Anyone had/got one?

What they like?

I know the best one would be a Brabus.....!

I had a look at one before I bought my Megane Coupe, but couldn't justify the asking price at the time. I could fit in it easily enough (getting in and out was, er, an experience), unlike the Daihatsu Copen which was another alternative and which I could look over the windscreen off when the roof was down!

There's a lad round the corner from me with a Brabus Roadster Coupe - it looks pretty good (bordering on over-egged with the super-wide rear tyres), sounds good, an goes quite well. With the Coupe of course, you get something resembling a boot, although it's in no way secure...

I wouldn't bother with the BRABUS one. Not worth the extra. I've driven one and would happily buy one. Best person to ask, on here, is RedBaron who actually owned one....

Me and SWMBO are looking at them at min as i thinkthey do look really nice

I've got a Brabus Roadster Coupe Xclusive that I replaced my Fabia vRS with. I do Derby to Warwick every day (120 round trip) and I love it. The Brabus is worth the premium (second hand, I wouldn't have spent 18K on a new one) over the standard Roadie as they're built in Germany by Brabus, not in France like the standard one - the difference in build quality is massive!!

Performance is less than the vRS but not by as much as you'd think, the in gear times are very good - the handling is hugely better than most things. Mechanical grip is huge from 225 tyres and well under a tonne in weight. Top speed is 122 on the Brabus vs 106 on the standard Roadie, so it's much more useable on motorway runs as it has a bit more left at 75mph.

Servicing is every 7000 miles but a decent independent makes it affordable and they invariably do a much better job than Merc do!

I love mine, though am thinking of parting because it seems a shame to use such a special car as a commuter hack :( I do have a motorbike on the way though so we'll see...

The semi-auto gearbox is the car's one weakness IMHO - you do get used to it and it can be hurried once you learn to do so but it'll never be as good as a manual.

It does 'feel' better than anything and gets more attention than any Ferrari when on the road. Sounds brilliant too

PM me if you have any specific questions...

I wouldn't bother with the BRABUS one. Not worth the extra. I've driven one and would happily buy one. Best person to ask, on here, is RedBaron who actually owned one....

Or me who still does

or tavia4x4 who has just sold his finale...

or tavia4x4 who has just sold his finale...

Or... Erm.... OK, that's me beat!

Or... Erm.... OK, that's me beat!

suffice to say any of us will say the same.... one of the most fun things you can buy... miss mine loads...

suffice to say any of us will say the same.... one of the most fun things you can buy... miss mine loads...

You can buy mine

Hmm interesting.

I was following one to work the other day and fancy one now...

Our place is next to Merc in Lincoln, and keep seeing them parked up which is not helping!!

Hmm interesting.

I was following one to work the other day and fancy one now...

Our place is next to Merc in Lincoln, and keep seeing them parked up which is not helping!!

Should your sig say you have a Smart Obsessive Disorder, then?

Maybe Skoda & Smart Obsessive Disorder!

I used to have one. I just felt that there wasn't enough power to get the back end out will really abusing it. I bought it with dreams of enjoying the RWD experience, but it wasn't balanced enough. Just too much grip.

Aside from all the leaks, the main downside was the steering rack lifted straight from the four two and way too slow.

That and the gearbox which was downright dangerous if you trundled onto a roundabout without coming to a full stop, as it would get confused and decide to change gear just as you put your foot down to slip on in front of traffic from the right.

It was special though. I used to love driving through the city centre and bouncing the wastegate flutter off the buildings. Fairly made people turn and look.

Mine was a flat black standard 80hp Roadster with the "orange scribble" interior. Looked great!

You CAN get the back out on the Brabus. It also has a faster gearchange.

Even the standard 80 is fine as long as you think ahead. If you're a reactionary driver then don't get one, if you're the sort of driver who plans ahead then you'll never be left struggling for a gear after the first week because you plan for how the gearbox behaves.

Any Smart driver who gets left without a gear is either new to the car or just can't think ahead & probably shouldn't be driving anything...

Edit: There's a good youtube clip of JC loving the 80bhp Roadie & getting the back well & truly out (in the dry).

got to agree with steve.... its easy to learn the gearbox.... (removing airbox lid and remap both make the change much quicker)

as for getting the back end out.... no no i never did that officer...

sadly will never know the pleasure that is the smart brabus roadie,even if my brother does own one,as i just don't fit comfortably in it:O

sadly will never know the pleasure that is the smart brabus roadie,even if my brother does own one,as i just don't fit comfortably in it:O

you must be bloody big... cos im 6-3 and unbelieveably fat and i had one.....

you must be bloody big... cos im 6-3 and unbelieveably fat and i had one.....

i just find steves unbelievably uncomfortable,and i could not cope with the embarrasment of the way i have to get in and out:O

i just find steves unbelievably uncomfortable,and i could not cope with the embarrasment of the way i have to get in and out:O

dont wear short skirts then..... :eek:

dont wear short skirts then..... :eek:

:rofl:point taken,i'll buy steves then:thumbup:

Just been to test drive 1 today for the wife must say i really did like it.

The wastegate noise is really cool