2005 smart roadster from UK and Ireland - Comments

Yes you all are right, it leaks like no mans business and it will get WORSE. I just bought mine and it was perfect, I never came across any leaks but I slowly noticed a leak on the passengers door, coming out from the bottom. Then it got WORSE. It started leaking down on to the speakers. And now it's leaking from the top passengers side at the back on the roof top. It's the manufacturer's FAULT.

The damn car is not fit for the UK full stop.

The roadster's seals need a good dose of silicone spray every month or so - should keep them in good order and banish the leaks.

You need to learn how to live with the gearbox - once you do it's really very good, but it just behaves in a different way - and it's the driver that has to change! You do have to pre-empt it a lot, and subtle use of the throttle is required.

... But if you bought a roadster, it's surely because you wanted something different from all the other dreary conformist cars on the market!

I am in the process of buying a 54 plate roadster. I have heard of the leaks and spoke to a couple of specialists. I have looked at a few cars, and simple checks if the seals are crap - visual appearance obvious, then check under carpets - front and back on the passenger side and rear on the drivers... if wet do not buy. To replace seals is 15 hours at a Merc dealership!!

NOT BUILT FOR THE UK - DOH it also rains in Europe - if not more than the UK...

I have looked at loads of cars - Megane convertible / motorbikes... the roadster is my second car of choice.

Keep in the garage, buy a car cover... help yourselves!!!

Please, do not compare this car to a Fiesta or anything else on four wheels on sale now!

The closest approach to this is a Lotus Elise, which is even more hardcore. And I have never listened to an Elise owner complaining about leaking roofs or comfort or whatever. The advantage the Elise has is that it’s far more expensive, so it is unlikely that a normal person ends up buying one, and then regretting that decision because its ride is ridiculously hard, or it accelerates too much.

Put simple: do you want to have honest and cheap fun? Go for this car; do you want something to go from A to B which looks young and attracts a lot of attention, so you think people are looking at you? Go for a “sporty” hatchback and paint it yellow.

We have had a roadster since November 08 and I love it. True it leaks, but we were told at the time convertibles will leak (which I agree with). Couple of fixes but leaks still there, but I'm not too worried. Just hoping the speakers survive!

This car is so much fun. I had never driven an automatic so don't have anything really to compare the gearbox to, but I find it easy to use once you know when to pre-empt it!

I'm not sure what I would replace this with if we need to as I don't know that it is like any other car.

I am totally in LOVE with my Roadster. Yes, I am expecting water ingress; yes, I had to adjust my driving style for the gearbox. But, I am a realistic driver... mainly because my first car was an MG Midget. Back then, it took me ten minutes to put up or take down the roof - my Smart takes me six seconds with a press of a button, even on the move! The power of this little car is just great, and the smile on my face when I arrive at the end of my forty minute daily commute is very wide, even when I have to almost crawl out of the car upon arrival, so low is the vehicle to the ground.

I have driven the car for 200 miles on motorways and been glad to arrive. It is NOT a grand tourer! But, for having fun at legal speeds, nothing affordable can beat it.

Become an owner only if you are prepared to get involved with your car, to know the foibles and the necessary cures. There are plenty of helpful, companionable clubs and forums on the net.

Become a Roadie! You know it makes sense! :D.

I have owned my '06 roadster for 6 months now, and yes it leaks in heavy rainfall. It seems to leak where the seal on the electric roof meets the tridion at the rear on each corner. I removed the carpet from under the seats so I just mop it up when needed.

I've had the full re-map, upgraded all the turbo pipes and brakes, installed an induction kit and a Janspeed exhaust. The remap has drastically improved gear change and the rest just enhances that raw driving experience we all buy these lil deuce coupes for.

As for the Fiesta comments, I actually traded my ST in for one of these after a guy in a Brabus roadster stayed with me from a 0-60 at the lights! I was catching flies for the next mile :o.