Done with smart

[psimac]

Originally Posted by Dunerunner

You could try contacting these nice folks at smart!!

Roger Penske
Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
2555 Telegraph Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-0954

Tel: (248) 648-2500
Fax: (248) 648-2525

Dave Schembri
smart USA
1765 Telegraph Rd.
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
His direct phone line is: 248-648-2450
and his e-mail is:dschembri@smartusa.com

Dunerunner: thank you so much for this information. I received an immediate response. Your help is extremely appreciated! smart should thank you as well, because you may have saved them a customer.

[psimac]

Originally Posted by gstreetcomic

When did you get your Smart? I know the early made second generation cars in the early months in 2008 had a load of issues. BTW sorry to hear of the fuel pump issue, hope it gets fixed soon.

Thanks for your well-wishes. We got the car in July 2008.

[psimac]

Originally Posted by Duckhunter

Sorry to hear of your issues. I know what the warranty is on these and I am taking a chance on not getting an extended one. I figure for the cost of the warrenty, I could pay for some repairs and most new vehicles are pretty well put together. The question I have is how low did you let the fuel level go as some of the newer pumps do use the fuel to cool the pump and running too low may cuase the pump to overheat and fail. Are you selling it with a bad fuel pump?

I usually fill up when it gets into reserve.

No, I will fix the car before I sell it. Sort of limits your market if it doesn't run. ;-)

Thank you for your concern. Most of you here on the forum are terrific!

[a2jack]

Originally Posted by Brabus007

A Smart is a Enthusiasts Car, You need to have a "Experimenter Personality" to own one...
These are good cars with good warranties...
http://autos.aol.com/gallery/cheap-car-ipod-satellite-radio

Exactly. Well spoken 007. Our Jan 08 was a true PIA up to about 12k on the ode. Only our "Experimenter Personality" (EP) and great dealer service kept us from throwing in the towel. At 29k now we're glad we hung on.

Psimac, has a point, in that there is expectation of reasonable service life out of the component parts of a new auto. Since we are seeing other Smart FP failures they should at least hold his hand.

The big problem here seems to be , once again, no response from Smart USA. Pensky must rid Smart of their customer buffer (Internet Brands) and speak through Smart USA directly to the buyers of his cars.

Do you have "EP" ? A2Jack.

[psimac]

Originally Posted by WhiteNBlack08

Fuel pump issues are one of the most common fuel system problems there are. Some manufactures are notorious for them. I remember watching a documentary on the development of the current generation Corvette, and in the middle of an endurance test cycle the car just died. The engineers traced it back to a $.10 part in the fuel pump. This stuff happens more often than the manufactures like to admit.

I agree with the others here, you bought the car knowing that it had a 2/24 warranty. YOU chose to take the risk that nothing would happen after that. I didn't buy the warranty either, and I have absolutely no expectation that my smart center will cover anything now. I have 37K on my car, and if it breaks, I'll fix it.

It's too bad your fuel pump failed. That does suck, but man up and face the facts that it's your baby to take care of.

I agree with you for the most part, however the car doesn't even have 30k on the clock and frankly, $650 for a car that costs $14k is ludicrous. If the car had 35k on the odom, then I wouldn't care. The parts are outrageously expensive for a cheap car--the part alone is nearly $400.

After this experience, I will probably no longer be a smart owner. Not so much because the car left me stranded in 100-degree heat. More-so because smart customer service has never responded to my pleas.

That being said, I've authorized the repair. The part may be 2-weeks away and then after paying for rental cars, this repair will have cost me over $1,200 (not including the 1 week wait for smart never to respond). BTW: extended warranties do not cover car rental, so no matter how you look at it it's an expensive repair and a tremendous inconvenience.

[Black-ohio-brabus]

yeah I agree dealer don't need to do good will work that's why there's an extended warrenty plan, but they can work on there custermer service skills they can be improved if they just try!

[Kermit]

Originally Posted by psimac

Repair the car at no charge. What modern car do you know of that has a fuel pump crapping out at 29,000 miles? It's unheard of!

My 1977 VW Scirocco used to go through fuel pumps every 5 years, but they've improved them 32 years later and they're reliable now. Even my dealer said, "we've never replaced one."

5,000 miles out of warranty, it should be repaired. It's a $650 repair!

I had a Saturn that the fuel pump went out at 21,000 miles. I'd go Toyota instead of VW. (yes, I own a VW - and a Toyota too)

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by psimac

I agree with you for the most part, however the car doesn't even have 30k on the clock and frankly, $650 for a car that costs $14k is ludicrous. If the car had 35k on the odom, then I wouldn't care. The parts are outrageously expensive for a cheap car--the part alone is nearly $400.
.

Well, Whatever you do, don't lose a key before you sell it

[stressed member]

O.K, why is your 400$ fuel pump 2 weeks away? This means that they don't have one in stock?Anywhere? They only have one model, there is no excuse for that. I never have to wait more 2 days for anything, at Subie, Vdub, Honda, etc.wtf?

[Chris Wurgler]

I took his message to mean he wants them to pick up the tab on the replacement fuel pump before he will pay the $150 tow charge. But either way I don't understand why he feels they should pay for either one.... Warranty is up ... seems final to me, unless your REAL cute and a real sweet talker, which he seems not to be.