Had my Smart Roadster Coupe for one year now - costs etc
Discussion
Hi there,
Collected my Roadster Coupe from the dealer on 3rd July 2007. The mileage as I drove it off the forecourt was 47425.
As I pulled back onto the drive this Thursday (3rd July 2008) the mileometer read 89677. Yes thats right my Roadie has covered 42252 miles in the 12 months I have owned it.
I have done a quick reckon up to see fuel costs, miles per gallon etc.
Business mileage covered = 37317
Private mileage covered = 4935
Total fuel purchased = £3722.40
Average cost of a litre of fuel = £1.047
Average MPG over the 12 months = 53.98 mpg.
Interestingly the first time I filled it up the fuel was 93.9p per litre, this Thursday I paid 114.9p per litre. Thats an increase of 21p per litre over the last 12 months.
As for servicing and repairs here are the bills I have incurred: -
05/07/07 - EBC Brake Discs and Pads - £181.15
09/08/07 - Puncture Repair - £13.63
19/11/07 - C Service, and new front spring - £348.83
23/01/08 - New Rear Tyre - £67.83
04/02/08 - MOT - £40.00
05/02/08 - Faulty Horn repair and headlampbulb - £37.17
05/02/08 - MOT Retest - £20.00
10/03/08 - Clutch Adjustment and reteach - £75.00
14/03/08 - Clutch Actuator - £243.54
20/03/08 - SAM and Key recode - £61.12
27/03/08 - Small service (oil and filter change) - £60.00
14/04/08 - Replacement Fuel Pump and new SAM unit - £672.65
Total spent £1820.92
I received £100 towards the brakes from the original dealer as they were shot to pieces when I bought the car and also a payment of £126.14 from AA warranty towards the fuel pump replacement. I am also going to add on another £250.00 as the car needs a big service this week.
Therefore net servicing and repair cost is £1844.78 or 4.37p per mile.
My employer pays my business mileage at 28p per mile so I have received from them £10,448.76.
I have HP on the car which is £210.90 per month and I have made 12 payments so far (£2530.80).
So my reckoner looks like this: -
Mileage payments £10448.76
less
Fuel £3722.40
Repairs and Servicing £1844.78
Finance payments £2530.80
Road fund licence £115.00
leaves £2235.78
Car purchase price was £6495.00
approximate value now £3500.00 (parkers guide says £5000 at 40,000 miles)
Depreciation £3000.00
Therefore to run the car for the year has actually cost me personally £764.00 assuming the depreciation is correct.
I have to say the Roadie is definitely the best car I have ever owned, its comfortable, nippy, economical, roomy gets loads of looks and a great all rounder.
Hope you enjoy the write up, and please post any questions you may have about 12 months and 42,000 miles in a Roadie.
Regards
Tim
Collected my Roadster Coupe from the dealer on 3rd July 2007. The mileage as I drove it off the forecourt was 47425.
As I pulled back onto the drive this Thursday (3rd July 2008) the mileometer read 89677. Yes thats right my Roadie has covered 42252 miles in the 12 months I have owned it.
I have done a quick reckon up to see fuel costs, miles per gallon etc.
Business mileage covered = 37317
Private mileage covered = 4935
Total fuel purchased = £3722.40
Average cost of a litre of fuel = £1.047
Average MPG over the 12 months = 53.98 mpg.
Interestingly the first time I filled it up the fuel was 93.9p per litre, this Thursday I paid 114.9p per litre. Thats an increase of 21p per litre over the last 12 months.
As for servicing and repairs here are the bills I have incurred: -
05/07/07 - EBC Brake Discs and Pads - £181.15
09/08/07 - Puncture Repair - £13.63
19/11/07 - C Service, and new front spring - £348.83
23/01/08 - New Rear Tyre - £67.83
04/02/08 - MOT - £40.00
05/02/08 - Faulty Horn repair and headlampbulb - £37.17
05/02/08 - MOT Retest - £20.00
10/03/08 - Clutch Adjustment and reteach - £75.00
14/03/08 - Clutch Actuator - £243.54
20/03/08 - SAM and Key recode - £61.12
27/03/08 - Small service (oil and filter change) - £60.00
14/04/08 - Replacement Fuel Pump and new SAM unit - £672.65
Total spent £1820.92
I received £100 towards the brakes from the original dealer as they were shot to pieces when I bought the car and also a payment of £126.14 from AA warranty towards the fuel pump replacement. I am also going to add on another £250.00 as the car needs a big service this week.
Therefore net servicing and repair cost is £1844.78 or 4.37p per mile.
My employer pays my business mileage at 28p per mile so I have received from them £10,448.76.
I have HP on the car which is £210.90 per month and I have made 12 payments so far (£2530.80).
So my reckoner looks like this: -
Mileage payments £10448.76
less
Fuel £3722.40
Repairs and Servicing £1844.78
Finance payments £2530.80
Road fund licence £115.00
leaves £2235.78
Car purchase price was £6495.00
approximate value now £3500.00 (parkers guide says £5000 at 40,000 miles)
Depreciation £3000.00
Therefore to run the car for the year has actually cost me personally £764.00 assuming the depreciation is correct.
I have to say the Roadie is definitely the best car I have ever owned, its comfortable, nippy, economical, roomy gets loads of looks and a great all rounder.
Hope you enjoy the write up, and please post any questions you may have about 12 months and 42,000 miles in a Roadie.
Regards
Tim
£72K in five years (but including the price of the car).
_dobbo_ said:
If it's 7k mile service intervals then that service bill should be nearly double what is documented here.
I remember from when I had a Smart, Mercerdes Benz don't even bother to lube you up first before they bill you at the same hourly rate as if you owned an SL65 AMG.
yep true but a good independant will do it cheaper.I remember from when I had a Smart, Mercerdes Benz don't even bother to lube you up first before they bill you at the same hourly rate as if you owned an SL65 AMG.
just had the Brabus Roadie's B service on sat. it was £250!
it does need a service every 7000 BTW!!!!!!!!!
Edited by S4E Jord on Monday 7th July 16:56
Yup, I think you've missed some services out Tim. Remind me not to buy your car when you sell it, especially as it's probably got even more stonechips than mine (and that's saying something 
)
I think the hard-top was a good move for that mileage. I've now done 10k miles in 6 months in mine, and the only issue I have with long journeys is the noise from the soft-top. And the fact that I can only get 47mpg out of mine, you git.
Steve
ETA: Just read this back and it sounds like I'm implying you've mistreated your car - sorry Tim, it was meant as a joke. You've obviously been looking after it otherwise it wouldn't have been so reliable. And I've also now seen your post TRn where you explain the service intervals.
)I think the hard-top was a good move for that mileage. I've now done 10k miles in 6 months in mine, and the only issue I have with long journeys is the noise from the soft-top. And the fact that I can only get 47mpg out of mine, you git.
Steve
ETA: Just read this back and it sounds like I'm implying you've mistreated your car - sorry Tim, it was meant as a joke. You've obviously been looking after it otherwise it wouldn't have been so reliable. And I've also now seen your post TRn where you explain the service intervals.
Edited by millband on Monday 14th July 13:15
Hi,
Looking at the costs of running your Smart, I have had a 54 Smart roadsrter coupe for the last 2 years and found it to be a great and economical car to run.
However last Friday I think with the wet weather, water is in the electrics as the car shut down and has now been towed to the Mercedes garage. Looking at other websites it sounds like I could need a new SAM unit.
You listed a cost of £672.65 for a fuel pump and SAM unit. Where did you manage to get this so cheap?
Looking at the costs of running your Smart, I have had a 54 Smart roadsrter coupe for the last 2 years and found it to be a great and economical car to run.
However last Friday I think with the wet weather, water is in the electrics as the car shut down and has now been towed to the Mercedes garage. Looking at other websites it sounds like I could need a new SAM unit.
You listed a cost of £672.65 for a fuel pump and SAM unit. Where did you manage to get this so cheap?
Hiya, just for info my first Roadster needed a SAM, and it was ~£600 for that job at a main dealer. If you push hard you may get a discount - how old, main dealer history etc?
Good luck. They CAN be made water-tight - Smart of Leeds have the knack, I don't know who else does but it IS possible
S.
Good luck. They CAN be made water-tight - Smart of Leeds have the knack, I don't know who else does but it IS possible
S.
Thankyou so much.
The car is a 54 reg with a full dealership service history and touch wood, this is the first problem of this type I have had. It is currently at the Newcastle Mercedes dealership to be looked at tomorrow, so I await the verdict.
How long is it since you replaced your SAM unit?
The car is a 54 reg with a full dealership service history and touch wood, this is the first problem of this type I have had. It is currently at the Newcastle Mercedes dealership to be looked at tomorrow, so I await the verdict.
How long is it since you replaced your SAM unit?
Edited by Smarty17 on Monday 14th July 14:09
Smarty17 said:
How long is it since you replaced your SAM unit?
My current car has the one it left the factory with in 2003 (despite being 06 registered it was built in Oct 03!).My previous Roadster was 03 registered and had a at least 3 SAM's - the one it left the factory with, one replaced by the second owner and one by me. That was June 07 and it's been fine since (I'm still in touch with the guy I sold it to)
The key thing is they seal the bulkhead properly as well as replace the SAM. Smart of Leeds also re-route some of the electrical cables I understand. If Smart Newcastle are part of the same Stratstone group as Smart Leeds maybe they could swap info.
The best place for advice etc is www.theroadster.net by the way.
Steve
Edited by millband on Monday 14th July 17:52
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