Should You Buy a SMART ROADSTER? (Test Drive & Review)

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  • čas přidán 29. 09. 2021
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    Today I'm in this 2005 Smart Roadster. Let's see what it's like.
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Komentáře • 581

  • @56Gumball
    @56Gumball Před 2 lety +60

    Fun fact: The roadster has two spark plugs per cyclinder (6 in total), has hill start, abs, anti skid, traction control and launch control. It was way ahead of its time and I thoroughly enjoyed mine back in the day, especially with an Evil Twin re-map which bought the power up to that of the Brabus version. Oh, and the gear box isn’t quite that bad, it just requires the user to adopt a different driving style. 😉

    • @Ralnon
      @Ralnon Před rokem +4

      Yes - you turn off automatic and hit 5000rpm before you change, I bloody loved my flappy paddle Roadster and miss it a LOT

    • @snafufubar
      @snafufubar Před 9 měsíci +3

      ​@@RalnonI had a Bluewave Coupe version. The paddles were great fun to use. Wish I had kept mine. Getting out sometimes required doing a commando roll. Such a good car we went to the local casino in it one night and the valet put it amongst all the super cars outside the door. 😮😅😅

    • @kimmccandless2099
      @kimmccandless2099 Před 9 měsíci

      Good video. Pity about the comment about Heather Mills !!

  • @jhunt823
    @jhunt823 Před 2 lety +92

    If Paul McCarthy is watching this I'm sure he chuckled..I nearly pissed myself..cracking line !

    • @HighPeakAutos
      @HighPeakAutos  Před 2 lety +9

      Haha that would be funny if he was a fan :)

    • @V7RNR
      @V7RNR Před 2 lety +7

      McCartney

    • @johnnunn8688
      @johnnunn8688 Před 2 lety +1

      @@V7RNR, did you know what he meant?

    • @martinwilson2660
      @martinwilson2660 Před 2 lety +7

      Apparently Paul McCartney treated Heather very well. At Christmas he bought her a plane, and a lady shave for the other leg. I’ll get me coat…

    • @jeffallinson8089
      @jeffallinson8089 Před 2 lety +3

      Paul who lol?

  • @iandeakin4503
    @iandeakin4503 Před 2 lety +112

    Hey mat ,nobody can say you don't have variety in your car reviews, one day an Audi rs6 avant the next a smart car. That's why I look forward to your videos, thanks mat.🙏

    • @HighPeakAutos
      @HighPeakAutos  Před 2 lety +5

      Very true!

    • @Czechbound
      @Czechbound Před 2 lety +2

      Yes. Always a very interesting mix of "real world" cars. The last super-car/ hyper-car video I watched ( about 2 years ago ) was the last one I'll ever watch. These more real world cars ( incl. the Bentley as that is doable if you work hard and save ) are much more interesting

  • @Alexander_l322
    @Alexander_l322 Před 2 lety +54

    I used to enjoy looking at these when I was younger and they were current. I think if they’d put a manual box in them then they’d have been far better, especially in the Brabus.

  • @qianjizhao
    @qianjizhao Před 2 lety +13

    It was my wife's first car, we had for about 4-5 years. It is a great fun car. Regarding the cup holder, there are 2 in the car. One of the CD tray has a rubber insert which is the cup holder and the other one, you need to fold the passenger seat.

  • @tikkathreebarrels
    @tikkathreebarrels Před 2 lety +15

    Cup holder exists: fold the passenger seat down and there it is in the middle of the seat back. Oh aye, the coupe gives a useful rear storage area above the tea tray.

  • @pfftt11
    @pfftt11 Před 2 lety +3

    Thanks for adding the litres per / 100km bit when you mention fuel economy. Appreciated

  • @Dubb1000
    @Dubb1000 Před 2 lety +1

    Love this guy's sense of humor, and the vid was really informative too. I had to subscribe.

  • @andyb190
    @andyb190 Před 2 lety +2

    Top review Mat. Loved the Aldi and Heather references. You have the ability 5o make me smile whilst considering buying a car the size of one of my slippers. 👌

  • @phil8437
    @phil8437 Před 2 lety +25

    Nearly bought one of these but ended up buying a Suzuki Cappuccino and never regretted it. The Suzuki is very well engineered, easy to service, rare and a blast to drive. Suzuki Cappuccino, 5 speed gearbox 0-60 in 8 seconds and top speed 90 mph.

