Smart Roadster

[Butuz]

Took one for a drive on Saturday.



All i can say is.... WOW!!! Its just sooooooo much fun to drive. Its not fast in a straight line by any means, but round the twisty stuff it'll kane so much stuff its unbelieveable. You got your ass skimming across the floor its so low, you can turn the traction control off and get the back end way sidewards, its mid engined rear wheel drive, its just a proper sports car on a budget.

Ok its pretty expensive, starts at 12k (left hooker) goes to 15k for all the doodas right hooker but its still a huge amount of fun for the cash. Most fun ive ever had in a car (driving it i mean *ahem*)

700CC 3-Cil Turbo, 80BHP, tuneable to over 100 easily, semi auto 6 spd box with padleshifts, 100% fun!

Im gonna take one out for a day now i loved it so much, makes my 2.0 focus feel like driving a double decker bus! I wonder how much they'll gimme part ex...?

Oh, and if you cane it it gives a nice loud Impretza-like twitter from the wastegate every time you lift off hard or change gear

Butuz

[CocoPops]

They look like a lot of fun, but how much room is there?

[[GSV]Trig]

For the money theres gotta b something better than that tbh...

[CocoPops]

yeah, buts it what you want isn't it.
I suppose in the same price bracket you've got the Ford StreetKA, not sure what else.

[headbrace]

I suppose its up against the street ka, the copen, and mebbe that new suzuki when it comes out. Is the gearbox as terrible as its supposed to be?

[Lowe]

Semi auto box lets it down big style, plus 80-100bhp? Not enough imho. I'm sure it's fun, but for 15k I'd be expecting a whole lot more car..

[Shad]

Yeah as Lowe said, the gearbox is a disaster. Remember when Top Gear had it on? Gearbox let it down big time...

But it's on my top 5 list so it must be doing something right

[Butuz]

True, the gearbox lets the car down badly, but its still a huge improvement over the previous smarty gearbox, its at least 2 to 3 times as fast to change.

But yes, slap a 5 speed box and a clutch in there and its a helluva car and that would drop 2+ seconds off the 0-60 time too.

The gearbox still doesnt take away that much from the sheer fun factor tho

Butuz

[wilsonian]

all i can say is rip off - you might as well get a hair dresser MX-5 etc, 15k is alot of money for only 80Bhp!

you could get a second hand TVR Chimera starting from £12k!

i know which one i'd rather have!

[RocketmanX]

What is it ???

No offense but that's one of the ugliest cars I've ever seen. Although I do like the unique look, it's just not very attractive, IMO.

[[GSV]Trig]

Yeah but your 'merican what would you know

[Lowe]

Nah, Rocket's right they look pants.

Rocket, they're a small car for cities.... small 700cc turbocharged engine. Easy to park, easy to fix cos the body panels are fibre glass etc. Good fun, but NOT cheap since they're made by Mercedes.

[RocketmanX]

but NOT cheap since they're made by Mercedes.

Shoulda' known
Never saw a Mercedes I liked

I DO like BMW's though

BTW Trig, we have the oposite opinion of European Auto taste, anything we find ugly you guys love

Sounds like a smart car though, the Honda Insight, Gas/Electric hybrid car is gaining popularity here. We have 2 running around our small town of 12,000 people.

Speaking of different cars, just left the auction park where the big auction's getting setup to start tomrrow.
Got to see a new Chrysler Crossfire, pretty cool car, has a little pop up spoiler below the rear window.

[Raz316]

wierd looking car, not sure if I like it, but I'd love to give it a run around

and the crossfire looks luuuurvly!

[Maldonado]

but how much are...


vx220's
westfields
nobles

and second hand:
evo's
scooby's

etc. etc.

[TomWilko]

For £15k i would expect sooo much more

*cough*



*cough*

Not a bad little car tho, if it was sitting at a much lower price bracket