Does Oppo know the Smart Roadster?

"Alex87f" (alex87f) 11/07/2013 at 15:34 • Filed to: None

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Since most of the people on the blog seem to be american, I was wondering if you guys knew about the Smart Roadster..

This car was launched in 2003 to try and broaden the Smart buying public. It was based on an lengthened Smart Fortwo platform and featured the same engine / gearbox combo. At 3.43 meters (135") long and 1.19 meter (47") high, it's by no means a big car, but this means it tipped the scales at a scant 790kg (1 740lbs).

Power came courtesy of smart's 3 cylinder, 698ccm turbocharged engine, with three levels of power: 61hp, 82hp and the -expensive- Brabus version with 101hp. It was mated to their 6 speed sequential gearbox, which is actually a 3 speed box with two final drives. The power train was mounted transversally in mid-rear position and powered the rear wheels of the car, making this a RWD small roadster, which isn't exactly common.

The 82bhp engine apparently was the biggest seller. With this engine, 0-60 happened in 10.5 seconds (and you were already in 4th gear!), which isn't quick but remember that you were sitting with your bottom nearly scraping the asphalt, so it is said to feel much faster than it actually is. Plus, it was praised for being very fun to drive.
With its low weight and low power, 45mpg are achievable on daily driving, insurance is cheap and so is maintenance.

It was criticized for three main reasons, which were that actual performance kinda sucked, that the gearbox was as fast as a dead donkey, and that it was about as expensive to buy as a larger (but not really roomier) miata. This means that even though it warmed the heart of enthusiasts like us, this car was a commercial failure, and they stopped selling after only two and a half year, and 43 000 units.

The roadster made for most of the sales:

But a more practical roadster coupe was also available:

In both cases, the roof could be removed by rolling back the -electric- cloth center, and storing the arches in the frunk.

They can now be had from about 4500€ (roughly 5 500$), though a nice, low-mileage, well optioned example -for example with the flappy paddles and boost gauge pictured below- will set you back around 7 500€ (9 000$). On the bright side, they don't depreciate much anymore!

I hope you learned something new, or that this made you remember about this cute car.

Oh and I think I should thank wikipedia for their pictures..

offroadkarter > Alex87f 11/07/2013 at 15:36

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I forgot this even existed, and now I'm sad that I remember

For Sweden > Alex87f 11/07/2013 at 15:37

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It was on Top Gear , so yes.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > For Sweden 11/07/2013 at 15:41

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I always did love Jezza's rant about the gear box.

"Wait, I'm supposed to do something...Am I a pencil? No....I remember

Change gear."

feather-throttle-not-hair > Alex87f 11/07/2013 at 15:43

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I remember reading a bunch of critical reviews of this in various british car magazines back in the day.

The thing is, while most of us are american, I think a lot of us read Brit car mags because they were always so much better quality than the U.S. ones. Not that there weren't good writers in the u.s., just that the magazines themselves were much bigger, printed on nicer paper and just generally were better aesthetically.

While I had a monthly subscription to car and driver growing up, i'd always try and splurge and buy an issue of top gear, EVO, Car magazine or even one of the Classic themed rags, when i was in the bookstore.

Ignorance of NASCAR is a Jalopnik Trophy > Alex87f 11/07/2013 at 15:44

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I remember seeing these in the UK and had hoped they would make it over here because they are so cool looking. I wonder what EPA mileage would've been, as it seems they might suffer from the same issues that makes Smart cars not so smart for us yanks: high price, underwhelming performance, not that economical relatively speaking, especially in tradeoff of safety concerns. They were damn cute though ...

How about the MGs of that era? I had hoped we would see some come our way, but that never happened either ...

Rainbow > Alex87f 11/07/2013 at 15:45

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One of my favorite cars from my visit to Germany. This and the older Renault Twingo were just overwhelmingly adorable, even after seeing dozens of each every day.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Alex87f 11/07/2013 at 15:48

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Much like the For Two, it might not be so bad with a 'busa engine swap.

Mikeado > Ignorance of NASCAR is a Jalopnik Trophy 11/07/2013 at 15:52

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Most MGs and Rovers from the 2000s are not worth your time.

NinetyQ > Alex87f 11/07/2013 at 15:55

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Yup, saw one in London when I was there in '09.

Mikeado > Alex87f 11/07/2013 at 15:58

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Ah yes. Every time I'm reminded of this car I want a Roadster-Coupé BRABUS in black, then go on Auto Trader to find a decent one is only £6000 or so . My mother considered at Smart Roadsters when looking for a zippy little commuter, but they were still expensive then and we gave up on the idea.

f86sabre > Alex87f 11/07/2013 at 16:00

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Oppo...is aware.

Alex87f > Mikeado 11/07/2013 at 17:05

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Yes, the miata is a better choice there...

Alex87f > Ignorance of NASCAR is a Jalopnik Trophy 11/07/2013 at 17:06

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Well this car was homologated back when EU-cycle measures still made some sense, so I would say this would probably have gotten 40+mpg combined. Though premium, which offsets the high mpg...

Hindered23 > Alex87f 11/07/2013 at 17:30

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saw a bunch on my euro trip to time Munich and london

Ignorance of NASCAR is a Jalopnik Trophy > Mikeado 11/07/2013 at 17:45

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Understand, but I thought they were good looking cars ...

Ignorance of NASCAR is a Jalopnik Trophy > Alex87f 11/07/2013 at 17:48

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Smart would've been smart to bring this one over, on account of resemblance to shoe, rather then chair ...

Alex87f > offroadkarter 11/08/2013 at 06:47

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I'm sad I'll probably never get to own one. They look adorable!