Questions about why we want to buy Smart Car

[natural]

I live in MA. Interested in Smart Car, but want to do some research and get more idea before making the purchase decision. Hoping to get some help from here. I will appreciate it even if just get one answer back.
1. what is your motivation if you want to buy a smart car?
2. What problem did smart car solve while the other car not?
3. What need did smart car fill?
4. If you already have one, what role does smart car play in your life in practical and emotional terms?
5. Does smart car allow you to connect to others?
6. Did you consider other cars to buy before you decided to buy smart car if you have one? How did you evaluate it?
7. How was the final choice determined?
8. How important was price to your decision?
9. Are there factors you may think were more important than price?
10. Did cultural background affect your decision?
11. If you want to buy a car, which will come first, the decision where to buy or the decision what to buy?
12. after you bought it, if any, how does you feel about your decision?
13. Has ever your attitude toward the smart car changed?
14. What, if anything, would you do differently next time you want to buy a car?

[sk8ndad]

1. what is your motivation if you want to buy a smart car?
I like the fact that it has an overall small carbon footprint and has little impact on the roads and infrastructure as I do the simple act of going to work. I also like the fact that it takes up so little space when I'm not using it.

2. What problem did smart car solve while the other car not?
See above

3. What need did smart car fill?
Transportation...my current car is 10 years old and I have a 15 yo soon to be 16

4. If you already have one, what role does smart car play in your life in practical and emotional terms?
Won't have til end of year or early next

5. Does smart car allow you to connect to others?
Don't know yet, however everyone at work wants to drive in it when I get it.

6. Did you consider other cars to buy before you decided to buy smart car if you have one? How did you evaluate it?
Yes I have...if the other car meets expectations, I'll probably end up selling the smart, but I'm not sure. I am also looking at the all-electric Aptera. I would also be happier with the smart if we had access to some of the more energy efficient engines.

7. How was the final choice determined?
It was the car that best met my needs and was available.

8. How important was price to your decision?
TCO was important...sticker not so much

9. Are there factors you may think were more important than price?
Carbon footprint (cradle to grave)

10. Did cultural background affect your decision?
Indirectly, I'm tired of the gotta be bigger and faster

11. If you want to buy a car, which will come first, the decision where to buy or the decision what to buy?
what

12. after you bought it, if any, how does you feel about your decision?
n/a

13. Has ever your attitude toward the smart car changed?
Not really

14. What, if anything, would you do differently next time you want to buy a car?
Nothing different

[Old smart]

1. N/a; already have one.
2. Fits in one half of my one-car, townhouse garage, leaving the other half free for other necessary things.
3. See my #2.
4. In practical terms it is a second vehicle; there are no emotional factors.
5. Not into that.
6. Only otherwise considered a two-wheeler. My #2 and #4 apply.
7. A two-wheeler is impractical in bad weather, and not as safe.
8. Moderate.
9. Yes, my #2 and #7.
10. No.
11. What to buy.
12. It does what it needs to do.
13. No.
14. Nothing.

[EinsteinsMommy]

1. what is your motivation if you want to buy a smart car?
I was tired of driving oversized gashog SUV's

2. What problem did smart car solve while the other car not?
It solves the problem of siblings or friends of sibling asking for a ride and not chipping in any gas money. I can simply say "Sorry, we don't have the room" and not have to argue with them. It also has 3 times the gas milage of my husband's Durango and costs less than half as much to fill.

3. What need did smart car fill?
I have a car of my own and don't have to take my hubby's or borrow my parents when I need to go shopping or have an appointment.

4. If you already have one, what role does smart car play in your life in practical and emotional terms?
The practicality of it is that I can take longer trips and spend a fraction of what I normally would on gas. As for emotional...I know it sounds crazy, but I have a connection with this car that I've never had with a vehicle. I LOVE this car.

5. Does smart car allow you to connect to others?
Yes, I was diagnosed with Agoraphobia when I was 9 and have struggled with talking to people or going out in public most of my life (I'm 23). This car has forced me to talk to people and I've been attending car shows and actually coming away from my fears.

6. Did you consider other cars to buy before you decided to buy smart car if you have one? How did you evaluate it?
I was pretty much stuck on the smart once I discovered it.

7. How was the final choice determined?
I wanted it and I got it.

8. How important was price to your decision?
Very!

9. Are there factors you may think were more important than price?
Safety, Unique look, Fun to drive

10. Did cultural background affect your decision?
No

11. If you want to buy a car, which will come first, the decision where to buy or the decision what to buy?
What to buy

12. how do you feel about your decision?
I am very pleased with my decision to buy smart

13. Has ever your attitude toward the smart car changed?
The only thing that's changed is the increased love and excitement! I have one sitting in my driveway and still get SO excited to see others, even if it is a planned meet!

14. What, if anything, would you do differently next time you want to buy a car?
Nothing, I am 100% satisfied and couldn't be happier!

