price of smart in Italy - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

cinzia100 · 06-09-2008, 05:18 PM

Can anyone tell me what a passion would cost in Italy? Deciding whether to sell mine and buy one there since I'm moving...
thanks

**jwight** · 06-09-2008, 05:25 PM

smart Italy site if that helps.

MinnySmart · 06-09-2008, 05:45 PM

WOW~ I just built my smart on the Italian site as my car currently is... my US MSRP was about $16200 or so (Passion Coupe with all options and color charges). Same car in Italy came to $21000! That's significant. Man... I'm ok with a 2 year warranty now that I know I saved $4800 compared to our Italian friends...

**jwight** · 06-09-2008, 07:18 PM

To be fair, they are not buying their cars in dollars, so they don't see the local price as the equivalent of $21K. One Euro, or one pound, or one of any currency is viewed locally the same as we view one dollar here.

Smarteq · 06-09-2008, 07:47 PM

The local European buyer may not see that as expensive. But, the manufacturer/US Importer certainly notices the dollar's low value relative to the euro. The dollar has declined about 10% against the Euro since the US smart prices were announced last year. I'm sure that will show up in the US retail price sooner or later along with the higher costs of transportation(fuel). For the dealer; just to deliver the car with a full tank of gas as compared to only a few month ago, has gone up about $6.40(CA pricing)

And beside: One dollar here sure doesn't seem like the same dollar it was a year ago.

stuberman · 06-09-2008, 08:04 PM

That price sounds right. We are benefiting from a lower dollar (PAG locked into a price in dollars so we benefit); they have huge taxes and much higher costs of doing business. I have a German price guide and they have different options such as air bags $500 additional!

If you are trying to save money getting a used 450 should be affordable. (I would be going after a roadster or ForFour.)

2smartArizona · 06-10-2008, 09:59 PM

[quote=Smarteq;88427]The local European buyer may not see that as expensive. quote]

No, even in Europe the smart is considered very expensive for what you get. When compared to other small energy efficient vehicles, and they've got em over there, they are usually at least 4,000 Euro more.
A friend of mine in france recently bought a Yaris four door with A/C for less than 11,000 euros, and I was shopping a smart in Reims about the same time that was going to be over 14,900 euros. You can get the Toyota Aygo now for less than 9,000 euros. People don't just buy a smart to save fuel in Europe. There are many other cars that consume the same amount of fuel for less money. It's usually the parking, ease of manuevering in tight cities and the cachet of the smart.

Benefitting by a lower dollar????? That's why the gas is 4.00 a gallon.

sfmike64 · 06-16-2008, 11:51 AM

You also have to take into account that they have likely added in all of the taxes. In Europe VAT is always added to prices when you see them and it's usually in the 18% range.