car or not! Can't help noticing the electric roof has gone, that normally slides into the boot space, but no space for that any more, plus the gap through to the cabin is closed off. All that money and I believe you don't get a reverse gear? I might be wrong.

You'd get a well sorted Elise S1 for similar money.

[BertieWooster]

I owned a Roadster Coupe for about 18 months and it was great fun although things kept going wrong so it always felt like I was on borrowed time. I'd love a Brabus version at some point but would be wary about the reliability.

Bertie W

[trickywoo]

iansumuk said:

All that money and I believe you don't get a reverse gear? I might be wrong.

You'd get a well sorted Elise S1 for similar money.

You are wrong Still very expensive though.

"6 speed sequential plus reverse via Quaife differential"

[pidsy]

and it only comes with 3 months warranty...

not so sure about their own work?

[Du1point8]

The Crack Fox said:

I'd like a Roadster with a conventional petrol engine and 'box, maybe a little turbo, I wish someone would make one of those.

I always thought that maybe an RX7 motor would actually fit in there and that would be great fun.

[shandyboy]

Don't the bike-engined conversions eat clutches too?

It's not a massively expensive car to run in the first place but even so...

[Mr2Mike]

The Crack Fox said:

I'd like a Roadster with a conventional petrol engine and 'box, maybe a little turbo, I wish someone would make one of those.

They come with a conventional petrol engine and a small turbo. Unfortunately it's attached to the slowest robotised gearbox known to mankind.

[shandyboy]

Mr2Mike said:

They come with a conventional petrol engine and a small turbo. Unfortunately it's attached to the slowest robotised gearbox known to mankind.

How much experience have you of driving them, if you don't mind me asking?

[lockup]

shandyboy said:

Mr2Mike said:

They come with a conventional petrol engine and a small turbo. Unfortunately it's attached to the slowest robotised gearbox known to mankind.

How much experience have you of driving them, if you don't mind me asking?

I drove one and the gearbox killed the experience. It needs a manual.

[shandyboy]

lockup said:

I drove one and the gearbox killed the experience. It needs a manual.

Without sounding too much like 300bhp you need more than 'a drive' to get accustomed to the gearbox (I suppose you can argue that you shouldn't need to, but that's part of the fun of having a new car isn't it, getting used to it's foibles and learning how to get the most from it?)

I suspect that a lot of the most vehement detractors of the gearbox never actually drove one for any period of time, they just heard it from 'a mate' (not accusing you specifically here!)

Besides which, if it did have a manual 'box, you'd be forever changing gear which would get old very quickly. It's quite short-geared...