2003 Smart Coupe/Roadster
Posted by 7otu5@reddit | WeirdWheels | View on Reddit | 35 comments
Getting rare even in Europe nowadays, they were not available in North America at all. We (Canada) have a 15 year rule on imports, you guys in the States are 25.
Jackielegs43@reddit
An utterly abysmal looking thing, that I love with all of my heart.
Trekintosh@reddit
If only they had made any with a real transmission.
Not even going hurr durr automatic bad, this was an automated manual, so it’s the worst of both worlds. Extremely slow, terrible clutch, very un-smart when it comes to picking gears. Makes a Ford 3-speed from the 70s look like a DSG
punkmonkey22@reddit
Modern (2020's) AMT are pretty good now, but I followed one of these the other week and it just struggled to pull away from junctions so badly. Was just a really bad egg of a transmission lol
Idiotdude69420@reddit
The Volkswagens have had a pretty solid one since 2015 as far as I know.
LAMonkeyWithAShotgun@reddit
That price is wild. Can get a mint Brabus one in Europe for a third the price
7otu5@reddit (OP)
It’s not worth that kind of money. But I guess you can ask whatever seeing that’s the only one around
KnoWanUKnow2@reddit
This one was for sale on my local facebook.
Ileana_llama@reddit
import one from mexico, here you can find one around 12-14k usd
Parking_Setting_6674@reddit
Owned one of these for several years. Great fun little toy especially once the leaky roof seals were fixed by Mercedes under warranty.
Gearbox was slow but once you got used to it you could time it well enough to keep momentum going. Mine was only the 80hp version but it was interesting and quick enough for most British roads.
Change of suspension and 10mm spacers gave it a far more purposeful stance. It had more grip that handling though even with the engine in the back.
Brakes were awful.
HMP729G@reddit
Like the Roaster but I’ll take the Alfa 147 GTA thanks
tilmanbaumann@reddit
18k😱
MuceTea@reddit
wait these are considered unique and weird?! there is a red one close to my hometown and another white one close to my home where i went to study in the university..
Ninjatck@reddit
Visually I kinda fuck with it. Sounds like it was kinda ass though
hackjob@reddit
This is hot.
Do the hayabusa swap and this could be super fun.
L3sh1y@reddit
Can't. There's literally not enough space to fit a 1300cc busa engine, the original is a 3-cyl with 700cc which is slanted about 45° towards the horizontal and is sitting on the rear axle.
FreshlyBakedScones@reddit
With that angle and the 3 cylinder size, you may be able to fit a triumph engine in it, or one of the BMW k1200 engines with a bit of machining. The angle on the k engines were much further down if I'm remembering correctly, so it should run fine.
the_jeby@reddit
Next to a 147 GTA with “Busso” V6 😍
Saint_The_Stig@reddit
I thought I imagined these things. I couldn't remember the name until now to find it again.
DiosMIO_Limon@reddit
Let’s refresh and expand that memory: https://youtu.be/W6m2ZIr3mh4?si=z4VOXyLRUENyBnVf
phillyphilly19@reddit
That price seems crazy
L3sh1y@reddit
It was 18k when it came out in 2003 as well x)
Flintlock_Lullaby@reddit
Kinda looks badass tbh
Enough-Engineering41@reddit
It's so nice that the import rule is 15 years old in Canada instead of 25, I remember I saw a early 2000s vw polo because of this rule.
bacondesign@reddit
2000 was 25 years ago. Just saying.
RoyalRs@reddit
I was close to buying a Brabus one a year back. I am regretting it now but I really needed a car with a little bit more interior space
dr_xenon@reddit
Unique look to it. Did it have any engine upgrades or was it all cosmetic?
L3sh1y@reddit
There were variants woth 61hp, 82 hp and the Brabus woth 101hp, all with the 0,7L turbo. At 790-810kg, the 101 hp was plenty, but the horrible automatic really ruina any fun. There are tuning companies in germany who improve shift timing and characteristics though (the factory setting can't decide when to shift down or up, and you will sometimes end up with it shifting up UPhill while going half throttle, or shifting down very late so you will be stuck finding gears through a bend
olizet42@reddit
German here. Upgraded mine at a tuning shop. Faster shifting and about 100 hp instead of 82. It has those F1 style shifting paddles behind the steering wheel. Plenty of fun.
dr_xenon@reddit
101hp in a small car isn’t bad. I’m sure the performance vs economy was very good as well.
Slogstorm@reddit
Compared to what?
bokeeffe121@reddit
What a stupid high price
Slogstorm@reddit
Probably because of transport costs / rarity..
saliczar@reddit
Calling a Targa a Roadster:
Smart 🤝 Tesla
Roadsters don't have B-pillars
GetInZeWagen@reddit
It looks like there's two versions, the roaster and roaster coupe. The coupe has the rear hatch area but I'm not sure if that classifies as a C pillar. It looks like the regular roadster at least is true to the name:
saliczar@reddit
Roadsters don't have B-pillars. The "Roadster" is actually a Targa (fixed B-pillars with removable roof)
Not ragging on you, OP, just sick of car companies diluting definitions when naming cars.
See also: VW Phaeton, BMW and Mercedes "Coupe" SUVs