    • @chrispenn715
      @chrispenn715 Před 2 lety

      Agreed - the Cappuccino is brilliant. I had one when they were current. Difficult to find now - and very expensive for a good one, which is why went for the Smart. The Suzukis can also rust badly......

    • @stuartday1876
      @stuartday1876 Před 2 lety

      Always wanted a Cappuccino when they came out years ago, they looked like a lot of fun! Can't be many good examples left by now I imagine.

    • @bmurphy737
      @bmurphy737 Před 2 lety +1

      I’ve owned both the Smart and Cappuccino (at different times). There’s no question: the Cappuccino is better in every respect and much better in most.

    • @InsanityRenn
      @InsanityRenn Před 2 lety

      So rare ive never seen one. Guessing they werent released in the UK?

    • @ferrumignis
      @ferrumignis Před měsícem

      ​@@InsanityRennOnly as grey imports. The biggest issue with the Cappuccino is they rust like a 1970s Lancia.

  • @marshahall69
    @marshahall69 Před 2 lety +8

    Hi Mat, decent enough generally well balanced review, nice to see. Roadsters came in two main variants, with either a black chassis, ( "Tridion" ), or silver which was a cost option ), Colours of the body panels, were "Jack black", "Shine yellow", ( as tested on your video), "Star blue", "Glance grey" and "Spice red" with "Speed silver' on the roadster only Speedsilver special edition of 2005. They were offered in both roadster and coupe for, with Brabus versions having a different engine with bigger turbo and charge cooler as well as suspension exhaust and styling differences and larger wheels amongst other minor differences. Generally they were sold however in the UK for a little longer than 2 years however, from 2003 to 2007. They came generally with an electric folding roof but could be spec'd with hardtop instead, ( gloss black or a matt "dimpled film" covered version. You could also buy a hardtop in a bag as an option with it's own carry bag but you also need the hardtop fitting kit. You were testing the basic "Light" version that only came in hardtop form with steel wheels no a/c dimpled steering wheel and base grey cloth seats. They also did other special editions, a "Speedsilver" in roadster form only non in coupe, in 2003/4 they produced the "Bluewave" in both coupe and roadster in Star blue with silver tridion only these had Brabus mono-bloc alloys Brabus twin exhaust and sport pack interior so and several versions including the Brabus variants as "Finale edition" which were 2006 to the end of production with colour coded body sections and fluted headlight covers. The rarest version was coupe only " Edition Red" that came with the Brabus style wheels and 3 spoke steering wheel but also had the quilted red diamond stitched seats and unique Ferrari red "Rosso Corsa" painted panels. It was however 80 not 101BHP spec. Coupes generally are worth around £1,000-£1,500 more than the standard roadster and are also rarer as less were made, Brabus versions are generally £1,500- 2,000 more than their equivalent standard versions. All standard cars could be spec'd with upgrades including "pack option", "Lux", "safety" and "sports", individually you could option, a/c electric mirrors, cruise control, auto-light, on board trip computer,3 spoke paddle shift steering wheel, sound pack etc. It was also for a while the case that you could also buy fitted genuine coupe and roadster waterproof vocoders from Mercedes Smart however they rapidly sold out ! A Full service for £200 !....with respect that seems remarkably cheap for a proper "c service" however so I assume it was just 6 plugs oil and filters done then and not a full service. All the engines it's with saying are cam chain not belt by the way and are different from the similar looking problematic 450 Fortwo engine. Price wise high mileage roadsters with average spec are around £2,500 to £4,000 for a sorted and decent example without issues, coupes from £3,500 to £6k currently. Low mileage examples that are mint can fetch a premium, but need to be properly sorted cars with preventative waterproofing works and gone through top to bottom. There are a lot of horrible examples around with worn suspension, rusty sumps, rusty abs rings, rusty turbo coolant pipes, water damaged SAM units, soaking wet carpets, damaged lights, noisy cam chains, leaking water pumps, iffy starter motors and alternators, ( which you have to be very careful getting a correct replacement ),...etc etc...and with no waterproofing work done. You certainly get what you pay for with them.£7,995 for the "Light" base car you have is also however, well a tad, optimistic to say the least, !, (despite the very low mileage),I really do wish you luck with that as although I see that more like tops £5k realistically at the moment, ...but ...if you get £7,995 that pushes the whole market up 25%+ ! ...(I imagine the owners clubs and forums will be in melt down however and trolling you about the price already, they normally do with any higher priced cars, not just Smarts though, the keyboard warriors love to slag of dealers ). Waterproofing work is generally straight forward to do and you did not mention this, sealing the wing mirrors and bulk head is as common fix. They are a cracking little car and the size is almost identical to an early 70's `Lotus Elan. Keep up the good work and best of luck selling your car.

  • @andrewgray1934
    @andrewgray1934 Před 2 lety +6

    The Heather Mills reference was pure class, do you prep your reviews if not you really have missed your calling. Keep up the excellent work.

  • @pashton76
    @pashton76 Před 2 lety +1

    I had one of these and loved it. So much fun. Light, and economical.

  • @Knapweed
    @Knapweed Před rokem

    Excellent review with just the right amount of humour. Good job!

  • @markjones5230
    @markjones5230 Před 2 lety +5

    Another great and witty review from you Matt. Always look forward to your reviews and always looking at what car stock you have.
    Keep up the excellent job and I think we car lovers would all love to see you as a presenter on one of the big shows !

  • @connorhalford2735
    @connorhalford2735 Před 2 lety

    Brilliant videos , love the variety of content 👍🏼👍🏼

  • @kevinwall795
    @kevinwall795 Před 2 lety +8

    Heather Mills....Very good!

  • @mikesear482
    @mikesear482 Před 2 lety +1

    I owned one of these in this colour. Loved every minute of it, on country roads it was fantastic

  • @DaveDVideoMaker
    @DaveDVideoMaker Před 2 lety +23

    The boot of the SMART Roadster is hilariously small.
    Jeremy Clarkson says it's a baking tray above the engine.

  • @MrSluby
    @MrSluby Před 2 lety

    Always a pleasure watching your channel. Love your dry sense of humour and variety of cars. Keep it up !

  • @Playford-garden-maintenance

    Mate I love your car reviews no one puts it better great videos

  • @bestfriendbayliss
    @bestfriendbayliss Před 2 lety +92

    Refreshing to see an honest, positive review of one of these. I’ve had mine for two years now and love it.
    Points of note:
    1. That gearbox - it actually doesn’t change any slower than a manual gearbox, we’re just conditioned to think a “tiptronic” type box should change instantly. Once you get that idea out of your head and approach changes as you would in a manual car it actually works very well. I never use mine in auto mode because it’s just bad and indecisive. Also worthy of note is that it’s a 3 speed box with overdrive on every gear, hence the 3rd to 4th change is fractionally slower than all the others.
    2. Acceleration - The headline figures are hindered somewhat by the gearbox when pulling away as it slips the clutch a touch if you floor it, and hindered more by the change from 3rd to 4th at about 58mph. In gear acceleration is absolutely fine.
    3. Motorway twitchiness - I’ve ditched the power steering in mine and it made a huge difference in that regard. I’ve also since fitted Eibach springs, Bilstein dampers and a stiffer ARB which improved things further, but removing the PAS is free and takes less than a minute so is well worthwhile. The steering is still lighter than on my X5 even with PAS removed as there’s very little weight over the front of the car.
    4. Servicing - Dead easy, even removing the rear bumper to replace all six plugs isn’t a major chore. Important to have the clutch aligned though and this requires MB Star software so go to a specialist for that once a year.
    5. Leaks - I have a hard and soft top for mine. The soft top doesn’t leak at all, the hardtop does leak. If anyone sees this and is thinking of buying one, PLEASE join the Evilution (not a typo) website and follow all the leak prevention guides, they’re invaluable, as is much of that site.
    6. Reliability - Gearboxes are strong, engines are reliable if maintained. Mine is on 140,000 miles - the engine has never been opened up and it’s still on its original clutch, it’s been serviced every 6000 miles from new, mostly by the previous owner and me, and has been totally reliable save for a dry solder in the SAM unit that was causing it to cut out - fixed for free, by me, on my kitchen table.

    • @HighPeakAutos
      @HighPeakAutos  Před 2 lety +8

      Thanks for the tips

    • @liberalmatt
      @liberalmatt Před 2 lety +2

      Agreed water ingress at top of A pillar is an issue with my targa top (said goodbye to the speakers). Good informative post, thanks.

