New Owner Questions/Maintainance/Extended Warranty?

[DFDureiko]

I have so many
just brought home a yellow '08 with 7500 miles on it from the Tampa dealer.
The dealer (as did Hartford and Orlando) act very uppity as though they are selling 75,000 cars, but when we had problems with the "Dealer Prep" fee of $490.00......they turned into an economy car dealer.
Bought it for 12,800, found chip in windshield, minor stains (only a car nut would see) and the fabric around the drivers air vent coming undone.
We paid cash, and when asking about extended warrenty pricing was told, it's "subject to change" and was thru the finance department?
the car had just been "serviced" as it should have, but told still have to come back for 10,000 mile check?? quite frankly, Besides having pretty "hostesses" around......they were not too knowlegeable.
Perhaps this is a learning curve for selling used SMARTS?
ie, until just recently they delivered new cars to people that waited 12+ months?
So I'm thinking, I can do the oil change, brakes are brakes, change the filters etc.
other that SMART specific things like the computer I don't need the dealer?
strangley I counted several used Cabrio's on the lot........
Oh, one more thing, car will sit in carport in Brooksville, FL from mid April till Ocotober, should I have someone drive it once a month? or let it sit?
Dan

[NeWave]

A $490 dealer fee? A bit on the high side. Mine was only $190 (there's cheaper than that around...), and it's attached to a Mercedes dealer... Not much you can do but go to another dealer if that were a problem. They pretty much charge whatever they want...
Used smarts shouldn't be much different than new for the dealer. It's surprising though that they didn't clean it and patch it up a bit better.
Smarts are a little prone to windshield chips, with the obvious lack of hood to divert the chips. Keep a good windshield repair place on hand just in case...

There's a partner website that tells ya how to do some of your own basic maitenence. Evilution - Smart Car Encyclopaedia Oil being straight forward, brakes are walked through, and Filters are a breeze..pun intended... Even spark plugs are easy to swap out yourself. Some stuff ya still gotta go in for. Mostly cause most of the parts are through the dealer.

[bcope01]

Originally Posted by DFDureiko

Oh, one more thing, car will sit in carport in Brooksville, FL from mid April till Ocotober, should I have someone drive it once a month? or let it sit?
Dan

Better put a trickle charger on the battery. I've heard where some have had a problem with the battery discharging when the car sits for as little as 2-3 weeks.

[Bill Marshall]

It's not good for a car to sit idle for such a long time. But most important would be to be sure that the gas has fuel stabilizer in it or to drain the gas.

[The Rigger]

Originally Posted by bcope01

Better put a trickle charger on the battery. I've heard where some have had a problem with the battery discharging when the car sits for as little as 2-3 weeks.

Amen. Not sure if the Mitsu engine systems in our cars would do the same thing, but I have heard of other cars and motorcycles that sat with flat batteries for long periods of time having major issues with some of their engine-management computers upon being "woke up," especially with the fuel-injection systems. A "smart charger" is ideal for this; keeps the battery tip-top, without overcharging and boiling it...

Mine's sitting in my driveway at home (where I'm not at very often, these days) under a car cover, with a Battery Tender Plus hooked up to the battery and a fuel system full of Stabil-treated 95-octane... Just like my motey-bike.

(this being said, I'll most likely change over from the OEM wet-cell battery to a higher-capacity AGM cell one of these days... Also just like my motorcycle.)

[DFDureiko]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I plan on having an oil change when I get back to FL, car has 7500 miles, I'd be comfortable doing oil changes at 5000 miles, after all it's only 3.5 quarts or so. I'm having my mechanic do it, as am not supposed to do "mechanical work" in the community where I am, plus then I'd have to dispose of the oil anyway.
so any special jacking instructions? I've got a good mechanic so should be no problem. also debating on AMSOIL 5w40 European Engine oil, or the Mobil 1 0w40?
I am assuming brakes are brakes and any good mechanic will know what to do. I do plan on taking it in for 10,000 miles services though.
Next question, what about buying an extended warrenty? you guys think it's a good idea? I'd get one with high months/low miles, seeing the car won't be driving much in the summer.
I think I'll have four friends drive the car once a week round trip to the grocery store, about 18miles? sound good?
Thanks
Dan

[forestacademy]

The dealer fees are a bit strange on a used smart. That was used so the dealers could cover costs on the new ones and they varried quite a bit accross the country.

As far as having the car sit for a few months. Have your friend change the keys each week. If the car only uses one key it can forget the other one.

[DFDureiko]

Originally Posted by forestacademy

The dealer fees are a bit strange on a used smart. That was used so the dealers could cover costs on the new ones and they varried quite a bit accross the country.

As far as having the car sit for a few months. Have your friend change the keys each week. If the car only uses one key it can forget the other one.

Thanks for the info!

after having grocerys slide under the seats, I'm looking for the luggage divider, called a store on ebay, 168 w/shipping, the Tampa dealer wanted 299?
would like to get a central FL casual Smart group going. How would I go about that?
P.S.
Also have an old Segway not sure yet if it will fit in the back!
Dan

[DFDureiko]

any advice regarding service or oil changes????
Dan

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by DFDureiko

... after having grocerys slide under the seats, I'm looking for the luggage divider, called a store on ebay, 168 w/shipping, the Tampa dealer wanted 299?
...

The regular retractable and removable cargo divider/cover is about $150. Maybe your Dealer is giving you the price of the divider/net (pic below) that extends to the ceiling and that I've found on eBay for $299.95?


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