51 replies to this topic

[Richy]

Just thought i'd drag this 'ole thread up.

As many of you may or may not know i've been planning/saving to build a bike powered Roadie for quite a while [or atleast one with a different lump in it]..

Anyheeew, i heard some good news last week, the grape vine told me that there is a Roadster Coupe TypeR due to break cover sometime next year -

Unsure of total costs as i type, but it should be fun. Other engine options are also being looked into [personally i think the RX8 engine is the way to go] theres also a Hayabusa cage being designed [which is what i plan on fitting] which leaves me asking the question to all the SMART owners on here past and present -

Do you think the Roadster chassis will handle 200bhp?

What is the front end suspension like on them and how does it react when being pushed hard?

Also what are the brakes like as standard?

The reason i ask you lot is because i had an 'over' bias answer on one of the SMART forums that lead no where. so i give up

[denno]

Didnt tt end up buying a T350 in the end?!With all that worrying about buying something that wouldnt depreciate im sure i read in another thread that he said he lost around £10k when he sold that on!

[TJH]

hi , i still have my smart roadster and have had it for 2yrs 4 months! i have done loads of mods and it is for sale because i bought a vx! id say it could handle it! the chassis is gd! i upgraded my suspension to the bilstein streetline kit, which i reckon could handle the power too! i think this setup on my roadster is great and probably sharper than the vx! the brakes arent great, id say thats the main area you would need to focus on! i upgraded mine but i reckon better calipers would help! shame to get rid really!

[TurboTomato]

Just thought i'd drag this 'ole thread up.

As many of you may or may not know i've been planning/saving to build a bike powered Roadie for quite a while [or atleast one with a different lump in it]..

Anyheeew, i heard some good news last week, the grape vine told me that there is a Roadster Coupe TypeR due to break cover sometime next year -

Unsure of total costs as i type, but it should be fun. Other engine options are also being looked into [personally i think the RX8 engine is the way to go] theres also a Hayabusa cage being designed [which is what i plan on fitting] which leaves me asking the question to all the SMART owners on here past and present -

Do you think the Roadster chassis will handle 200bhp?

What is the front end suspension like on them and how does it react when being pushed hard?

Also what are the brakes like as standard?

The reason i ask you lot is because i had an 'over' bias answer on one of the SMART forums that lead no where. so i give up

Richy, have a search for the Brabus twin engined Roadster-Coupe - iirc that had a lot more than 200bhp. No idea what other mods it had though.

Keep us up to date if the project gets off the ground - I do rather like the idea of a Type-R engined Roadster!!

[Richy]

Is that the RCR V6 model TT? - If so there was only ten ever built and they were all coupes

Heres a write up on them - The styling is designed to ape that of the prototype V6 twin-engined roadster BRABUS that smart wheeled out to universal astonishment in 2004. This car featured two standard three-cylinder engines joined together to create a V6 bi-turbo engine, with 1,396 cc engine capacity and power output of 170 bhp and 220 Nm of torque. Accelerating to 60mph in less than 6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 137.5 mph, this model got a lot of people very excited until smart let on that they cost around £75,000 per unit to build and would theerefore never make production.

I originally wanted to build a GSXR Four two, but there's a few issues i'm not happy with, one being unless your sliding it around drift sytleeee.. there's a good chance of it rolling over mid corner, this has been down to crap wheel base and even crapper suspension settings [which they are still working on]. Also the engine, its is right behind the seats, cabin noise is balistic at anything over 6k rpm - I've read that alot of them are suffering from cooling issues too at the moment, especially if you build a tidy soundproof firewall - the standard firewall is a sheet of MDF, this is the only thing seperating driver and hot engine, it's also ill fitted to let in cabin air - so it's a case of put up with the screaming 16.000rpm redline and wear some non-fetching ear muffs. - I plan to use the car alot so it's a ..

This is why i'm looking at the non-coupe roadster route - the engine is in the back with a tidy firewall between you [just like the VX] - There has been one already built, i think it was done by Z cars? but theres a company out there building one as i type, this will also house the Busa engine. As soon as the kit is done i'll order one, i already have the engine, loom, clocks etc so i just need the engine frame, brakes, suspension [which all comes in the kit] - I'll probably start a blog on here for yaww and i'll keep you updated on the TypeR project.

hi ,
i still have my smart roadster and have had it for 2yrs 4 months!
i have done loads of mods and it is for sale because i bought a vx!
id say it could handle it! the chassis is gd!
i upgraded my suspension to the bilstein streetline kit, which i reckon could handle the power too! i think this setup on my roadster is great and probably sharper than the vx!
the brakes arent great, id say thats the main area you would need to focus on!
i upgraded mine but i reckon better calipers would help!
shame to get rid really!

Thanks for the info TJ, I'm yet to find a donor car but i'm going to have a test drive in a Brabus on thurs, everyone i've spoke to has said the handling is fantastic, but the cars under powerd - I have to say it's nice to hear they do handle from someone thats driven a VX .

I've also been told of a six pot front brake conversion, but i can't find it anywhere. leaving me question Are after market parts easy to come by? - as everything out there seems to be for the 4two - It's also good news that Billies do suspension, no doubt they will have different spring rates, which is nice

Edited by Richy, 08 July 2008 - 01:44 PM.

