Smart Roadster Brabus Review: The Car That Took 20 Years To Make Sense

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Today on the channel, I drive the Smart Roadster Brabus. A cult classic car, the Roadster has always intrigued me and today I find out what's to love, and not to love.

#SmartCar #SmartRoadster #Convertible

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[JayEmmOnCars]

CarVertical: The History Checking Service
Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount!

[whitennnerdy]

I bought a non brabus smart roadster coupe for 1.2k and I absolutely love it. The roof doesn't leak and the turbo flutter is amazing. Unfortunately I don't use it very often so it will be up for sale soon. Gutted to see it go!

[graemef]

Looks wise, this has aged very well. Far better than the standard one.

[adrianpryke]

I would have said that that just isn't running right. I have a roadster with 80hp and a brabus roadster that's 100hp. at the moment my 80hp is incredible so I'm wondering if my brabus one like that one you are reviewing has a turbo problem. it should be churping away a gooden and just can't hear it.

[InterestsparkedTV]

Cracking looking cars.
I want one with a bike engine.

[KadiusFTW]

I wish these made it to the US in a decent capacity. Kinda sad, Id love to own one.

[rudyloedeman]

I owned one of these, during Rain I had an empty garbagebag on my knees to prevent the leaking water getting in my crotch, maintaining it was a disaster, my 3 litre jaguar is cheaper to run in the end

[gryphon]

Looks like a CRZ rear ended an RX-8. 😂. I like the looks of the car.

[willisc]

It was great meeting and sharing my car with you James, thanks for making it happen!
Colin

[benpenagonzales]

If I acted on every Jayemm video when I said, oh yeh I really wanted one of them, I’d be homeless, and bankrupt, and most likely long divorced

[alexanderwooldridgesmith]

Your issue Jay is you are slowing down for the corners, just keep it flat and it will fly round. I loved mine, especially when the tyres were new you could lift the outer front on turn in grip alone, you could out corner anything your were likely to meet in day to day driving on any B road. Took mine to the IoM and it was brilliant, apart from being a bit too low for the ferry ramps. I also loved the 45mpg at a 90mph cruise (in Germany). Just a shame it had to go back as it was on the Mercedes-Benz employee scheme and by the time I wanted another they had stopped making it. So had to have a C230 Sports Coupe instead, and that was crap.

[GroznyjGradHunter]

It's all about the visceral mechanical experience. I'd say 7 times out of 10 I choose to take my Brabus over my 460bhp Porsche. We do the shopping in the Brabus, weekend tours around the UK with the roof down. Absolutely love every minute of it, manually shifting that slow gearbox is more fun than shifting through an 8 speed Porsche PDK gearbox!!

[geoffs]

My mum had the city coupe and put me on the insurance one summer when i was back from university. Words can't describe how terrible the gearbox is, the gear changes are so unbelievably slow it was painful to drive

[timXJ]

@JayEmmOnCars Having reviewed this, would greatly appreciate your opinion on Daihatsu's example of a 2 seat roadster. The plucky 659cc four cylinder Copen!

[tomthompson]

they always made sense, ,, just not to everyone.
But look it, ,, what a looker, they look 20k more expensive than they are .

[paulgriffiths]

Had one for a couple of years, had it remapped to just over 125bhp & with more torque lower down the rev range it made a real difference to the driving experience. Wish I’d never sold it now!

[charlesmoss]

I remember back in the day Smart showed the coupe/roadster concept at a press/analyst thing and all was going well - I loved it - then I asked the price. I mean it was as if no one had done marketing basics. The whole Smart problem was always that they believed they were prestige. Prestige and respect are the same - both are earned - simply yelling at people to respect you or yelling you are prestige are not effective strategies. With the right pricing smart could have flown - now it’s barely alive.

[blanchimont]

i love jayemm pointing out the first gen honda insight at 15:20, only a car enthusiast stops mid sentence to point out a car they find interesting lmaoooo

[Xenstein]

I have as a daily a Smart Roadster Coupe from 2016 and I made until now over 200 000km în Germany and around Europe. Right now the car is displaying over 377 000km with the original engine and gearbox, is accelerating decent at over 160 and the maintenance is really cheap. I don't know what spares are expensive because a ball-bearing is 30€, a clutch is 400 at over 200 000km, windshield was under 200€ and the new Hella bihalogen front light was 65€.
My car is not leaking inside, though I've made some mods for prevention.
Engine was stage 1 tuned at 109ps and 155Nm of torque so the dynamic of the car is really good.
Interior wise there are plenty of luxury trims to be fitted for 4-500€, there are aftermarket one piece hardtops to be fitted and even a guy named Bayley who is selling an engine tunning kit developed in years of research and development, kit who is able to go with that engine at over 200bhp and over 8000rpm. Obviously this extreme tunning is not cheap but with just over 10 k you'll have more power to weight ratio than a Porsche Cayman.
Soft-top can be also changed with a new one for around 400€.
...
Yes, this is a fun and eye-catching little car ❤

[Black-Country-Rider]

I've owned my roadster finale for 15 years now. and it still looks as good as new.
its like part of the family, both my wife and daughter love going out for a drive in it.
The only things I've had to do with it is regular servicing, replace the front ball joints and have the wheels refurbished.
The only issue i have with it is a slight leak over the door mirrors in heavy rain, which is kept in check by treating the door seals with a regular coating of pure silicone lubricant ( from ebay).
but as it only comes out when the sun comes out, its not a problem.
a brilliant fun car that makes a fantastic noise.
definitely a future classic.
Ill only sell it when i can no longer get in it.