I guess it is really surprising when a brand new car have such issues - and especially with a dealer demo. Add to that, the lack of specific information and you see where many of the posters are coming from.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NicelyMKV
Wow, way to jump on the new guy. I live in TN, the dealership is in Atlanta, GA. Call the dealership if you like to verify that the red demo model had a problem with passenger seat and a loose roof while the white demo model had a service engine light on and almost stalled at a few full stops.
I joined this forum out of my excitment for this automobile and was just a little concerned about what I saw with the demo models. I am for this vehicle and want other people to be excited about it. I posted my question here out of faith in you guys and lack thereof in the dealership.
I will still be purchasing a Smart because I think it is a past due concept more Americans need to adopt and I love the car.
Sorry if I bummed anybody out I was just frustrated and needed all of your advice.
I could see you not wanting to mention the dealership in that it may be the dealership that you have to do business with. Tick them off and they could always make sure you stay at the end of the list for an orphan, maybe drag their feet if you need service, or possibly just not greet you as warmly as they do others. Of course they might have employees reading this thread and you may want to stay as anonymous as possible.
On the other hand...
It's also not uncommon for people to make unfounded allegations. Whether they are unhappy because they can't afford a smart, don't like the wait, or maybe they just don't like someone at the dealership. The reasons to be spiteful can be as individual as the person.
I'm a firm believer that if I don't get the answers I want to go up the ladder. Ask to speak with the manager. Ask to speak with someone in the service department that may understand what is happening with those particular vehicles. First and foremost people don't respect property that isn't theirs.
For example: My parents owned rental property when I was growing up. The significant other man person {we're not married but been together 7+ years} has rental property. It is the rare exception that someone leaves the property in acceptable shape. My last time cleaning and repairing for 3 solid weeks. Carpets looked like they hadn't been vacuumed muchless cleaned in 6 years. Doors that were destroyed by a dog. Walls that were stained by what looked like hair dye. Grime built up on all the cabinets so that we had to take them down, strip them, prime them and paint them. I don't think they'd ever cleaned the kitchen cabinets and walls. It was sticky and tacky to touch and the grime would just roll between my fingers. New tile and new carpet. All walls cleaned, holes repaired and filled, primed and painted. I could go on. Fact is, it wasn't theirs and the security deposit was easier to forfeit than to even begin trying to clean anything.
People who have been curious about my smart? I get finger prints and smudges from those who are looking. People who want to sit in it that have stuff on their shoes or worse yet dirty clothes. Sorry. Not sitting in my car bub. Or want to sit in my car with a cup of soda in hand. They don't care because it's not theirs. I can refuse to let them get in or fiddle with things. The dealership has demos for these types of folks. I'm sure they force the shades, slam the doors, rev the engine to the red line, and all sorts of crazy things.
So try not to be too harsh with the dealership. It's hard to make the repairs when they need the vehicles to be on the floor to show and give test drives. And I'm sure they try to control what they can but the human element is involved. No telling what others are doing or have done to the demo models. The check engine light could be a bad batch of gasoline or a manufacture defect. I or anyone else here can only guess.
Wow, way to jump on the new guy. I live in TN, the dealership is in Atlanta, GA. Call the dealership if you like to verify that the red demo model had a problem with passenger seat and a loose roof while the white demo model had a service engine light on and almost stalled at a few full stops.
I joined this forum out of my excitment for this automobile and was just a little concerned about what I saw with the demo models. I am for this vehicle and want other people to be excited about it. I posted my question here out of faith in you guys and lack thereof in the dealership.
I will still be purchasing a Smart because I think it is a past due concept more Americans need to adopt and I love the car.
Sorry if I bummed anybody out I was just frustrated and needed all of your advice.
Welcome to the forum Nicely MKV. I guess you can tell by now we are like protective parents about our Smart Cars. Some of us have had problems but they were taken care of. Any new car you get might have a minor problem but all in all WE LOVE OUR SMARTS. Not only do they save on gas but they are, fun, fun, fun. Mine is due in any day now and I have been to my dealership twice just to pet them and look at the new gadgets. Iv'e met a lot of people looking and reserving and I must say I didn't meet one I didn't like.
I, for one, am somewhat skeptical of this posting. This person joined yesterday, does not put in his profile what part of the US he is at, and then makes the accusations that suggest lower-than-normal reliability about demo models at some unmentioned dealer. Just being skeptical, that's all.
My post probably started the slippery slope, but I still stand by my original statement. I was skeptical for the reasons I had stated, but now am quite happy to see additional information to clarify the situation. Welcome to the forum, thanks for updating us, and we hope the disappointing demos do not stop you from deciding to get one.
Though I am curious how a hardtop's roof becomes loose at the corner. Can you describe that issue in a little more detail? Or maybe it was a cabriolet with an incorrectly closed top?
I can't speak for him, but check out the video with the guy bouncing on the bike on top of the passion coupe and you will see what appears to be all four corners flexing upward under the stress. The roof never breaks, but it appears to let go from it's edges. I wonder if this might be what he is talking about, and it if is, I would conclude someone has been on the roof of the smart...
the descriptions of the demo cars just tells me that the smart stealership is more like other vehicle stealerships than most would like to admit. they're not the most trustworthy bunch and it wouldn't be off-base to characterize a large percentage of them as prideless and uncaring about their work and the level to which they perform it.
Last week, I found an annoying problem with a smart on the San Diego Center showroom which had gone undetected by the entire staff. It is a problem I'd seen on the road show, as well. The driver's side door CREAKED loudly every time the door was opened or closed, and when I heard this problem before configuring my car, it almost dissuaded me from ordering the smart due to concerns for production quality. Now, having seen the same problem on a demo model, I wonder how prevalent this problem might be, and what is the fix? How any smart Center staff could be so oblivious to the routine inspection, care, and maintenance of its demos is beyond me!
it's in a compartment your open with a coin beneath a carpet behind the seat. but be sure to not use WD-40 that has expired (date on top of can), replacement cans can be bought at your local smart dealer.
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