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Open top motoring at it’s finest - cat N Smart ForTwo project


124Cab

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Evening chaps. 
 

I thought I’d share some details of my recent acquisition - a 🐈 N Smart Cabrio. 
 

I’d like to first have a little kick off about the insurance system in this country - the most minor damage sees something written off - and therefore taking away any value it would have once repaired as it now has a marker against it.

I’ve had numerous category cars in the past - a cracked bumper here, a scuffed arch there. Yes I appreciate a new bumper and a paint job from Mercedes would be prohibitively expensive - why can’t it be repaired? Or replaced with used?

Many moons ago farther had his Range Rover P38 written off for a headlight/headlight wiper motor and a 3 inch kink in the bonnet at 12 years old - cleverly he bought it back and landed a large wedge of cash in his pocket. Otherwise is was going for salvage. 
 

Anyhow, onto this little nugget of joy 😀

 

2005 Smart ForTwo Passion Cabrio. 88k. Final facelift (W450 Mk7) so has upgraded stability control, ABS with EBD and hill start assist. It handles better than I remember these doing so and it’s not as top heavy as it’s looks would suggest. 
 

Bought from a lovely couple - and Smart enthusiasts - from a village outside of Doncaster. Hopped on the train from Manchester Picadilliy at 8am and was with them by ten. I’d been up until 4am with the nightclub next door having a late night 80s gig so wasn’t in the best of moods (any property  lawyers about?) but was greeted by an extremely jolly owner who clearly loved the little car - so much so it had been replaced with another. A Brabus flavoured version this time - quite an upgrade with leather etc. 

It has the lightest of damage - but due to it’s  value was automatically written off. Gutting for the lady as it got bumped only a month after purchase. 
 

An absolute shame as it’s probably one of the cleanest out there.

 

It has £6198.60 in receipts 🙈


That’s TWO engine rebuilds and TWO steering racks on top of the usual tyres, springs, brakes and yearly servicing. It had a new sump at the cost of £300 last year 😵

The owner had replaced the hood with a decent used one @ £400 the day before the prang. 

It needs the clutch actuator stripping and cleaning out - these get full of grit and shit - and re greasing as it does thump the clutch down on occasions. Will be doing this tomorrow so will add pics and a bit of a how to. 
 

The damage speaks for itself - arch on order at £30 and I’ll probably just pop a bit of silver gaffer tape over the little gash. This is £650 shitter so I’m not going to go mad on the expenditure. Famous last words…
 

Anyone had experience of living with one of these? 

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I’ve got a 2007 non-convertible model and I bet the convertibles are great fun. The smart has really got under my skin with its combination of practicalities and “quirks”.  I’d always assumed someone would only get one if they had no interest in cars but I was wrong. It manages to be really crap and really good at the same time.

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15 hours ago, jon.k said:

I’ve got a 2007 non-convertible model and I bet the convertibles are great fun. The smart has really got under my skin with its combination of practicalities and “quirks”.  I’d always assumed someone would only get one if they had no interest in cars but I was wrong. It manages to be really crap and really good at the same time.

I drove one for a few months 10 or so years ago, but I was in my early 20s so cars fell into either the great or shit category. I couldn’t see past the dim witted gearbox for instance, comparing it to the normal auto box that I’d experienced was bound to leave me disappointed. 
 

My understanding of how to drive it now is different, lifting off the throttle to promote gear changes and not being reluctant to get involved manually if it’s being a bit slow.
 

I can also appreciate the engineering more now. I was caught up in my early 20s with it’s lack of image so much so I overlooked how interesting the engineering of these actually is. If we overlook it’s fragility it was an absolute ground  breaker (in European standards) at the time it was launched - from the Tridion safety cage, the 3cy turbo engine and the soft tip gearbox. That it crashed as well as cars several feet longer. 
 

They’re fundamentally flawed but also quite charming at the same time. Hopefully this one won’t ruin my life or bank balance!

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  • 124Cab changed the title to Open top motoring at it’s finest - cat N Smart ForTwo project
21 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

There are several shiters with Smarts, but they mostly lurk on the Modernz forum; perhaps it's time for them to become old shite instead of new shite. 

I suppose the earliest LHD Smart in the UK (owned by a Smart specialist in Birmingham I believe) is 98/R making it 23 years old, mine celebrated its sweet sixteenths this past March so perhaps it’s time! Defiantly old shite now. 

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