Thoughts of a rust free world...

...drove me to to go and look at a Smart Roadster today at a independent dealer. Advertised as excellent condition, one owner, full service history.

'One owner' meant one previous keeper,plus the guy on the registration document=2 owners!

'Full service history' meant one stamp in the service book, at 44,000 miles - guess the current milage...44,000!

'excellent condition'... I arrived to find the engine running, the heater on full blast and the interior all wet. 'it's just been valeted'... nothing to do with the water stains all over the interior door trim from a dodgy seal then. And three different makes of tyres. And dirty oil, despite the service stamp at more or less the current milage.

Don't you just love car dealers.

Fascinating design of car though. Felt like an exxy for the 21st century.

DON'T go there !

Ken O'Donoghue (late X1/9 member) bought one for his wife... nightmare :!: :!:

Leaked, very quirky, & hadn't enough power to get up Sutton Bank unless they went up in reverse :!: :roll: :roll:

Looks good in theory, but c**p in reality :!:

They looked brilliant in the Smart show room in Duseldorf just could not understand why the colapsable roof had to sit on the rear parcel shelf
until you find that it want fit any where else

And you need the instruction manual handy cos it's complicated :!: :!: