Roadster as a Commuter

[Kefuddle]

Hello all,

I am thinking it is time to sell my BMW 318is and get a Smart Roadster for my 80 mile round trip daily commute. I used to do this in a Cinquecento Sporting before my beemer so lack of refinement and the extra noise don't concern me. In fact I think I preferred the Cinq (but that is a tangent).

Anyway, I would like some opinions from roadster owners on what living with these cars on a daily basis is like. I can get one as a company car so maintenance is not strictly an issue but I will have to hold onto it for four years before I can change so I don't want something that will need constant attention.

Two specific concerns I have are:

1) Is the build upto doing 25000 miles a year. Will it be constantly booked in to have this and that fixed?

2) Does a high compression turbo charged engine really do 55mpg as the blurb states. One reason why I am looking at the Smart is its stated economy. If 55 becomes 40mpg then it would be cheaper for me to get a 1 Series, especially with the requirement for 98 RON!

3) Why oh why has it taken so long for a manufacterer to re-create this category! We need more choice

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Kef.

[tom8481]

All depends on what model you get and how you drive. I can't offer any technical data on fuel economy, but I do get around 290 - 305 miles per tank with a mix of motorway, country and city centre driving. Doing some rough maths I think that's somewhere between 49 and 54 Mpg.

[Massive]

Don't forget the income tax, I don't know what the Co2's are on the BMW but I pay very little on my fortwo.

What do you mean "lack of refinement?" :p

Karen

[madDan]

A point to bare in mind is the 7000 mile services, in which case you'd be better off with one of the Japanese cars that only needs servicing every 18,000 miles

My fuel economy is great regularly see 55+ only occasionaly dips below 50, (no remap or what ever tho!) standard 82 bhp (or is it 80?) RHD 53 registered Roadster

As for popping in and out for problems, sorry that's pot luck I am affraid, get a later build rather than early if you do get on.

On the plus side - it is more than capable of an 80 mile commute in comfort, and I'm 6'3" and work 40 mile away from home.

Great for driving after shifts take the roof off and I dare you to even consider nodding off!

another downside tho' is that you'll find you can't stand to see it filthy as you wouldn't mind with an average car, oh and you tend to get obsesive over the damned thing!

As for refinement the only let down is the standard audio kit which isn't worth the money, have you actually driven one yet? if not then go for a pootle.

Oh if you can stretch to it a Brabus Roadster would be a nice refinement!

[gab]

Was in a similar position to you and I just took delivery of my Roadster-Coupe on Monday as my new commuting car. Only concession was to specify a hard top as it's much much much quieter than the roadster soft top I borrowed for a test drive.

I only plan to keep it for 2 years but figured that for mainly motorway use the car woudl be fine mechanically so long as it's maintained and gets plenty of clean oil and regular fluid level checks.

So far, fuel economy seems to be pretty good. Space and comfort are excellent - I'm 6 ft 4 and can stretch out no probs. The only luggage I carry on a daily basis is my laptop bag. Note the comment about the stereo. I didn't think it worth specifying the sound upgrade as I'm going to replace the speakers and HU anyway.

On top of all the practical reasons, you can get out of the car at the end of your journey, feeling great with a big smirk on your face because it's so much fun to drive

[BRABUS]

the sound upgrade package is a waste of time and money. I have a Brabus that comes with it as standard. Its really POO - a £100 player sounds better. So some new speakers and head unit and you are laughing.


YES get the Brabus I always get over 45mpg even when I am having 'fun' driving it

[Kefuddle]

Many thanks for all the excellent replies chaps and chapesses.

I would love a Brabus, but my calculations say that I save getting a std roadster as a company car when compared to running my current beemer. The Brabus would cost me more. I am actually am thinking of a jet black 80bhp roadster with just the sports wheel and sound pack as options. Although I am rethinking the latter...if I can change the speakers myself in a way that allows me to put the originals back at the end of its tour of duty.

I have had a test drive and am frankly smitten!! I just could not possibly start my day in Peugeot diesel!!

Two more questions: Does the hardtop option delete the softtop or does it just go over the top? Also, aircon seems to me to be unecessary...or is it?

Thanks again,
Kef.

[sroddnundr]

I got mine as a commuter car. 25 miles each way, half on freeway. The other half is crossing Downtown (from one extreme to the other.)
I get 4.9L/100kms on a good day and 5.9 when there are traffic jams on hot days (ac on). The average is about 5.4 (lit says 5.2 though).

I get around 520Kms (325miles) on a tank (refill with 2L left).

How you drive it makes a difference. To maximise my consumption and be able to get over 500 kms (310 miles) I don't drive more than 10 kms over the limit and always upshift at 3k rpms to 4,5 &6th gears (2 & 3 around 4k rpm). Shifting like that also makes it smoother. This may sound boring to some, but that is how I drive when I commute. Weekends is a different story!

[wayneaucock352]

aircon is something i wish we had got now on our roadster dunno if we been spoiled with our city having loads of toys including the air con

air con would really help with the misting up in roadster as it can be prone to this on cold mornings

[BRABUS]

Aircon is a MUST on a roadster as they steam up quite easily.

Speakers - really easy to change - I made a simple extension that connects the speaker wires without damaging the original wires. You can get speakers that actually screw stright in to the standard holes or you can make a couple of new holes that the dealer will never know about as they dont take the grills off when you take them back

Hard top - order it from new or it will cost you - wait for it

Hardtop install kit - £90
Hardtop - £670
6 hours labour - £355

This is all plus VAT so not cheap.

[adetri]

Commute?

Hi,

I occasionally use my Roadster Coupe for a 68mile Round Trip Commute. Its not bad actually, on a par with an MX5, but with added comfort of aircon and (in mine) heated seats. I also have a sensible car, so I use this when the weather is bad -- this is because I do not like the Roadster on the Motorway when there is a lot of spray around and some lorry wheels are higher than you.

Constant probs... hmmm mine has had 4 unscheduled visits to the Smart Garage in 5 Months. Previous car (Puma) had just 1 in 2 Years, so not so good, but you could be luckier than this. I am hoping I am just having teething probs.... each fix leaving it better/fitter than before! However I can only praise my local Mercedes dealership, they are very good.

Finally, yes, make sure yours has aircon - a must for diaily commuting -- you don't always want the roof off in the summer!

[Mark F]

Aircon is a MUST on a roadster as they steam up quite easily.

i agree, i didnt want air con, but merc had a new car in the showroom, with everything else i wanted, and with air con! got v good discount (at the time) so bought the car thinkin id never use air con... how wrong could i be! they mist quite badly on damp days, to the point where i only have to turn off the air con for a few mins for the screen to mist back up enough to block quite a bit of the view!!

get air con, and to be honest, i dont think the sports pack is worth the money, but thats me...

[phildperv]

Have to agree on the air con , although I have the for2 , absolute god send at times , speaking to people about the Air con its suprising how many people think that they are only for cooling the car down when its hot , they never consider using them for heating the car , also it surprises a lot when you tell em your suposed to use em now and again otherwise the seals tend to dry out , and they need re-gassing . Is it just Smart owners that read their car manuals ???

[superstevie]

I dont have aircon on mine. As a cooling system, not much point on a convertible. However, it does makes sense with demisting as i have found my roadie very bad at times for that.

As for hard top, i bought 61bhp roadie with hard top s standard and i think its great, more protection etc. I was speakin to a guy at the perth treasure hunt in august who had both. His problem was he could carry the hard top him as the folded fabric roof eat into the space where the HT is stored. But from knowledge, far cheaper to buy this when ordering the car.

If servicing isnt an issue, then all i can say is go for it as it is sooooooo much fun to punt down back roads and comfortable enough to drive on long distances. PLus the feel good factor from it is unbelieveable!!

[Mark F]

PLus the feel good factor from it is unbelieveable!!

causes a strange condition... uncontrollable grinning you will end up lookin daft (or at least i do)