A lost gem rediscovered in an Illyrian Pirate enclave
Sequestered off the sun-drenched coast of Dubrovnik, Croatia, is the quaint and unforgettable Island of Mljet. Spanning just 38.5 square miles, Mljet Island is a small yet radiant gem, with vantages that overlook sheer coastline, with only the crisp, blue waters of the Adriatic Sea between you and the endless horizon. Home to one of Croatia’s eight national parks, this spectacular island paradise was my home for seven days in the summer. Hosted by my lovely girlfriend’s digitally nomadic father, who, at some point in recent years, had acquired a charming, rustic beach house in a tightly-knit seaside village named Sobra – home to just 129 people as of 2021 – the three of us spent our island epoch swimming under coastal caves, getting lost in the woods, drinking white wine, and eating our body weight in olives.
On one exceptional day, however, like a sparkling, bright red Hot Wheels sitting atop a pile of derelict toy cars just begging to be plucked, a Smart Roadster parked beneath a tented canopy that read “Mini BRUM RENT A CAR” caught the corner of my eye. After taking a closer look, I decided immediately that it must be mine, at least for the eight-hour rental period, and that I would use it to explore the island’s many hidden treasures the way I know best – behind the wheel, on the open road.
Mini BRUM
Like a lost gem rediscovered on an island said to have once sheltered Illyrian Pirates as recently as the fourteenth century, the Smart Roadster stood out to me in particular, even more so than the pristine yellow Mk3 Volkswagen Golf TDI Cabriolet, and even more so than the skittle-like sea of vibrantly painted Fiat Punto Cabriolets. As a child, I would attend the annual International Car Show in my hometown of Vancouver, Canada, religiously. One year – and this memory flashed back to me vividly as soon as this one caught my gaze – the Smart Car exhibit had one of these on display, and dressed in the very same red paint no less.
Cole Attisha
As much excitement as it stirred up at the show, I remember staring at the brand new Smart Roadster, helplessly smiling as a young boy does when he sees something that truly, spiritually awakens him – a new and foreign sensation for a boy of that age – a bright red car that whispers promises that one day, if you work hard and you do right, you’ll be free, and you’ll be out on the open road with the wind in your hair and a turbocharger at your behest. Then, suddenly, heartbreak – learning that, despite dangling it in front of our faces, Smart had no plans to sell these in North America. For at least a decade, I had never seen one again, at least in person, until now. I wouldn’t have any of the other available rental cars; I had to have the Roadster.
Cole Attisha
A childhood vision becomes reality in an idyllic setting
I think it’s important for me to briefly address the ridiculousness of the car before I go any further. I mean, it looks like if a ladybug had wheels, someone had stuck Ferrari’s prancing horse on the hood above its factory emblem, and it offered me just 80 horsepower. None of it mattered to me. The Smart Roadster is as quirky as cars come, and I’m a fan of weird. It featured an electronically operable targa roof, a rear-mounted (yeah, like a Porsche 911, crazy right?) turbocharged 698cc inline-three engine, and a finicky, single-clutch electro-hydraulic automated manual gearbox, which, at least, was more intuitive to operate than an early BMW SMG gearbox, and produced entertaining suction noises under hard shifting. It may only produce 80 horsepower, but it only weighs 1,742 pounds and sends its power to the rear wheels. So, the automotive nerd in me was intrigued, and so was my inner child; thus, a car so silly that it even looks like it’s laughing became a source of unmatched joy.
Cole Attisha
Cole Attisha
Cole Attisha
With my right foot hard to the floor, the Smart Roadster helped us swiftly navigate narrow cliffside roads with steep, sudden drops on either side, with the finesse of a go-kart. It transported us to picturesque swims, friendly towns rich with ice cream stands and beach cabanas, and its targa-style convertible roof let us soak in the exquisite vistas and landscapes. The Smart Roadster encourages hard driving. That’s because if you don’t drive it hard, you’ll be lucky to hit the speed limit, so revving its feisty little motor up to its redline is both an invigorating and necessary thrill, especially over the hilly terrain of Mljet Island.
Cole Attisha
I’d rather drive a slow car fast than drive a fast car slow
That means, despite spending our day traversing an island that spans just 38.5 square miles, and barely cracking 50 miles per hour, for the entire time, we felt like we were hightailing around, checking out all the must-see destinations and checking them off our list, one by one. Feeling is the Smart Roadster’s magical essence, because it feels like nothing else to drive. It is perhaps the closest one can get to driving a street-legal go-kart, adorned with air conditioning, storage space for two backpacks, and power central locking.
With every required input and with every bit of communicative feedback, the Smart Roadster prompts you to feel something, and so you begin to feel everything – you become present, because the car insists that you do. You start to notice the crisp cut of ocean breeze at the tip of your nose and tongue, and the crickets seem to chirp louder, and you begin to feel how the weight of the Roadster’s 698cc engine guides the rear axle around corners through your fingertips. Worries fade, time becomes fluid and insignificant, and your inner monologue is suddenly gagged. 80 horsepower is enough to achieve this level of zen, so long as you know how to use it. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.
Cole Attisha
Cole Attisha
Cole Attisha
A genuine bucket list experience
“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys,” Professor Keating instructs his students, Robin Williams begs of his audience. The members of the Dead Poets Society would have adored the Smart Roadster, because it is a vehicular reminder of how important it is to, at least every so often, let your guard down and enjoy life as raw and unfiltered as it comes when you’re paying maximum attention. The Smart Roadster, as overlooked and as quirky and seemingly redundant as it is, is a fine example of a car that was built by people who love cars on a spiritual level – one much deeper than the superficial adoration for exotics and luxury cars that specialize in glitz and glamor (even if this one does sport a Ferrari badge) – because within it is a spirit of its own, which constantly reminds its occupants to open their eyes, their ears, and their souls, to what’s in front of them.
As for the Island of Mljet, I’ll be back. Connecting to an inanimate object on a spiritual level without the helpful assistance of psychedelics or a traumatic near-death encounter may sound like an impossible task. However, when the scenery looks as cinematic as sun-soaked Mljet does, it becomes like second nature, and emotions run high like the Roadster’s octane. My recommendation to you, fellow traveller, is to find something that wakes you up, even if just for a moment. Whether it’s piloting an 80-horsepower convertible that you perhaps overglorified as a child on a sun-baked Adriatic pirate paradise, eating a cobra heart in Ho Chi Minh City, Anthony Bourdain style, or even setting foot in Abbey Road Studios in London, remember to take a deep breath and to seize the day – that’s what life’s all about, after all.
About the author
Cole Attisha
Staff Writer, Autoblog