    • @Valisk
      @Valisk Před 2 lety

      I never used the auto mode in mine, but there's no way "it actually doesn’t change any slower than a manual gearbox".

    • @liberalmatt
      @liberalmatt Před 2 lety +2

      @@Valisk yeah, I also use the manual up/down. Still feels like a delay engaging though. Other than the box and minor roof water leaks, it's a very underrated car and I love it for weekends.

    • @Valisk
      @Valisk Před 2 lety +1

      @@liberalmatt ​ @page 94 Mine was pretty trouble free over 80k, although it was nearly new when I got it. No leaks or failures, apart from the time the gearbox decided to completely stop selecting gears. It used to eat tyres - I went through several sets of the factory spec Bridgestones. I occasionally find myself looking at them on Autotrader - it was a fun car.

  • @northernhammer1414
    @northernhammer1414 Před 2 lety

    Thinking of getting one of these in January, lovely lil review

  • @defcon5i
    @defcon5i Před 2 lety

    Great presentation Matt as always.... always wondered if you prepare a script or it is all adlib straight off the cuff? Either way you have it nailed and have the perfect balance of knowledge, information and entertainment. Would be interesting to see a video of your camera set ups.

  • @Gmh6477
    @Gmh6477 Před 2 lety +3

    Gear shifts in these and the for2 can be massively improved by lifting off the throttle when changing gear.

  • @abstractgroove160
    @abstractgroove160 Před 2 lety

    Always really liked these. Not sure I'd want to own one, but I do crack a smile whenever I see one out and about. They just look really fun - too many cars take themselves too seriously.

  • @raymondhunt6109
    @raymondhunt6109 Před 2 lety

    Saw one of these in rural Wales this morning and then your video comes up.I didn't realize it was a Smart Roadster.

  • @philipread8733
    @philipread8733 Před 2 lety +1

    You’ve just confirmed my thoughts about the roadster. Great little car

  • @Freeedy
    @Freeedy Před 2 lety +4

    A friend lent me his Smart roadster for a week. I travelled all over the middle part of Vietnam in it. This car was great fun and so well built that it withstood every challenge I threw at it including speed and it coped just fine with the heat, humidity and the rough roads & hills. My wife & I packed our carry on wheely suitcase which just about fitted in the rear boot unfolded. The front boot was used for storing our shoes & other knick knacks. Well worth investing in one as a spare weekend plaything.

    • @joerith00
      @joerith00 Před rokem +1

      Hi, do you think it is also a good option as daily? Mainly for getting to work and back

    • @Freeedy
      @Freeedy Před rokem +1

      @@joerith00 Yes absolutely.

  • @sebastianpeter8197
    @sebastianpeter8197 Před 2 lety +3

    Finally i understand the mpg figure! Thanks for the conversion to L/100km

  • @5ebra1
    @5ebra1 Před 2 lety +1

    Thanks for providing us with such a varied feast.

  • @izzirosenberg9339
    @izzirosenberg9339 Před 2 lety

    You've got me thinking now. I'm tempted

  • @parvinkukar1259
    @parvinkukar1259 Před 2 lety

    Been looking forward for this review and totally agree with your comments after driving it my self

    • @HighPeakAutos
      @HighPeakAutos  Před 2 lety

      It’s good fun to drive but wouldn’t want to use it everyday

  • @charliedenholm4060
    @charliedenholm4060 Před 2 lety

    Another great video, have been seriously considering swapping my GTV T.Spark for a Brabus Roaster for a while now

  • @TheLeylander
    @TheLeylander Před 2 lety

    Great review , and I love my smart , very quirky and not everyone,s cup of tea , but I exactly agree with you , if you have one of these always try and make sure you use a smart specialist for servicing and repairs , and yes they will increase in value over time .
    Thanks again 👍

  • @JohnLyle
    @JohnLyle Před 2 lety +1

    i LOVE these and the Brabus is a proper future classic. it has a paddle change and genuinely feels quite quick.

  • @GrahamSmith-co8uy
    @GrahamSmith-co8uy Před rokem

    I've got a roadster with the paddle gear shift - and I think the gearbox mapping has been updated - no gear change lag at all, and it's immense fun. I agree with you about getting in and out, though... I have to fall into it... and getting out is almost comedic... Love the car - brilliant on country roads.

  • @calcuttaworks6398
    @calcuttaworks6398 Před rokem

    Great episode .. informative and genuinely funny . Thank you !

