RioVerde
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Registered: 23rd Apr 06
Location: Spondon, Derby
User status: Offline
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Thinking of getting one for work as a cheap runaround,most of them I look at seem to be LHD???,anyone know much about them and mpg etc etc
Cheers
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jr
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Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
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the early imports were
your want one from around 99 iirc, theres loads about them on the net
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mattk
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Registered: 27th Feb 06
Location: St. Helens
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bit different compared to a Hyundai Coupe
Ask Timberland, he will know what Smarts are like
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eddiewhiteley
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Registered: 10th Mar 05
Location: down in albion
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my wife had one of these for about a year and it was ok, only reason we got rid was because of her work she needed something bigger. nippy enough and cheap to run. felt fairly well put together aswell, i was expecting it to feel really cheap and nasty but was quite surprised. we got a 2000 x reg i think it was with 11k on it for about £3000 that was about 3 years ago now, from mercedes manchester. if you do get one stay away from the main dealers for servicing and repairs though!
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RioVerde
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Registered: 23rd Apr 06
Location: Spondon, Derby
User status: Offline
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quote: Originally posted by mattk
bit different compared to a Hyundai Coupe
Ask Timberland, he will know what Smarts are like
was just thinking of asking him as he knows everything!
Yeah to be honest a coupe wouldnt be practical as trying to save up for a house ATM and at £35 a year road tax and cheaper insurance/fuel costs sounds good!
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RioVerde
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Registered: 23rd Apr 06
Location: Spondon, Derby
User status: Offline
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quote: Originally posted by eddiewhiteley
my wife had one of these for about a year and it was ok, only reason we got rid was because of her work she needed something bigger. nippy enough and cheap to run. felt fairly well put together aswell, i was expecting it to feel really cheap and nasty but was quite surprised. we got a 2000 x reg i think it was with 11k on it for about £3000 that was about 3 years ago now, from mercedes manchester. if you do get one stay away from the main dealers for servicing and repairs though!
Yeah main dealers sound expensive being mercedes an all that!!
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Rob126
Member
Registered: 18th Feb 05
Location: Mellieha, Malta Drives: Corsa D 1.4
User status: Offline
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would personally get the roadster - coupe over the small one. 700cc turbo engine is quite nice to drive
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Rob H
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Registered: 28th Oct 00
Location: Staffordshire Drives: Astra SRi
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heard lots of compalints abotu the auto box being pretty dire. Perosnally i'd rather go for a similarly priced small engined Saxo/Corsa/Polo etc and not feel as much as a gimp driving it about .
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RioVerde
Member
Registered: 23rd Apr 06
Location: Spondon, Derby
User status: Offline
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I really dont want to sell the corsa tbh its a great car but we spend a lot on our cars (me n my fiancee) and talking about selling one,but its not practical so just looking at commuting around to n from work etc a lot cheaper than I am doing!
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Andrew
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Registered: 5th May 04
Location: Skoda Octavia Estate, Ford Puma
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I wouldn't fancy my chances in an accident with one.
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Joe
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Registered: 20th Jun 04
Location: Hesketh Bank, Lancashire
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I'd drive one first, the accelerator is like an on off switch so manouvering is quite tricky. The gearbox is pretty jerky, I'd imagine servicing will be expensive anywhere you take it.
On the plus side the aren't as slow as you would expect.
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
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quote: Originally posted by Andrew
I wouldn't fancy my chances in an accident with one.
In alot of tests they have come off better then alot of bigger cars 
I quite like them, think their funky used to work with someone that had a brabus one, was pritty quick actually 
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
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quote: Originally posted by Andrew
I wouldn't fancy my chances in an accident with one.
I would. That metal loop around the door is VERY well designed.
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
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Fifth gear showed what they are like in an accident, not bad at all, passenger cabin was perfectly intact.
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RioVerde
Member
Registered: 23rd Apr 06
Location: Spondon, Derby
User status: Offline
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quote: Originally posted by joe6886
I'd drive one first, the accelerator is like an on off switch so manouvering is quite tricky. The gearbox is pretty jerky, I'd imagine servicing will be expensive anywhere you take it.
On the plus side the aren't as slow as you would expect.
I thought servicing could be dear......hmmmm
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jr
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Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
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servicing can be sorted easlily, loads of independants around, or convert the oil filter housing and do it yourself
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Bez_SXi
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Registered: 24th Sep 05
Location: West Mids
User status: Offline
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quote: Originally posted by gavin18787
quote: Originally posted by Andrew
I wouldn't fancy my chances in an accident with one.
In alot of tests they have come off better then alot of bigger cars 
I quite like them, think their funky used to work with someone that had a brabus one, was pritty quick actually
Had a go at one of the Brabus versions when I had my Corsa C 1.2 SXi, and got beat, which I was kind of expecting, but it's still a tad embarrassing
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BlueCorsa
Member
Registered: 14th Jan 04
Location: Midlands Drives: MB SLK250 CDI
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Hired one a long while ago and found the gearbox awful, even in self-select mode. Didn't find fuel economy to be too great either. But quite a cool car.
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smartarse
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Registered: 14th Mar 07
Location: wolverhampton, pattingham
User status: Offline
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i had one for my first car and i couldnt of wished for anything any better i did a shit load of miles in it up and down the motorway and didnt have a bit of trouble with iti did a few mods to it but nothing major. the one thing i do suggest if u have one is that you make sure you service it very regular, i used to service mine every 3000miles (i modded the sump so it had a drain plug) here is a pic of it if.

oh and the girl that bought it off me had quite a nasty accedent in it and if she of had the same accedent in her sicichento she would of hurt her selt alot. they are so strong i have seen a couple cut up and the maint structure is 5 layers thick.
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csweatherston
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Registered: 16th Jan 06
Location: Devon
User status: Offline
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great vehicles....
tbh id get one for a runaround.
downside is you cant do driveway repairs easily, the front brake callipers are held on by 5sided bolts,
there is no sump bung - you have to drain the oil up through the dipstick tube.
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Neo
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Registered: 20th Feb 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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quote: Originally posted by John
Fifth gear showed what they are like in an accident, not bad at all, passenger cabin was perfectly intact.
Didnt they compare it to a corsa ?
edit
yes they did
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s
[Edited on 05-03-2008 by Neo]
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Steve X16XE
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Registered: 31st Dec 06
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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These's one round here and it's very nippy. Dangerous driver mind you but it was quite quick. I saw it again and it had a turbo badge on the back.... So might have had a hybrid one on it.
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