Smart Roadster
Author
Discussion

djsitruc

Original Poster:

6 posts

78 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
Hi all this is my 1st post so please be gentle.
I have just purchased a smart roadster (for fun) & while I am enjoying it I can’t believe the noise the wind makes when the roof is closed. Yeah I expected some but at 70+ it sounds like a hurricane blowing through. Is there a deflector or something that can be added to the roof to reduce this? Or anything?
Many thanks in advance.

Pericoloso

44,044 posts

181 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
The fit of the roof panels isn't great on these ,might be an idea to see if it's watertight too.

djsitruc

Original Poster:

6 posts

78 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
It’s the retractable roof, had no water ingress so far just wind noise. 🤷‍♂️

DMN

3,036 posts

157 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
When I had mine I bought some door insulation foam and ran it along the inside where the rood buts up against. It made a big difference in noise.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

208 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
djsitruc said:
Hi all this is my 1st post so please be gentle.
I have just purchased a smart roadster (for fun) & while I am enjoying it I can’t believe the noise the wind makes when the roof is closed. Yeah I expected some but at 70+ it sounds like a hurricane blowing through. Is there a deflector or something that can be added to the roof to reduce this? Or anything?
Many thanks in advance.
Head over to here for Roadster stuff:
http://www.theroadster.net/trc/

At 70mph plus the car is fairly noisy compared to many modern hatchbacks. If there is excessive wind noise, then it sounds like something isn't seated correctly or a seal is worn.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 29th April 13:07

djsitruc

Original Poster:

6 posts

78 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
DMN said:
When I had mine I bought some door insulation foam and ran it along the inside where the rood buts up against. It made a big difference in noise.
Ta, I’ve just ordered some and I’ll give it a go.
:whoohoo:

biggbn

28,301 posts

238 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
Great choice, hugely envious

kuro

1,629 posts

137 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
The roof will be the least of your worries. smile

andy43

11,949 posts

272 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
2000, 3000, 4000...

andy43

11,949 posts

272 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
... wait for it...

andy43

11,949 posts

272 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
...aaaaand 3rd smile


Gummi fplege rubber conditioner for the roof seals helped a bit on our Smart - makes them more flexible.

djsitruc

Original Poster:

6 posts

78 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
Yeah the gear changes are................?
Interesting! Lol

kuro

1,629 posts

137 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
djsitruc said:
Yeah the gear changes are................?
Interesting! Lol
My Brabus is actually quite good in that respect but I only use the paddle shift, auto mode is useless.

If you haven't already I suggest you join the roadster owners club on facebook. Some very knowledgeable members on there.

MarJay

2,179 posts

193 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
Lorries + Smart Roadster gearbox + roundabouts = .... err... How do I put it diplomatically? Interesting.

djsitruc

Original Poster:

6 posts

78 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
Thanks for that I will do.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

208 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
MarJay said:
Lorries + Smart Roadster gearbox + roundabouts = .... err... How do I put it diplomatically? Interesting.
Nope not at all, it just about learning to drive the car.

Either make sure you are rolling in the correct gear and roll onto the throttle. Or if stopped, make sure you manually have got it to select 1st, even a slow roll in auto might keep it in 2nd. Then also only roll onto the throttle.

If you plant it, it'll effectually pressed the clutch pedal, then increase the revs, then re-engage the clutch, this all takes time. If it's in 2nd and a slow roll, it'll do the same, but will have first moved you a few feet forward before doing this.

Gently roll onto the throttle to prevent this and it will pull away more than quick enough for a roundabout without trying to get the revs up first.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

208 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
djsitruc said:
Yeah the gear changes are................?
Interesting! Lol
Just drive it like a manual. I.e. when you would change up or down in a manual car, as in the point you'd start to push the clutch pedal down. Just pull or push the gear stick in the Roadster at this same moment. And it'll perform the gearchange generally quicker than a human would in a manual.

Banging the lever the instant you need the next cog will be too late, you need to initiate the gearchange process, so that it changes ready for when you require it.

It's really quite simply, but requires a bit of effort.


i.e. think of it like this




time --------------------->


Manual car:


I want to change gear --- move foot to pedal-move hand to gear stick----*push pedal down and lift throttle---move gearstick to required gear---smoothly lift foot up on clutch pedal and depress throttle**-----


You need to move the gearstick (or paddles) in the Roadster at the first asterisk *, if you wait until the second asterisk ** it will be too late. But so many people think a sequential shift box should be driven like a PS4/Xbox game.

kuro

1,629 posts

137 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
djsitruc said:
Thanks for that I will do.
Which model have you got?

anonymous-user

72 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
djsitruc said:
Yeah the gear changes are................?
Interesting! Lol
Just drive it like a manual. I.e. when you would change up or down in a manual car, as in the point you'd start to push the clutch pedal down. Just pull or push the gear stick in the Roadster at this same moment. And it'll perform the gearchange generally quicker than a human would in a manual.

Banging the lever the instant you need the next cog will be too late, you need to initiate the gearchange process, so that it changes ready for when you require it.

It's really quite simply, but requires a bit of effort.


i.e. think of it like this




time --------------------->


Manual car:


I want to change gear --- move foot to pedal-move hand to gear stick----*push pedal down and lift throttle---move gearstick to required gear---smoothly lift foot up on clutch pedal and depress throttle**-----


You need to move the gearstick (or paddles) in the Roadster at the first asterisk *, if you wait until the second asterisk ** it will be too late. But so many people think a sequential shift box should be driven like a PS4/Xbox game.
So the gearbox is basically flawed and you have to learn how to drive round it's issues?

Baldchap

9,252 posts

110 months

Monday 29th April 2019
quotequote all
I had a Brabus Coupe for several years.

As long as you accept it will never be fast (a standard Brabus beat all the mapped ones at Santa Pod - the aftermarket flashes are utter tosh despite what the ownership community will tell you) and the handling is massively flawed, they can be quite fun.

As far as the gearbox, you can pop the clutch actuator out and clean and lubricate it and it can make an appreciable difference. Maps can improve the gearchange, but the power delivery gets mega peaky and the driveability goes.

As far as mapping goes, I followed my own car in a mapped one once (across multiple countries - not a five minute jaunt) and I was absolutely thrashing it for 12 hours - afterwards the driver of mine claimed to be going steady.