Buyers Remorse. . . Maybe. . . Maby Not!

[shooks]

I just picked up my Passion in SanFrancisco Friday before last. Drove around SanFrancisco during the weekend and drove home, Central Valley. I have 178 miles on the car.
Went to the Tint Shop last Friday, to do the windows, and when we got in to start the Smart she showed me her three sideways fingers in the multi display and would not let go of Park. I was virtually stuck, couldn't even push her into the garage!
Messed around with her for almost two hours when all of a sudden she started, and went into gear. I drove home (about a mile away) and parked in my garage. Monday morning Pensky (Smart Roadside Assistance) arrainged to flatbed my Passion back to SanFrancisco where I purchased her. The service department have been very good to work with. They have ordered a new shift assembly, hope to receive and install it this Friday. And the best thing, they will flatbed my Passion back to me in the Central Valley, Modesto. So far I guess I can't complain! Only I wish Smart would fix the issue, especially when they are aware of the problem. Buyers Remorse? Ask me after my Passion gets delivered back to me ;-)'

[jwight]

Sorry to hear that; what is the date of manufacture?

[shooks]

I have it at home with my paperwork, I'll post it later tonight.

[bottlerocket]

Originally Posted by shooks

I just picked up my Passion in SanFrancisco Friday before last. Drove around SanFrancisco during the weekend and drove home, Central Valley. I have 178 miles on the car.
Went to the Tint Shop last Friday, to do the windows, and when we got in to start the Smart she showed me her three sideways fingers in the multi display and would not let go of Park. I was virtually stuck, couldn't even push her into the garage!
Messed around with her for almost two hours when all of a sudden she started, and went into gear. I drove home (about a mile away) and parked in my garage. Monday morning Pensky (Smart Roadside Assistance) arrainged to flatbed my Passion back to SanFrancisco where I purchased her. The service department have been very good to work with. They have ordered a new shift assembly, hope to receive and install it this Friday. And the best thing, they will flatbed my Passion back to me in the Central Valley, Modesto. So far I guess I can't complain! Only I wish Smart would fix the issue, especially when they are aware of the problem. Buyers Remorse? Ask me after my Passion gets delivered back to me ;-)'

Sounds like she needed a teach-in, and if so could have been done over the phone. ;)

[shooks]

I'm not sure how qualified the roadside assistant was I spoke to over the phone.
However he never mentioned a teach-in. I read about the procedure in the oweners manual but was never instructed to perform the teach-in? Problem was, I couldn't start the engine, & couldn't take it out of Park.

[factor9]

Shooks - I'm with you. The manual states, "If the attempt to teach-in the transmission fails, you cannot continue to drive. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you have the transmission taught-in at a qualified workshop or at an authorized smart center." I don't think the roadside assistant counts, except at least you still could get your smart flatbeaded back to the dealer. I know the shifter was frozen and you couldn't start the engine; but, did the transmission position indicator flash and the little mechanical wrench symbol appear on your multifunction display? If so, it probably was in limp-home mode. But, I really think you took the prudent action. Good luck!

[Tinman2000]

"Teach-in"? What the.....

[nonuro]

Yea- What the h*** is "Teach-in"??? I don't have my baby yet but ...........
BTW gas has gone up .10 in 2 days here in Chicago. I saw $3.85 -$3.99 on my way home last night!!! Where-o-where could my little car be?

[bottlerocket]

For some reason some cars "forget" what gear they're in, and there's a process to re-teach the location of all the gears. However I've heard the process in the owners manual is wrong so you need to call roadside assistance to talk you through the correct procedure.

[shooks]

After all was said and done. . . I was informed there is a pin in the shift mechanism which sometimes does not get lubricated, and this is what caused the problem.
I have absolutely no complaints, Smart roadside flat bedded my Passion back to San Francisco 8th Street Dealership, Felipe, the Smart Car service manager has been wonderful to work with. He promptly returned all my calls and was very considerate of all my concerns. ***** 5 Stars for service! Felipe made all necessary arraingements to get my Passion repaired and back to me five days later, that Friday afternoon. What I was impressed with, the car left Monday morning and was returned with the same mileage on the odometer. What ever they did, the car shifts into gear like it should, and it shifts between gears now without near as much hesitation as what it had originally.
I must say it is sooo much fun to drive, not many folks here in Modesto have seen one yet. I have to add ten to fifteen minutes to my travel schedule, because EVERYWHERE I go, someone young or old comes up to me and has lots of questions. I have never had so many straingers talk to me before! I have had only one nay-sayer, which was rather dissapointing. The fellow was wheelchair bound with his mother. Apparently he had a friend overseas who had her legs injured in a Smart. I explained to him I was sorry to hear but the car has had many improvements made in the US version. No matter, I still LOVE my Smartie. . . The verdict. . . No buyers remorse.