  • @scalecrawlnl
    @scalecrawlnl Před 2 lety

    Cool review of a rare car! Thank you very much for the video and all car variety, good fun👍😎

  • @martinhogg5337
    @martinhogg5337 Před 2 lety

    Learn and laugh! Great review with loads of useful information!

  • @cactus3796
    @cactus3796 Před 2 lety +2

    great video ! ive had the new shape smart forfour as my first car for a few months now and I love it! its the more powerful 89hp version and i think its really fun to drive ! it would be great if you did a video on one !

  • @toms_garage
    @toms_garage Před 2 lety

    Great video, love the yellow colour too!! I remember these from my youth.

  • @ademo5756
    @ademo5756 Před 2 lety

    I was actually checking your website the other day and saw this car, i was thinking to my self, I would actually like to see this car in your reviews :D

  • @LA-fr7fx
    @LA-fr7fx Před 2 lety +1

    The views/scenery in your videos are worth the viewing time alone 👍👍

  • @leebrown6623
    @leebrown6623 Před 2 lety

    Gotta be your best an most humorous review to date..I howled when you mentioned no where for your foot to go 🤣🤣 simply brilliant as ever

  • @BEGGARWOOD1
    @BEGGARWOOD1 Před 2 lety +1

    I owned two of these car, both coupes . Brilliant little things . The Brabus one is a great drive

  • @whitemoor66
    @whitemoor66 Před 2 lety

    Always liked these, particularly the quirky looks, but I was always put off by the gearbox. Looks great in this colour!

  • @Janshevik
    @Janshevik Před 2 lety

    Glad you are making also other cars than SUVs and executive cars.

  • @thekidskil
    @thekidskil Před 2 lety

    Need the Peugeot 407 Coupé review, 2.0 HDI Diesel is just fantastic.
    Cheers and thanks for the videos as always

  • @simonjugessur6936
    @simonjugessur6936 Před 2 lety +1

    Hey Matt. Great review- very polished.. you’re costing me a fortune- every time I see one of your reviews.. off to Auto Trader .. Thanks for reviewing cars that nobody thinks or talks about ..

  • @MrSidMuff
    @MrSidMuff Před 2 lety +1

    Had a Brabus example..101bhp, paddle gears etc. Fantastic car...really nippy and such good fun. Gearbox was remapped (making a huge difference), but the ride was shocking! I'd definitely have another!

  • @stevenpearson5658
    @stevenpearson5658 Před 2 lety

    Brilliant review as expected with lots of funny metaphors for good measure. You really should be on Top Gear!

  • @chrispenn715
    @chrispenn715 Před 2 lety +5

    Good review - Recently bought one and agree with your conclusions. The gearbox is slow, but with practice, you can make reasonably smooth and quick manual changes - which is quite satisfying. The other water leak issue is when when the engine management computer (SAM) gets damaged. It's under the dash on the drivers side and the cars are prone to water leaks through the scuttle. This was one of the expensive warranty claims when new and most cars were re-sealed, but this was never a complete fix and they are getting old now, so something to watch out for.Mine has the canvas electric roof, which I prefer as it can be opened and closed at any speed and takes up less room than the hardtop.

    • @ascelot
      @ascelot Před rokem

      There are fixes to leaky roofs though not sure if still can buy them, more of a fabric top, that attaches to the anchor points side top panels and covers the top of the car and strechy bands to keep it in place. Advised not to drive above 60mph if attached, defo fixed my water leaking issues.

    • @chrispenn715
      @chrispenn715 Před rokem

      @@ascelot Yes - that can help, but I understand they also had issues with the scuttle area - dealers had a fix process under warranty which involved lots of sealer in the heater inlet/wiper motor area. Mine's a second car, which I only use when the sun is out, so not too worried about leaks.....

    • @triax7006
      @triax7006 Před 6 měsíci

      Yeh the SAM unit get's damage from water as I discovered & had to send it away to be fixed. Wipers would run all the time & then other things went so the SAM unit had to be fixed. They are fun cars & still have mine & hope to get it back on the road soon.

  • @edward1591
    @edward1591 Před 2 lety +6

    I wish they''d stuck with it! The principles of the Smart Roadster are still the way forward - lots of accessible fun in the real world. I've heard McLarens described as a Lotus turned up to 11, but what we actually need is a Lotus turned up to 7...Like this!

