I’ve had the Smart BRABUS Roadster for 24 hours. AMA

"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
06/16/2018 at 13:06 • Filed to: None

DISCUSSION (42)

E90M3 > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 13:10

Does this mean that the IS-F has to sit in the garage for another weekend?

deep cuts

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > E90M3
06/16/2018 at 13:10

Nope! The ISF has to sit in the driveway while the Smart inhabits the driveway.

E90M3 > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 13:12

Is the wife driving it this weekend then?

. . > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 13:12

As a Fiat 126 owner I have to ask: How does it feel to drive something this massive?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 13:19

How comfortable is it? Also, the color reflecting onto the windshield looks annoying.

Cé hé sin > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 13:20

Is the wind noise above about 100 kmh as bad as mine?

boredalways > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 13:21

Was it a Turo rental? Didn’t know these were available stateside.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > boredalways
06/16/2018 at 13:23

Writing an article on it for RFD. The Lane let me use it for the weekend. It’s here somehow.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 13:23

hows yer bum fer cracking wallnuts?

always loved the roadster.... that thing is one good engine away from being a legend

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Cé hé sin
06/16/2018 at 13:23

It’s definitely loud but I had the top down and the bars off so was expected. have not driven it with the top up.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
06/16/2018 at 13:24

It’s hard to get in(I’m getting better) but I have not noticed the windshield being that way.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > E90M3
06/16/2018 at 13:25

She’s still asleep from work but she’ll be riding with me.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
06/16/2018 at 13:26

This engine is totally fine. It’;s not the engine that is the problem, it’s the transmission.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 13:27

it could do with more horsies tho

(and a manual... buit this is oppo.... thats a given)

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
06/16/2018 at 13:29

This one has 101hp. It is plenty if it had a true manual or even a dct.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 13:31

shit thats like 60 horsies more than im used to having

awesome

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 13:31

shit thats like 60 horsies more than im used to having

awesome

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
06/16/2018 at 13:33

Yeah this is a much different car then the standard one. An entire 0.1 liters more. It’s quite fast when the engine and turbo are in the power band. It’s just hard to get it into the power band sometime.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 13:37

How do people react to seeing it?

404 - User No Longer Available > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 13:39

Takes long to put up and down the top?

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > 404 - User No Longer Available
06/16/2018 at 13:43

Nope! I don’t have hair to mess up so I’m enjoying a Targa while I have it. The top is even electric if you don’t take out the bars above the doors.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
06/16/2018 at 13:44

I went to a German cars and coffee this morning and I got a lot of holy craps and a lot of holy crap what is that.

I have another burner, try to guess it! > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 14:14

Is it worth the money? That being said, how much are these?

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > I have another burner, try to guess it!
06/16/2018 at 14:24

Look to be around 10k. If you have fun roads and no one to slow you down it’s great. All about sitting in the boost and RPM range above 3k. I drove it one way home in traffic from work and really didn’t like the car then. Much different today.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 14:32

I truly envy you friend...have many people comment on it or gawk at you?

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
06/16/2018 at 14:34

Less than I would have thought in the general public, and more then I thought at the German C&C .

Cé hé sin > 404 - User No Longer Available
06/16/2018 at 14:52

Soft top just powers down in a few seconds. I’ve never bothered taking the side bars off mine.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 15:28

Surprised it didn’t pull more folks from the general public, it’s not exactly subtle! :)

Future Heap Owner > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 16:19

How tall are you and how’s the legroom?

How big is it compared to a tiny coupe like a Miata?

If you removed all the branding, what still makes it feel like a Smart?

Would you take it for a fun weekend trip with your wife?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/16/2018 at 18:51

How much has Miss Mercedes bothered you?

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
06/16/2018 at 23:37

She’s just jealous, not bothering me haha.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Future Heap Owner
06/16/2018 at 23:38

5'11" - Leg room is fine, I wish the steering wheel adjusted.

Much smaller.

Not at all. Just a go kart with a fast engine

Definitly not a weekend trip. I drove it 150+ miles today and that was a lot.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
06/16/2018 at 23:39

I went to Target with the wife and someone followed me in to talk and I had 3 groups stop me and ask about it. I spoke too soon.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/17/2018 at 06:59

Excellent....continue spreading the love for cool Euro rides! :P

I decree you drive the FSO Syrena, FIAT Cinqecento rally car next....or the PGO Hemera, which I’ve never heard of and looks pretty cool!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/17/2018 at 06:59

pip bip - choose Corrour > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/17/2018 at 07:07

how well does it hoon?

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
06/17/2018 at 11:56

I shall try! A lot of these im going to have meet someone there on the weekend the plot around in.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > pip bip - choose Corrour
06/17/2018 at 11:56

Hooningly

and 100 more > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/21/2018 at 10:19

I saw one here in Austin a few years back, in an HEB parking lot. I had no idea the LHD versions were so rare.

Then again, it probably wasn’t a Brabus... just a regular Smart R oadster (reading comprehension is meh for me today...)

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > and 100 more
06/21/2018 at 10:20

The left hand drive RCR101 is the rare one as it was mostly made for the UK market. Otherwise they are pretty common.

and 100 more > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/21/2018 at 10:21

LOL! Please see ninja edit of previous comment... :)

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > and 100 more
06/21/2018 at 10:21

Hahaha perfect.