[LY_Scott]

my girlfriend is always banging on about wanting one for herself. always caressing them whenever we're up at knockhill as they have them there for some event pack. She wants to change the panels to her racing colours. Would look really cool like.. I was hurting along chapel level this morning in my shed and saw one in front of me, little internal chuckle as I thought how the GF would react. got up close and saw it was a Brabus. Did a pathetic job of trying to keep up in my diesel astravan, (don't you hate when you're not in the VX at times like these). Got up to a busy roundabout I was sat behind..suddenly the boot opens. A very pink faced but very hot leggy blonde gets out to close it. Got a little smile when she saw me laughing, poor lass. Phwoar what is it about hot women in cool cars?

[Mike9009]

my girlfriend is always banging on about wanting one for herself. always caressing them whenever we're up at knockhill as they have them there for some event pack. She wants to change the panels to her racing colours. Would look really cool like..

I was hurting along chapel level this morning in my shed and saw one in front of me, little internal chuckle as I thought how the GF would react. got up close and saw it was a Brabus. Did a pathetic job of trying to keep up in my diesel astravan, (don't you hate when you're not in the VX at times like these). Got up to a busy roundabout I was sat behind..suddenly the boot opens. A very pink faced but very hot leggy blonde gets out to close it. Got a little smile when she saw me laughing, poor lass. Phwoar what is it about hot women in cool cars?

I used to own a Smart Roadster - the boot release button is right next to the electric windows and roof button. I have done the same thing many a time - very embarrassing. The brabus really is not that quick - 0-60 in 9.8secs (or summit) but does handle well and good 'legal fun!

Mike

[theotherjonnymac]

I met an old work colleague recently that has one and he raves about it - though when he saw mine he wished he had a VX !! He said it was good fun and economical!!

[TJH]

i hope the test drive goes well! i know of a roadster with the brake conversion! but would have to ask him to find out lol i used smart-arse-design in watford for mods they are fantastic! rob is the man! he knows alot! there are a reasonable amout of places to get mods! they are great fun!

[Richy]

Well i had the test drive this morning, unfortunately it was pisssing down so i couldn't abuse it to the extent where i could/would find it's major handling flaws. However it did drive really well, it felt effortless to drive in and around town, but there was no way i would get the feed back i wanted there- so i took out to the countryside along a road that i drive quite often my car, there's a series of bends on it that sweep left to right [kinda chicane like] the little smart got a bit un-balanced through there on the first attempt where as the VX was planted [i drove both routes today - in both cars pretty much back to back].

Understeer was apparent at first, but i think that was partly down to me adjusting to such light steering, because it was good coming back.

As we're on the subject of steering, i didn't expect it to be go-kart'ish like the Vx - and it wasn't!. But it wasn't all that bad either, i'd say it was more hot hatch than roadster. The suspension wasn't so crashy and absorbed everything quite nicely but it felt 'boaty' when trowinging about. maybe a suspension upgrade is the way to go.

Also the steering wheel on this car was an after market smaller one [same size as the Vaux] it also had CF extensions on the paddles, which was a nice touch - but sadly it would be made redundent if i carried out the bike conversion, unless they bring a paddle kit conversion out for it. The gear box was a mare, i can see why people find it hard to get on with when they first drive it - i suppose once your used to it.. you could live with it, it's definitely not something that would put me off the car as it would be stripped out anyway.

The rest of interior is a much nicer place to be than the VX [i'm sorry but it is] it feels bloody huge in there. Other aspects of the car are just as usless as the VX - rear window view is the same, wing mirrors seemed better, also i didn't get soaked when the window was open '3 inches

I asked the owner about the roof 'coz there were no signs of leakage, He said [fingers crossed] it never has leaked and it seems to be hit or miss if you get one that does. [again abit like the VX]

Overall i'm quite happy with the Roadster, i think it will take the busa engine and handle it with ease.

I'm even more excited about the project than ever - anyone want to buy a VX and a partly built Mk2 escort

Edited by Richy, 10 July 2008 - 11:55 AM.

[TJH]

if it was a brabus it would have the brabus wheels which do understeer more than the smaller wheels! i could throw my roadster around loads! the roadster has great grip in the dry, the brabus wheels and tyres are a bit rubbish in wet but great in the dry! im selling mine still but its taking a while lol havent even had a viewing! dammit gd luck with conversion, keep us updated!!

[dirtygaz]

I had the coupe with the remap, I tell you what the gear ratios do help it shock people when chasing them, before I got mine I had a Brabus one try keep up with me when I was in my Elise at the time. To be honest he was not a million mile behind and that was from a roundabout on the A1. They do have alot of issues which is best if you get an older one that they have all shown they heads. Mine full electrics, was going to cost me £2500 but merc paid it even though was out of warrenty, as they do not want to get the brand a bad name. They driving position is really nice and you will be surpised by the kick you get from it that and could run it all week on about £30 now with VX I am lucky to get away with £60. Lets put it this way, with the escaliting cost of living at the moment I am looking to go back to one.