75 dealerships

[rwj53]

Do you think with only 75 dealerships in the US that this will really make people think twice about buying this car? Don't these dealerships have a contract about how close another dealership can be built within X amount of miles. There is not to many places that can work on this car and I have been reading about people that live 1-5 hours from the nearest dealership. You just can't take this car into any repair shop to have it worked on. It must to be lifted up on a special hydrolic lift so the bottom of the car does not get damaged. I wonder in two years how many shops will sprout up that will be able to work on the car so one doesn't have to go for miles and hours to get a repair done.

[stuberman]

Sure it will. But with demand far exceeding supply the problem takes care of itself. If the demand grows then we should expect to see additional dealerships open. With the profit margins and supply so low I do not expect business people to be clamoring to open more dealerships. (increasing supply might help but raising prices would dimish demand)

[Big Panda]

well, first of all....the car has a 2/24 warranty, so during the first 2 years you'll be taking it to the dealer for repairs anyway.

as for 'lifting'....i would think that any hydraulic lift will work, provided the tech puts the lift pads in the proper place, same as with any other car. so taking it someplace close to home for regular maintenance (oil changes and tire rotations) shouldn't be an issue.

i think anyone who waits 9-12 months OR MORE for a Smart won't mind driving a couple hours to have some warranty work done. eventually other dealers will come. look at your larger cities such as Chicago.....they have numerous dealers yet here in Indiana we have ONE!

in time it will all even out and will become a 'non-issue'......

[meaux61]

When I talked to the Midwest Regional Manager, Bob Wilshaw, he said that there will not be any more dealerships. The original 74 is IT.

I am taking mine to a local Mercedes dealership for its first oil change. And Jeepster, I wonder, how do the tires get rotated? Just from right to left? They cannot go front to back and vice versa, they are different sizes.

Meaux

[SmartBob]

My choice? If I lived an hour from my dealership I wouldn't buy the car. Part of my criteria for buying is a mechanic either near my home or work. But then I'm single and this will be my primary car.