The Smiler vs Vampire
card comparison
| Stat | The Smiler | Vampire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 98 ft | 69 ft | |
| Speed | 53 mph | 45 mph | |
| Inversions | 14 | 0 | |
| Throughputest. | 1050 rph | 720 rph | |
| Build Costest. | 28.1 $m | 9 $m | |
| Vintage | 2013 | 1990 |
Vintage is the reversed stat — the older ride wins. Every number here is the same one printed on the card; see /methodology for how Build Cost and Throughput are sourced.
The verdict
The Smiler takes it 5–1, and the 1 Vampire does win is the whole of its case.
The Smiler is a steel Infinity Coaster coaster at Alton Towers, GB, built by Gerstlauer. Vampire is a steel Suspended Swinging Coaster (Vekoma floorless trains since 2002) coaster at Chessington World of Adventures, GB, built by Arrow Dynamics.
Both are in GB, which puts them in the same conversation for anyone planning a trip there.
Both are steel-track, so nothing here is the usual steel-versus-wood argument in disguise.
Stat by stat
- Height goes to The Smiler at 98 ft against 69 ft — a long way clear.
- Speed goes to The Smiler at 53 mph against 45 mph — well clear.
- The Smiler inverts 14 times against nothing at all from Vampire — the widest kind of gap there is on this stat.
- Throughput goes to The Smiler at 1,050 rph against 720 rph — a long way clear.
- Build Cost goes to The Smiler at 28.1 $m against 9 $m — in another class entirely.
- 23 years separate them, and because Vintage rewards age it is Vampire (1990) that banks the point, not The Smiler (2013).