  • @DBCSgaming
    @DBCSgaming Před 2 lety

    Brilliant video ...

  • @stephandolby
    @stephandolby Před 2 lety

    One of my old bosses had a red one of these. He used to drive down from Northumberland to Leeds, stay over two or three nights for work, and then drive back. Must be interesting driving one of those things up and down the A1 for two hours at a time. He also owned a couple of old Discos, quite the contrast.

  • @kurtgoar519
    @kurtgoar519 Před 2 lety +1

    Very cool,,
    All the best from A.J. Arizona USA..
    Congratulations on all your success ,
    I recall the first review I watched,
    Not surprised of your viewership is always on the rise, Thank you for your interesting views and humorous
    Way we all look at buying, cars..
    Kh

    • @HighPeakAutos
      @HighPeakAutos  Před 2 lety

      Thank you! Blows my mind that people are watching from all over the world. Cheers

  • @danielbirch9590
    @danielbirch9590 Před 2 lety

    I have just seen this on your website about an hour and was surprised that you hadn't filmed with it... but you never let me down! Here I am

    • @HighPeakAutos
      @HighPeakAutos  Před 2 lety +1

      Hahah Or am I just predictable

    • @danielbirch9590
      @danielbirch9590 Před 2 lety

      @@HighPeakAutos not predictable, at least your use of similes isn't! I'd love to get your view on a classic Mini, I have a 1991 rover mini and I love it

  • @70053morayfirth
    @70053morayfirth Před 2 lety +1

    We had two of these, the second one a Brabus. Fantastic car in every way, beautifully made. I never noticed the pedal problem - obviously it did not affect me. But a new tyre for the Brabus was £150!! Definitely a future classic but try to get the Brabus version. You soon get used to the gearbox.

  • @garymartin557
    @garymartin557 Před 2 lety

    The Aldi special buy quip made me smile just as much as the Heather Mills one!

  • @liberalmatt
    @liberalmatt Před 2 lety +1

    Yes! Got the Brabus Roadster coupe with twin roof panels. Gearbox is slow, but it's a pocket rocket given the power to weight.

  • @Czechbound
    @Czechbound Před 2 lety +2

    If you do an old skool Twingo, then you'll have covered my 2 favourite small cars

  • @mguuu813
    @mguuu813 Před 2 lety

    Well done Matt, great video as usual, you could make a labour politician sound interesting!! 👍👍

  • @S-Ltd1000
    @S-Ltd1000 Před 2 lety +2

    I had a really nice Brabus Xclusive coupé for a couple of years. It was good fun and pretty quick having been remapped to about 120bhp with an aftermarket filter, ported throttle body and a forge dump valve. Flappy paddles were standard on the Brabus and mine also had a ridiculously expensive V6 Raid steering wheel which transformed the feel of the car. Gear change was actually pretty quick in my car and never bothered me though ride comfort was feckin harsh, akin to driving a skateboard with seats! The expensive monoblock alloys were prone to damage and had me constantly scanning the road for potholes which was tiresome. You are right about the specialist aspect which is a bit of a pita as the nearest to me was 25 miles away. As a result I never found it that cheap to run and hefty bills await even for mundane little jobs due to the access to the mechanicals. The clutch and turbo aren't a cheap fix either. I ran mine alongside a Eunos roadster which I still have. Ultimately the Mazda is a better drivers car, way more reliable and cheaper to maintain.

  • @iandonkin6762
    @iandonkin6762 Před 2 lety +6

    The coupe is my choice (I’ve owned 5), and they are a hoot to drive. That hard-top is worth a fortune nowadays, yet used to be the poverty-spec option; if the SAM unit wasn’t so vulnerable and they didn’t leak so badly, they’d be perfect.
    Still an awesome car and glad to see you being enthusiastic about it. The gearbox ain’t that bad though!

    • @Brebgon
      @Brebgon Před 2 lety

      Why did you own 5?

