Smart Roadster (80bhp) 2d Auto (RHD) (2004/53) Owner Review
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Economy
Value
Seems like a bargain at first...till the leaks begin!
Costs
Fuel economy approx 43mpg (super unleaded required), servicing average, insurance average.
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On the road
Driving
Fun to drive but slow & auto gearbox not great, snatches first gear nearly breaking neck at times!
Performance
Regularly overtaken by chavs in their corsas, feels faster than it is.
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Living with it
Reliability
LEAKS, LEAKS & MORE LEAKS! a fundamental design flaw means they all leak through door mirrors (eventually!), overheating engine & rattles, shock absorbers excessive wear
Image
funky and unusual, cool till it rains, then the leaks begin!
Comfort
Surprisingly comfortable though a bit cramped, can get extremely wet when it rains though!
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Security and Service
Security
Standard remote alarm, automatic locking after you've pulled away.
Service
main smart dealer took 3 months to try and fix the leak(plus other probs), I only had the car for 1 week out of my 3 months of ownership, dealer gave me a full refund as couldn't fix leak!
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Problems and Ownership
Problems
Engine
Overheated while idling, didn't keep long enough to discover any other problems…
Other
Had a replacement coupe version for 2 and a half months whilst they tried to fix mine, (that leaked too!) eventually they offered me a full refund because they failed to fix various problems, got an MX-5 instead, boring but entirely reliable!
Ownership
Did you buy the car new?
Used
Would you buy the same model again?
No
Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?
No