450 pricing dropping?

[bentoutofshape]

Will 450 prices drop? Not sure if this question has been asked.

[Nicholas]

Now what do you really think...with over 30,000 already sold and a year long possibilty waiting list. Oops, that is the 451 model...sorry!

[SMART]

I think the 450 (not the current US version) will be dropping value.

[CruisingAZ]

Originally Posted by SMART

I think the 450 (not the current US version) will be dropping value.

I tend to agree, the higher cost was due to the dificulity in getting one. Now, as long as your willing to wait a little while anyone can get one for 10K less.

[bentoutofshape]

Are they still being imported and converted by g&k?

[CruisingAZ]

Originally Posted by bentoutofshape

Are they still being imported and converted by g&k?

Good question, I would bet there is no money in it now.

[bentoutofshape]

Smart cars are going for less then $5k in the UK. Might be worth importing. Or do the cars have to be from Canada?

[24-42]

Originally Posted by SMART

I think the 450 (not the current US version) will be dropping value.

Contrary to the baseless conjecture I read on this thread...., I personally feel they will appreciate in value. This is based upon repeated incremental increases in offers for my car. In fact, one individual that I directed to the local Smart dealer, returned and inquired as to location of Grey market dealers.

Reasoning given ?... 6 speed transmission, lower rpm on highway, Mercedes engine, Turbo charger, gas mileage and third party,lower cost, no deductible, 4 year,included towing, 50,000mi warranty.

Donald LaFavor

[CruisingAZ]

Originally Posted by 24-42

Contrary to the baseless conjecture I read on this thread....,

Reasoning given ?... 6 speed transmission, lower rpm on highway, Mercedes engine, Turbo charger, gas mileage and third party,lower cost, no deductible, 4 year,included towing, 50,000mi warranty.

Excuse me...

1) Mercedes engine with it's problems compared to the newer modified motor
2) Turbo charger, certainly available soon in after market
3) Third party?
4) Lower cost? How do you get that?
5) 4 year warranty will be up at the same time the 2008 expires.

just my baseless conjecture ;) IMHO

[rgaus]

Let me try to answer some questions without getting into too much editorializing. There are 1026 converted smarts in the US. All but 50 or so have been sold and are being driven in various parts of the country. There will be no more. G&K's license to import them has expired and they will not be importing more. It took them three years to receive approval from the DOT and EPA. Not likely someone else will begin that journey now. Their value in the future is pure conjecture. Some guess that as the popularity of this 2008 car increases, it will increase the desire to own one of the first ones that matched the original European design. Others guess that as the new ones become more and more prevalent, it will dilute the value of the "original" models. No one can predict what will happen any more than they could have predicted the Super Bowl. Pure conjecture. There may be owners of the original models that will think their value will fall and will end up selling their car at a much lower price than they paid for it. However, since the new ones have come out, most ebay smarts "for sale" have been the new ones, not the old ones (Currently 12 for sale, with 10 2008's, one illegal Mexican smart and one illegal Canadian smart). The bottom line is that the market will be what it will be based upon the mindset of the majority of owners of the original cars. If they are enjoying their ownership, they will be in no hurry to sell their cars just because they think the cars might be losing value. Every day of driving a smart is a positive experience and there is no reason to believe that folks are looking for reasons NOT to drive their smarts by selling them. The original smart is an extremely dependable car as shown in various German performance reports. I have links to that data if anyone would like them. The new smart will be equally dependable, and maybe more dependable. The Mitsubishi engine HAD to have undergone tons of tests by German engineers before being given the right to replace the more expensive Mercedes engine. It got the positive nod. We don't have to prove one is better than the other, for heaven's sakes. The more we attack each other, the worse this looks. Each car has its benefits, each has it's question marks. Each has its own set of buyers, with the great majority choosing the 2008's. That's great! Would seem that we should all respect each other's rights to their opinions while trying to make smart a success.
Ron Gaus, asmartcar.com