11 reasons why the Smart Roadster is hopeless

Posted on 07-04-2016 at 14:15 by willeme – 105 Comments”

We did some research for this cheeky little car.

You know. Some cars have on the internet a mythical status. Think of the uber-perfect Alfa 159. A car so good that Alfa felt compelled to that the 159 is not the successor to give. Because what you need after so much perfection. Today we take just a random car and see whether the status is or is not warranted.

Reasons enough for the Smart Roadster under the microscope. If a car is good for excessive plus signs, and thumbs-up, it is the Smart Roadster. The real car for the real connoisseur. At least, that you would think. For a small/light sports car is still áltijd well? MGB, Triumph Spitfire, Lotus Elan: we love them. We explored the us in the matter and came to the shocking conclusion…

Introduction:
Brief: the Smart Roadster was one of Jens will appear on the. He stood at the helm in the design of the car. The recipe was simple and tried and tested. Use the powertrain from the Smart City Coupe (now the ForTwo) and use that to make a small and lightweight sports car around it. At the beginning of 1999 arrives, Michael Mauer (now Porsche) in Smart and helps to make the concept car’s design. He also assists that there is a coupe version is being designed. A year later, leaving Mauer to Saab, and the responsible third party (Hartmut Sinkwitz) at the helm. This time to the production version’s design.

Slowly in 2003, then finally the model was launched, both the Roadster as the Roadster Coupe. Both have a removable targadak. All variants have a three-cylinder Suprex turbocharged engine, coupled to a sequential automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. In november 2005, after 43.091 copies the plug from the project are drawn.

Reason 1: the price
First, the price. When the Smart Roadster on the market arrives, there are a whole lot of other fun cabriootjes just came on the market. Think of the Ford StreetKa, Citroen C3 Pluriel and Daihatsu Copen. But also the Mini Cooper Convertible and Opel Tigra Twintop. In addition, the market was already filled with nice cars like the MG TF, Mazda MX-5, Toyota MR2, Fiat Barchetta and Opel Speedster. The Smart Roadster was clearly at the bottom of this spectrum, prestatietechnisch seen. However, cheap was the car most certainly is not. For thick 19 mille you had 60hp and nothing else. The 82pk version was with a couple of options over the 25 mille. Yikes!

Reason 2: transmission
However, the most well-known discomforts of the car, so let’s immediately appoint. The transmission is just a complete fail. If vending machines are completely unsuitable (far too jerky), but to switch also (much too slow). For a sports car there is just a manual gearbox. Ready. Certainly in 2003. Oh, and the flippers on the steering wheel were an option…

Reason 3: performance
All of the purists: “When a sports car is the experience, not the performance.” Could be wrong. But you don’t want to be delivered by any Bluemotion leasediesel. The basic version went from 0-100 in 15,5 seconds. LOL! Of course, you could also opt for the 82pk strong version, but this was in the price already a little bit higher, and competed so with smoother cars.

Reason 4: the engine
Fun anyway? That Smart the technique of the ordinary Smart for a sports car? That is for sure. It is by and large the engine is of the ordinary Smart ForTwo (then City Coupe). The small block is light and compact. Certainly not unimportant. But for a sports car, (left) now apply once other rules engines. The throttle response was too slow, the sound was a kind of hum which increased in volume and the available torque was limited across the entire rev range. And we’re not even talking about the quality.

Reason 5: the looks
I have to admit, this is subjective. But really a beautifully balanced design is not. Logical in itself, because there are three hoofddesigners in the weather. And that black nose. Come on, anyone can see that that is not good smoelt? The versions where the front bumpers, looks much better. Special mention for the entry-level model with 60hp: this was the ugliest steel wheels ever. Admittedly, a Brabus Roadster Coupe in red looks a whole lot better, but cost more than a Golf GTI at the time.

Reason 6: the interior
Bright fabrics, that are convex clocks, that mischievous transmissiepookje, the snazzy steering wheel, the plastic interior so that if something more mature. It is a shame that they are so ‘hip’ wanted, for just a sleek interior had certainly nothing more cost. Makes it bit of a fashion handbag. Again subjective, of course.

Reason 7: the Brabus version
About purses and handbags spoken. Brabus tried something. The power increased to a staggering number in which three digits were needed to be able to view in often (100 pieces). The front was front bumpers in colour. Inside was the interior and what nice leather and aluminum accents. Already made a lot of good. But still, it was the Brabus is not free of errors:

• the price. They asked there 31.450 for.
• the rims: yes, you got 17″ monoblocks. These were of a Brabus unworthy quality (very soft alloy, to the chassis to spare). Reed you are guaranteed damage. And otherwise corrodeerden they will do that for you.
• the tires. 205 front, 225 rear. For 74kW. That’s like my little 8-year-old nephew a familiepak Durex XL Magnum carry. It is tough, but it’s just too much rubber in proportion to the potential.

Reason 8: the quality
Charisma could the open Smart will not be denied. Quality. Like the technique from 1968:

• The engines are not known for their long life span (just like VW has Smart action had Radar, according to Smart lag to the directors). In the Radar episode was the 450, but the 452 has the same engine.
• Each Roadster seems to have a leak in the roof. This is fiksen at the dealer, until things leaking. Applies to both the hardtop as the soft-top.
• They leak at the mirrors. The water runs so you have your speakers in. Useful.
• That leak will continue, because even the SAM control unit is not safe for. This can cause serious problems (not functioning clignoteurs, horn, locks: almost everything is electric.)
• Air conditioning was not standard, but if it was present, ie often it is not. And a transplant of the air-conditioning is expensive. The air conditioning unit sits against the engine and the hoses shoot mostly los (driepitters vibrate, please). For this, fiksen must often the engine there is (at least) for the half.
• The braking system is poor. The factory got the Roadster the same brakes as the regular Smart. Despite the lower weight there was on average drive faster with a Smart Roadster, and so also harder braking. Has Brabus to be a good fit for, by the way.

Reason 9: part of the worst car chase ever
Regardless of the car, confirmed this image. Knight & Day? No? Keep as. In addition to the fact that the film rare bad, the car chase to surpass. Tom Cruise chases a SLK ( … ), and Cameron Diaz to go with him to sit on your lap to the bad guys in Smart Roadsters and doc. In addition to the fact that it was quite fake looking, were the motors of the Smarts replaced by the GSX-R1000 blocks for a little more visual spectacle to be able to generate.

Reason 10: for Mercedes-Benz, it was not fun
Ok, the whole Smart project is so far not really been successful. The first City Coupe’s wanted to still stand out, just like big cousin the A-class. But both cars had to contend with quality issues (and falling over). The Smart Roadster was prematurely out of production achieved by Mercedes. ‘Das Haus’ lost, on average, 3,000 euros to warranty costs per car. Just at the time that the group had decided to ‘reorganize’ went the Roadster.

Reason 11: the Toyota MR2
It’s actually true: I can’t think of any reason to have a Smart rather than a MR2. The MR2 also sends great thanks to less grip you can still fun to play) and is just as impractical. The MR2 is heavier, although with 100kg best bad. In addition, you have an atmospheric four-cylinder engine with old-fashioned manual gearbox. If valve on the cake is the MR2 is a whole lot more reliable. And it looks less like the car of your 19-year-old daughter have been borrowed.

Conclusion:
After the above is clearly a gevalletje: brilliant idea, moderate execution. The slogan of Mercedes-Benz is ” Das best oder nichts.‘ They have the word taken by the production to stop. Next!

Gallery: Smart Roadster

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Gallery: Smart Roadster Coupe

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