Looking for a SMART Car

StaggerLee

Hi All,

I'm looking to buy a SMART car, need something for the city and something that can squeeze into tight parking spots easily. I've been looking online and they seem to be really expensive.

I noticed on a few threads here that LHD ones are cheaper? Does anyone know where to get these? What are the options for importing one from the UK, how do I work out the VRT on the car?

bazz26

Here is a cheapish LHD version:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carid=649494

It's a bit yellow though!

Here is another one that is a bit younger:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carid=721103

StaggerLee

Cheers for that!
I wouldn't be put off by the Yellow, at the moment I'm driving a scooter while wearing a yello High-Vis vest.... I'm not too worried about losing street cred!

Reckon I'll check these 2 out.
Are there any SMART owners around, can anyone recommend them, are they reliable etc...

bazz26

StaggerLee wrote:

Cheers for that!
I wouldn't be put off by the Yellow, at the moment I'm driving a scooter while wearing a yello High-Vis vest.... I'm not too worried about losing street cred!

Reckon I'll check these 2 out.
Are there any SMART owners around, can anyone recommend them, are they reliable etc...

I think someone on here has a roadster. Not sure about their reliability but I've never heard of any horror stories with them.

bennyx_o

I used to have both a ForTwo and a Roadster. Yes, they are reliable once looked after properly, regular servicing and oil changes in particular. No major problems with them, but the turbo along with the engine are known to fail quite randomly without proper servicing.

smash

don't worry, I'm a doctor.... I can give you some tablets that will make this phase go away....

cormac_byrne

Calculate the VRT here
https://www.ros.ie/VRTEnquiryServlet/ShowVRT


Find Irish Smart Owners here

http://www.smartcarireland.net
http://www.smartz.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?s=&f=27&daysprune=-1

FYI I've recently bought a Smart ForFour for my wife,
It's going fine, though too soon to comment really.

Re: LHD
Half the ones for sale in the UK are LHD
(usually they're trying to hide that fact in the smallprint)

Owen

They're fantastic little cars. I love them to bits. There's a video online of one fitted with a 180bhp engine from a Suzuki bike with the rear wheels providing the traction. I wouldn't waste my time with the roadster though, it's a very limited market when you need to sell them on.

Do-more

If it's only for city driving then LHD is no great disadvantage and you do benefit from stepping out onto the footpath when you park rather than into the traffic, to be knocked down by some mad scooter rider!

Max_Damage

The auto 'boxes in them I heard are rubbish. It suffers from very jerky gear changes apparently.

randomer

ned78 wrote:

They're fantastic little cars. I love them to bits. There's a video online of one fitted with a 180bhp engine from a Suzuki bike with the rear wheels providing the traction. I wouldn't waste my time with the roadster though, it's a very limited market when you need to sell them on.

I have a brabus roadster and it is awesome!

Whichever smart you are looking at, I would definitely recommend getting the paddle shift as it is much better than the automatic. I don't really agree with the jerky gear box comment. When I first got the car it was jerky, but then I learned how to change gear at the correct time and it is really smooth.

drdre

Are smart cars cheaper in italy etc.I was also looking at getting a smart car for advertising purposes.

Gatster

I was also looking at getting a smart car for advertising purposes.

Can't fit much on them - there were three in convoy going up Kildare street towing billboards a couple of Saturdays ago. Can't remember what they were advertising, so it didn't really work, I just remember the comedy of the sight itself .

As for Smarts themselves, great cars for the city, there's loads in London, not that that's a help. Use for anything else and you'll need to be referred to Dr. Steve06, for that special medicine...

cormac_byrne

Gatster wrote:

there were three in convoy going up Kildare street towing billboards

probably this lot http://www.smartads.ie/

another good car for advertising could be an S-cargo (escargot)
see
http://www.algysautos.com/scargo_page.html


or spotted here on another thread recently

Delboy Van
http://carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=733300
(only joking)

or you could built practically something interesting onto the back of this Daihatsu Midget
http://carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=415454

eamon234

Go for a Roadster - not so embarrassing!

Anan1

eamon234 wrote: »

Go for a Roadster - not so embarrassing!

Would you really be embarrassed driving a Smart? I wouldn't.

MadsL

I drive one and they are fantastic.. if you get any cracks about the size of it, just tell people that if a long bonnet is compensating for something, you really don't feel the need :D:D - That usually shuts em up.