smartusa.com: "Build your fortwo" 2009 edition

[fmaxwell]

The smartusa.com web site has the Build Your fortwo option link back up with 2009 colors and pricing.

smart.com - CC

Good news:

• No big price increases on base price, delivery, or options
• Two new body colors (rally red and gray metallic)

Bad news:

• Two body colors gone (light yellow and metallic red)
• Leather still requires "comfort package" purchase
• Cruise control still not an option
• No apparent improvement to audio systems (no Bluetooth, XM/Sirius, HD radio, iPod control, higher-quality speakers, EQ, etc.)

I know that a lot of this has been announced, but I wanted to confirm that the web site reflects all of the announcements (and that smart is not bowing to consumer demand to retain the yellow body color as a factory option). Happy configuring!

[John17]

That Rally Red interior is definetely Red!
Wow. I think i will have to go down to the dealership when the new models come in.. someitme in November i think!

I havent configured my Smart yet.. but i think im going to go with the Grey Metallic panels, black tridion, and design black interior!

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by John17

That Rally Red interior is definetely Red!
[...]

Looks catsup red to me... (Glad I got the soon-to-be "older" sunset red!)

[fmaxwell]

Originally Posted by JPaul

Looks catsup red to me... (Glad I got the soon-to-be "older" sunset red!)

That's funny: I've got the older metallic red and wish that I had the new one. Of course, none of us really knows how the other perceives color. And I have no idea how close our monitor color calibrations are.

I'm planning to replace my orphan metallic red cabrio with a new rally red cabrio loaded with every option. What that will get me that I don't have now:

• Rally Red color
• Dashboard fuel-cap-loose indicator
• Leather seats
• automatic headlights w. exit delay
• automatic rain-sensing wipers
• fog lights
• alarm system

If the resale holds up, I really won't lose money by selling my orphan (assuming that I keep it in good condition) and I'll get a new car with no miles on it and all of the options I want.

At least that's the plan.

[fmaxwell]

Originally Posted by John17

I havent configured my Smart yet.. but i think im going to go with the Grey Metallic panels, black tridion, and design black interior!

I definitely think that the black interior (cloth or leather seats) is the way to go if you think you might ever change body panel color. Black just goes with everything -- including many aftermarket accessories.

[jwight]

Originally Posted by fmaxwell

I definitely think that the black interior (cloth or leather seats) is the way to go if you think you might ever change body panel color. Black just goes with everything -- including many aftermarket accessories.

And the beige interior attracts dirt and stains like crazy - word to the wise.

[SPDYII]

I think that people that assume that the price for the 2009 model is the same as the 2008 model are making a mistake. I think that the price is going to change in the next month, by $500 to $700. Don't ask me why they didn't change the price at the time they announced the 2009 model. I think alot of people are going to be really mad.

[jwight]

Per Dave Schembri, 2009 pricing has not been finalized as yet.

[SmartCard]

If pricing hasn't been finalized, why post it?

[JPaul]

This is a question I'll ask Smartville after their big celebration next Wednesday. I.e. is the pricing decided by Daimler, PAG or smartUSA?

In an earlier conversation with "my" source at Smartville, he didn't foresee any major price change for 2009. We'll see in few weeks if he was right.