I got a Smart ForTwo which is quite different from the roadster. However the concept of small turbo engine and automated manual is similar, albeit a quicker shift on roadster.

If I get into a car that I am not familiar with it normally doesn't take me very long to feel happy with its quirks. With my Smart, it took me 2 days and 10 years later, I still get caught out once in a while.

The problem is that due to the small engine, it has to change gears relatively often. And when it's changing gear, you obviously don't have any acceleration. As I say, the roadster has a faster shift, to it may be a bit less of a problem, but still something to be wary of. I still occasionally enter a roundabout then just when I need a bit of acceleration, find that it's in the process of changing down and I don't have any power to avoid the car that was coming from my right faster than I anticipated. Another one is speed bumps. My smart doesn't like them due to short wheel base and stiff suspension so I take them a bit slower than most other cars. Just as I have slowed to go over the top, I want to accelerate out the other side, but by then, it might be changing down and I don't have any power available, by which time, the chap behind me is right up my arse and often annoyed enough to overtake at the next speed hump.

But it's built to Mercedes standard and otherwise not a bad little town car which 99% of the time, is all that I need.

As in hifi, you need a demo.

Meridian owner since 1992
Prime & PSU, Focal Elear headphones, Roon (ROCK 8Gi5 NUC), Explorer 1 & 2, F80. 200/203, various Sonos (via Roon).