How well is the Smart Roadster aging

[2012SLK200]

I was in Otranto, southern Italy, about 2,000 km south of where this Smart Roadster's French plate hailed from. While I had read about the Roadster, this was the first time I saw one in the flesh.

I've never driven one, but wonder if anyone on this forum owns one and can say how they have aged.

When the Smart first came out, due to my work in New Zealand, Mercedes arranged to let me try a Four-Two out in London, as did BMW with the C-1 motorcycle which I took to Oxford and back. I was surprised how roomy the Four-Two was inside, but could not warm up to the styling, which looked like a Jelly Bean on wheels.

Eventually BMW sold us two of the C1's which were the best way to get around town, and the chairman of my board crash tested it by hitting a stopped car at 40 km/h (he walked away uninjured, the car he hit was a mess). In the end, I just could not stand the C1 variable speed transmission and sold it.

When the Roadster came out, while quirky, I liked the styling, cartoon-like, but fun. but I never got around to trying the most interesting of Germany's early attempts at solving traffic congestion.

Anyone own one now, or owned one in the past, and if so what were your impressions?

 

[markjay]

There's one local to me, 52 plate I believe, it would have teen too tiny for me but still every time I see it I think that it's a timeless design. I like it.

 

[Stratman]

I had a look at a Smart forum a while back, they refer to the coupe (and roadster) as an aquarium. Apparently they leak a bit.

 

[Gollom]

I was in Otranto, southern Italy, about 2,000 km south of where this Smart Roadster's French plate hailed from. While I had read about the Roadster, this was the first time I saw one in the flesh.

I've never driven one, but wonder if anyone on this forum owns one and can say how they have aged.

When the Smart first came out, due to my work in New Zealand, Mercedes arranged to let me try a Four-Two out in London, as did BMW with the C-1 motorcycle which I took to Oxford and back. I was surprised how roomy the Four-Two was inside, but could not warm up to the styling, which looked like a Jelly Bean on wheels.

Eventually BMW sold us two of the C1's which were the best way to get around town, and the chairman of my board crash tested it by hitting a stopped car at 40 km/h (he walked away uninjured, the car he hit was a mess). In the end, I just could not stand the C1 variable speed transmission and sold it.

When the Roadster came out, while quirky, I liked the styling, cartoon-like, but fun. but I never got around to trying the most interesting of Germany's early attempts at solving traffic congestion.

Anyone own one now, or owned one in the past, and if so what were your impressions?

View attachment 136929

Doesn't @Bobby Dazzler have one?

 

[Deleted member 126251]

I had a look at a Smart forum a while back, they refer to the coupe (and roadster) as an aquarium. Apparently they leak a bit.

At least it won’t rust. IIRC they are plastic bodies.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Bobby Dazzler will be along in a minute. Oh, and you could call Gordon Murray. (I don't have his number on me but he'll be "in the book.")

But I really don't need you to raise this wretched subject.

I'm perfectly happy with my wife's mk2.5 Mx5 and she would kill me if I went out and paid £4k to put one of these on the drive.


Ps there are rumours of leaks and fragile plastics.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I don’t have one at the moment but I am currently on the hunt for a very low mileage Brabus Roadster (ideally a Coupe) with FSSH. I would consider either body style and either colour, but I’ve been waiting patiently for a long while now

The very few times I’ve got excited about finding the right car have turned out to be a damp squib, with the FSH turning out to be 4 stamps over the course of 15 years. The engines are highly strung and demand maintenance to be reliable.

They’re a marmite car, you either love them or hate them. They all handle beautifully - whether Brabus or not - thanks to their light weight, but their size, turn of pace (or lack thereof), and slooooow transmission are very much an acquired taste.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I don’t have one at the moment but I am currently on the hunt for a very low mileage Brabus Roadster (ideally a Coupe) with FSSH. I would consider either body style and either colour, but I’ve been waiting patiently for a long while now
The very few times I’ve got excited about finding the right car have turned out to be a damp squib, with the FSH turning out to be 4 stamps over the course of 15 years. The engines are highly strung and demand maintenance to be reliable.

Two questions: what - to you - is the appeal of the Brabus over the Cooking Bitter version?

Gordon Murray was said to be doubtful of the benefits, quoting ride and a performance improvement only at the limits. Smart Roadster Brabus | Evo,

while Richard Porter loved his Brabus, even on London's mucky pock-marked streets: Smart Roadster Brabus | Evo

Beyond the engine issue, how has the rest of the Roadster Coupe "aged" by this point? Bodywork, interior, leaks .....?

(Using worked example of my twenty year old Mx5: an Mx5 ages "well," apart from the well-documented underbody rust issue)

(Cough) "Asking for a Friend."

 

[nyssa7]

I have 2, both Roadster Coupe, the ones with the glass hatch

one is a 80% complete restoration that will be spot-on when it’s complete, the other was a scruffy one picked up for £2k to be daily driver for commutes into London - it’s ULEZ free, then laterly the land of roundabouts (Milton Keynes)

the daily has been left outside for the year I’ve owned it, subject to monsoon weather, sat coveted in snow for a couple of weeks. Yes, there were a few drops of water inside, but I’ve had that with most soft tops I’ve owned, was never so bad I needed to leave a towel in the car

great fun on dual carriageways separated by roundabouts every half a mile or so, but gear box a little slow witted - I still left it to its own devices, you get used to it

feels far quicker than it is, mostly because the triple sounds like a 911 when being extended (all the time) and still averaged 50mpg over the year - does need super unleaded though

its VERY low, I’ve got an AMG GT, an Elise the smart and I’d swear the smart is the lowest. Was going to give it to my daughter-in-law to learn to drive but she couldn’t get used to the visibility out - the rear hatch is divided by a horizontal bar, and the thought of hoping the driving examiner could get in and out preyed on her mind, so I’ve bought her a 500 instead. Smart will soon be up for sale as I’ve gone electric for the daily run

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Two questions: what - to you - is the appeal of the Brabus over the Cooking Bitter version?

Gordon Murray was said to be doubtful of the benefits, quoting ride and a performance improvement only at the limits. Smart Roadster Brabus | Evo,

while Richard Porter loved his Brabus, even on London's mucky pock-marked streets: Smart Roadster Brabus | Evo

Beyond the engine issue, how has the rest of the Roadster Coupe "aged" by this point? Bodywork, interior, leaks .....?

(Using worked example of my twenty year old Mx5: an Mx5 ages "well," apart from the well-documented underbody rust issue)

(Cough) "Asking for a Friend."


View attachment 136952

View attachment 136953

The standard non-Brabus modes are the purest, and so it sweeter car, for example the steering isn’t so precise in the Brabus. The Brabus doesn’t really offer anything dynamically, and they’re both slow cars.

The Brabus appeals to me though because to my old eyes they look absolutely fantastic, and they have an air of “special” which might not be expected at the secondhand price point. They were expensive when they were new though.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

The standard non-Brabus modes are the purest, and so it sweeter car, for example the steering isn’t so precise in the Brabus. The Brabus doesn’t really offer anything dynamically, and they’re both slow cars.

The Brabus appeals to me though because to my old eyes they look absolutely fantastic, and they have an air of “special” which might not be expected at the secondhand price point. They were expensive when they were new though.

Thanks !

Understood that they're slow, but around a suburban semi-rural environment it's barely an issue in real life.

I'll let me know.....

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thanks !

Understood that they're slow, but around a suburban semi-rural environment it's barely an issue in real life.

I'll let me know.....

Being slow is part of the appeal. They handle surprisingly well though and can carry speed once it’s built up!

 

[ChipChop]

Lovely looking cars but from what i have read you need to take a few brave pills before you buy one. Water and complex electronic systems do not mix at all well. The below picture is what is required to replace the one piece wiring loom.

 

[BTB 500]

Being slow is part of the appeal. They handle surprisingly well though and can carry speed once it’s built up!

Amen to that. I always fancied the roadster but never got around to doing anything about it. Despite being 6' 1" I've always had a soft spot for small/slow cars. In my youth I had a Fiat 126 with just 23 bhp (600cc aircooled twin). It was a hoot to drive though ... low gearing meant it was decently quick away from traffic lights, and it cornered on rails. Overtaking was possible with a bit of care, and I even took it on a few camping trips (including to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone). Motorways were definitely not its strong point though



After that I owned a Mini, a Metro, a couple of Micras (first and second generation), and a Jazz. And I enjoyed thrashing them all mercilessly at relatively modest speeds

 

[Bellow]

Lesser engined (early, Suprex) smarts can have their upshifts made quicker by fitting the Brabus TIK and smoothing out the moulding frazes in the hard plastic induction pipes. Other than already having the larger TIK, the induction system on Brabus models is the same (bar the air to water intercooler) so should respond similarly. Downshifts are quickened by blipping the throttle.

The biggest problem associated with the interior water leaks is that the SAM gets damp and corrodes.
The Roadster engines (bar the lowest power (45kW) ones) are longer lived than their fortwo counterparts (which invariable need a rebuild by 50,000 miles). Many were remapped without hurting reliability or longevity. At 130hp, the con rods are the weakest link.

The 'flatter' the rear transverse arms are, the better a smart steers (achieved by lowering).

They (all early smarts) are cramped as hell to work on, will be turned away by many 'regular' garages, and ideally need a good indy who understands them. Alternatively, raid Evilution and FQ101 sites and brief a competent mechanic.

A Trustplug disables ABS/ESP. My one is yours BD when you find the right car.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

A Trustplug disables ABS/ESP. My one is yours BD when you find the right car.

Thank you

 

[markjay]

Amen to that. I always fancied the roadster but never got around to doing anything about it. Despite being 6' 1" I've always had a soft spot for small/slow cars. In my youth I had a Fiat 126 with just 23 bhp (600cc aircooled twin). It was a hoot to drive though ... low gearing meant it was decently quick away from traffic lights, and it cornered on rails. Overtaking was possible with a bit of care, and I even took it on a few camping trips (including to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone). Motorways were definitely not its strong point though

View attachment 136960

After that I owned a Mini, a Metro, a couple of Micras (first and second generation), and a Jazz. And I enjoyed thrashing them all mercilessly at relatively modest speeds

Mis-spaced plate???

 

[BTB 500]

Mis-spaced plate???

Possibly, but if so a cockup by whoever made them rather than intentional!