Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd)?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd)?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd)?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd) vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

25% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd) reliable?

Based on MOT data from 159 vehicles, the 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd) has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd)?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd) (2005)

159 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.8% first-time pass rate

2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd)

CarHunch analysed 159 real MOT records for the 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd). Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

This 2005 Smart Roadster is a below-average performer on the MOT bench, with a 73.4% first-time pass rate sitting 6.6 percentage points below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 24.5% of vehicles have recorded dangerous defects—a flag for serious safety issues like brake or steering failures. The petrol engine variant shows no material difference at 73.2%, so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.

The median mileage of 55,159 miles is reasonable for a 19-year-old car, but the real story is in the failures: these cars average 4 major faults per test and a heavy 20.8 advisories, suggesting aging suspension, cooling, and emissions systems are routine problems. If you're considering one, budget for multiple repairs per year and have a pre-purchase inspection specifically target the suspension and brake system.

We have limited data for the 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd) — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

75.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

24.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.03

Over 15.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

55k

Middle half: 40k–70k

For context

These stats describe 159 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 159 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd) cars.

Before you buy a 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd)

Based on MOT data from 159 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 24.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (98%)	156	75.6%	4.1

Mileage Distribution

Most 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd) vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

55,159

typical

39,888

low mileage

69,517

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd) vehicles fall between 39,888 and 69,517 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 39,888 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 39,888–69,517 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd)s sit.

⚠ Over 93,847 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd) — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 37% of 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd)s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 46 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (37% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

15.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.03

Avg failures per vehicle

20.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd): All Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd) years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2004

Or browse all models: Smart →

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See how the 2005 Smart Roadster Coupe 80 Auto(rhd) stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?