  • @EdgyNumber1
    @EdgyNumber1 Před 16 dny

    This was on my list of convertibles to own. FYI, I chose the Tigra Twintop.
    ● Mazda MX5
    ● Smart Roadster
    ● Merc SLK
    ● Vauxhall Tigra Twintop
    ● Renault (can't remember the name - not Megane)
    ● Ford Street Ka
    Each had their limitations but the Tigra ticked all the practicality boxes and so far, its lasted me for 14 years. It still runs today. 👍
    /Discuss

  • @robwalker9657
    @robwalker9657 Před 2 lety

    I've got one and they handle superbly.....flappy paddles are a must imo and you get used to gearbox n change gear a little earlier

  • @paulkennedy477
    @paulkennedy477 Před 2 lety +1

    Great script this week. Mat....... the Heather Mills gag had me gasping and slapping my desk.... hilarious! I haven't heard her referenced in years and the dead pan delivery was perfect. You are a talented presenter compared to the usual 'content providers in the CZcams motoring universe. Keep it up.

  • @spaccaboy
    @spaccaboy Před 2 lety +3

    Ahhh I sold my Brabus Coupe this year - drove it for 3 years, had THE most fun in it as a school run car. Sold it for the same money I bought it for. Build quality was not great but the styling on the outside made it a truly interesting and unique car to own. Why they didn't pursue the develop the platform is beyond me, the handling was amazing but the suspension was horrifically hard and speed bumps were something to make my blood run cold. Gearbox on mine was pretty good once you got used to it. Brabus alloys have to be the worst alloys every, as fragile as it gets.

  • @HowardMessias
    @HowardMessias Před 2 lety

    I once installed an alarm/remote start in one, I still remember the pain plus the high door sill digging into my side.

  • @andypeebles2242
    @andypeebles2242 Před 2 lety

    Heather Mills....brilliant! Wiping tea off my keyboard now

  • @LA-fr7fx
    @LA-fr7fx Před 2 lety

    Thank you!

  • @terencerollins7917
    @terencerollins7917 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Matt - I bought one, off the back of your recommendation. I have a bright red, silver retractable elec. roof version, with removable bars (under 45k miles). Thought my daughter would absolutely love It and the cheap insurance/running costs were a plus. I thought she'd be so excited. Sadly - I was so wrong. She wants a Fiat 500. She says she don't like being so low to the ground. Not happy but will probably give in, but preferably to a Toyota.

  • @azer66
    @azer66 Před 2 lety

    I used to own one of these 13 years ago. It was so fun! Wish it had more HP though

  • @roberttaylor6295
    @roberttaylor6295 Před 9 měsíci

    Great review that nearly competes with Twin Cam!
    Rob

  • @JustTrumpeeh
    @JustTrumpeeh Před 2 lety

    Love these types of videos. No rush, but Suzuki Cappuccino next?

  • @stevespindler4956
    @stevespindler4956 Před 2 lety

    I have one and totally love it but only as a 2nd car

  • @Yorkshiremadmick
    @Yorkshiremadmick Před 2 lety

    Mrs has a 2005 Roadster (fabric roof) can open and close that at 80mph. We had a boot bag (off my SL)
    that made it an everyday tourer. Economical too.

  • @camillawilliams3954
    @camillawilliams3954 Před 2 lety

    “Tectonic plates are faster”.You made my day 😂.

  • @jlmfoy365
    @jlmfoy365 Před 2 lety

    Good review Matt, although I was looking for the shoehorn to get my bfa into that seat, also where do you put the dog and fishing tackle ( important questions )😁. Look forward to your next video. Regards Jim.

  • @Hamish2016
    @Hamish2016 Před 2 lety

    Hi m8 a have just bought myself a yellow smart roadster coupe 2004 one owner, love ❤ 😍 it ,remapped to 116bhp

  • @ifyouarefeelingsinister

    The Aldi comment was spot on. Amazing

  • @paulscott4950
    @paulscott4950 Před 2 lety

    great fun to drive (felt like Michael Shoomacher with the flappy paddles), surprisingly practical if you had a coupe - but by god, it was riddled with electrical problems

  • @GixxerZilla
    @GixxerZilla Před 2 lety

    I had one of these when they first came out. Managed to get it sideways on the first corner. Good times

  • @kevinrowlands6753
    @kevinrowlands6753 Před 2 lety

    Best car channel by far

  • @happyhermit2022
    @happyhermit2022 Před 2 lety

    " Heather Mills "🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 A Smart Specialist can play with the chip really smoothing out the hesitant gear changes. Great review thank you 👍

  • @viduransivakumar3192
    @viduransivakumar3192 Před 2 lety +2

    You've got to feature more 2 seat sports cars on the channel. How about the Honda S2000 or a different gen MX5?

