I imagine a dealership wouldnt have a depot full of these cars. So maybe each shipment would only have about 15 -25 cars per dealership, with maybe 2 or 3 shipments a month? Sounds like with an october reservation that i am looking at a september-november availability window. Does this sound correct to anyone?
spdickey has posted some good evaluations on "best guess" delivery allotments. Plus he's in the first group scheduled to complete the process and take delivery, so look to him for the latest updates as we sleuth our way through bits if information.
Some dealerships have been sending staff out for training in preparation for the first January deliveries. I don't expect to see any open showrooms until the first cars show up over the next few weeks. The uniqueness of this process is most of those that reserved and confirmed are a sure (easy) sale for the dealer. Every smart fortwo that arrives will most likely be sold already. If a deal falls through, the dealer could end up offering this car to another reservation holder. No one know what the exact process will be, but everything will start taking shape in the next 3-4 weeks.
I suspect, living in Northern Nevada, that I will have to pick up in San Francisco or it will be delivered through there.
They are being assigned by ZIP code making sure each dealer has enough customers. The lines here in So. Cal are a little screwy, with some folks being sent to a dealer farther away because they live on the far edge of a county.
You might be sent to Las Vegas, or SFO or San Jose. You'll probably find out fairly soon when you can call around with your ZIP and ask who serves you.
I dropped by the Stevens Creek lot yesterday and talked to a sales guy - the Land Rover dealer next door to the Smart lot is the dealer for San Jose. According to them, they are trying to work out some details with the building permits before they can change the parking lot to a building - unfortunately I did not think to ask what those details were. In any case, they are expecting their first shipment sometime in January (he wouldn't get any more specific) and until the new store gets built the cars will be processed through the Jaguar dealer down the street - on Stevens Creek near Saratoga Av.
He also said that they have put up a display over in Santana Row, near the theaters, but I didn't have time to get over there to check it out.
Alan, thanks so much for that information. Really great news that at least there is a dealer there. I'll have to drop by and meet him sometime. You didn't happen to get his name, did you?
Alan, thanks so much for that information. Really great news that at least there is a dealer there. I'll have to drop by and meet him sometime. You didn't happen to get his name, did you?
Sorry, I forgot to get his name - I parked my bike behind their building in the service area and then walked up front to the building and entered the door on the side, facing the Smart lot. He was an older gentleman sitting at the desk in the front corner to the right of the door.
From what I've been able to gather, there are going to be at least two dealers in the bay area: San Francisco and San Jose. I'm hoping there are a couple more that haven't been announced. Based on the early adoption rates of the Prius, I think the Smart will be a big hit in the bay area.
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