33 replies to this topic

[Juju]

Morning peoples,

Does anybody know anything of the Brabus roadster? The coupe jobbie?

Has anybody driven one? Please can you give me any advice or opinions? What are the F1 paddle shift thingies like? What about the semi-auto g/box? How do they handle on 17" wheels? Reliability issues? Safety ratings?

Oooh, questions, questions.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thankoos.

[mk3 Cooper S]

A chap at work had one which he had nothing but trouble with.
In the end the dealer bought it back off him.

Not sure if this is normal or it was just this car was a lemon. He bought it from new.

[Angelic_Fruitcake]

A girl in my office used to have one, she says it was an OK car but a really uncomfy ride (she has back problems so has to be really careful), and apparently the radio was pants

You're not thinking of replacing Matilda are you....?

Edited by Angelic_Fruitcake, 05 September 2008 - 08:52 AM.

[Juju]

A chap at work had one which he had nothing but trouble with.
In the end the dealer bought it back off him.

Not sure if this is normal or it was just this car was a lemon. He bought it from new.

That's not a good sign. What were the trubbles?

A girl in my office used to have one, she says it was an OK car but a really uncomfy ride (she has back problems so has to be really careful), and apparently the radio was pants

Well I'm used to both of those.

You're not thinking of replacing Matilda are you....?

Err...........................um...........................

[Bean]

[WiredbyWilson]

my uncle has worked on one, had a misfire problem, so spoke to mercedes.

"well you do know they have 6 spark plugs don't you sir?"
"no"
"yes 3 of them are onthe back of the engine so you may need to remove the engine to replce them"
"crikey"
"may i ask how many miles the engine has done sir?"
"50,000k"
"ah that will be the problem sir, the engine will need replacing"

to which the merc bill would be in excess of £2k

so i woudn't recommend them really. sorry.

Edited by Wilson1275, 05 September 2008 - 09:02 AM.

[Angelic_Fruitcake]

A girl in my office used to have one, she says it was an OK car but a really uncomfy ride (she has back problems so has to be really careful), and apparently the radio was pants

Well I'm used to both of those.

You're not thinking of replacing Matilda are you....?

Err...........................um...........................

Nooooooooooooooo

Whyyy?

[WiredbyWilson]

oh i nearly forgot...

*spank*

naughty juju, thinking of replacing well behaved matilda for german car

[Juju]

Sorry! I'm only thunking. It's a stoopid time to sell a mini at the moment, anyway.

my uncle has worked on one, had a misfire problem, so spoke to mercedes.

"well you do know they have 6 spark plugs don't you sir?"
"no"
"yes 3 of them are onthe back of the engine so you may need to remove the engine to replce them"
"crikey"
"may i ask how many miles the engine has done sir?"
"50,000k"
"ah that will be the problem sir, the engine will need replacing"

to which the merc bill would be in excess of £2k

so i woudn't recommend them really. sorry.

I find that hard to believe, I'm afwaid. I shall do some more research....

Nooooooooooooooo

Whyyy?

Because they are cute, small & nippy. And different.

oh i nearly forgot...

*spank*

naughty juju, thinking of replacing well behaved matilda for german car

Matilda's german too. But I'll take the spanking anyway. Thankies.

[Bean]

"may i ask how many miles the engine has done sir?"
"50,000k"
"ah that will be the problem sir, the engine will need replacing"

to which the merc bill would be in excess of £2k

so i woudn't recommend them really. sorry.

Merc said the same about my Dad's Smart ForTwo! Cobblers! The car's now doing 65mpg and going perfectly!

[CharlieBrown]

I took a roadster coupe for a test drive a couple of years ago. I really like them but didn’t get one in the end as I got to Polo for a cheap run around.

There are a few smart forums that will help you make your decision (ie http://smartmaniacs.co.uk/site/).

The main historical problems with them are leaks, door leaks, leaks getting into and destroying the ECU etc. There was a fix for this but if it was installed on the car is another question.

I think there are complaints about the paddle change being slow but I think you can get used to it, may be better on the Brabus.

Malph2’s lady has one and he doesn’t rate it too highly.


But saying all of that I would still like one


I’d say go for a test drive in one and see if you like it, I did.

And why the brabus? Your paying a lot more for something that could just end up getting you a speeding ticket quicker

[Juju]

tHANK YOU mR bROWN. Ooopsie - Capslock.

I shall indeed have a nosey round the forum. I might join up & ask a few annoying questions.

How did you find the gear changes when you test drove one?

[CharlieBrown]

Miss Juju,

If I remember I didn’t find them too bad, had a go of it fully auto at first then switched to “manual” took a bit of getting used to but fine.

Had a twotwo as a hire car more recently and the gear changes on that were a lot more difficult (especially when I forgot which way was up and downshifted instead opppss)

There is also this forum as well: http://www.smartz.co.uk/

[Juju]

Cheers Mr Brown (but please don't call me "Miss" ).

I've never driven an auto before, anyway, so both modes will be bizarre for me I spose.

What's a twotwo? I thought there was just fortwo & forfour? Or am I mishtaken?

[CharlieBrown]

Ah yes, my bad Mrs Juju I meant the fourtwo.

I would also like to add there is an independent dealer called smartsrus in Nottingham that always seemed good to me.. http://www.smartsrus.com/

The forums will be a good guide as to what to look out for.

Oh and you can get a lambo door kit for them as well, nice!