  • @DoughnutsInspace
    @DoughnutsInspace Před 2 lety

    After driving 1 of the first Smart cars to enter the UK (left hand drive) I would say 12 seconds to change gear is overly generous, plus I found when it did decide to change gear it was so jerky you nearly hit the windscreen when it disengaged a gear, then when it felt like engaging the next gear it would throw your head backwards. I believe the headrest was classed as a safety feature to stop whiplash every time it finally did change up or down a gear. Fun car to drive though.

  • @skeblehask4353
    @skeblehask4353 Před 2 lety

    I have 2 all black smart roadsters at the moment, I'm 18 and they were my first and second cars done about 30k miles between them and its safe to say I love em!

    • @skeblehask4353
      @skeblehask4353 Před 2 lety

      I've found that there faster than almost all other people first cars e.g. mk7/6 fiestas, corsas, yaris and many more

  • @stuartwhite24
    @stuartwhite24 Před 2 lety +1

    Great video matt I wouldn't mind a smart roadster but already got a smart fortwo 2010 and a bmw 730i e65 little and large lol know what you mean about the parked behind a rangerover happens to Me all the time lol

  • @stephenbibby8650
    @stephenbibby8650 Před 2 lety +3

    I recently took my SLK in for a service and the garage gave me a Smart car as a courtesy car. I can honestly say in my 40 plus years of driving it was the most frightening experience I’ve had driving a car . However it did start to grow on me and I can see the appeal of these little cars .

    • @greenbunnyinabongo7299
      @greenbunnyinabongo7299 Před 2 lety

      Sounds like you may have exited the garage with a beige driving seat but returned it with a brown

    • @stephenbibby8650
      @stephenbibby8650 Před 2 lety

      @@greenbunnyinabongo7299 lol. Not quite a change of boxers experience but certainly one of the most interesting driving experiences I have had.

  •  Před 2 lety +1

    I was wondering if you had any experience with GLKs? Also, appreciate the liters/100km :D

  • @Haroosh20
    @Haroosh20 Před 2 lety

    my friend had one many years ago and it was great fun except for that horrendous gearbox. You are spot on that it just ruins the fun and was the only real let down on an otherwise superb little car. I just couldn't live with the lag in the gearbox on a day to day basis :-(

  • @ColonelBobfed
    @ColonelBobfed Před 2 lety

    First time I saw spotted one of these at a dealership as a lad, by Bartley Water in Totton it was, I said out loud "Ooh I'll have one of those when I'm older!".
    Still got a soft spot for these but even with its small size I ain't got the space.

  • @MaximilianvonPinneberg
    @MaximilianvonPinneberg Před 2 lety +1

    I loved these when they launched. But prefer the glassback version. Being 2m tall I can actually fit in it. I always thought these would be a future classic.

  • @DaveDVideoMaker
    @DaveDVideoMaker Před 2 lety +2

    Review of the Nissan Note and Ford B-Max please.

  • @TheNetMY
    @TheNetMY Před 2 lety

    "A future classic"... I like that! 😉

  • @hairymonster2000
    @hairymonster2000 Před 2 lety

    We had a 2000 reg Smart Passion diesel and found it a great fun car. Keep the turbo on low boost and could get 100 mpg - Sheffield to Skegvegas and back on 9 litres. Weston on Donkey and back on a tank. Talk about space, it's a tardis. My Mom used to go to Skeg for a couple of months and packed accordingly. Food, bedding (including pillows), curtains, basic gardening tools, suitcases, pans ..........., it all went in (with some creative packing lol).
    Only problem we had was when we took it to our local Merc/Smart agent for it's final warranty service. Charged us 2 hours at £75 per hour plus service items. Cost over £200 in 2003 and they didn't know how to service it. Yep, they told us Smart don't do a diesel and the service manager kept telling us we were wrong. It came out rattling like a tin can when we picked it up and they wanted to charge us to see what the problem was. I think you can guess what our reply was. Similar problems when we had a new Skoda. Never used a main dealer since and never will again. Specialists live or die by the quality of their work, main agents don't.
    Nice videos, keep up the good work.

  • @danpaul4975
    @danpaul4975 Před 2 lety +1

    Coffee out of my nose when you said Heather Mills!

  • @ramalufc322
    @ramalufc322 Před 2 lety

    Funnier than usual, which is very much a compliment 😂