15 replies to this topic

[leroy26]

just considering one ( this week lol/) to run along side the mini as a daily

( yes i think about swaping to loads of different dailys!)

[6joshh6]

my cousin has one, pretty good car but they seem quite expensive compared to some of the smaller cars from other manufacturers.

[mattdc2r]

My mate has one, it's a multi coloured/flip paint Brabus. Accelerates well and cheap to run. He commutes about 80 miles a day in it, and has had no real problems. Except everyone takes the piss out of him for driving a girls car.

[KernowCooper]

Be ecareful of ones with high mileage, theres a smart specialist near me who says 30000+ they drink oil like a fish

Edited by KernowCooper, 24 February 2013 - 12:43 AM.

[Tamworthbay]

What about a roadster? Nice little cars to drive.

[jmmini]

Oh there wicked! After the mini, imo there the most fun car to be in when they stick there rear wheel up round bends!

[iDemonix]

My sister has one, imo they're dreadful. The gear changing system is stupid and dropping down a gear for an overtake is nigh on impossible. The whine noise they make sounds like a police siren constantly, the interior is fugly and flimsy, generally they're just not nice cars.

I remember having a word with a friend of mine who's a solid mechanic, when I mentioned my sister bought one his words were "Ha, my commiserations". Lots to go wrong, and a pain to fix when it does go wrong. He recalled working at a dealership where the first run of engines were so crap they would tell the owner it needed a new head gasket or something, swap the engine and give it them back. They had piles of engines out back.

I'd definitely advise against it, they have a certain novelty factor but they're not very good cars, not very well built and not all that practical. Get a Polo/Fiesta/Corsa/Golf or something for a cheap runaround.

[mattdc2r]

My little sis had a cinquecento sporting. That was almost like a mini to drive. Side ways around rounds about at less than the speed limit.

[leroy26]

ok i hear ya there build is avg, like spending a grand on a clutch for a diesel ford, having to rewire or decoke a MINI or having the headgasket trouble on a freelander!

[Shep76S]

Had one for 13 years, great little car, would have another if it was cheaper!
It's the most reliable and cheapest to run car I have ever owned.

[mini-luke]

A friend has one. It's spent more time in the garage than out, the gearboxes are crap to say the least

[Shep76S]

I think most problems are caused by unknowledgable people trying to maintain them. E.g, changing just three spark plugs instead of six, only mechanically adjusting the clutch instead of electrically, using cheap oil instead of Mobil 1 / Castrol Edge etc.

[Merryck]

My sister has one, imo they're dreadful. The gear changing system is stupid and dropping down a gear for an overtake is nigh on impossible.

You realise there's an 'extra' bit to the accelerator pedal? It's like right at the end it's got more resistance, so if you really floor it it drops a gear and accelerates?

That said, the gearbox is horrible on Smart cars, massively not a fan. Make sure you test drive one around town before you decide. I drove my mum's after I had my bike accident and couldn't use a clutch. They're perfectly good really, not TOO bad acceleration considering what they are, but terrible gearbox. Takes ages to get used to.

[iMurray]

i am not a fan, the roadster are a little better imo though

[Badboytunes]

leroy, drive one they are horrible, with horrible gearbox's.

Why do you want another car if you have you cmax?