[SylenThunder]

1. what is your motivation if you want to buy a smart car?
It's cool, It's affordable, and it gets awesome gas mileage.
2. What problem did smart car solve while the other car not?
My other car got t-boned in an accident and was no longer usable. the smart works.
3. What need did smart car fill?
I had a serious need for a car because the other one got totaled.
4. If you already have one, what role does smart car play in your life in practical and emotional terms?
It's my commute-suit. Gets me here and there, parks anywhere, and is a joy to drive.
5. Does smart car allow you to connect to others?
It kinda forces me to, everyone wants to know about it.
6. Did you consider other cars to buy before you decided to buy smart car if you have one? How did you evaluate it?
Yup... had previously purchased a Pontiac Vibe for affordable gas savings without sacrificing performance.
7. How was the final choice determined?
They found me an orphan on the fly right when I needed one.
8. How important was price to your decision?
Very
9. Are there factors you may think were more important than price?
fuel economy
10. Did cultural background affect your decision?
nope
11. If you want to buy a car, which will come first, the decision where to buy or the decision what to buy?
what to buy... after I find the car I want, I then find a dealer that is good.
12. after you bought it, if any, how does you feel about your decision?
I feel so good about buying it that We immediately ordered another, (due to arrive next fall,) and am picking up another orphan for my wife Monday.
13. Has ever your attitude toward the smart car changed?
I am more impressed with it now than before I bought it.
14. What, if anything, would you do differently next time you want to buy a car?
nothing, been buying cars for years and my methods are still the same.

[mfoster]

I have 2, enough said.

[rwjrn]

1. I bought mine because I wanted a commuter for work that got better gas mileage than my 19 mpg Edge.

2. Double the gas mileage. Easier to park in the tight spaces at work without having to worry about door dings.

3. Redundant question, but filled my need for better gas mileage.

4. My smart is very practical. I've put 8000+ miles on it in 4 months. It's my daily driver. Not too sure how emotional I get over my car. It's fun.

5. I have talked to more strangers in the last four months than I have my entire life.

6. I considered several other cars before buying. The other car I looked into seriously was the mini. With the options I wanted the Mini was a lot more expensive than the smart.

7. See question 6.

8. See question 6.

9. Roomy interior. Ease of getting in and out.

10. No

11. What to buy. With most of my cars I figured out what I wanted, then got it at whoever offered the best deal. I have flown to pick up a truck from a dealer that had all the options I wanted at the best price. Not really an option with the smart.

12. I've really enjoyed this car. I'm going to get another one.

13. Changed only in that the more I drive it the more I like it. I can get double the gas mileage, talk to strangers, park with ease and without worry . It has its cons, but the pros far outweigh them.

14. My next car will not be an orphan. I will not pay exorbitant prices for the aftermarket items I want, and I will not pay for items I don't want.

[HGB]

I fell in love with the smart when I first saw it in Germany, if you can fall in love with an inanimate object?
Being so small and running on a public road and even on the Autobahn floored me. It was akin, in my eyes at least to the fellow who just put a jet-pack on and flew over the English Channel. Compact.
Its wonderful shape and lines with the generous interior room all within a confined outside dimension is quite an accomplishment. That's what won me over. I wanted such a car in my garage asap but the availability was non-existent here, at least not for 15,000 Dollars.
Gasoline costs were secondary...I just wanted such a cool looking car for I did not take it serious as a regular car. When it was possible to purchase it officially, I was elated. I just hope that the Penske Company listens to our pet peeves and works with us.
I have not regretted buying it and despite a few shortcomings I find it actually fun to drive.

[MaybeWereCrazyBaby]

i think you over analyzing

[Trena]

1. what is your motivation if you want to buy a smart car?
bought one already--wanted something different, fun; always wanted one since saw them in western europe
2. What problem did smart car solve while the other car not?
bored with my old toyota prius, but still wanted something environmentally and gas bill concious.
3. What need did smart car fill?
see #2, but also i was missing my motorcycle riding days, so having a convertible that i can shift manually was the closest thing!
4. If you already have one, what role does smart car play in your life in practical and emotional terms?
great for my job, which requires me to drive around all day both in town and in the country. great gas mileage (almost as much as i was getting in the prius) already (had only 4 weeks now, just broken in), big enough to fit 2 sets of scuba gear or a week's groceries or anything i would have to carry for work. so fun to drive!
5. Does smart car allow you to connect to others?
are you kidding? it doesn't allow us to DISconnect to others! people smile, wave, ask questions--not a moment's rest out and about town! ;) i've had my pic taken in it 3 times that i know of in 4 weeks by strangers.
6. Did you consider other cars to buy before you decided to buy smart car if you have one? How did you evaluate it?
no, because i only got a new car because i wanted the smart. i spent hours on end on this very forum and www.smartusa.com researching the car.
7. How was the final choice determined?
see #6
8. How important was price to your decision?
pretty important, given that my old car was not quite paid off yet. but was not my primary reason for buying.
9. Are there factors you may think were more important than price?
fun, ultra-low emissions, recycled parts, mpg, storage/cargo space, passenger space, safety features, appearance, convertible top, etc.
10. Did cultural background affect your decision?
don't quite understand the question...??? i like it because the europeans have had them for 10 years and i wanted to see what they were like to own.
11. If you want to buy a car, which will come first, the decision where to buy or the decision what to buy?
what to buy, definitely
12. after you bought it, if any, how does you feel about your decision?
great!
13. Has ever your attitude toward the smart car changed?
nope
14. What, if anything, would you do differently next time you want to buy a car?
nothing except maybe try to squelch the urge, in order to save my budget from another 'Trena's whim' hit! LOL