JM_16v
Member
Registered: 17th Oct 05
Location: Essex Drives: GLC63S
User status: Offline
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My misses is just about to get rid of her tired Golf and is looking at a Brabus Smart Car on Saturday.
She works in the northern London area so doesn't really touch motorways and does about 30miles a day in total.
Has anyone got any experience in these?
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johnny86
Premium Member
Registered: 15th Feb 10
Location: in a bus stop.
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Fast for what they are. If you ever need anything gis a shout my mates garage specialists in these.
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3CorsaMeal
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Registered: 11th Apr 02
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as in the roadster/roadster coupe?
Guy at work has the normal roadster, not a brabus, has the build quality of a photocopier.
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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The big multifunction photocopiers you get are extremely well built.
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JM_16v
Member
Registered: 17th Oct 05
Location: Essex Drives: GLC63S
User status: Offline
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Yeah our new Xerox in the office in perfect, a lot better than the HP I have at home. The speed It utilises and the economy output also amazes me.
would be a Smart fortwo (traditional)
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R Lee
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Registered: 15th Aug 03
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I have a Smart Brabus 450.
Bought it because I think they look funky as hell.
As a city car, they are fantastic. Light steering, easy to park, decent visibility with an upright driving position.
They are pokey enough for such a small engine. The turbo is definitely a novelty. However, they are also quite noisy. The engine is situated right behind you with just a small panel and sound deadening carpet to attempt to limit noise.
Plastic. Very plastic. But it is what it is. This car was intended to be.
Worst gripes about the car.
Gearbox is horrendously shit 
It has the intelligence of a mouldy spud. Doesn't know whether to change up or down. It'll make you look like you don't know how to drive if it catches you off guard.
Steering rack is about one and a half turns too long. Feels like a bus to steer through turns.
Best bits. Exclusive looks from the Brabus.
Awesome alloys.
Heated leather seats.
Fun city car.
Bare in mind, that the front tyres are full on homo. The only manufacturer is Yokohama at £80+ each.
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JM_16v
Member
Registered: 17th Oct 05
Location: Essex Drives: GLC63S
User status: Offline
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I have carried out some research on the 450 and found they need a engine rebuild at about 60,000 miles.
Are the 451 better in terms of engine maintenance as they have the newer Misibushi engine?
She works in the city so 90% of driving is city driving
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R Lee
Member
Registered: 15th Aug 03
User status: Offline
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Engine rebuild hovers around that mileage. Personally, I'm not bothered because im waiting for a 'busa engine to go into mine 
As far as I'm aware, the 451 are better in terms of engine and general maintenance eg. Light bulb changes etc
Overall, it's still the same fantastic little package of a car. Perfect city mobile 
Literally everybody has enjoyed driving mine, with no exception...yet.
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R Lee
Member
Registered: 15th Aug 03
User status: Offline
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I forgot to mention.
And this is quite a serious one, IMO.
You do get bullied on the road for being a small car.
Road etiquette gets chucked out of the window, and you're treated as a pushover.
Psychological effects?
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
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quote:
Originally posted by JM_16v
My misses is just about to get rid of her tired Golf and is looking at a Brabus Smart Car on Saturday.
She works in the northern London area so doesn't really touch motorways and does about 30miles a day in total.
Has anyone got any experience in these?
The original ForTwo tends to make it's engine go bang, big style, at around the 55-59,000 mile mark, so get a low miler if they have the same engine (I think they do, but don't quote me on that).
Or expect a big bill quite soon if it has anywhere around 50 or 60k on it. 
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DaveyLC
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Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
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I fudging LOVE a Smart Car... Just remember its A) tiny, B) bumpy as fuck, C) you cant get much more than a load of bread in the boot and D) gutless (the Brabus isn't so bad).
But they are uber cheap to run and you can drive like a shit-c**t and no one seems to care?
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