Any dealership construction sightings?

[MicroNut]

This is not a construction sighting, but related...

Article from the Kicking Tires blog about the expected number of smart dealerships ready "at launch" (i.e. Jan 08) versus later in the year:

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...fortwo-50.html

[propes]

I wonder how that's going to affect the order of delivered cars - if they come in to the US in a steady stream, will some people get a car delivered later because their local dealership isn't ready.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by propes

I wonder how that's going to affect the order of delivered cars - if they come in to the US in a steady stream, will some people get a car delivered later because their local dealership isn't ready.

Seems possible for some early ones.

In my case I don't see it as a problem as I am a late-Juner. But if I were very early I might try to arrange that it be delivered, prepped, and released by another dealer who was in a position to even officially mouth the word "smart." Or, it might be that a customer ordered smart scheduled for an un-ready dealer could be stored somewhere in the dealer's custody.

It might be that the recent change from "1st quarter '08" to "1st half '08" is with the realization that every smart dealer may not be ready to go in the 1st qtr; mine won't.

[Carnut]

My dealer (Mercedes store) said they would be selling from their regular showroom floor until their stand alone bldg was complete in about 7 to 8 months. In southern Florida 2 out of the three dealers are Mercedes. Bill Ussery in Coral Gables and Mercedes of Palm Beach. The third, Rick Case, does not have his building complete and covers all of Broward County. Yikes! Glad I'm not in Broward.

[BeSmart]

The Seattle dealer, O'brian Auto Group representative said they would be ready 1 Jan 2008. They already have their building done, next to their Acura dealership in Southcenter area of Tukwila. We can only hope

[MicroNut]

Here's some good video footage of the new smart dealership in San Francisco:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am3yxvnXebw

[Brian7]

Micronut,

Can't hear the man talking with all the background noise. Nice shots of the cars in the beginning though.

[MicroNut]

Originally Posted by Brian7

Can't hear the man talking with all the background noise.

I wouldn't worry. He's a car salesman and his lips are moving. That's all you need to know!

[Brian7]

Literally.....LOL!!!!!!

[spdickey]

Just visited with Beverly Hills Mercedes. They report 500 reservations and will get 650 cars in the first several months. He also said the other two nearby dealers (North Hollywood and Orange County) will be getting about the same allocation and the Santa Barbara/Ventura County dealer (he didn't know exactly where) would get around 200-300 cars.

Construction is well underway for the new smart/Maybach spaces (now that is a combination!). Here's the sign posted on the construction wall. Opening is set for January 1, first cars should get there around Christmas (thanks Santa!).