Hoping to learn before I buy! - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

SpaGirl · 07-13-2008, 11:44 AM

Hi Everyone,

I've been obsessed with Smart Cars for months now & I'm hoping to learn the pros & cons of owning one from real people so that I can add that information to what I've learned from the SmartUSA website & my local dealer.

I was very excited to find this forum & am anxious to start looking around to see what you all have to say.

Looking forward to meeting you & learning!

-SpaGirl

DFWehman · 07-13-2008, 11:49 AM

Welcome, well, you came to the right place for the obsessed! Have you made a $99 reservation yet? If you want one sooner (and are willing to pay a little or a lot more) you can sign up for an orphan at your dealer. Orphans are cars that were reserved that the buyer didn't want. Get on the list first, then confirm here that you want one!

SpaGirl · 07-13-2008, 12:08 PM

Thank you for the welcome!

I want to find out what owners have to say (ok....& discuss it with my husband

) before I plunk down my $99.

If/when I decide I want one, I probably won't go for the orphan car unless I happen to find one that is exactly the color, etc. I want. It's been over 20 years since I've purchased a car just for me & haven't had to consider things like the ease of getting kids in & out of the backseat, trunk room to schlep everyone's crap all over town, & getting a 4-door even though I wanted the coupe because my girlfriends whine about climbing out - I want it to be perfect!

Kermit · 07-13-2008, 12:19 PM

#1 - Patience - if you won't take an orphan the wait will be long.

As far as it being expensive, I read you said your hubby is a car guy. Well, it's not expensive to you if he is a die hard car guy. I bet if you got an orphan for now (which is still a bit of a wait) and waited for your other car he'd happily take the orphan smart as it is a blast to customize. Then you guys would be toosmart (two smarts). That's what we did - wife actually wanted this car much more than I did and I've gotten totally into it more than she'll ever be and this is coming from a car guy who eats, sleeps and drinks with thoughts of cars running through his head.

Pros and cons. Read around the site and you'll stumble across them in the first minute you open a thread. I haven't got many cons - maybe no cruise control is one I suppose, no armrest is another. That's about it and I can fix those.

SpaGirl · 07-13-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

I bet if you got an orphan for now (which is still a bit of a wait) and waited for your other car he'd happily take the orphan smart as it is a blast to customize. Then you guys would be toosmart (two smarts). That's what we did - wife actually wanted this car much more than I did and I've gotten totally into it more than she'll ever be and this is coming from a car guy who eats, sleeps and drinks with thoughts of cars running through his head.

That's a great option to think about, thanx!

chieftmc · 07-13-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaGirl

Thank you for the welcome!

I want to find out what owners have to say (ok....& discuss it with my husband

) before I plunk down my $99.

If/when I decide I want one, I probably won't go for the orphan car unless I happen to find one that is exactly the color, etc. I want. It's been over 20 years since I've purchased a car just for me & haven't had to consider things like the ease of getting kids in & out of the backseat, trunk room to schlep everyone's crap all over town, & getting a 4-door even though I wanted the coupe because my girlfriends whine about climbing out - I want it to be perfect!

Since the wait time for new reservations is looking like 24 months

you might want to "plunk down" your $99 NOW and hold a place in line

! IF you decide NOT to go through with it (which I doubt)

, then you can get your $99 back and you are out nothing !

Just a thought.

SpaGirl · 07-15-2008, 12:10 AM

Yeah, that's probably a good idea

Mr.RadioActive · 07-15-2008, 01:14 PM

If you find one with all the features you want but wrong color, just ask them to switch panels to the color you want!

jnokomis · 07-17-2008, 07:01 PM

Hi! I am like spa girl and trying to get all the info on my new obsession befor I get one. Bum-bling-B said no cruise control... how do you fix that? I have a distance to drive and really like cruise.

rwjrn · 07-17-2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnokomis

Hi! I am like spa girl and trying to get all the info on my new obsession befor I get one. Bum-bling-B said no cruise control... how do you fix that? I have a distance to drive and really like cruise.

Area 451 is a month or two away from offering cruise control or there's another company that offers one now, but it isn't the same color as the current interior. I'm opting to wait for the one from Area 451